BlackRock Inc. (Form: S-3ASR, Received: 09/11/2007 11:42:43)

Redemption

Price

Redemption

Price

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 11, 2007

Registration No. 333-

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

BlackRock, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


DELAWARE		32-0174431
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

40 East 52 ^nd Street

New York, New York 10022

(212) 810-5300

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,

of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Robert P. Connolly

Managing Director, General Counsel and Secretary

BlackRock, Inc.

40 East 52 ^nd St.

New York, New York 10022

(212) 810-5300

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,

Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Matthew J. Mallow, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Four Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Tel.: (212) 735-3000

Fax: (212) 735-2000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement as determined by the registrant.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered(1)(2)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit(1)(2)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(1)(2)	Amount of Registration Fee (3)
Debt Securities	—	—	—	—
Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share	—	—	—	—
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share	—	—	—	—
Warrants	—	—	—	—
Subscription Rights	—	—	—	—
Stock Purchase Contracts	—	—	—	—
Stock Purchase Units	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	—	—	—	—

(1)	Not applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II(E).

(2)

Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder. An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Warrants, Subscription Rights, Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units, of BlackRock, Inc. is being registered as may from time to time be issued at currently indeterminable prices and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities.

(3)	In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

Prospectus

BlackRock, Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

BlackRock, Inc. may offer from time to time (i) unsecured senior or subordinated debt securities, (ii) preferred stock, (iii) common stock, (iv) warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities, (v) subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities, (vi) stock purchase contracts to purchase shares of our preferred stock or common stock, or (vii) stock purchase units consisting of (a) stock purchase contracts, (b) warrants, and/or (c) debt securities issued by BlackRock or debt obligations of third parties, (including United States treasury securities or other stock purchase contracts), that secure the holders’ obligations to purchase or to sell, as the case may be, preferred stock or common stock under the stock purchase contract.

We will provide the terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BLK”. If we decide to seek a listing of any debt securities, preferred stock or warrants offered by this prospectus, the related prospectus supplement will disclose the exchange or market on which the securities will be listed, if any, or where we have made an application for listing, if any.

Our principal office is located at 40 East 52 ^nd St., New York, N.Y. 10022. Our telephone number is (212) 810-5300.

Investing in our securities involves risk. See “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 2.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is September 11, 2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
About This Prospectus		1

Blackrock		1

Risk Factors		2

Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements		8

Where You Can Find More Information		9

Use Of Proceeds		10

Ratio Of Earnings To Fixed Charges		10

Description Of Debt Securities		10

Description Of Capital Stock		19

Description Of Warrants		24

Description Of Subscription Rights		25

Description Of Stock Purchase Contracts And Stock Purchase Units		26

Certain ERISA Considerations		27

Plan Of Distribution		28

Legal Matters		32

Experts		32

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. We will provide the terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. We urge you to read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 9.

As used in this prospectus, “BlackRock,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” refer to BlackRock, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, “our board of directors” refers to the board of directors of BlackRock, Inc. and “Old BlackRock” refers to BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. (formerly named BlackRock, Inc.) and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context otherwise requires or as otherwise clearly indicated.

BLACKROCK

We are one of the world’s largest publicly traded investment management firms. As of June 30, 2007, assets under management (“AUM”) were $1.230 trillion. We manage assets on behalf of institutions and individuals worldwide through a variety of equity, fixed income, cash management and alternative investment products. In addition, a growing number of institutional investors use BlackRock Solutions investment system, risk management and financial advisory services. Headquartered in New York City, we have approximately 5,000 employees in 18 countries and a major presence in key global markets, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

On September 29, 2006, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”) contributed the entities and assets that constituted its investment management business (the “MLIM Business,” formerly named Merrill Lynch Investment Managers or “MLIM”) to us. In exchange for this contribution, we issued to Merrill Lynch 52,395,082 shares of common stock and 12,604,918 shares of Series A non-voting participating preferred stock (such transactions, collectively, are referred to as the “MLIM Transaction”). As of August 31, 2007, Merrill Lynch owned approximately 45.4% of the voting common stock and approximately 49.6% of the fully diluted capital stock of the combined company and the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (“PNC”), which owned approximately 69% of our total capital stock immediately prior to the MLIM Transaction, owned approximately 34% of our total capital stock.

RISK FACTORS

As a leading investment management firm, risk is an inherent part of our business. Global markets, by their nature, are prone to uncertainty and subject participants to a variety of risks. While we devote significant resources across all of our operations to identifying, measuring, monitoring, managing and analyzing market and operating risks, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected, however, by any of the following risks.

Risks Related to our Business and Competition

Changes in the securities markets could lead to a decline in revenues.

Our investment management revenues are comprised of fees based on a percentage of the value of AUM and, in some cases, performance fees expressed as a percentage of the returns realized on AUM. A decline in the prices of stocks or bonds within or outside the United States could cause revenues to decline because of lower investment management fees by:

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causing the value of AUM to decrease;

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causing the returns realized on AUM to decrease;

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causing clients to withdraw funds in favor of investments in markets that they perceive offer greater opportunity and that we do not serve; and

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causing clients to rebalance assets away from investments that we manage into investments that we do not manage.

As an investment management firm, our business is affected by conditions in the global financial markets and economic conditions. During the third quarter of 2007, the global financial markets have experienced declining equity valuations and disruptions in the credit markets due to liquidity imbalances and repricing of risk. These factors have and may continue to cause investors to shift the composition of their short and long-term investments, which may impact our assets under management, related revenues and short-term liquidity needs.

Poor investment performance could lead to the loss of clients and a decline in revenues.

Our management believes that investment performance is one of the most important factors for the growth of AUM. Poor investment performance relative to the portfolio benchmarks and to competitors could reduce revenues and growth because:

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existing clients might withdraw funds in favor of better performing products, which would result in lower investment management fees;

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the ability to attract funds from existing and new clients might diminish;

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we might earn minimal or no performance fees; and

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the value of certain seed investments that we make in our funds, as well as investments in other securities, may decline.

Loss of key employees could lead to the loss of clients and a decline in revenues.

The ability to attract and retain quality personnel has contributed significantly to our growth and success and is important to attracting and retaining clients. The market for qualified fund managers, investment analysts, financial advisers and other professionals is competitive. Key employees may depart because of issues relating to the difficulties in integrating the MLIM Business or the fund of funds business of Quellos Group, LLC (“Quellos”), which we recently agreed to acquire. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to recruit and retain the required personnel. Loss of a significant number of key personnel could have an adverse effect on us.

Our investment advisory contracts may be terminated or may not be renewed by clients.

Separate account clients may terminate their investment management contracts with us or withdraw funds on short notice. From time to time we have lost separate accounts and could, in the future, lose accounts under various circumstances such as adverse market conditions or poor performance. Additionally, we manage our U.S.

mutual funds pursuant to management contracts with the funds that must be renewed and approved by the funds’ boards of directors annually. A majority of the directors of each mutual fund are independent from us. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the board of directors of each fund that we manage will approve the fund’s management contract each year, or will not condition its approval on the terms of the management contract being revised in a way that is adverse to us.

Failure to comply with client contractual requirements and/or guidelines could result in damage awards against us and loss of revenues due to client terminations.

When clients retain us to manage assets or provide products or services on their behalf, they specify guidelines or contractual requirements that we are required to observe in the provision of our services. A failure to comply with these guidelines or contractual requirements could result in damage to our reputation or to the clients seeking to recover losses, withdrawing AUM or cancelling risk management advisory assignments, or terminating their contracts, any of which could cause our earnings or stock price to decline.

Competitive fee pressures could reduce revenues and profit margins.

The investment management business is highly competitive and has relatively low barriers to entry. To the extent that we are forced to compete on the basis of price, we may not be able to maintain our current fee structure. Fee reductions on existing or future new business could cause revenues and profit margins to decline.

Performance fees may increase earnings volatility, which could decrease our stock price.

A portion of our revenues are derived from performance fees on investment and risk management advisory assignments. In most cases, performance fees are based on investment returns, although in some cases they are based on achieving specific service standards. Generally, we are entitled to performance fees only if the returns on the related portfolios exceed agreed-upon periodic or cumulative return targets. If these targets are not exceeded, performance fees for that period will not be earned and, if targets are based on cumulative returns, we may not earn performance fees in future periods. Performance fees will vary from period to period in relation to volatility in investment returns, causing earnings to be more volatile than if assets were not managed on a performance fee basis. The volatility in earnings may decrease our stock price. Performance fees represented $105.9 million, or 3.1%, of total revenue for the twelve months ended June 30, 2007.

Additional acquisitions may decrease earnings and harm the Company’s competitive position.

We employ a variety of strategies intended to enhance earnings and expand product offerings in order to improve profit margins. These strategies have included small lift-outs of investment teams and acquisitions of investment management businesses, such as the MLIM Transaction and our recently announced agreement to acquire the fund of funds business of Quellos. In general, these strategies may not be effective and failure to successfully develop and implement these strategies may decrease earnings and harm our competitive position in the investment management industry. In the event we pursue additional sizeable acquisitions, we may not be able to find suitable businesses to acquire at acceptable prices, and we may not be able to successfully integrate or realize the intended benefits from these acquisitions.

Our indebtedness could limit cash flow available for our operations and could adversely affect our ability to service debt or obtain additional financing if necessary.

As of June 30, 2007, we had $252.5 million and $360.0 million of unsecured long-term and short-term outstanding indebtedness, respectively. On August 22, 2007, we entered into a five-year $2.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, including a $250 million letter of credit subfacility and a $250 million swingline subfacility. As of September 10, 2007, we had borrowed or delivered notices for borrowings of $690 million under the credit facility. We may borrow additional amounts, and repay amounts, from time to time.

Our obligations under the facility are unsecured and are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. The facility matures on August 22, 2012 and contains various conditions to borrowing, and affirmative, negative and financial maintenance covenants. The facility also contains various standard events of default, the occurrence of which could result in a termination by the lenders and the acceleration of all our obligations under the facility.

While we believe we have adequate sources of liquidity to meet our anticipated requirements for working capital, debt service and capital expenditures, there can be no assurance that our cash flow from operations will be sufficient to service our debt, which may require us to borrow additional funds for that purpose, restructure or otherwise refinance our debt.

Risks Related to our Operations

Failure to maintain adequate infrastructure could impede the ability to support business growth.

We have experienced significant growth in our business activities as a result of the MLIM Transaction and other efforts. We continue to build our infrastructure to integrate the MLIM Business and the Quellos business and to support continued growth, including technological capacity, data centers, backup facilities and sufficient space for expanding staff levels. The failure to maintain an adequate infrastructure commensurate with expansion could impede our growth, which could cause our earnings or stock price to decline.

Expansion into international markets increases our operational, regulatory and other risks.

We have dramatically increased our international business activities as a result of the MLIM Transaction and other efforts. As a result of such expansion, we face increased operational, regulatory, reputational and foreign exchange rate risks. The failure of our systems of internal control to properly mitigate such additional risks, or of our operating infrastructure to support such international expansion, could result in operational failures and regulatory fines or sanctions, which could cause our earnings or stock price to decline.

Failure to maintain a technological advantage could lead to a loss of clients and a decline in revenues.

A key element to our continued success is the ability to maintain a technological advantage both in terms of operational efficiency and in providing the sophisticated risk analytics incorporated into our operating systems that support investment advisory and BlackRock Solutions clients. Moreover, our technological and software advantage is dependent on a number of third parties who provide various types of data. The failure of these third parties to provide such data or software could result in operational difficulties and adversely impact our ability to provide services to BlackRock Solutions clients. There can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain this technological advantage or be able to effectively protect and enforce our intellectual property rights in these systems and processes.

Failure to implement effective information security policies, procedures and capabilities could disrupt operations and cause financial losses that could result in a decrease in our earnings or stock price.

We are dependent on the effectiveness of our information security policies, procedures and capabilities to protect our computer and telecommunications systems and the data that reside on or are transmitted through them. An externally caused information security incident, such as a hacker attack or a virus or worm, or an internally caused issue, such as failure to control access to sensitive systems, could materially interrupt business operations or cause disclosure or modification of sensitive or confidential information and could result in material financial loss, regulatory actions, breach of client contracts, reputational harm or legal liability, which, in turn, could cause a decline in our earnings or stock price.

The continuing integration of the MLIM Business, and the expected integration of the Quellos fund of funds business, create numerous risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect profitability.

The MLIM Business and personnel are in the process of being, and the Quellos fund of funds business following closing will begin to be, integrated with our previously existing business and personnel. These transition activities are complex, and we may encounter unexpected difficulties or incur unexpected costs including:

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the diversion of management’s attention to integration matters;

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difficulties in achieving expected synergies associated with the transactions;

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difficulties in the integration of operations and systems;

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difficulties in the assimilation of employees;

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difficulties in replacing the support functions previously provided by Merrill Lynch or Quellos, including support and assistance in respect of risk management, financial and operational functions;

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challenges in keeping existing clients and obtaining new clients, including potential conflicts of interest; and

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challenges in attracting and retaining key personnel.

As a result, we may not be able to realize the expected revenue growth and other benefits that we hope to achieve from the transactions. In addition, we may be required to spend additional time or money on integration that would otherwise be spent on the development and expansion of its business and services.

Risks Related to Merrill Lynch and PNC Relationships

Merrill Lynch is a distributor of our products, and we are therefore subject to risks associated with the business of Merrill Lynch.

Pursuant to a global distribution agreement entered into with Merrill Lynch in connection with the MLIM Transaction, Merrill Lynch provides portfolio administration and servicing for certain BlackRock asset management products and services through its various distribution channels. We may not be successful in distributing products through Merrill Lynch or in distributing our products and services through other third party distributors, and the transfer of the MLIM Business to us might have an adverse effect on Merrill Lynch’s ability to distribute, and on the costs of distributing, our existing products and services. If we are unable to distribute our products and services successfully or if we experience an increase in distribution-related costs, our business, results of operations or financial condition may be adversely affected.

