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Registration No. 333-214360

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FORM S-3

Registration Statement

under

the Securities Act of 1933

 

 

NiSource Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

35-2108964

(IRS Employer Identification Number)

 

 

801 East 86th Avenue

Merrillville, Indiana 46410

(877) 647-5990

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Shawn Anderson

NiSource Inc.

801 East 86th Avenue

Merrillville, Indiana 46410

(877) 647-5990

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone

number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

With copy to:

Robert J. Minkus, Esq.

Schiff Hardin LLP

233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 7100

Chicago, Illinois 60606

(312) 258-5500

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and other factors.


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If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please 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.  ☒

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 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.  ☒

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.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer   ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of securities to be registered    Amount to be registered /
Proposed maximum
offering price per unit /
Proposed maximum
aggregate offering price /
Amount of registration fee

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share

   (1)

Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share

   (1)

Debt Securities

   (1)

Warrants

   (1)

Stock Purchase Contracts

   (1)

Stock Purchase Units

   (1)

Total

   (1)

 

 

(1) We are registering a presently indeterminate number or principal amount of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units which may be sold from time to time by NiSource Inc. Pursuant to General Instruction II.E of Form S-3, and in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

 

 

 


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 relates to the registration statement on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-214360 and 333-214360-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2016 (the “Registration Statement”) by NiSource Inc. (“NiSource”) and its wholly-owned special purpose finance subsidiary NiSource Finance Corp. (“NiSource Finance”), as registrants. On November 30, 2017, NiSource Finance merged with and into NiSource (the “Merger”), and NiSource Finance ceased to exist.

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 is being filed for the purposes of (i) removing NiSource Finance as a registrant, (ii) removing from registration the debt securities of NiSource Finance and warrants to purchase NiSource Finance’s debt securities, (iii) removing from registration NiSource’s guarantees of NiSource Finance’s debt securities and (iv) registering debt securities of NiSource and warrants to purchase NiSource’s debt securities as additional securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act of 1933.

The existing base prospectus, dated November 1, 2016, is being replaced in its entirety by the base prospectus filed with this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 will become effective immediately upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

NiSource Inc.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

 

 

NiSource Inc. may offer, from time to time, in amounts, at prices and on terms that it will determine at the time of offering, any or all of the following:

 

    shares of common stock;

 

    shares of preferred stock, in one or more series;

 

    one or more series of its debt securities;

 

    warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities; and

 

    stock purchase contracts to purchase common stock, either separately or in units with the debt securities described below or U.S. Treasury securities;

We will provide specific terms of these securities, including their offering prices, in prospectus supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

We may offer these securities to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents, directly to you or through a combination of these methods. You can find additional information about our plan of distribution for the securities under the heading “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 17 of this prospectus. We will also describe the plan of distribution for any particular offering of these securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

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

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is November 30, 2017.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     1  

Risk Factors

     2  

Forward-Looking Statements

     2  

NiSource Inc.

     3  

Use of Proceeds

     4  

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     4  

Description of Capital Stock

     5  

Description of the Debt Securities

     7  

Description of Warrants

     16  

Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units

     17  

Plan of Distribution

     17  

Legal Opinions

     19  

Experts

     19  


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration or continuous offering process. Under this process, we may from time to time 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 common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. That prospectus supplement may include a description of any risk factors or other special considerations applicable to those securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in the prospectus and the prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read at the SEC website or at the SEC’s public reference room offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.

References to “NiSource” refer to NiSource Inc. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us” or “our” refer collectively to NiSource and its subsidiaries. References to “securities” refer collectively to the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, stock purchase contracts and stock purchase units registered hereunder.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

NiSource files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document NiSource files at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain additional information about the public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains a site on the internet (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including NiSource.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that NiSource has filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information that NiSource files with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically modify and supersede the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus to the extent that the subsequently filed information modifies or supersedes the existing information. We incorporate by reference the following documents filed with the SEC:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016;

 

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    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017;

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed January 27, 2017, March 24, 2017, April 26, 2017, May 3, 2017 (reporting Items 1.01, 8.01 and 9.01), May 10, 2017, May 17, 2017, July 14, 2017 (as amended by a Form 8-K/A filed on November 1, 2017), September 8, 2017 and November 14, 2017; and

 

    any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities.

You may request a copy of any of these filings at no cost by writing to or telephoning us at the following address and telephone number: Samuel K. Lee, NiSource Inc., 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410, telephone: (877) 647-5990.

We maintain an internet site at http://www.nisource.com which contains information concerning NiSource and its subsidiaries. The information contained at our internet site is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.

We have filed this prospectus with the SEC as part of a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual document. If we have filed any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in the securities involves risk. You should read carefully the “Risk Factors” and “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” sections in NiSource’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and in NiSource’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2017, June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement applicable to each type or series of securities we offer may contain a discussion of additional risks applicable to an investment in us and the particular type of securities we are offering under that prospectus supplement.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information included in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. Investors and prospective investors should understand that many factors govern whether any forward-looking statement contained herein will be or can be realized. Any one of those factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning NiSource’s plans, objectives, expected performance, expenditures, recovery of expenditures through rates, stated on either a consolidated or segment basis, and any and all underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. From time to time, NiSource may publish or otherwise make available forward-looking statements of this nature. All such subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral and whether made by or on behalf of NiSource, are also expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially.

 

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Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among other things, NiSource’s debt obligations; any changes in NiSource’s credit rating; NiSource’s ability to execute its growth strategy; changes in general economic, capital and commodity market conditions; pension funding obligations; economic regulation and the impact of regulatory rate reviews; NiSource’s ability to obtain expected financial or regulatory outcomes; any damage to NiSource’s reputation; compliance with environmental laws and the costs of associated liabilities; fluctuations in demand from residential and commercial customers; economic conditions of certain industries; the success of NIPSCO’s electric generation strategy; the price of energy commodities and related transportation costs; the reliability of customers and suppliers to fulfill their payment and contractual obligations; potential impairments of goodwill or definite-lived intangible assets; changes in taxation and accounting principles; potential incidents and other operating risks associated with our business; the impact of an aging infrastructure; the impact of climate change; potential cyber-attacks; construction risks and natural gas costs and supply risks; extreme weather conditions; the attraction and retention of a qualified workforce; advances in technology; the ability of NiSource’s subsidiaries to generate cash; tax liabilities associated with the separation of Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. on July 1, 2015, and other matters set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of NiSource’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 and NiSource’s Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q for quarterly periods ended in 2017, many of which risks are beyond the control of NiSource. In addition, the relative contributions to profitability by each business segment, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements relating thereto, may change over time. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. NiSource undertakes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any such obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or changes to the future results over time or otherwise, except as required by law.

Accordingly, you should not rely on the accuracy of predictions contained in forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus, the date of the accompanying prospectus supplement or, in the case of documents incorporated by reference, the date of those documents.

NISOURCE INC.

Overview.  NiSource is an energy holding company whose subsidiaries are fully regulated natural gas and electric utility companies serving approximately 3.9 million customers in seven states. We are one of the nation’s largest natural gas distribution companies, as measured by number of customers. Our principal subsidiaries include NiSource Gas Distribution Group, Inc., a natural gas distribution company, and Northern Indiana Public Service Company, or NIPSCO, a vertically-integrated natural gas and electric company. NiSource derives substantially all of its revenues and earnings from the operating results of these rate-regulated businesses. Our primary business segments are:

 

    Gas Distribution Operations; and

 

    Electric Operations.

On July 1, 2015, we completed the spin-off of our former subsidiary Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc., which comprised all of our Columbia Pipeline Group Operations segment prior to that time.

Business Strategy.  We focus our business strategy on our core, rate-regulated asset-based businesses with most of our operating income generated from the rate-regulated businesses. NiSource’s utilities continue to move forward on core infrastructure and environmental investment programs supported by complementary regulatory and customer initiatives across all seven states in which we operate. Our goal is to develop strategies that benefit all stakeholders as we address changing customer conservation patterns, develop more contemporary pricing structures and embark on long-term investment programs. These strategies will help improve reliability and safety, enhance customer services and reduce emissions while generating sustainable returns.