Loss of market share with Merrill Lynch’s Global Private Client Group could harm operating results.

A significant portion of the revenue of the MLIM Business historically came from AUM generated by Merrill Lynch’s Global Private Client Group (“GPC”). Our ability to maintain a strong relationship with GPC is material to our future performance. If one of the Company’s competitors gains significant additional market share within the GPC retail channel at our expense, then our business, results of operations or financial condition may be negatively impacted.

For so long as Merrill Lynch and PNC maintain certain levels of stock ownership, Merrill Lynch and PNC will vote as stockholders in accordance with the recommendation of our board of directors, and certain actions will require special board approval or the prior approval of Merrill Lynch and PNC.

As a result of the stockholder agreements entered into with PNC and Merrill Lynch in connection with the MLIM Transaction, together with the Company’s ownership structure, stockholders may have no effective power to influence corporate actions. As of August 31, 2007, Merrill Lynch owned approximately 45.4% of our issued and outstanding common stock and approximately 49.6% of total capital stock on a fully-diluted basis, and PNC owned approximately 34% of our total capital stock.

Merrill Lynch and PNC have agreed to vote all of their shares in accordance with the recommendation of our board of directors to the extent consistent with the provisions of the Merrill Lynch stockholder agreement and the PNC implementation and stockholder agreement. As a consequence, matters submitted to a stockholder vote that require a majority or a plurality of votes for approval, including elections of directors, will be approved or disapproved solely in accordance with the determinations of our board of directors, so long as the shares held by Merrill Lynch and PNC constitute a majority of the outstanding shares. This arrangement will have the effect of concentrating control over us in our board of directors, whether or not stockholders agree with any particular determination of the board.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

We are subject to extensive regulation in the United States and internationally.

Our business is subject to extensive regulation in the United States and around the world. See the discussion under the heading “Business—Regulation” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Violation of applicable laws or regulations could result in fines, temporary or permanent prohibition of the engagement in certain activities, reputational harm, suspensions of personnel or revocation of their licenses, suspension or termination of investment adviser or broker-dealer registrations, or other sanctions, which could cause our earnings or stock price to decline. Additionally, our business may be adversely impacted by regulatory and legislative initiatives imposed by various U.S. and non-U.S. regulatory and exchange authorities, and industry participants that continue to review and, in many cases, adopt changes to their established rules and policies.

Failure to comply with the Investment Advisers Act and the Investment Company Act and related regulations could result in substantial harm to our reputation and results of operations.

Certain of our subsidiaries are registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act and our U.S. mutual funds are registered with the SEC under the Investment Company Act. The Investment Advisers Act imposes numerous obligations and fiduciary duties on registered investment advisers, including record-keeping, operating and marketing requirements, disclosure obligations and prohibitions on fraudulent activities. The Investment Company Act imposes similar obligations, as well as additional detailed operational requirements, on investment advisers to registered investment companies. The failure of any of our subsidiaries to comply with the Investment Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act could cause the SEC to institute proceedings and impose sanctions for violations of either of these acts, including censure, termination of an investment adviser’s registration or prohibition to serve as adviser to SEC-registered funds, and could lead to litigation by investors in those funds or harm our reputation, any of which could cause its earnings or stock price to decline.

Failure to comply with ERISA regulations could result in penalties and cause the Company’s earnings or stock price to decline.

Our asset management subsidiaries are subject to ERISA and to regulations promulgated thereunder, insofar as they act as a “fiduciary” under ERISA with respect to benefit plan clients. ERISA and applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code impose duties on persons who are fiduciaries under ERISA, prohibit specified transactions involving ERISA plan clients and provide monetary penalties for violations of these prohibitions. The failure of any of our subsidiaries to comply with these requirements could result in significant penalties that could reduce our earnings or cause our stock price to decline.

We are subject to banking regulations that may limit our business activities.

Since PNC’s ownership interest in us exceeds 25%, we are deemed to be a non-bank subsidiary of PNC, a financial holding company, which subjects us to general banking regulations that limit the activities and the types of businesses in which we may engage. Banking regulations may put us at a competitive disadvantage because most of our competitors are not subject to these limitations. As a non-bank subsidiary of PNC, we are subject to

the supervision, regulation and examination of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”). We also are subject to the broad enforcement authority of the FRB, including the FRB’s power to prohibit us from engaging in any activity that, in the FRB’s opinion, constitutes an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting our business. The FRB also may impose substantial fines and other penalties for violations of applicable banking regulations.

Legal proceedings could adversely affect operating results and financial condition for a particular period.

Many aspects of our business involve substantial risks of legal liability. The Company, including a number of the legal entities acquired in the MLIM Transaction, has been named as a defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation arising in connection with our activities. Additionally, the investment funds that we manage are subject to lawsuits, any of which could harm the investment returns of the applicable fund or result in the Company being liable to the funds for certain resulting damages. While Merrill Lynch has agreed to indemnify us for certain of the pre-closing liabilities related to legal proceedings acquired in the MLIM Transaction, entities that we now own may be named as defendants in these matters and our reputation may be negatively impacted. Liability for legal actions for which no indemnification is available could reduce earnings and cash flows and cause our stock price to decline.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this prospectus constitute “forward-looking statements.” We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions.

We caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. In addition to factors previously disclosed in our SEC reports and those identified elsewhere in this prospectus, including those matters discussed under the caption “Risk Factors,” the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance:

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our ability to successfully integrate the MLIM Business with our existing business;

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our ability to effectively manage the former MLIM assets along with our historical assets under management;

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the relative and absolute investment performance of our investment products, including our separately-managed accounts and the MLIM Business;

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our success in maintaining distribution of our products;

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the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives and strategies;

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changes in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for products or services or in the value of assets under management;

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the impact of increased competition;

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the impact of capital improvement projects;

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the impact of future acquisitions or divestitures;

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the unfavorable resolution of legal proceedings;

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the extent and timing of any share repurchases;

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the impact, extent and timing of technological changes and the adequacy of intellectual property protection;

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the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to us, Merrill Lynch or PNC;

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terrorist activities and international hostilities, which may adversely affect the general economy, financial and capital markets, specific industries, and us;

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the ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals;

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fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, which may adversely affect the value of advisory fees we earn;

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the impact of changes to tax legislation and, generally, our tax position; and

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our ability to consummate the transaction with Quellos and realize the benefits of such transaction.

You should carefully read the risk factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a description of certain risks that could, among other things, cause our actual results to differ from these forward looking statements.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), under which we file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. We make available through our website at http://www.blackrock.com, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed or furnished to the SEC. You may read and copy materials that we have filed with the Commission at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our Commission filings are also available to the public on the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including any filings on or after the date of this prospectus, until we have sold all of the offered securities to which this prospectus relates or the offering is otherwise terminated. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement in a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent a statement contained in (1) this prospectus or (2) any other subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. The documents incorporated by reference herein include:

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our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006;

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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, filed on August 14, 2007;

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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007;

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our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 12, 2006 (solely with respect to Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2) and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 29, 2007, June 15, 2007, June 26, 2007, July 2, 2007, August 10, 2007, August 27, 2007, September 6, 2007 and September 11, 2007; and

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The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Old BlackRock’s Form 8-A, filed on September 15, 1999, and any amendment or report filed thereafter for the purpose of updating such information.

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any and all of the documents that have been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should direct requests for documents by writing to:

BlackRock, Inc.

40 East 52 ^nd Street

New York, N.Y. 10022

Tel.: (212) 810-5300

Attention: Secretary

No person is authorized to give any information or represent anything not contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement. We are only offering the securities in places where sales of those securities are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any applicable pricing supplement, as well as information incorporated by reference, is current only as of the date of that information. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in connection with a particular offering of securities, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus will be used for general corporate purposes.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:


	Six Months Ended June 30,		Year Ended December 31,
	2007	2006	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges	28.27	26.55	24.42	25.08	36.81	48.81	48.15

For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before income taxes and non-controlling interests less equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates plus fixed charges and distributed earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Fixed charges include gross interest expense, amortization of deferred financing expenses and an amount equivalent to interest included in rental charges. Our Series A Participating Preferred Stock receive dividends on the same basis as our common stock. Accordingly, these dividends are not considered by us to be “preference security dividends” and have not been included as fixed charges in the above calculations.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The debt securities will constitute either unsecured senior debt or unsecured subordinated debt. We will issue debt securities that will be senior debt under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “senior indenture”). We will issue debt securities that will be subordinated debt under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee (“subordinated indenture” and, together with the senior indenture, the “Indentures”). This prospectus refers to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture individually as the “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” The term “trustee” refers to the trustee under each indenture, as appropriate.

The indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The indentures are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the subordinated indenture. The following summary of the material provisions of the indentures and the debt securities is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indentures, each of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We urge you to read the indenture that is applicable to you because it, and not the summary below, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. You can obtain copies of the indentures by following the directions described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 9.

General

The senior debt securities will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to our “Senior Indebtedness.” For additional information, see “—Subordination” below. As of June 30, 2007, approximately $612.5 million aggregate principal amount of BlackRock’s existing debt would have ranked senior to the subordinated debt securities and equally with the senior debt securities. As of June 30, 2007, none of BlackRock’s existing debt would have been subordinated to the senior debt securities and have ranked equally with the subordinated debt securities. The indentures do not limit the amount of debt, either secured or unsecured, which may be issued by us under the

indentures or otherwise. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series with the same or various maturities and may be sold at par, a premium or an original issue discount. Debt securities sold at an original issue discount may bear no interest or interest at a rate which is below market rates. Since BlackRock is a holding company, the right of BlackRock, and hence the rights of the creditors and stockholders of BlackRock, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is accordingly subject to prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of BlackRock itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized. As of June 30, 2007, BlackRock’s subsidiaries had approximately $2.5 million aggregate principal amount of debt outstanding. The indentures do not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring debt or agreeing to limitations on their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.

Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:

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the title of debt securities and whether they are subordinated debt securities or senior debt securities;

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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

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the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;

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the price or prices at which we will sell the debt securities;

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the maturity date or dates of the debt securities;

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the rate or rates of interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities will bear interest, or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any;

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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;

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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum consecutive periods during which interest payment periods may be extended;

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whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;

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the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;

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the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where any debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the indenture;

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if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions;

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our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;

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the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;

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the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with an Event of Default (as described below), if other than the full principal amount;

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the currency, currencies or currency unit in which we will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities, if not United States dollars;

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provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

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any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable indenture;

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any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem stock, sell our assets or other restrictions;

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the application, if any, of the terms of the indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;

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whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;

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the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our common stock, preferred stock or other securities or property;

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whether any of the debt securities will be issued in global form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which global debt securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;

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any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an Event of Default;

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the depositary for global or certificated debt securities;

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any special tax implications of the debt securities;

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any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

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any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indentures, as amended or supplemented;

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to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered, on the record date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the applicable indenture;

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if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of the series is to be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amounts payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

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the portion of the principal amount of any securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to the applicable indenture if other than the entire principal amount; and

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if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined).

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.

Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

Subordination

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any existing Senior Indebtedness.

Under the subordinated indenture, “Senior Indebtedness” means all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the subordinated indenture or thereafter incurred or created:

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the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due on our indebtedness for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by us;

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all of our capital lease obligations;

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any of our obligations as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles;

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all of our obligations for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction;

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all of our obligations in respect of interest rate swap, cap or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements;

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all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which we are responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and

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all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of ours (whether or not such obligation is assumed by us).

However, Senior Indebtedness does not include:

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any indebtedness which expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, or that such indebtedness shall be subordinated to any other of our indebtedness, unless such indebtedness expressly provides that such indebtedness shall be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities;

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any of our indebtedness in respect of the subordinated debt securities;

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any indebtedness or liability for compensation to employees, for goods or materials purchased in the ordinary course of business or for services;

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any of our indebtedness to any subsidiary; and

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any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by us.

Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.

Unless otherwise noted in the accompanying prospectus supplement, if we default in the payment of any principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness when it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we will make no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) in respect of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other requisition of any of the subordinated debt securities.

In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all senior debt securities outstanding at the time of such acceleration, subject to any security interest, will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due on the senior debt securities before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

If any of the following events occurs, we will pay in full all Senior Indebtedness before we make any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, to any holder of subordinated debt securities:

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any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of BlackRock, Inc., whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership;

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any general assignment by us for the benefit of creditors; or

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any other marshaling of our assets or liabilities.

In such event, any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities is received by the trustee of any subordinated debt securities in contravention of any of the terms of the subordinated indenture and before all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full.

The subordinated indenture does not limit the issuance of additional Senior Indebtedness.

Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions

We may not (i) merge with or into or consolidate with another corporation or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any other corporation other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, and (ii) no corporation may merge with or into or consolidate with us or, except for any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to us, unless:

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we are the surviving corporation or the corporation formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance has been made, if other than us, is organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and has expressly assumed by supplemental indenture all of our obligations under the indentures;

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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

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we deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the supplemental indenture complies with the applicable indenture.

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, the following shall constitute “Events of Default” under the indentures with respect to each series of debt securities:

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our failure to pay any interest on any debt security of such series when due and payable, continued for 30 days;

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our failure to pay principal (or premium, if any) on any debt security of such series when due, regardless of whether such payment became due because of maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise, or is required by any sinking fund established with respect to such series;

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our failure to observe or perform any other of our covenants or agreements with respect to such debt securities for 60 days after we receive notice of such failure;

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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of BlackRock, Inc.; and

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any other Event of Default provided with respect to securities of that series.