 

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Gas Distribution Operations.  Our natural gas distribution operations serve approximately 3.4 million customers in seven states and operate approximately 59,000 miles of pipeline. Through our wholly-owned subsidiary NiSource Gas Distribution Group, Inc., we own six distribution subsidiaries that provide natural gas to approximately 2.6 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Massachusetts. We also distribute natural gas to approximately 820,000 customers in northern Indiana through our wholly-owned subsidiary NIPSCO.

Electric Operations.  We generate, transmit and distribute electricity through our subsidiary NIPSCO to approximately 466,000 customers in 20 counties in the northern part of Indiana and engage in wholesale and transmission transactions. NIPSCO owns and operates three coal-fired electric generating stations. The three operating facilities have a net capability of 2,540 megawatts. NIPSCO also owns and operates Sugar Creek, a combined cycle gas turbine plant with a net capability of 535 megawatts, three gas-fired generating units located at NIPSCO’s coal-fired electric generating stations with a net capability of 196 megawatts and two hydroelectric generating plants with a net capability of 10 megawatts. These facilities provide for a total system operating net capability of 3,281 megawatts. NIPSCO’s transmission system, with voltages from 69,000 to 345,000 volts, consists of 2,805 circuit miles. NIPSCO is interconnected with five neighboring electric utilities. During the year ended December 31, 2016, NIPSCO generated 66.4% and purchased 33.6% of its electric requirements.

Our executive offices are located at 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410, telephone: (877) 647-5990.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes, including additions to working capital and repayment of existing indebtedness.

RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following are ratios of our earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated:

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2017

   Fiscal Year Ended December 31,  
  

2016

    

2015

    

2014

    

2013

    

2012

 

1.92

     2.25        1.81        2.01        1.81        1.61  

For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes plus fixed charges. “Fixed charges” consist of interest on all indebtedness (before allowance for borrowed funds used during construction), amortization of debt expense, the portion of rental expenses on operating leases deemed to be representative of the interest factor and preferred stock dividend requirements of consolidated subsidiaries. The results of operations for NiSource’s former Columbia Pipeline Group Operations segment are treated as discontinued operations for all periods.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The authorized capital stock of NiSource consists of 420,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value, of which 400,000,000 are common stock and 20,000,000 are preferred stock. The board of directors has designated 4,000,000 shares of the preferred stock as Series A Junior Participating Preferred Shares. These shares were reserved for issuance upon the exercise of rights under NiSource’s former Shareholder Rights Plan, which was effectively terminated in 2006 and formally expired in 2010.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

The certificate of incorporation of NiSource includes provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control of management of NiSource. Members of NiSource’s board of directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of stock of NiSource voting together as a single class. Stockholders may not cumulate their votes, and stockholder action may be taken only at a duly called meeting and not by written consent. In addition, NiSource’s bylaws contain requirements for advance notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations. These and other provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control of management of NiSource.

NiSource is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. Section 203 prevents certain Delaware corporations, including those whose securities are listed on a national securities exchange, such as the New York Stock Exchange, from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a “business combination,” which includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of the corporation’s assets, with any interested stockholder for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a stockholder who acquired 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock without the prior approval of the corporation’s board of directors.

The following summaries of provisions of our common stock and preferred stock are not necessarily complete. You are urged to read carefully NiSource’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Common Stock

NiSource common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NI.” Common stockholders may receive dividends if and when declared by the board of directors. Dividends may be paid in cash, stock or other form. In certain cases, common stockholders may not receive dividends until obligations to any preferred stockholders have been satisfied. All common stock will be fully paid and non-assessable. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors and other matters. Common stockholders are not entitled to preemptive rights or cumulative voting rights. Common stockholders will be notified of any stockholders’ meeting according to applicable law. If NiSource liquidates, dissolves or winds-up its business, either voluntarily or involuntarily, common stockholders will share equally in the assets remaining after creditors and preferred stockholders are paid.

Preferred Stock

The board of directors can, without approval of stockholders, issue one or more series of preferred stock. The board can also determine the number of shares of each series and the rights, preferences and limitations of each series, including any dividend rights, voting rights, conversion rights, redemption rights and liquidation preferences, the number of shares constituting each series and the terms and conditions of issue. In some cases,

 

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the issuance of preferred stock could delay a change in control of NiSource and make it harder to remove incumbent management. Under certain circumstances, preferred stock could also restrict dividend payments to holders of common stock. All preferred stock will be fully paid and non-assessable.