If an Event of Default with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under either of the indentures shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such indenture or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the applicable indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of an Event of Default involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.

Any past default under either indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, and any Event of Default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of such series outstanding under such indenture, except in the case of (i) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series or (ii) default in respect of a covenant or provision which may not be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected.

The trustee is required within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (which is known to the trustee and is continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default.

The trustee, subject to its duties during default to act with the required standard of care, may require indemnification by the holders of the debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indentures at the request of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series under either indenture may direct the

time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable indenture and the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any action against us under either of the indentures (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with its terms) unless (i) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series specifying an Event of Default, as required under the applicable indenture, (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding under such indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action and offered to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iii) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such request and (iv) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series.

We are required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under each indenture.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may discharge or defease our obligations under the indentures as set forth below, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be and we have paid all other sums payable under the applicable indenture.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the relevant indenture) (“defeasance”) or (ii) to be released from our obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the relevant indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant indenture. In addition, in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee (i) an officers’ certificate to the effect that the relevant debt securities exchange(s) have informed us that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit and (ii) an officers’ certificate

and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.

Modification and Waiver

Under the indentures, we and the applicable trustee may supplement the indentures for certain purposes which would not materially adversely affect the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities of a series without the consent of those holders. We and the applicable trustee may also modify the indentures or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series issued under the indenture. However, the indentures require the consent of each holder of debt securities that would be affected by any modification which would:

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change the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof;

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reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount debt security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

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change the currency in which any debt security or any premium or interest is payable;

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impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any debt security;

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reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the indentures or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indentures or for waiver of certain defaults; or

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modify any of the above provisions.

The indentures permit the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under the indenture which is affected by the modification or amendment to waive our compliance with certain covenants contained in the indentures.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by us will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us upon request, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Denominations, Registrations and Transfer

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. In such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.

A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name if:

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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue serving as the depositary for the relevant global securities or DTC ceases to maintain certain qualifications under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and no successor depositary has been appointed for 90 days; or

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we determine, in our sole discretion, that the global security shall be exchangeable.

If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement and integral multiples of such denomination. Transfers and exchanges of such debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination. Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by us under the indentures. Exchanges of debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations.

Governing Law

The indentures and debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

Trustee

The trustee under the indentures is The Bank of New York.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock, preferred stock or other debt securities. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of certain terms of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. For more information on how you can obtain our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 9. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws in their entirety.

General

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that we are authorized to issue 1 billion shares of capital stock, consisting of 500 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share of which 20,000,000 shares are designated as Series A convertible participating preferred stock, 500 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of September 7, 2007, we had issued and outstanding approximately 115.4 million shares of common stock and approximately 12.6 million shares of Series A participating preferred stock.

Preferred Stock

The following description of certain terms of the preferred stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the certificate of designations that relates to the particular series of preferred stock, which will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the related preferred stock. Certain terms of any series of preferred stock offered by any prospectus supplement will be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to such series of preferred stock. If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below. If there are differences between the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. For more information on how you can obtain our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and any applicable certificate of designations, see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 9. We urge you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and any applicable certificate of designations in their entirety.

General . The board of directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in such class or series, and to fix the designations, voting powers (if any), privileges, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of the shares of each such class or series and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereon. The authority of the board of directors with respect to each class or series shall include, but not be limited to, determination of the following:

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the designation of the class or series, which may be by distinguishing number, letter or title;

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the number of shares of the class or series, which number the board of directors may thereafter (except where otherwise provided) increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) in the manner permitted by law;

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the rate of any dividends (or method of determining the dividends) payable to the holders of the shares of such class or series, any conditions upon which such dividends are payable, the form of payment thereof (whether cash, our securities, securities of another person or other assets) and the date or dates or the method for determining the date or dates upon which such dividends shall be payable;

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whether dividends, if any, shall be cumulative or non-cumulative and, in the case of shares of any class or series having cumulative dividend rights, the date or dates or method of determining the date or dates from which dividends on the shares of such class or series will cumulate;

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if the shares of such class or series may be redeemed by us, the price or prices (or method of determining such price or prices) at which, the form of payment of such price or prices (which may be cash, property or rights, including our securities or those of another corporation or other entity) for which, the period or periods within which and the other terms and conditions upon which the shares of such class or series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option or at the option of the holder or holders thereof or upon the happening of a specified event or events, if any, including our obligation, if any, to purchase or redeem shares of such class or series pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise;

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the amount payable out of our assets to the holders of shares of the class or series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;

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provisions, if any, for the conversion or exchange of the shares of such class or series, at any time or times, at the option of the holder or holder thereof or at our option or upon the happening of a specified event or events, into shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same class of our capital stock or into any other security, or into the stock or other securities of any other corporation or other entity, and the price or prices or rate or rates of conversion or exchange and any adjustments applicable thereto, and all other terms and conditions upon which each conversion or exchange may be made;

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restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same class or series or of any other class or series of our capital stock, if any; and

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the voting rights and powers, if any, of the holders of shares of the class or series.

Unless otherwise specifically set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock, all shares of preferred stock will be of equal rank, preference and priority as to dividends; when the stated dividends are not paid in full, the shares of all series of the preferred stock will share ratably in any payment thereof; and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if assets are insufficient to pay in full all preferred stock, then such assets shall be distributed among the holders ratably.

Since we are a holding company, our right, and hence the right of our creditors and stockholders, to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, except to the extent that our claims as a creditor of the subsidiary may be recognized.

Dividend Rights . Except as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock, the holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, but only when and as declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, cash dividends at the rates and on the dates set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock, and no more, payable quarterly.

Redemption . We will have such rights, if any, to redeem shares of preferred stock, and the holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to cause us to redeem shares of preferred stock, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock.

Conversion or Exchange . The holders of preferred stock will have such rights, if any, to convert such shares into or to exchange such shares for, shares of any other class or classes, or of any other series of any class, of our capital stock and/or any other property or cash, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement, relating to a series of preferred stock.

Voting Rights . The holders of preferred stock will have such voting rights as required by applicable law and as may be set forth in the certificate of designations, and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.

Liquidation Rights . Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of preferred stock will have such preferences and priorities, if any, with respect to distribution of our assets or the proceeds thereof as may be set forth in the certificate of designations and summarized in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of preferred stock.

Miscellaneous . The transfer agent, dividend disbursing agent and registrar for the preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus will be as set forth in the certificate of designations and summarized in the prospectus supplement. The holders of preferred stock, including any preferred stock issued in connection with this prospectus, will not have any preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of any class or other securities of any type of ours. When issued, the preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable. The certificate of designations setting forth the provisions of each series of preferred stock will become effective after the date of this prospectus but on or before issuance of the related series of preferred stock.

Series A Convertible Participating Preferred Stock . As of June 30, 2007, we had outstanding 12.6 million shares of Series A participating preferred stock. The participating preferred stock will be entitled to receive any dividend that is paid to holders of common stock, payable, at the holder’s option, in shares of common stock, cash, or a combination of cash and common stock. Any subdivisions, combinations, consolidations or reclassifications to the common stock must also be made accordingly to the participating preferred stock. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of BlackRock, the holders of the participating preferred stock will be entitled to receive $.01 per share of participating preferred stock held, plus any outstanding and unpaid dividends, before any payments are made to holders of common stock. After such payment, the remaining assets of BlackRock will be distributed pro rata to the holders of common stock and the participating preferred stock. The participating preferred stock has no voting rights except as required by applicable law.

Upon any transfer of the participating preferred stock (except in a merger or other business combination in which PNC or Merrill Lynch is a constituent corporation, or where PNC or Merrill Lynch are acquired by another party) to any person other than an affiliate of the initial holder, each share of participating preferred stock will be converted into one share of common stock. No optional conversion is permitted.

Common Stock

The following description of certain rights of our common stock does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated by-laws and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Voting Rights . The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Dividends and Liquidation Rights . Subject to the preferential rights of the Series A convertible participating preferred stock and any other outstanding series of preferred stock created by our board of directors from time to time, the holders of common stock are entitled to such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors from funds available therefor, and, upon liquidation, holders of common stock will be entitled to share pro rata in any distribution of our assets after payment, or providing for the payment of, our liabilities.

Miscellaneous . The outstanding shares of our common stock offered hereby upon issuance and payment therefor will be, fully paid and nonassessable. Our common stock has no preemptive or conversion rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable thereto.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BLK.”

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Mellon Investor Services, LLC, Church St. Station, P.O. Box 1633, New York, New York 10277-1633, telephone (800) 522-6645.

Anti-Takeover Considerations

The Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation and our by-laws contain provisions which could serve to discourage or to make more difficult a change in control of us without the support of our board of directors or without meeting various other conditions.

Extraordinary Corporate Transactions

Delaware law provides that the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote must approve any fundamental corporate transactions such as mergers, sales of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets, dissolutions, etc.

State Takeover Legislation

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in general, prohibits a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder within three years of the time such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless (a) prior to such time, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, (b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, exclusive of shares owned by directors who are also officers and by certain employee stock plans or (c) at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized by the affirmative vote at a stockholders’ meeting of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder. The restrictions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law do not apply to corporations that have elected, in the manner provided therein, not to be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or, with certain exceptions, which do not have a class of voting stock that is listed on a national securities exchange or authorized for quotation on the Nasdaq or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders. We have elected to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Rights of Dissenting Stockholders

Delaware law does not afford appraisal rights in a merger transaction to holders of shares that are either listed on a national securities exchange, quoted on Nasdaq or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, provided that such shares will be converted into stock of the surviving corporation or another corporation, which corporation in either case must also be listed on a national securities exchange, quoted on Nasdaq or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders. In addition, Delaware law denies appraisal rights to stockholders of the surviving corporation in a merger if the surviving corporation’s stockholders weren’t required to approve the merger.

Stockholder Action

Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise stated in the certificate of incorporation, any action which may be taken at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing is signed by the holders of the outstanding stock having the minimum number of votes necessary to authorize the action at a meeting of stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide otherwise and thus permits action by written consent if such action has been approved in advance by the majority vote of our board of directors.

Meetings of Stockholders

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporate provides that special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the chairman of the board of directors, the president, a majority of the board of directors, or any committee of the board of directors that has the power to call such meetings. No stockholder may call a special meeting.

Cumulative Voting

Delaware law permits stockholders to cumulate their votes and either cast them for one candidate or distribute them among two or more candidates in the election of directors only if expressly authorized in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation does not authorize cumulative voting.

Removal of Directors

Delaware law provides that, except in the case of a classified board of directors or where cumulative voting applies, a director, or the entire board of directors, of a corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that any or all of the directors may be removed, only for cause, by affirmative vote of at least (80%) of the stockholders.

Vacancies

Delaware law provides that vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from a resignation or any increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, unless the governing documents of a corporation provide otherwise.

Our amended and restated by-laws provide that newly created directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors and vacancies occurring in the board of directors for any reason, may be filled by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or by the stockholders if the vacancy resulted from the action of stockholders.

No Preemptive Rights

Holders of common stock do not have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional shares of capital stock or other obligations convertible into or exercisable for shares of capital stock that we may issue in the future.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or other securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

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the title of the warrants;

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the aggregate number of warrants offered;

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the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

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the exercise price of the warrants;

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the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

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the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued;

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if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date on and after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

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if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

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any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

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any terms relating to the modification of the warrants;

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any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants; and

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any other specific terms of the warrants.

The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable warrant agreement, which will be filed with the SEC.

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the stockholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of subscription rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:

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the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

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the exercise price payable for each share of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities upon the exercise of the subscription rights;

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the number of subscription rights issued to each stockholder;

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the number and terms of the shares of debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, or other securities which may be purchased per each subscription right;

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the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

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any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights;

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the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

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the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and

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if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights.

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any subscription rights certificate if we offer subscription rights, see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 9. We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights certificate and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts representing contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified or varying number of shares of our common stock, or preferred stock at a future date or dates. Alternatively, the stock purchase contracts may obligate us to purchase from holders, and obligate holders to sell to us, a specified or varying number of shares of common stock, or preferred stock. The price per share and the number of shares may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are entered into or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the stock purchase contracts. The stock purchase contracts may be entered into separately or as a part of a stock purchase unit that consists of (a) a stock purchase contract; (b) warrants; and/or (c) debt securities or debt obligations of third parties (including United States treasury securities or other stock purchase contracts), that would secure the holders’ obligations to purchase or to sell, as the case may be, common stock, or preferred stock under the stock purchase contract. The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or require the holders of the stock purchase units to make periodic payments to us. These payments may be unsecured or prefunded and may be paid on a current or on a deferred basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the contracts in a specified manner.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any stock purchase contract or stock purchase unit and will contain a summary of certain United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units.

CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (“ERISA”), and Section 4975 of the Code impose certain restrictions on (a) employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that are subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) plans (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code) that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code, including individual retirement accounts or Keogh plans, (c) any entities whose underlying assets include assets of a plan described in (a) or (b) by reason of such plan’s investment in such entities, including without limitation, an insurance company general account (each of (a), (b) and (c), a “Plan”) and (d) persons who have certain specified relationships to Plans (“parties in interest” under ERISA and “disqualified persons” under the Code). ERISA also imposes certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of Plans subject to ERISA, and ERISA and the Code prohibit certain transactions between a Plan and “parties in interest” or “disqualified persons” with respect to such Plan. Violations of these rules may result in the imposition of excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. Governmental plans, certain church plans and non-U.S. plans, while not subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, may nevertheless be subject to similar laws.