The terms of the preferred stock that NiSource may offer will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of NiSource and will be issued under certificates of designations or through amendments to NiSource’s certificate of incorporation. If NiSource uses this prospectus to offer preferred stock, an accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the preferred stock. NiSource will also indicate in the prospectus supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to the preferred stock that NiSource may offer.

The following terms of the preferred stock, as applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to the preferred stock:

 

    the title and stated value;

 

    the number of shares NiSource is offering;

 

    the liquidation preference per share;

 

    the purchase price;

 

    the dividend rate, period and payment date, and method of calculation of dividends;

 

    whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;

 

    the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;

 

    the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;

 

    the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on NiSource’s ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights;

 

    any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

 

    voting rights, if any;

 

    preemptive rights, if any;

 

    restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

    whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;

 

    a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;

 

    the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend or liquidation rights;

 

    any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend or liquidation rights; and

 

    any other material specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.

The terms, if any, on which the preferred stock may be exchanged for or converted into shares of common stock or any other security and, if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion or exchange period will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The preferred stock or any series of preferred stock may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global certificates, which will have an aggregate liquidation preference equal to that of the preferred stock represented by the global certificate.

 

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Each global certificate will:

 

    be registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement;

 

    be deposited with such depositary or nominee or a custodian for the depositary; and

 

    bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer and any other matters as may be provided for under the certificate of designations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

NiSource may issue debt securities, which will be designated as either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, in one or more series from time to time. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “debt securities” refer collectively to both the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities. The senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of November 14, 2000, as supplemented, between NiSource (as successor to NiSource Finance Corp.) and The Bank of New York Mellon (as successor in interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank), as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the “Senior Indenture.” The subordinated debt securities will be issued under a separate indenture to be entered into at a future date between NiSource and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. We refer to this indenture as the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, as the “Indentures.” The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under the Indentures, will act as indenture trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the Indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

This section briefly summarizes some of the terms of the debt securities and the Indentures. This section does not contain a complete description of the debt securities or the Indentures. The description of the debt securities is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Indentures. References to section numbers in this description of the debt securities, unless otherwise indicated, are references to section numbers of each Indenture.

General

The Indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued. Each Indenture provides for the issuance of debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The terms of each series of debt securities may be established in a supplemental indenture or in resolutions of NiSource’s board of directors or a committee of the board.

The senior debt securities:

 

    are direct senior unsecured obligations of NiSource; and

 

    are equal in right of payment to any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of NiSource.

The subordinated debt securities:

 

    are direct subordinated unsecured obligations of NiSource; and

 

    are subordinated to the prior payment in full of the senior debt securities of NiSource.

NiSource is a holding company with no independent business operations or source of income of its own. It conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries and, as a result, NiSource depends on the earnings and cash flow of, and dividends or distributions from, its subsidiaries to provide the funds necessary to meet its debt and contractual obligations. Substantially all of NiSource’s consolidated assets, earnings and cash flow is derived from the operation of its regulated utility subsidiaries, whose legal authority to pay dividends or make other distributions to NiSource is subject to regulatory restrictions. In addition, NIPSCO’s debt indenture provides that NIPSCO will not declare or pay any dividends on its common stock owned by NiSource except out of earned surplus or net profits.

 

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NiSource’s holding company status also means that its right to participate in any distribution of the assets of any of its subsidiaries upon liquidation, reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of the creditors of each of the subsidiaries (except to the extent that the claims of NiSource itself as a creditor of a subsidiary may be recognized). Since this is true for NiSource, it is also true for the creditors of NiSource (including the holders of the debt securities).