Prohibited Transactions

The issuer, the trustee, the underwriters or certain affiliates thereof may be “parties in interest” or “disqualified persons” with respect to a number of Plans. Accordingly, investment in the notes by a Plan that has such a relationship could be deemed to constitute a transaction prohibited under Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (e.g., an extension of credit to a “party in interest”). Such transactions may, however, be subject to one or more statutory or administrative exemptions such as Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA, which exempts certain transactions between a plan and a non-fiduciary service provider to such Plan, Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption (“PTCE”) 90-1, which exempts certain transactions involving insurance company separate accounts; PTCE 91-38 which exempts certain transactions involving bank collective investment funds; PTCE 84-14, which exempts certain transactions effected on behalf of a Plan by a “qualified professional asset manager”; PTCE 95-60, which exempts certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts; or PTCE 96-23, which exempts certain transactions effected on behalf of a Plan by an “in-house asset manager;” or another available exemption. Such exemptions may not, however, apply to all of the transactions that could be deemed prohibited transactions in connection with a Plan’s investment. If a purchase or transfer were to result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction, such purchase or transfer may have to be rescinded. By its purchase, each investor will be deemed to have represented that either (i) it is not a Plan that is subject to the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or a governmental, church or non-U.S. plan subject to similar laws, or (ii) its investment will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction by reason of application of one or more statutory or administrative exemptions under ERISA or the Code (or in the case of a governmental, church or non-U.S. plan, any similar exemption under any similar laws).

The sale of any notes to a Plan or plan subject to similar laws is in no respect a representation by us or any of our affiliates or representatives that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investments by any such plan generally or any particular plan, or that such investment is appropriate for such plans generally or any particular plan.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions, including without limitation:

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directly to purchasers;

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through agents;

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to or through underwriters or dealers; or

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through a combination of these methods.

A distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may also be effected through the issuance of derivative securities, including without limitation, warrants, exchangeable securities, forward delivery contracts and the writing of options.

In addition, the manner in which we may sell some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus includes, without limitation, through:

•

a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell as agent, but may position or resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;

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purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or

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privately negotiated transactions.

We may also enter into hedging transactions. For example, we may:

•

enter into transactions with a broker-dealer or affiliate thereof in connection with which such broker-dealer or affiliate will engage in short sales of the common stock pursuant to this prospectus, in which case such broker-dealer or affiliate may use shares of common stock received from us to close out its short positions;

•

sell securities short and redeliver such securities to close out our short positions;

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enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who will then resell or transfer the common stock under this prospectus; or

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loan or pledge the common stock to a broker-dealer or an affiliate thereof, who may sell the loaned shares or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged shares pursuant to this prospectus.

In addition, we may enter into derivative or hedging transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with such a transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by and pursuant to this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be. If so, the third party may use securities borrowed from us or others to settle such sales and may use securities received from us to close out any related short positions. We may also loan or pledge securities covered by this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement to third parties, who may sell the loaned securities or, in an event of default in the case of a pledge, sell the pledged securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

A prospectus supplement with respect to each series of securities will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

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the name or names of any underwriters or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;

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the public offering price or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds to be received by us from the sale;

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any delayed delivery arrangements;

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any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation;

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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

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any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.

The offer and sale of the securities described in this prospectus by us, the underwriters or the third parties described above may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, either:

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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

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at prices related to the prevailing market prices; or

•

at negotiated prices.

General

Any public offering price and any discounts, commissions, concessions or other items constituting compensation allowed or reallowed or paid to underwriters, dealers, agents or remarketing firms may be changed from time to time. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of the offered securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act of 1933. Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive on the resale of the offered securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933. We will identify any underwriters, agents or dealers and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

Underwriters and Agents

If underwriters are used in a sale, they will acquire the offered securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales may be made at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to such prevailing market price or at negotiated prices. We may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter. The underwriters in any particular offering will be mentioned in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we will enter into with the underwriters at the time of the sale to them. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities. Any initial offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We may designate agents to sell the offered securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular offering of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. We may also sell the offered securities to one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These firms will remarket the offered securities upon purchasing them

in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the offered securities. A prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be will identify any remarketing firm and will describe the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation.

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, we may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which we receive our outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from us under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

Dealers

We may sell the offered securities to dealers as principals. We may negotiate and pay dealers’ commissions, discounts or concessions for their services. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public either at varying prices to be determined by the dealer or at a fixed offering price agreed to with us at the time of resale. Dealers engaged by us may allow other dealers to participate in resales.

Direct Sales

We may choose to sell the offered securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved.

Institutional Purchasers

We may authorize agents, dealers or underwriters to solicit certain institutional investors to purchase offered securities on a delayed delivery basis pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified future date. The applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be will provide the details of any such arrangement, including the offering price and commissions payable on the solicitations.

We will enter into such delayed contracts only with institutional purchasers that we approve. These institutions may include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions.

Indemnification; Other Relationships

We may have agreements with agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

There is currently no market for any of the offered securities, other than the common stock which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. If the offered securities are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and other factors. While it is possible that an underwriter could inform us that it intended to make a market in the offered securities, such underwriter would not be obligated to do so, and any such market making could be discontinued at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to whether an active trading market will develop for the offered securities. We have no current plans for listing of the debt securities, preferred stock or warrants on any securities exchange or on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

automated quotation system; any such listing with respect to any particular debt securities, preferred stock or warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be.

In connection with any offering of common stock, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate sales of common stock in excess of the number of shares to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. “Covered” short sales are sales of shares made in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate short involve either purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make “naked” short sales of shares in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares of common stock in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of shares in the open market while the offering is in progress for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.

In connection with any offering, the underwriters may also engage in penalty bids. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

Fees and Commissions

In compliance with the guidelines of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any NASD member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement or pricing supplement, as the case may be; however, it is anticipated that the maximum commission or discount to be received in any particular offering of securities will be significantly less than this amount.

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by NASD members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such NASD members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 2710(h).

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise specified in connection with the particular offering of any securities, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

The combined statements of net assets of the MLIM Business as of December 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004 and the combined statements of earnings, changes in net assets, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 30, 2005 incorporated in this prospectus by reference from BlackRock, Inc.’s Form 8-K/A filed on December 12, 2006, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses (all of which will be borne by the registrant) incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions (if any). All of the amounts shown are estimates, except the SEC registration fee.


SEC registration fee		*
Rating agency fees	$	800,000
Trustee fees and expenses		10,000
Printing and distributing		25,000
Legal fees and expenses		200,000
Accounting fees and expenses		150,000
Miscellaneous		20,000

Total	$	1,255,000

*	Deferred in reliance on Rule 456(b) and 457(r).

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, none of our directors will be liable to us or its stockholders for monetary damages for the breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, this provision does not eliminate or limit the liability of any director if a judgment or other final adjudication establishes that his or her acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders or were in bad faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that he or she personally gained a material profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled or that his or her acts violated Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

As a result of this provision, we and our stockholders may be unable to obtain monetary damages from a director for breach of his duty of care. Although stockholders may continue to seek injunctive or other equitable relief for an alleged breach of fiduciary duty by a director, stockholders may not have any effective remedy against the challenged conduct if equitable remedies are unavailable.

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify, to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law, any person who was or is a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding because he or she is or was a director or officer of ours, or is or was serving at our request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership or other enterprise. The amended and restated bylaws provide that indemnification will be from and against expenses, liabilities, losses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement by the director or officer.

Article XIII, Section 2 of Merrill Lynch’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides in effect that, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Merrill Lynch designated directors on our board of directors will be indemnified by Merrill Lynch to the extent authorized or permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

Pursuant to PNC’s By-Laws, PNC designated directors on our Board of Directors will be indemnified to the full extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as in effect at the time of such indemnification and for mandatory advancement of expenses upon receipt of the required undertaking. PNC’s By-Laws also eliminate, to the maximum extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for any action taken, or any failure to take any action as a director, except in any case where such elimination is not permitted by law.

II-1

In connection with an offering of the securities registered hereunder, the registrant may enter into an underwriting agreement which may provide that the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

The following is a list of all exhibits filed as a part of this registration statement on Form S-3. As used in this exhibit list, “BlackRock” refers to BlackRock, Inc. (formerly named New BlackRock, Inc. and previously, New Boise, Inc.) and “Old BlackRock” refers to BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc. (formerly named BlackRock, Inc.).


Exhibit Number		Description
1.1		Form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant and incorporated by reference herein.

2.1		Transaction Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 15, 2006, by and among Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., BlackRock, Boise Merger Sub, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on February 22, 2006).

3.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on October 5, 2006).

3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on October 5, 2006).

3.3		Certificate of Designations of Series A Convertible Participating Preferred Stock of BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 on October 5, 2006).

4.1		Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Commission File No. 333-137708).

4.2		Indenture, dated as of February 23, 2005, between Old BlackRock and The Bank of New York (as successor-in-interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee, relating to the 2.625% Convertible Debentures due 2035 (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Annual Report on From 10-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 for the year ended December 31, 2004).

4.3		Form of 2.625% Convertible Debenture due 2035 (included as Exhibit A in Exhibit 4.2).

4.4		First Supplemental Indenture, dated September 29, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on October 5, 2006).

4.5		Implementation and Stockholder Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2006, among The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., BlackRock and Old BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on February 22, 2006).

4.6		Stockholder Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2006, between Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-15305) filed on February 22, 2006).

4.7		Share Surrender Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2002, among PNC Bancorp., Inc., The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on November 13, 2002).

II-2


Exhibit Number		Description
4.8		First Amendment, dated as of February 15, 2006, to the Share Surrender Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2002, among PNC Bancorp., Inc., The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on February 22, 2006).

4.9		Second Amendment, dated as of June 11, 2007, to the Share Surrender Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2002, among PNC Bancorp., In., The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on June 15, 2007).

4.10		Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2005, between Old BlackRock and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein, relating to the 2.625% Convertible Debentures due 2035 (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 for the year ended December 31, 2004).

4.11		Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2006, among the Registrant, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Commission File No. 333-137708 filed on September 29, 2006).

4.12		Form of Senior Indenture between BlackRock, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee.

4.13		Form of Subordinated Indenture between BlackRock, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee.

4.14		Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.12).

4.15		Form Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.13).

4.16		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.*

4.17		Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of warrant certificate).*

4.18		Form of Subscription Rights Agreement (including form of subscription rights certificate).*

4.19		Form of Stock Purchase Contract (including form of Stock Purchase Contract Certificate).*

4.20		Form of Stock Purchase Unit Agreement (including form of Stock Purchase Unit Certificate).*

5.1		Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

12.1		Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

23.1		Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2		Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.3		Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1		Power of Attorney (included in signature pages hereto).

25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the TIA of 1939 of The Bank of New York under the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture.

*	To be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference from documents filed or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

II-3

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to

II-4

such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report, pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

II-5

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York on September 11, 2007.


BLACKROCK, INC

By:		/s/ Laurence D. Fink
Name:		Laurence D. Fink
Title:		Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director

II-6

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Laurence D. Fink, Paul L. Audet and Robert P. Connolly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign the registration statement on Form S-3 to be filed in connection with the offerings of securities of BlackRock, Inc. and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and the other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitutes, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Laurence D. Fink Laurence D. Fink	Chairman Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	September 11, 2007

/s/ Paul L. Audet Paul L. Audet	Managing Director and Acting Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	September 11, 2007

/s/ Joseph Feliciani, Jr. Joseph Feliciani, Jr.	Managing Director and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)	September 11, 2007

/s/ William O. Albertini William O. Albertini	Director	September 11, 2007

/s/ William S. Demchak William S. Demchak	Director	September 11, 2007

/s/ Dennis D. Dammerman Dennis D. Dammerman	Director	September 11, 2007

/s/ Robert C. Doll Robert C. Doll	Director	September 11, 2007

/s/ Kenneth B. Dunn, Ph.D. Kenneth B. Dunn, Ph.D.	Director	September 11, 2007

/s/ Gregory J. Fleming Gregory J. Fleming	Director	September 11, 2007

II-7


Signature	Title	Date

/ S / M URRY S. G ERBER Murry S. Gerber	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / J AMES G ROSFELD James Grosfeld	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / R OBERT S. K APITO Robert S. Kapito	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / D AVID H. K OMANSKY David H. Komansky	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / S IR D ERYCK M AUGHAN Sir Deryck Maughan	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / T HOMAS H. O’B RIEN Thomas H. O’Brien	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / E. S TANLEY O’N EAL E. Stanley O’Neal	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / L INDA G OSDEN R OBINSON Linda Gosden Robinson	Director	September 11, 2007

/ S / J AMES E. R OHR James E. Rohr	Director	September 11, 2007

II-8

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number		Description
1.1		Form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K of the registrant and incorporated by reference herein.

2.1		Transaction Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 15, 2006, by and among Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., BlackRock, Boise Merger Sub, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on February 22, 2006).

3.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on October 5, 2006).

3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on October 5, 2006).

3.3		Certificate of Designations of Series A Convertible Participating Preferred Stock of BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 on October 5, 2006).

4.1		Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Commission File No. 333-137708).

4.2		Indenture, dated as of February 23, 2005, between Old BlackRock and The Bank of New York (as successor-in-interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as trustee, relating to the 2.625% Convertible Debentures due 2035 (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Annual Report on From 10-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 for the year ended December 31, 2004).

4.3		Form of 2.625% Convertible Debenture due 2035 (included as Exhibit A in Exhibit 4.2).

4.4		First Supplemental Indenture, dated September 29, 2006 (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on October 5, 2006).

4.5		Implementation and Stockholder Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2006, among The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., BlackRock and Old BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on February 22, 2006).

4.6		Stockholder Agreement, dated as of February 15, 2006, between Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-15305) filed on February 22, 2006).

4.7		Share Surrender Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2002, among PNC Bancorp., Inc., The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on November 13, 2002).

4.8		First Amendment, dated as of February 15, 2006, to the Share Surrender Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2002, among PNC Bancorp., Inc., The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Old BlackRock’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 filed on February 22, 2006).

4.9		Second Amendment, dated as of June 11, 2007, to the Share Surrender Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2002, among PNC Bancorp., In., The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and Old BlackRock (incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 001-33099 filed on June 15, 2007).

II-9


Exhibit Number		Description
4.10		Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2005, between Old BlackRock and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, as representatives of the initial purchasers named therein, relating to the 2.625% Convertible Debentures due 2035 (incorporated herein by reference to Old BlackRock’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Commission File No. 001-15305 for the year ended December 31, 2004).

4.11		Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2006, among the Registrant, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8, Commission File No. 333-137708 filed on September 29, 2006).

4.12		Form of Senior Indenture between BlackRock, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee.

4.13		Form of Subordinated Indenture between BlackRock, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee.

4.14		Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.12).

4.15		Form Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.13).

4.16		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.*

4.17		Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of warrant certificate).*

4.18		Form of Subscription Rights Agreement (including form of subscription rights certificate).*

4.19		Form of Stock Purchase Contract (including form of Stock Purchase Contract Certificate).*

4.20		Form of Stock Purchase Unit Agreement (including form of Stock Purchase Unit Certificate).*

5.1		Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

12.1		Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

23.1		Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.2		Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

23.3		Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1		Power of Attorney (included in signature pages hereto).

25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the TIA of 1939 of The Bank of New York under the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture.

*	To be filed by amendment to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference from documents filed or to be filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

II-10

Exhibit 4.12

BLACKROCK, INC.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of September , 2007

Senior Debt Securities

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318,

inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:


Trust Indenture Act Section						Indenture Section

§ 310(a)(1)						609
(a)(2)						609
(a)(3)						Not Applicable
(a)(4)						Not Applicable
(b)						608, 610
§ 311(a)						613
(b)						613
§ 312(a)						701
						702
(b)						702
(c)						702
§ 313(a)						703
(b)						703
(c)						703
(d)						703
§ 314(a)						704
(a)(4)						101
						1004
(b)						Not Applicable
(c)(1)						102
(c)(2)						102
(c)(3)						Not Applicable
(d)						Not Applicable
(e)						102
§ 315(a)						601
(b)						602
(c)						601
(d)						601
(e)						514
§ 316(a)						101
(a)(1)(A)						502, 512
(a)(1)(B)						513
(a)(2)						Not Applicable
(b)						508
(c)						104
§ 317(a)(l)						503
(a)(2)						504
(b)						1003
§ 318(a)						107

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS		1
SECTION 101. Definitions.		1
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.		6
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.		6
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.		7
SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.		8
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.		8
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act		9
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.		9
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.		9
SECTION 110. Separability Clause.		9
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture.		9
SECTION 112. Governing Law.		9
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.		9
SECTION 114. Language of Notices, Etc.		10
SECTION 115. Submission to Jurisdiction.		10
SECTION 116. Waiver of Jury Trial.		10

ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS		10
SECTION 201. Forms Generally.		10
SECTION 202. Form of Legend for Global Securities.		10
SECTION 203. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.		11
SECTION 204. Securities in Global Form.		11

ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES		12
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable In Series.		12
SECTION 302. Denominations.		15
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.		15
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.		16
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.		16
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.		17
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.		18
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.		19
SECTION 309. Cancellation.		19
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.		19
SECTION 311. CUSIP Numbers.		19

ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE		19
SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.		19
SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.		20
SECTION 403. Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent.		20

ARTICLE V REMEDIES		21
SECTION 501. Events of Default.		21
SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.		22
SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.		22
SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.		23
SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.		23
SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.		24
SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.		24
SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.		24


SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.		25
SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.		25
SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.		25
SECTION 512. Control by Holders.		25
SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.		25
SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs.		25
SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.		26
SECTION 516. Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment.		26

ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE		26
SECTION 601. Duties of Trustee.		26
SECTION 602. Certain Rights of Trustee.		27
SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.		28
SECTION 604. May Hold Securities.		29
SECTION 605. Money Held In Trust.		29
SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement.		29
SECTION 607. Conflicting Interests.		30
SECTION 608. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.		30
SECTION 609. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.		30
SECTION 610. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.		31
SECTION 611. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.		32
SECTION 612. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.		32
SECTION 613. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.		32

ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY		33
SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.		33
SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.		34
SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.		34
SECTION 704. Reports by Company.		34

ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE		34
SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.		34
SECTION 802. Successor Substituted.		35

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES		35
SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.		35
SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.		36
SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.		37
SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.		37
SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.		38
SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.		38

ARTICLE X COVENANTS		38
SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.		38
SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.		38
SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.		38
SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.		39
SECTION 1005. Existence.		39
SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties.		40
SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.		40
SECTION 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants.		40
SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts		40

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES		41
SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article.		41
SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.		41
SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.		41

iii


SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption.		42
SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.		42
SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.		42
SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.		43

ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS		43
SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article.		43
SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.		43
SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.		43

ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE		44
SECTION 1301. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.		44
SECTION 1302. Defeasance and Discharge.		44
SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance.		44
SECTION 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.		44
SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.		46
SECTION 1306. Reinstatement.		46

ARTICLE XIV MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES		47
SECTION 1401. Purposes for which Meetings may be Called.		47
SECTION 1402. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.		47
SECTION 1403. Persons entitled to Vote at Meetings.		47
SECTION 1404. Quorum; Action.		47
SECTION 1405. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.		48
SECTION 1406. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.		49

ARTICLE XV IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATIONS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES		49
SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability.		49

ARTICLE XVI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS		50
SECTION 1601. Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture.		50

INDENTURE, dated as of September , 2007 between BlackRock, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 40 East 52 ^nd St. New York, New York 10022 and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

R ECITALS OF T HE C OMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any persons (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW , THEREFORE , THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH :

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of Series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 101. Definitions .

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted as consistently applied by the Company at the date of such computation;

(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” a “Section” or an “Exhibit” refers to an Article, a Section or an Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Indenture; and

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

Certain terms, used principally in Article Six and Article Thirteen, are defined in those Articles.

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting

securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 613 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

“Automated Clearing House” means an electronic funds transfer system that processes electronically originated batches of credit and debit transfers.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

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

“Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument the United States Securities and Exchange Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which as of the date hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street – Floor 8W, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Corporate Finance Group.

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

“Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 1304.

“Holder” means the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which a Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which related solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

“interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Investment Company Act” means the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(4).

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel. The term “Opinion of Counsel” shall mean an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or of counsel to the Company (and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee), and delivered to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 102, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(2) Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities or portions thereof are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302; and

(4) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 305 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action hereunder as of any date or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action, or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

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

“Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places specified in accordance with Section 301 where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

“Subsidiary” means a corporation or limited liability company more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this definition, “voting-stock” means the equity interest that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, managers or trustees of an entity, or persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of equity interest has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president.”

SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

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

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, and shall include,

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided, that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

SECTION 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be via facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Finance Group, or

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument, Attention: Secretary, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

SECTION 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.

In any case where notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

This Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 110. Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities 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 111. Benefits of Indenture.

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

SECTION 112. Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

SECTION 114. Language of Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

SECTION 115. Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Company irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the City, County and State of New York, United States, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any legal suit, action or proceeding based on or arising under the Securities or this Indenture and agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in any such court. The Company irrevocably waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any such suit, including actions, suits or proceedings relating to the securities laws of the United States of America or any state thereof, in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or the defense of an inconvenient forum or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect to the maintenance of such legal suit, action or proceeding. The Company agrees that the final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Company is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

SECTION 116. Waiver of Jury Trial.

Each of the company and the trustee irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, trial by jury.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201. Forms Generally.

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibits A and A1 or in such other form (including temporary or permanent global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (or any such temporary global Security).

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

SECTION 202. Form of Legend for Global Securities.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED , IN THE NAME OF ANY P ERSON OTHER THAN SUCH D EPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF , EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE I NDENTURE .

SECTION 203. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

The Bank of New York,

As Trustee



By:
		Authorized Signatory



Dated:

SECTION 204. Securities in Global Form.

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102.

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global from together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 201 and 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of and any premium and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable In Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1) and (2) below), if so provided in the Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of such series of Securities, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series and set forth in such Securities of the series when issued from time to time):

(1) the title of the Securities of the series, including CUSIP numbers, if applicable (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305;

(4) the Person to whom any interest on any Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;

(5) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

(6) the ability to issue additional Securities in the same series;

(7) the price or prices at which the Company will sell the Securities;

(8) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended;

(9) provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the Securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

(10) the terms, if any, upon which Holders may convert or exchange the Securities into or for the Company’s common stock, preferred stock or other securities or property;

(11) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate shall be determined, the date or dates from which any such interest

shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date;

(12) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

(13) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

(14) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(15) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(16) whether the amount of payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(17) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

(18) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

(19) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

(20) if the principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, including composite currencies, other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

(21) if either or both of the provisions of Section 1302 or 1303 are applicable to the Securities of such series;

(22) if the amount of principal and interest on the Securities of the series may be determined by reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(23) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed, to be the principal amount shall be determined);

(24) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(25) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth, in the seventh paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered in the name or name of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

(26) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

(27) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series;

(28) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5); and

(29) whether, under what circumstances and the Currency in which the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1009 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States Person(s) (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option).

All Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Not all Securities of any one series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

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

SECTION 302. Denominations.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, any Securities of such series, other than Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time they signed such Securities the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the forms or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

(1) if the forms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such forms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(3) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, 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.

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

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the two preceding paragraphs, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraphs at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of that series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and like aggregate principal amount and tenor.

Until exchanged in full as hereinafter provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder.

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any certificated Security or global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the depositary.

SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at an office or agency to be maintained by the Company in accordance with Section 1002 a register (being the combined register of the Security Registrar and all transfer agents designated pursuant to Section 1002 for the purpose of registration of transfer of Securities and sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and the registration of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company maintained pursuant to Section 1002 for such purpose in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon

surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or any transfer agent) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar or any transfer agent duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption.

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest on any Security may at the Company’s option be paid by mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 308, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account of the Person entitled thereto as such account shall be provided to the Security Registrar and shall appear on the Security Register.

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

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

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 305 and Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

SECTION 309. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company Order or in the Trustee’s customary manner, which manner shall be communicated in writing to the Company.

SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 311. CUSIP Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use such “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for, and any right to receive additional amounts, as provided in Section 1009), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(1) either

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been

replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(i) have become due and payable, or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust money for the purpose and in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met. In the event there are two or more Trustees hereunder, then the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from all Trustees hereunder.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 613 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

SECTION 403. Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any Paying Agent (other than the Trustee, if the Trustee be a Paying Agent) under the provisions of this

Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

SECTION 501. Events of Default.

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article Fourteen or be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or,

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity and (if so established as contemplated by Section 301 in respect of that series), in the case of technical or administrative difficulties only if such default persists for a period of five days; or

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder or

(5) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

(6) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, of the consent by the Company to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by

it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5), or 501(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any sinking fund payments with respect to any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest to the date of such payment or deposit at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, or if no such rate or rates are so prescribed, at the rate borne by the Securities during the period of such default, and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;

and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of any series on its Maturity or otherwise, then,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances, of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed be payable.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem reasonably necessary to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606.

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided , however , that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel,

be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected.

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

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 606;

SECOND: Subject to Article Fourteen, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and

THIRD: To the Company.

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60–day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder; then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that the Trustee may refuse to follow any decision that conflicts with any rule of law or with this Indenture, or that may result in the incurrence of liability by the Trustee, and the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture, and the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs.

in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided this Section shall not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 516, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series.

SECTION 515. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

SECTION 516. Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security to receive payment of principal of, or premium, if any, interest or additional interest, if any, on the Security, on or after the respective due dates thereon (including in connection with an offer to repurchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the written consent of such Holder.

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. Duties of Trustee.

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the TIA and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture or the TIA against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, without investigation, as to the truth or the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon and statements, certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture but need not verify the contents thereof. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 512 or 513.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 601 and Section 602.

(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, including, without limitation, Section 512, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 602. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its own selection and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or Indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

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

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

(9) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;

(10) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and the Person employed to act hereunder;

(11) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

(12) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;

(13) the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties; and

(14) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the name of the individual and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specific actions pursuant to this Indenture, which certificate may be signed by any Person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

SECTION 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 604. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 607 and 612, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent

SECTION 605. Money Held In Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after such Event of Default becomes known to the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in payment on any Security (including the failure to make a mandatory repurchase pursuant hereto), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities.

SECTION 606. Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or bad faith; and

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability claim, damage or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

The obligations of the Company under this Section 606 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 606, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal, Redemption Price or interest on, particular Securities. Such Lien shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 607. Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

SECTION 608. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series who may be the Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. The Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office in New York, New York. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 609. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610.

The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 610 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction (at the expense of the Company) for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 607 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 608 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

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

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 610. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 610, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 610. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

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

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request

of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

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

SECTION 611. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

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

SECTION 612. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

SECTION 613. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

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


The Bank of New York,
As Trustee

By:
		As Authenticating Agent

By:
		Authorized Officer

If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

(1) semi-annually, not later than 15 days after each Regular Record Date or in the case of any series of Securities on which semi-annual interest is not payable, not more than 15 days after such semi-annual dates specified by the Trustee, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the Regular Record Date or such semi-annual date, as the case may be, and

(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee.

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or delisted therefrom.

SECTION 704. Reports by Company.

The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the Commission.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) to consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:

(1) the Company is the surviving corporation or, in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust, organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest (including all additional amounts, if any payable pursuant to Section 1009) on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing;

(3) if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such conveyance, transfer or lease, properties or assets of the Company would become subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance which would not be permitted by this Indenture, the Company or such successor Person, as the case may be, shall take such steps as shall be necessary effectively to secure the Securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby; and

(4) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture complies with this Article.