If NiSource uses this prospectus to offer debt securities, an accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of the debt securities being offered, to the extent applicable:

 

    the title and type of the debt securities;

 

    any limit on the aggregate principal amount;

 

    the date or dates on which NiSource will pay principal;

 

    the right, if any, to extend the date or dates on which NiSource will pay principal;

 

    the interest rates or the method of determining them and the date interest begins to accrue;

 

    the interest payment dates and the regular record dates for any interest payment dates;

 

    the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any extension;

 

    the place or places where NiSource will pay principal and interest;

 

    the terms and conditions of any optional redemption, including the date after which, and the price or prices at which, NiSource may redeem securities;

 

    the terms and conditions of any optional purchase or repayment, including the date after which, and the price or prices at which, holders may require NiSource to purchase, or a third party may require holders to sell, securities;

 

    the terms and conditions of any mandatory or optional sinking fund redemption, including the date after which, and the price or prices at which, NiSource may redeem securities;

 

    whether bearer securities will be issued;

 

    the denominations in which NiSource will issue securities;

 

    the currency or currencies in which NiSource will pay principal and interest;

 

    any index or indices used to determine the amount of payments;

 

    the portion of principal payable on declaration of acceleration of maturity;

 

    any additional events of default or covenants of NiSource applicable to the debt securities;

 

    whether NiSource will pay additional amounts in respect of taxes and similar charges on debt securities held by a United States alien and whether NiSource may redeem those debt securities rather than pay additional amounts;

 

    whether NiSource will issue the debt securities in whole or in part in global form and, in such case, the depositary for such global securities and the circumstances under which beneficial owners of interests in the global security may exchange such interest for securities;

 

    the date or dates after which holders may convert the securities into shares of NiSource common stock or preferred stock and the terms for that conversion;

 

    particular terms of subordination with respect to subordinated debt securities; and

 

    any other terms of the securities consistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture.

The Indentures do not give holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or other transaction involving NiSource. The Indentures also do not limit the ability of NiSource to incur indebtedness or to declare or pay dividends on its capital stock.

 

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Conversion Rights

The terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be exchanged for or converted into shares of common stock or preferred stock of NiSource will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Denomination, Registration and Transfer

NiSource may issue the debt securities as registered securities in certificated form or as global securities as described under the heading “Book-Entry Issuance.” Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, NiSource will issue registered debt securities in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. (See Section 302.)

If NiSource issues the debt securities as registered securities, NiSource will keep at one of its offices or agencies a register in which it will provide for the registration and transfer of the debt securities. NiSource will appoint that office or agency the security registrar for the purpose of registering and transferring the debt securities.

The holder of any registered debt security may exchange the debt security for registered debt securities of the same series having the same stated maturity date and original issue date, in any authorized denominations, in like tenor and in the same aggregate principal amount. The holder may exchange those debt securities by surrendering them in a place of payment maintained for this purpose at the office or agency NiSource has appointed securities registrar. Holders may present the debt securities for exchange or registration of transfer, duly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed written instrument of transfer satisfactory to NiSource and the securities registrar. No service charge will apply to any exchange or registration of transfer, but NiSource may require payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in the applicable Indenture. (See Section 305.)

If debt securities of any series are redeemed, NiSource will not be required to issue, register transfer of or exchange any debt securities of that series during the 15 business day period immediately preceding the day the relevant notice of redemption is given. That notice will identify the serial numbers of the debt securities being redeemed. After notice is given, NiSource will not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities that have been selected to be either partially or fully redeemed, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed. (See Section 305.)

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on each interest payment date, NiSource will pay interest on each debt security to the person in whose name that debt security is registered as of the close of business on the record date relating to that interest payment date. If NiSource defaults in the payment of interest on any debt security, it may pay that defaulted interest to the registered owner of that debt security:

 

    as of the close of business on a date that the indenture trustee selects, which may not be more than 15 days or less than 10 days before the date NiSource proposes to pay the defaulted interest, or

 

    in any other lawful manner that does not violate the requirements of any securities exchange on which that debt security is listed and that the indenture trustee believes is acceptable.

(See Section 307.)

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, NiSource will pay the principal of and any premium or interest on the debt securities when they are presented at the office of the indenture trustee, as paying agent. NiSource may change the place of payment of the debt securities, appoint one or more additional paying agents, and remove any paying agent.