SECTION 802. Successor Substituted.

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

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

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

(4) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

(5) to secure the Securities; or

(6) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 610; or

(8) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (8) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders .

With the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or

any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1009 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or

(3) change any obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in Section 1002, or

(4) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1009, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided , however , that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 610 and 901(7).

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate each stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that all conditions precedent herein to the execution of the supplemental indenture have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s owner’s rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures .

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Each installment of interest on any Security may at the Company’s option be paid by mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 307, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account of the Person entitled thereto as such account shall be provided to the Security Registrar and shall appear on the Security Register or by transfer through the Automated Clearing House mechanism to an account maintained by such Person with a bank in the continental United States. At the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by official bank check to the registered Holder of the Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security.

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency .

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency in respect of any series of Securities or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders of Securities of that series may be made and notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands. The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

SECTION 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust .

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to

such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and any premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default .

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 20 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default.

SECTION 1005. Existence .

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business

of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

SECTION 1006. Maintenance of Properties .

The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided , however , that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

SECTION 1007. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims .

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith.

SECTION 1008. Waiver of Certain Covenants .

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 1009. Additional Amounts .

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series additional amounts as provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of additional amounts provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, additional amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of additional amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding additional amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article .

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of a specified tenor are to be redeemed). In the case of any redemption of Securities (i) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (ii) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or of the principal amount of global securities of such series. If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence. If so specified in the Securities of a series, partial redemptions must be in an amount not less than $1,000 principal amount of Securities.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption .

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

(7) applicable CUSIP numbers, if any.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price .

Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interests on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part .

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201. Applicability of Article .

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

SECTION 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply, as a credit, Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .

the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 45 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1301. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The Company may at its option, at any time elect to have either Section 1302 or Section 1303 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Thirteen.

SECTION 1302. Defeasance and Discharge .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 applicable to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities of such series and this Indenture insofar as the Securities of such series are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of the Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of such series when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article Thirteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Thirteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1302 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1303.

SECTION 1303. Covenant Defeasance .

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1301 applicable to this Section, (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations with respect to the Securities of such Series under Section 801, Sections 1005 through 1009, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(22), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (ii) the occurrence of an event specified in Sections 501(3) or (4) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or clause whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or clause or by reason of any reference in any such Section or clause to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1302 or Section 1303 to the then Outstanding Securities of any series:

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Thirteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, (A) money in an amount, or (B) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of the Securities of such series. For this purpose, “Government Obligations” means, with respect to any series of Securities, securities that are (x) direct obligations of the government that issued the currency in which such series is denominated (or, if such series is denominated in euro, the direct obligations of any government that is a member of the European Monetary Union) for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any Government Obligation where the relevant government is the United States of America or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of such Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on such Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1202 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1203 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect the that Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that the Securities of such series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of such deposit.

to any Securities or any series of Securities, insofar as subsections 501(6) and (7) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(6) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 607 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company.

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

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 1302 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1303 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

(9) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act, or such trust shall be qualified under such act or exempt from regulation thereunder.

SECTION 1305. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions .

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively, for purposes of this Section 1305, as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of the Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities of such series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of the Securities of such series, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Article Thirteen to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

SECTION 1306. Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Thirteen until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303; provided , however , that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations,

the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE XIV

MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1401. Purposes for which Meetings may be Called.

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any or all series of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given to taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

SECTION 1402. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purposes specified in Section 1401, to be held at any such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in London as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1401, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

SECTION 1403. Persons entitled to Vote at Meetings.

Upon the calling of a meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to vote at such meeting, which record date shall be the close of business on the day the notice of the meeting of Holders is given in accordance with Section 1402. The Holders on such record date, and their designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to vote at such meeting of Holders. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Securities; provided , however , that in the case of any meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, only Holders, or their designated proxies, of record on the record date established pursuant to Section 1403 hereof shall be entitled to vote at such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

SECTION 1404. Quorum; Action.

Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1402(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided , however , that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided , further , that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or any adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

SECTION 1405. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1402(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(c) At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided , however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding.

The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1402 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 1406. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1402 and, if applicable, Section 1404. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

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

ARTICLE XV

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATIONS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS

DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES

SECTION 1501. Exemption from Individual Liability.

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

ARTICLE XVI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1601. Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture.

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

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


BLACKROCK, INC.

By:
Name: Title:


THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

By:
Name: Title:

EXHIBIT A

Form of Face of Registered Security


No.		$

BlackRock, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars on . 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 (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the or (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next 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 (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that at the option of the 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.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security 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 hereof has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:




By:
Name: Title:

EXHIBIT A1

Form of Reverse of Security

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of , 2007 (herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and , as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee[, the holders of Senior Debt] and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. [This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof , limited in aggregate principal amount to $ .]

[ If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, [if applicable, insert — (1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [ if applicable, insert — (1) on or after , 20__], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert — on or before %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert — (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year • through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,


Year	Redemption Price For Redemption Through Operation of the Sinking Fund	Redemption Price For Redemption Otherwise Than Through Operation of the Sinking Fund

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [ if applicable, insert — Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than % per annum.]

[If applicable, insert — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on in each year beginning with the year and ending with the year of [if applicable, insert — not less than $ (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $ aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable, insert — , in the inverse order in which they become due].]

[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[If applicable, insert — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

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 50% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. 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 this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security 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 this Security.

written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

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

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security 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 $ and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of 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 or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

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

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

Exhibit 4.13

BLACKROCK, INC.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of , 2007

Subordinated Debt Securities

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:


Trust Indenture Act Section								Indenture Section
§ 310(a)(1)								609
(a)(2)								609
(a)(3)								Not Applicable
(a)(4)								Not Applicable
(b)								608, 610
§ 311(a)								613
(b)								613
§ 312(a)								701
								702
(b)								702
(c)								702
§ 313(a)								703
(b)								703
(c)								703
(d)								703
§ 314(a)								704
(a)(4)								101
								1004
(b)								Not Applicable
(c)(1)								102
(c)(2)								102
(c)(3)								Not Applicable
(d)								Not Applicable
(e)								102
§ 315(a)								601
(b)								602
(c)								601
(d)								601
(e)								514
§ 316(a)								101
(a)(1)(A)								502, 512
(a)(1)(B)								513
(a)(2)								Not Applicable
(b)								508
(c)								104
§ 317(a)(l)								503
(a)(2)								504
(b)								1003
§ 318(a)								107

NOTE:

This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


			Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS			1
	SECTION 101.	Definitions.	1
	SECTION 102.	Compliance Certificates and Opinions.	6
	SECTION 103.	Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.	7
	SECTION 104.	Acts of Holders; Record Dates.	7
	SECTION 105.	Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.	8
	SECTION 106.	Notice to Holders; Waiver.	9
	SECTION 107.	Conflict with Trust Indenture Act	9
	SECTION 108.	Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.	9
	SECTION 109.	Successors and Assigns.	9
	SECTION 110.	Separability Clause.	9
	SECTION 111.	Benefits of Indenture.	10
	SECTION 112.	Governing Law.	10
	SECTION 113.	Legal Holidays.	10
	SECTION 114.	Language of Notices, Etc.	10
	SECTION 115.	Submission to Jurisdiction.	10
	SECTION 116.	Waiver of Jury Trial.	10

ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS			10
	SECTION 201.	Forms Generally.	10
	SECTION 202.	Form of Legend for Global Securities.	11
	SECTION 203.	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.	11
	SECTION 204.	Securities in Global Form.	11

ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES			12
	SECTION 301.	Amount Unlimited; Issuable In Series.	12
	SECTION 302.	Denominations.	15
	SECTION 303.	Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.	15
	SECTION 304.	Temporary Securities.	16
	SECTION 305.	Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.	17
	SECTION 306.	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.	17
	SECTION 307.	Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.	18
	SECTION 308.	Persons Deemed Owners.	19
	SECTION 309.	Cancellation.	19
	SECTION 310.	Computation of Interest.	19
	SECTION 311.	CUSIP Numbers.	19

ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE			20
	SECTION 401.	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.	20
	SECTION 402.	Application of Trust Money.	21
	SECTION 403.	Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent	21

ARTICLE V REMEDIES			21
	SECTION 501.	Events of Default.	21
	SECTION 502.	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.	22
	SECTION 503.	Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.	23
	SECTION 504.	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.	23
	SECTION 505.	Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.	24
	SECTION 506.	Application of Money Collected.	24
	SECTION 507.	Limitation on Suits.	24
	SECTION 508.	Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.	25


	SECTION 509.	Restoration of Rights and Remedies.	25
	SECTION 510.	Rights and Remedies Cumulative.	25
	SECTION 511.	Delay or Omission Not Waiver.	25
	SECTION 512.	Control by Holders.	25
	SECTION 513.	Waiver of Past Defaults.	25
	SECTION 514.	Undertaking for Costs.	26
	SECTION 515.	Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.	26
	SECTION 516.	Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment.	26

ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE			26
	SECTION 601.	Duties of Trustee.	26
	SECTION 602.	Certain Rights of Trustee.	27
	SECTION 603.	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.	29
	SECTION 604.	May Hold Securities.	29
	SECTION 605.	Money Held In Trust.	29
	SECTION 606.	Compensation and Reimbursement.	29
	SECTION 607.	Conflicting Interests.	30
	SECTION 608.	Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.	30
	SECTION 609.	Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.	30
	SECTION 610.	Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.	31
	SECTION 611.	Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.	32
	SECTION 612.	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.	32
	SECTION 613.	Appointment of Authenticating Agent.	32

ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY			34
	SECTION 701.	Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.	34
	SECTION 702.	Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.	34
	SECTION 703.	Reports by Trustee.	34
	SECTION 704.	Reports by Company.	34

ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE			35
	SECTION 801.	Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.	35
	SECTION 802.	Successor Substituted.	35

ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES			36
	SECTION 901.	Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.	36
	SECTION 902.	Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.	37
	SECTION 903.	Execution of Supplemental Indentures.	37
	SECTION 904.	Effect of Supplemental Indentures.	38
	SECTION 905.	Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.	38
	SECTION 906.	Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.	38

ARTICLE X COVENANTS			38
	SECTION 1001.	Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.	38
	SECTION 1002.	Maintenance of Office or Agency.	38
	SECTION 1003.	Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.	39
	SECTION 1004.	Statement by Officers as to Default.	39
	SECTION 1005.	Existence.	40
	SECTION 1006.	Maintenance of Properties.	40
	SECTION 1007.	Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.	40
	SECTION 1008.	Waiver of Certain Covenants.	40
	SECTION 1009.	Additional Amounts.	40

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES			41
	SECTION 1101.	Applicability of Article.	41
	SECTION 1102.	Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.	41
	SECTION 1103.	Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.	41

iii


	SECTION 1104.	Notice of Redemption.	42
	SECTION 1105.	Deposit of Redemption Price.	43
	SECTION 1106.	Securities Payable on Redemption Date.	43
	SECTION 1107.	Securities Redeemed in Part.	43

ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS			43
	SECTION 1201.	Applicability of Article.	43
	SECTION 1202.	Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.	43
	SECTION 1203.	Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.	44

ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE			44
	SECTION 1301.	Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.	44
	SECTION 1302.	Defeasance and Discharge.	44
	SECTION 1303.	Covenant Defeasance.	44
	SECTION 1304.	Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.	45
	SECTION 1305.	Deposited Money and Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.	46
	SECTION 1306.	Reinstatement.	47

ARTICLE XIV SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES			47
	SECTION 1401.	Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.	47
	SECTION 1402.	Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.	47
	SECTION 1403.	Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt.	48
	SECTION 1404.	Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.	48
	SECTION 1405.	Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.	48
	SECTION 1406.	No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.	49
	SECTION 1407.	Notice to Trustee.	49
	SECTION 1408.	Reliance On Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.	50
	SECTION 1409.	Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt.	50
	SECTION 1410.	Rights of Trustee As Holder of Senior Debt; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights.	50
	SECTION 1411.	Article Applicable to Paying Agents.	50
	SECTION 1412.	Certain Conversions or Exchanges Deemed Payment.	50
	SECTION 1413.	Defeasance of This Article Fourteen.	51

ARTICLE XV IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATIONS , STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES			51
	SECTION 1501.	Exemption from Individual Liability.	51

ARTICLE XVI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS			51
	SECTION 1601.	Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture	51

ARTICLE XVII MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES			51
	SECTION 1701.	Purposes for which Meetings may be Called.	51
	SECTION 1702.	Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.	51
	SECTION 1703.	Persons entitled to Vote at Meetings.	52
	SECTION 1704.	Quorum; Action.	52
	SECTION 1705.	Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.	53
	SECTION 1706.	Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.	53

INDENTURE, dated as of , 2007 between BlackRock, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 40 East 52 ^nd St. New York, New York 10022 and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

R ECITALS OF T HE C OMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured, subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any persons (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW , THEREFORE , THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH :

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 101.

Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

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

Certain terms, used principally in Article Six and Article Thirteen, are defined in those Articles.

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 613 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“Automated Clearing House” means an electronic funds transfer system that processes electronically originated batches of credit and debit transfers.

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 1304.

“Holder” means the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which a Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which related solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

“interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

“Investment Company Act” means the United States Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501(4).

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(2) Securities or portions thereof for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities or portions thereof are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302; and

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

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

“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

“Senior Debt” means all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of this Indenture or thereafter incurred or created: (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due on the Company’s indebtedness for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all of the Company’s capital lease obligations; (iii) any of the Company’s obligations as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles; (iv) all of the Company’s obligations for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all of the Company’s obligations in respect of interest rate swap, cap or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements; (vi) all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vii) all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company); provided, however, that the following will not constitute Senior Indebtedness: (a) any indebtedness which expressly provides (i) that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Securities, or (ii) that such indebtedness shall be subordinated to any other indebtedness of the Company, unless such indebtedness expressly provides that such indebtedness shall be senior in right of payment to the Securities; (b) any indebtedness of the Company in respect of the Securities; (c) any indebtedness or liability for compensation to employees, for goods or materials purchased in the ordinary course of business or for services; (d) any indebtedness of the Company to any subsidiary; and (e) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

SECTION 102.

Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 103.

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

SECTION 104.

Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization,

direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided, that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

SECTION 105.

Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

SECTION 106.

Notice to Holders; Waiver.

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders of Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.

SECTION 107.

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

SECTION 108.

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 109.

Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 110.

Separability Clause.

SECTION 111.

Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 112.

Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

SECTION 113.

Legal Holidays.

SECTION 114.

Language of Notices, Etc.

SECTION 115.

Submission to Jurisdiction.

SECTION 116.

Waiver of Jury Trial.

Each of the company and the trustee irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, trial by jury.

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201.

Forms Generally.

thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (or any such temporary global Security).

SECTION 202.

Form of Legend for Global Securities.

THIS S ECURITY IS A G LOBAL S ECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE I NDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A D EPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF . T HIS S ECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A S ECURITY REGISTERED , AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS S ECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED , IN THE NAME OF ANY P ERSON OTHER THAN SUCH D EPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF , EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE I NDENTURE .

SECTION 203.

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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


The Bank of New York,
As Trustee

By:
Authorized Signatory


Dated:

SECTION 204.

Securities in Global Form.

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301.

Amount Unlimited; Issuable In Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

(1) the title of the Securities of the series, including CUSIP numbers, if applicable, (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

(5) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

(6) the ability to issue additional Securities in the same series;

(7) the price or prices at which the Company will sell the Securities;

(9) provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the Securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

(10) the terms, if any, upon which Holders may convert or exchange the Securities into or for the Company’s common stock, preferred stock or other securities or property;

(11) the specific subordination provisions applicable to the Securities, if other than as set forth in Article 14 herein;

(12) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate shall be determined, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date;

(13) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of and any premium, if any, and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

(14) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

(15) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(16) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof _, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(17) whether the amount of payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(18) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

(19) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

(20) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

(21) if the principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, including composite currencies, other than that or those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

(22) if either or both of the provisions of Section 1302 or 1303 are applicable to the Securities of such series;

(23) if the amount of principal and interest on the Securities of the series may be determined by reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(24) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed, to be the principal amount shall be determined);

(25) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

(26) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth, in the seventh paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered in the name or name of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

(27) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

(28) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article Ten which applies to Securities of the series;

(29) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(5)); and

(30) whether, under what circumstances and the Currency in which the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1009 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States Person(s) (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option).

The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt as provided in Article Fourteen.

SECTION 302.

Denominations.

SECTION 303.

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 304.

Temporary Securities.

SECTION 305.

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

SECTION 306.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

SECTION 307.

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest on any Security may at the Company’s option be paid by mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 308, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account of the Person entitled thereto as such account shall be provided to the Security Registrar and shall appear on the Security Register.

10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

SECTION 308.

Persons Deemed Owners.

SECTION 309.

Cancellation.

SECTION 310.

Computation of Interest.

SECTION 311.

CUSIP Numbers.

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

(1) either

(A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(i) have become due and payable, or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

SECTION 402.

Application of Trust Money.

SECTION 403.

Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any Paying Agent (other than the Trustee, if the Trustee be a Paying Agent) under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

SECTION 501.

Events of Default.

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or,

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

SECTION 502.

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5),or 501(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel;

and

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 503.

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

The Company covenants that if

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of any series on its Maturity, or otherwise, then,

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, of such series wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed be payable.

SECTION 504.

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

SECTION 505.

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

SECTION 506.

Application of Money Collected .

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 606;

THIRD: To the Company.

SECTION 507.

Limitation on Suits .

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

SECTION 508.

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

SECTION 509.

Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

SECTION 510.

Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

SECTION 511.

Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

SECTION 512.

Control by Holders .

SECTION 513.

Waiver of Past Defaults .

(1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

SECTION 514.

Undertaking for Costs .

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided this Section shall not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 516, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities.

SECTION 515.

Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

SECTION 516.

Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment .

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.

Duties of Trustee .

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section;

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

(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 512 or 513.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 601 and Section 602.

SECTION 602.

Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

(13) the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties; and

SECTION 603.

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

SECTION 604.

May Hold Securities .

SECTION 605.

Money Held In Trust .

SECTION 606.

Compensation and Reimbursement .

The Company agrees

(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

The obligations of the Company under this Section 606 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 607.

Conflicting Interests .

SECTION 608.

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, who may be the Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. The Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and has its Corporate Trust Office in New York, New York. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 609.

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 607 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 608 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

SECTION 610.

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

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

SECTION 611.

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

SECTION 612.

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311 (b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

SECTION 613.

Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall he a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

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


The Bank of New York,
As Trustee

By:
		As Authenticating Agent

By:
		Authorized Officer

ARTICLE VII

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701.

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

SECTION 702.

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

SECTION 703.

Reports by Trustee .

SECTION 704.

Reports by Company .

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801.

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms .

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), and the Company shall not permit any Person (other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) to consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:

(4) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, and Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such supplemental indenture complies with this Article.

SECTION 802.

Successor Substituted .

same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901.

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

(5) to secure the Securities; or

(6) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

SECTION 902.

Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders .

With the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1009 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders, or

(3) change any obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in Section 1002, or

(4) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1009, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 610 and 901(7).

SECTION 903.

Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

supplemental indenture have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s owner’s rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904.

Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

SECTION 905.

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 906.

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

SECTION 1001.

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

SECTION 1002.

Maintenance of Office or Agency.

provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

SECTION 1003.

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and any premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 1004.

Statement by Officers as to Default.

reasonably practicable and in any event within 20 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default.

SECTION 1005.

Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

SECTION 1006.

Maintenance of Properties.

The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the ability of the Company to make payments hereunder.

SECTION 1007.

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith.

SECTION 1008.

Waiver of Certain Covenants.

SECTION 1009.

Additional Amounts .

would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of additional amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding additional amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of additional amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Payment Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the additional amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101.

Applicability of Article.

SECTION 1102.

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

SECTION 1103.

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

securities of such series. If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence. If so specified in the Securities of a series, partial redemptions must be in an amount not less than $1,000 principal amount of Securities.

SECTION 1104.

Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price,

(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case; and

(7) applicable CUSIP numbers, if any.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

SECTION 1105.

Deposit of Redemption Price.

SECTION 1106.

Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interests on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

SECTION 1107.

Securities Redeemed in Part.

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201.

Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

SECTION 1202.

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 1203.

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 45 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE XIII

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1301.

Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

SECTION 1302.

Defeasance and Discharge.

SECTION 1303.

Covenant Defeasance.

the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or clause whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or clause or by reason of any reference in any such Section or clause to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 1304.

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1302 or Section 1303 to the then Outstanding Securities of any series:

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect the that Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant

defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(5) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, in the event of an election to have Section 1202 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, insofar as subsections 501(6) and (7) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(10) At the time of such deposit, (A) no default in the payment of any principal of or premium or interest on any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) no event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have resulted in such Senior Debt becoming, and continuing to be, due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable (unless payment of such Senior Debt has been made or duly provided for), and (C) no other event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting (after notice or lapse of time or both) the holders of such Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of such holders) to declare such Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable.

SECTION 1305.

Deposited Money and Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

SECTION 1306.

Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Thirteen until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 1302 or 1303; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

ARTICLE XIV

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1401.

Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities of any series by the Holder’s acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article, subject to the provisions of Article Four and Article Thirteen and except as may otherwise be specified as contemplated by Section 301 and set forth in the Securities of a series, the indebtedness represented by the Securities of such series and the payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on each and all of the Securities of such series are hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all amounts then due and payable in respect of all Senior Debt of the Company, to the extent and in the manner herein set forth (unless a different manner is set forth in the Securities of such series). No provision of this Article shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

Senior Debt shall not be deemed to have been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash, securities or other property equal to the amount of such Senior Debt then outstanding.

SECTION 1402.

Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.

In the event of:

(i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating to the Company, its creditors or its property,

(ii) any proceeding for the liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, or bankruptcy proceedings,

(iii) any assignment by the Company for the benefit of its creditors,

(iv) any other marshalling of the assets of the Company,

all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made by the Company on account of the Securities of any series. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan or reorganization or a readjustment, the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of any series, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect to the Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt shall have been paid in full. No present or future holder of any Senior Debt shall be prejudiced in the right to enforce subordination of the indebtedness constituting the Securities of any series by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company.

SECTION 1403.

Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt.

Upon the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the rights of the holders of Securities of any series shall be subrogated to all the rights of any holders of Senior Debt to receive any further payments or distributions applicable to the Senior Debt until the Securities of any series shall have been paid in full, and such payments or distributions received by the Holders of Securities of any series by reason of such subrogation, of cash, securities or other property which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of Senior Debt, shall, as between the Company and its creditors other than the holders of Senior Debt, on the one hand, and the Holders of Securities of any series, on the other, be deemed to be a payment by the Company on account of Senior Debt, and not on account of the Securities of any series.

SECTION 1404.

Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.

The provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of Securities of any series on the one hand and the holders of Senior Debt on the other hand. Nothing contained in this article or elsewhere in the Indenture or in the Securities of such series is intended to or shall

(a) impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities of such series, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional (and which, subject to the rights under this Article of the holders of Senior Debt, is intended to rank equally with all other general obligations of the Company), to pay to the Holders of Securities of such series the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on, the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms; or

(b) affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of Securities of such series and creditors of the Company, as the case may be, other than the holders of Senior Debt; or

(c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Securities of such series from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Debt to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.

SECTION 1405.

Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

Each Holder of Securities of any series by such Holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

SECTION 1406.

No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.

Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities of any series, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities of such series and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of Securities of such series to the holders of Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following:

(a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding;

(b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt;

(d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

SECTION 1407.

Notice to Trustee.

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provision of the Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of any Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article, unless and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Debt or from any trustee therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 603, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of any series), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within three Business Days prior to such date.

Subject to the provisions of Section 603, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee therefor). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payment of distribution pursuant to this Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article, and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

SECTION 1408.

Reliance On Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 603, and the Holders of Securities of any series shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of such series, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.

SECTION 1409.

Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt.

With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt with respect to its obligations and duties created hereunder and shall not be liable to any such holders or creditors if it shall in good faith pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities of any series or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.

SECTION 1410.

Rights of Trustee As Holder of Senior Debt; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights.

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Debt which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt, and nothing in the Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 606.

SECTION 1411.

Article Applicable to Paying Agents.

In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that this Section shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if it or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

SECTION 1412.

Certain Conversions or Exchanges Deemed Payment.

For the purposes of this Article only, (a) the issuance and delivery of securities which are subordinate in right of payment to all then outstanding Senior Debt to substantially the same extent as the Securities are so subordinate (“Junior Securities”) (or cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) upon conversion or exchange of Securities of any series as contemplated by Section 301, shall not be deemed to constitute a payment or distribution on account of the principal of or premium or interest on Securities of such series or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities of such series and (b) the payment, issuance or delivery of cash, property or securities (other than Junior Securities and cash paid in lieu of fractional shares) upon conversion or exchange of Securities of any series shall be deemed to constitute payment on account of the principal of such Securities of such series. Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in the Indenture or in the Securities of any series is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities of such series the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of the Holder of any Securities of such series to convert or exchange such Securities of such series in accordance with the terms specified as contemplated by Section 301.

SECTION 1413.

Defeasance of This Article Fourteen.

The subordination of the Securities provided by this Article Fourteen is expressly made subject to the provisions for defeasance or covenant defeasance in Article Thirteen hereof and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the effectiveness of any such defeasance or covenant defeasance, the Securities than outstanding shall thereupon cease to be subordinated pursuant to this Article Fourteen.

ARTICLE XV

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATIONS , STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES

SECTION 1501.

Exemption from Individual Liability.

ARTICLE XVI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1601.

Successors and Assigns of Company Bound by Indenture

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

ARTICLE XVII

MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1701.

Purposes for which Meetings may be Called.

SECTION 1702.

Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purposes specified in Section 1501, to be held at any such time and at such place in the

Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in London as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

SECTION 1703.

Persons entitled to Vote at Meetings.

Upon the calling of a meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to vote at such meeting, which record date shall be the close of business on the day the notice of the meeting of Holders is given in accordance with Section 1502. The Holders on such record date, and their designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to vote at such meeting of Holders. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Securities; provided, however, that in the case of any meeting of Holders with respect to the Securities of a series all or part of which are represented by a Security, only Holders, or their designated proxies, of record on the record date established pursuant to Section 1503 hereof shall be entitled to vote at such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

SECTION 1704.

Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 50% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided , further , that, except as limited by the proviso to the first paragraph of Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or any adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

SECTION 1705.

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(c) At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 1706.

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

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


BLACKROCK, INC.

By:
Name:
Title:

The BANK OF NEW YORK as Trustee

By:
Name:
Title:

EXHIBIT A

Form of Face of Registered Security


No.								$

If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert —The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the 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.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:




By:
Name:
Title:

EXHIBIT A1

Form of Reverse of Security

[ If applicable, insert —The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, [ if applicable, insert —(1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [ if applicable, insert —(1) on or after , 20 ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [ if applicable, insert— on or before %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,


Year		Redemption Price		Year		Redemption Price

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert— (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

[If applicable, insert —The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than 30 days’ notice by mail, (1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year • through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert— on or after ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,


Year		Redemption Price For Redemption Through Operation of the Sinking Fund		Redemption Price For Redemption Otherwise Than Through Operation of the Sinking Fund

[If applicable, insert —Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [ if applicable, insert —Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than % per annum.]