 

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Redemption

The applicable prospectus supplement will contain the specific terms on which NiSource may redeem a series of debt securities prior to its stated maturity. NiSource will send a notice of redemption to holders at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the redemption date. The notice will state:

 

    the redemption date;

 

    the redemption price;

 

    if less than all of the debt securities of the series are being redeemed, the particular debt securities to be redeemed (and the principal amounts, in the case of a partial redemption);

 

    that on the redemption date, the redemption price will become due and payable and any applicable interest will cease to accrue on and after that date;

 

    the place or places of payment; and

 

    whether the redemption is for a sinking fund.

(See Section 1104.)

On or before any redemption date, NiSource will deposit an amount of money with the indenture trustee or with a paying agent sufficient to pay the redemption price. (See Section 1105.)

If NiSource is redeeming less than all the debt securities, the indenture trustee will select the debt securities to be redeemed using a method it considers fair and appropriate, provided that any debt securities issued as global securities will be selected for redemption in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary. After the redemption date, holders of redeemed debt securities will have no rights with respect to the debt securities except the right to receive the redemption price and any unpaid interest to the redemption date. (See Section 1103.)

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

NiSource shall not consolidate or merge with any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease substantially all of its assets or properties to any entity unless:

 

    that corporation or entity is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof;

 

    that corporation or entity assumes NiSource’s obligations under the Indentures;

 

    after giving effect to the transaction, NiSource is not in default under the Indentures; and

 

    NiSource delivers to the indenture trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel to the effect that the transaction complies with the Indentures.

(See Section 801.)

Limitation on Liens

As long as any debt securities remain outstanding, neither NiSource nor any subsidiary of NiSource other than a utility may issue, assume or guarantee any debt secured by any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance on any property owned by NiSource or that subsidiary, except intercompany indebtedness, without also securing the debt securities equally and ratably with (or prior to) the new debt, unless the total amount of all of the secured debt would not exceed 10% of the consolidated net tangible assets of NiSource and its subsidiaries (other than utilities).

 

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The lien limitations do not apply to NiSource’s and any subsidiary’s ability to do the following:

 

    create mortgages on any property and on certain improvements and accessions on such property acquired, constructed or improved after the date of the applicable Indenture;

 

    assume existing mortgages on any property or indebtedness of an entity which is merged with or into, or consolidated with NiSource or any subsidiary;

 

    assume existing mortgages on any property or indebtedness of an entity existing at the time it becomes a subsidiary;

 

    create mortgages to secure debt of a subsidiary to NiSource or to another subsidiary;

 

    create mortgages in favor of governmental entities to secure payment under a contract or statute or mortgages to secure the financing of constructing or improving property, including mortgages for pollution control or industrial revenue bonds;

 

    create mortgages to secure debt of NiSource or its subsidiaries maturing within 12 months and created in the ordinary course of business;

 

    create mortgages to secure the cost of exploration, drilling or development of natural gas, oil or other mineral property;

 

    continue mortgages existing on the date of the applicable Indenture; and

 

    create mortgages to extend, renew or replace indebtedness secured by any mortgage referred to above provided that the principal amount of indebtedness and the property securing the indebtedness shall not exceed the amount secured by the mortgage being extended, renewed or replaced.

(See Section 1008.)

Events of Default

The Indentures provide, with respect to any outstanding series of debt securities, that any of the following events constitutes an “Event of Default”:

 

    NiSource defaults in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series that becomes due and payable and the default continues for 60 days;

 

    NiSource defaults in the payment of principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due at its maturity, on redemption, by declaration or otherwise and the default continues for three business days;

 

    NiSource defaults in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due and the default continues for three business days;

 

    NiSource defaults in the performance of or breaches any covenant or warranty in the applicable Indenture for 90 days after written notice to NiSource from the indenture trustee or to NiSource and the indenture trustee from the holders of at least 33% of the outstanding debt securities of that series;

 

    NiSource defaults under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by it or defaults under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, secured or evidenced indebtedness constituting a failure to pay in excess of $50,000,000 of the principal or interest when due and payable, and, in the event such debt has become due as the result of an acceleration, such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled or such debt is not paid within 60 days after written notice to NiSource from the indenture trustee or to NiSource and the indenture trustee from the holders of at least 33% of the outstanding debt securities of that series; or

 

    certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of NiSource.

(See Section 501.)

 

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If an Event of Default occurs with respect to debt securities of a particular series, the indenture trustee or the holders of 33% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the debt securities of that series due and payable immediately. (See Section 502.)

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a particular series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the indenture trustee under the applicable Indenture, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the indenture trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series. The indenture trustee may refuse to follow directions that are in conflict with law or the applicable Indenture, that expose the indenture trustee to personal liability or that are unduly prejudicial to other holders. The indenture trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with those directions. (See Section 512.)

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the applicable Indenture and its consequences, except a default:

 

    in respect of a payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any debt security; or

 

    in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each affected debt security.

(See Section 513.)

At any time after the holders of the debt securities of a series declare that the debt securities of that series are due and immediately payable, a majority in principal amount of the outstanding holders of debt securities of that series may rescind and cancel the declaration and its consequences: (1) before the indenture trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for money, (2) if all defaults (other than the non-payment of principal which has become due solely by reason of the declaration) have been waived or cured, and (3) if NiSource has paid or deposited with the indenture trustee an amount sufficient to pay:

 

    all overdue interest on the debt securities of that series;

 

    the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of that series which are due other than by reason of the declaration;

 

    interest on overdue interest (if lawful); and

 

    sums paid or advanced by and amounts due to the indenture trustee under the applicable Indenture.

(See Section 502.)

Modification of Indentures

NiSource and the indenture trustee may modify or amend one or both of the Indentures, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities, for any of the following purposes:

 

    to evidence the succession of another person as obligor under the Indenture;

 

    to add to NiSource’s covenants or to surrender any right or power conferred on NiSource under the Indenture;

 

    to add events of default;

 

    to add or change any provisions of the Indenture to provide that bearer securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal or premium on registered securities or of principal or premium or any interest on bearer securities, to permit registered securities to be exchanged for bearer securities or to permit the issuance of securities in uncertificated form (so long as the modification or amendment does not materially adversely affect the interest of the holders of debt securities of any series);

 

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    to change or eliminate any provisions of the Indenture (so long as there are no outstanding debt securities entitled to the benefit of the provision);

 

    to secure the debt securities;

 

    to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

    to evidence or provide for the acceptance or appointment by a successor indenture trustee or facilitate the administration of the trust under the Indenture by more than one indenture trustee;

 

    to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture (so long as the cure or modification does not materially adversely affect the interest of the holders of debt securities of any series); or

 

    to conform the Indenture to any amendment of the Trust Indenture Act.

(See Section 901.)

Each Indenture provides that we and the indenture trustee may amend the Indenture or the debt securities with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the amendment voting as one class. However, without the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected, an amendment or modification may not, among other things:

 

    change the stated maturity of the principal or interest on any debt security;

 

    reduce the principal amount of, rate of interest on, or premium payable upon the redemption of any debt security;

 

    change the method of calculating the rate of interest on any debt security;

 

    change any obligation of NiSource to pay additional amounts in respect of any debt security;

 

    reduce the principal amount of a discount security that would be payable upon acceleration of its maturity;

 

    change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or any premium or interest on, any debt security;

 

    impair a holder’s right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment after the stated maturity or after any redemption date or repayment date;

 

    reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities necessary to modify or amend the Indenture or to consent to any waiver under the Indenture;

 

    change any obligation of NiSource to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment or to maintain an office or agency outside the United States; and

 

    modify these requirements or reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities necessary to waive any past default of certain covenants.

(See Section 902.)

Satisfaction and Discharge

Under the Indentures, NiSource can terminate its obligations with respect to debt securities of any series not previously delivered to the indenture trustee for cancellation when those debt securities:

 

    have become due and payable;

 

    will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year; or

 

    are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the indenture trustee for giving notice of redemption.

 

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NiSource may terminate its obligations with respect to the debt securities of that series by depositing with the indenture trustee, as trust funds dedicated solely for that purpose, an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series. In that case, the applicable Indenture will cease to be of further effect and NiSource’s obligations will be satisfied and discharged with respect to that series (except as to NiSource’s obligations to pay all other amounts due under the applicable Indenture and to provide certain officers’ certificates and opinions of counsel to the indenture trustee). At the expense of NiSource, the indenture trustee will execute proper instruments acknowledging the satisfaction and discharge.