[If applicable, insert— The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on . . . . . . . . . . in each year beginning with the year and ending with the year of [if applicable, insert —not less than $ (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $ aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert— mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert— mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable, insert —, in the inverse order in which they become due].]

[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert— In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

[The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions of the Indenture, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Debt, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Holder upon said provisions.

[If applicable, insert —The Securities shall [not be superior in right of payment to, and shall] rank pari passu with[,]—insert description of existing debt of the Company that is intended to rank on a parity with the Securities.]

[If applicable, insert—The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert—If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to—insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

Exhibit 5.1

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

September 11, 2007

BlackRock, Inc.

40 East 52nd Street

New York, NY 10022

Re: BlackRock, Inc., Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to BlackRock, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3, to be filed on the date hereof by the Company (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Act, of the following securities of the Company: (i) shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Preferred Stock”), in one or more series; (iii) senior debt securities (“Senior Debt Securities”) and subordinated debt securities (“Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Debt Securities, “Debt Securities”) which may be issued in one or more series under one or more indentures relating to either Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities, as applicable (each, an “Indenture” and, collectively, “Indentures”), proposed to be entered into between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”); (iv) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase Debt Securities, shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or other securities pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and warrant agents to be named therein (each, a “Warrant Agent” and, collectively, “Warrant Agents”); (v) subscription rights (the “Subscription Rights”) to purchase Debt Securities, shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or other securities which may be issued under one or more subscription rights certificates (each, a “Subscription Rights Certificate”) and/or pursuant to one or more subscription rights agreements (each, a “Subscription Rights Agreement”) proposed to be entered into between the Company and a subscription agent or agents (each, a “Subscription Agent” and, collectively, “Subscription Agents”); (vi) stock purchase contracts of the Company (“Stock Purchase Contracts”), obligating the holders thereof to purchase from or sell to the Company, and the Company to sell to or purchase from such holders, shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock at a future date or dates, which may be issued under one or more purchase contract agreements proposed to be entered into by the Company and a purchase contract agent or agents to be named (each, a “Stock Purchase Contract Agent”); (vii) stock purchase units of the Company (“Stock Purchase Units”), each

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September 11, 2007

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representing ownership of a Stock Purchase Contract, Warrants and/or Debt Securities or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. Treasury securities, other stock purchase contracts or common stock, securing an obligation of the holder thereof to purchase or to sell, as the case may be, shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock under such holder’s Stock Purchase Contract; and (viii) such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock and amount of Debt Securities, as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, or the settlement of any Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units, including such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock as may be issued pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering (collectively, “Indeterminate Securities”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Subscription Rights, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units and Indeterminate Securities are collectively referred to herein as the “Offered Securities.”

This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of:

(i)

the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities;

(ii)

the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as certified by the Secretary of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Incorporation”);

(iii)

the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as currently in effect, as certified by the Secretary of the Company (the “By-laws”);

(iv)

the form of Indenture relating to Senior Debt Securities and the form of senior note included therein;

(v)

the form of Indenture relating to Subordinated Debt Securities and the form of subordinated note included therein;

(vi)

certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) relating to the registration of the Offered Securities;

(vii)

a specimen certificate representing the Common Stock; and

(viii)

the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), of the Trustee, to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

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Page 3

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company, and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified, conformed or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making our examination of documents executed or to be executed, we have assumed that the parties thereto, other than the Company, had or will have the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents, and the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties. We have also assumed that the Indentures, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units, Warrant Agreements and the Subscription Rights Agreements will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, Stock Purchase Contract Agents, Warrant Agents and Subscription Agents, as the case may be, and, in the case of Indentures, in substantially the forms reviewed by us, and that any Debt Securities, Stock Purchase Contracts, Stock Purchase Units, Warrants or Subscription Rights Certificates, that may be issued will be manually authenticated, signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of the applicable Trustee, Stock Purchase Contract Agent, Warrant Agent or Subscription Agent, as the case may be.

In addition, we have assumed that the terms of the Offered Securities will have been established so as not to, and that the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance of its obligations under, the Indentures, the Offered Securities, the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Stock Purchase Units, the Warrant Agreements and the Subscription Rights Agreements, will not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or its properties are subject, (ii) any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or its properties is subject, (iii) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any governmental authority or (iv) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to Delaware corporate law and the laws of the State of New York that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement and, to the extent that

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Page 4

judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”). We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such non-Opined on Law on the opinions herein stated. The Offered Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

With respect to the shares of any Common Stock offered by the Company, including any Indeterminate Securities (the “Offered Common Stock”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Common Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Common Stock is to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Common Stock has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Offered Common Stock and related matters; (v) terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Common Stock have been duly established and are then in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and (vi) certificates in the form required under Delaware corporate law representing the shares of Offered Common Stock are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the agreed upon consideration therefor, the shares of Offered Common Stock (including any Common Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants or Subscription Rights or the settlement of any Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Common Stock.

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With respect to the shares of any series of Preferred Stock offered by the Company, including any Indeterminate Securities (the “Offered Preferred Stock”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Preferred Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Preferred Stock is to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Preferred Stock has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance, sale and terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Designation for the Offered Preferred Stock in accordance with the applicable provisions of the corporate laws of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Designation”); (v) the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware has duly occurred; (vi) the terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and of their issuance and sale have been duly established and are then in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, including the Certificate of Designation relating to the Offered Preferred Stock, and the By-laws of the Company so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vii) certificates in the form required under Delaware corporate law representing the shares of Offered Preferred Stock are duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the shares of the Offered Preferred Stock (including any Preferred Stock duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants or Subscription Rights or the settlement of any Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration therefor is not less than $0.01 per share of Preferred Stock.

With respect to any series of Debt Securities offered by the Company (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act and the applicable Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to any Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in

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Page 6

compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Debt Securities are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) an applicable Indenture relating to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (v) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance, sale and terms of the Offered Debt Securities and related matters; (vi) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vii) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants or Subscription Rights or the settlement of any Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Indenture and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies, (d) the waivers of any usury defense contained in the Indentures or Offered Debt Securities which may be unenforceable, (e) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Securities denominated in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law, and (f) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies.

4.	With respect to any Warrants offered by the Company (the “Offered Warrants”), when (i) the Registration Statement as finally amended (including all necessary

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post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Warrants has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Warrants are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Warrants and the Offered Securities of the Company into which the Offered Warrants are exercisable, the consideration to be received therefor and related matters; (v) a Warrant Agreement relating to the Offered Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (vi) the terms of the Offered Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and the applicable Warrant Agent; and (vii) the Offered Warrants have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement and duly issued and sold in the applicable form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement or term sheet relating thereto, the Offered Warrants, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies.

With respect to any Subscription Rights (the “Offered Subscription Rights”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Subscription Rights has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the

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September 11, 2007

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Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Subscription Rights are to be sold or otherwise distributed pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Subscription Rights has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Subscription Rights, the Offered Securities of the Company into which the Offered Subscription Rights are exercisable, the Subscription Rights Agreement and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Subscription Rights and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Subscription Rights Agreement, Subscription Rights Certificate so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and the applicable Subscription Agent; (vi) Common Stock or the Preferred Stock relating to such Offered Subscription Rights has been duly issued and paid for in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto; and (vii) the Subscription Right Certificates in the applicable form to be filed on a Current Report on Form 8-K or other applicable periodic report in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement or term sheet relating thereto have been duly executed, delivered and countersigned, issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Subscription Rights Agreement, the Offered Subscription Rights (including any Subscription Rights duly issued upon due conversion, exchange or exercise of any Debt Securities, Warrants or Preferred Stock) , when issued and sold or otherwise distributed in accordance with the applicable Subscription Rights Agreement, the Subscription Rights Certificate and the applicable purchase agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, or upon due conversion, exercise or exchange of any Debt Securities, Warrants or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally; (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies.

6.	With respect to any Stock Purchase Contracts offered by the Company (the “Offered Stock Purchase Contracts”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as

BlackRock, Inc.

September 11, 2007

Page 9

finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts are to be sold pursuant to firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agent; and (vi) the applicable Offered Stock Purchase Contracts have been duly executed and delivered and duly issued and sold in the applicable form to be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement or term sheet relating thereto, the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts (including any stock Purchase Contracts duly issued upon due conversion, exchange or exercise of any Warrants or Debt Securities), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable underwriting agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, will be duly authorized and validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) Section 160 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, (c) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (d) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies.

With respect to any Stock Purchase Units (the “Offered Stock Purchase Units”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Act; (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Units has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) if the Offered Stock

BlackRock, Inc.

September 11, 2007

Page 10

Purchase Units are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Units and related matters; (v) the terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Units and the related Offered Stock Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agent; (vi) any Warrants and Debt Securities of the Company included in such Offered Stock Purchase Units have been duly issued and paid for in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating thereto; and (vii) the Offered Stock Purchase Units have been duly executed, delivered, countersigned, issued and sold in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement in the applicable form to be filed on a Current Report on Form 8-K in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement or any prospectus supplement or term sheet relating thereto, the Offered Stock Purchase Units (including any Stock Purchase Units duly issued upon due conversion, exchange or exercise of any Debt Securities or Warrants), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Stock Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable purchase agreement or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, or upon due conversion, exercise or exchange of any Debt Securities or Warrants, as the case may be, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) Section 160 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, and (c) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

BlackRock, Inc.

September 11, 2007

Page 11

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Exhibit 12.1

BLACKROCK, INC.

COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


	Six months ended June 30,						Year ended December 31,
	2007			2006			2006			2005			2004			2003			2002
Pre-tax income	$	925,681		$	214,620		$	528,233		$	375,755		$	200,438		$	250,902		$	223,948
Add: Fixed charges		33,313			8,216			22,393			15,236			5,590			5,211			4,726
Distributions from equity investees		5,118			397			1,939			2,620			2,276			3,144			1,008
Less: Income from equity investees		(22,475	)		(5,091	)		(5,659	)		(11,526	)		(2,549	)		(4,912	)		(2,098	)

Pre-tax income before fixed charges	$	941,637		$	218,142		$	546,906		$	382,085		$	205,755		$	254,345		$	227,584

Fixed charges:
Interest Expense	$	21,209		$	3,999		$	9,916		$	7,924		$	835		$	720		$	683
Portion of rent representative of interest		12,104			4,217			12,477			7,312			4,755			4,491			4,043

Total fixed charges	$	33,313		$	8,216		$	22,393		$	15,236		$	5,590		$	5,211		$	4,726

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges		28.27			26.55			24.42			25.08			36.81			48.81			48.15

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated March 13, 2007, relating to the financial statements of BlackRock, Inc., and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of BlackRock, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2006, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

New York, New York

September 11, 2007

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of BlackRock, Inc. of our report dated October 6, 2006, relating to the financial statements of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers Business appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A of BlackRock, Inc. filed on December 12, 2006, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

New York, New York

September 11, 2007

Exhibit 25.1

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST

INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION

DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A

TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


New York		13-5160382
(Jurisdiction of incorporation		(I.R.S. Employer
if not a U.S. national bank)		Identification No.)


One Wall Street
New York, New York		10286
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

BlackRock, Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


Delaware		32-0174431
(State or other jurisdiction		(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)


40 East 52 ^nd Street
New York, New York		10022
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

Senior Notes

Subordinated Notes

(Title of the indenture securities)

Item 1. General Information.

Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

(a)

Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to

which it is subject.


Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York		2 Rector Street, New York, N.Y. 10006 and Albany, N.Y. 12203
Federal Reserve Bank of New York		33 Liberty Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10045
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation		550 17 ^th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20429
New York Clearing House Association		New York, N.Y. 10005

(b)

Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).


1.	–	A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195.)

4.	–	A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 with Registration Statement No. 333-121195.)

6.	–	The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-44051.)

7.	–	A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 11 ^th day of September, 2007.


THE BANK OF NEW YORK

By:		/s/ Franca M. Ferrera
		Name: Franca M. Ferrera Title: Assistant Vice President

EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,

a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business June 30, 2007, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.


		Dollar Amounts In Thousands
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin		2,729,000
Interest-bearing balances		20,956,000
Securities:
Held-to-maturity securities		1,416,000
Available-for-sale securities		24,732,000
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:
Federal funds sold in domestic offices		10,454,000
Securities purchased under agreements toresell		157,000
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases held for sale		0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income		31,260,000
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses		281,000
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance		30,979,000
Trading assets		2,764,000
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)		884,000
Other real estate owned		2,000
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies		284,000
Not applicable
Intangible assets:
Goodwill		2,713,000
Other intangible assets		950,000
Other assets		9,137,000


		Dollar Amounts In Thousands
Total assets		108,157,000

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices		29,601,000
Noninterest-bearing		18,755,000
Interest-bearing		10,846,000
In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs		53,217,000
Noninterest-bearing		1,965,000
Interest-bearing		51,252,000
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:
Federal funds purchased in domestic offices		1,454,000
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		101,000
Trading liabilities		2,565,000
Other borrowed money: (includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)		3,890,000
Not applicable
Not applicable
Subordinated notes and debentures		2,261,000
Other liabilities		6,362,000

Total liabilities		99,451,000

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries		155,000
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus		0
Common stock		1,135,000
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)		2,148,000
Retained earnings		5,676,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income		-408,000
Other equity capital components		0
Total equity capital		8,551,000

Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital		108,157,000

I, Thomas P. Gibbons, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Thomas P. Gibbons,

Chief Financial Officer

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.

Thomas A. Renyi

Gerald L. Hassell

Catherine A. Rein

Directors