(See Section 401.)

Book-Entry Issuance

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, NiSource will issue any debt securities offered under this prospectus as “global securities.” We will describe the specific terms for issuing any debt security as a global security in the prospectus supplement relating to that debt security.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, will act as the depositary for any global securities. NiSource will issue global securities as fully registered securities registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. NiSource will issue one or more fully registered global securities for each issue of debt securities, each in the aggregate principal or stated amount of such issue, and will deposit the global securities with DTC.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues and money market instruments that DTC’s participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among its direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between its direct participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. The DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities under DTC’s system must be made by or through a direct participant, which will receive a credit for such securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security, the beneficial owner, is in turn to be recorded on the records of direct and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but they should receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the participants through which they entered into the transactions. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities that are deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized

 

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representative of DTC. The deposit of global securities with, or on behalf of, DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any changes in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the debt securities of like tenor and terms are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the global securities unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to NiSource as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the applicable record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

Redemption proceeds, principal payments and any premium, interest or other payments on the global securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of the participant and not of DTC, NiSource or the indenture trustee, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements. Payment of redemption proceeds, principal and any premium, interest or other payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of NiSource and the applicable paying agent, disbursement of payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, a beneficial owner will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of a security. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights with respect to such beneficial owner’s interest in a global security. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global securities.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the global securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to NiSource or the indenture trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, certificates for the securities are required to be printed and delivered to the holders of record.

NiSource may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary). NiSource understands, however, that under current industry practices, DTC would notify its participants of NiSource’s decision, but will only withdraw beneficial interests from the global securities at the request of each participant. In that event, certificates for the securities will be printed and delivered to the applicable participants.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. We have

 

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no responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

Governing Law

Each of the Indentures is, and the related senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities will be, governed by the internal laws of the State of New York.

Information Concerning the Indenture Trustee

Prior to default, the indenture trustee will perform only those duties specifically set forth in the Indentures. After default, the indenture trustee will exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. The indenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless the holder offers the indenture trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liability that the indenture trustee might incur in exercising those powers. The indenture trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of its duties if it reasonably believes that it may not receive repayment or adequate indemnity. (See Section 601.)

Because The Bank of New York Mellon is the trustee under the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture, it may be required to resign as trustee under one of those Indentures if there is an event of default under an Indenture.

We may appoint an alternative trustee for any series of debt securities. The appointment of an alternative trustee would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

NiSource may issue warrants to purchase equity or debt securities. NiSource may issue warrants independently or together with any offered securities. The warrants may be attached to or separate from those offered securities. NiSource will issue the warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between NiSource and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the warrants. These terms may include the following:

 

    the title of the warrants;

 

    the designation, amount and terms of the securities for which the warrants are exercisable;

 

    the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each other security;

 

    the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

    the aggregate number of warrants;

 

    any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;

 

    the price or prices at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

 

    if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

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    if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants;

 

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

 

    the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire;

 

    the maximum or minimum number of warrants that may be exercised at any time; and

 

    information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase for cash the amount of equity or debt securities at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, NiSource will, as soon as possible, forward the equity or debt securities that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises the warrant for less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, NiSource will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

NiSource may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from NiSource, and for NiSource to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock and the number of shares of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula stated in the stock purchase contracts.

The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units that we call “stock purchase units.” Stock purchase units consist of a stock purchase contract and either NiSource’s debt securities or U.S. treasury securities securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the common stock under the stock purchase contracts.

The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. The description in the prospectus supplement will only be a summary, and you should read the stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase units and the stock purchase contracts will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, through dealers or agents, directly to you or through a combination of these methods. The prospectus supplement with respect to any offering of securities will describe the specific terms of the securities being offered, including:

 

    the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

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    the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to NiSource from the sale;

 

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

 

    any initial public offering price;

 

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

 

    any securities exchange on which the offered securities may be listed.

Through Underwriters. If we use underwriters in the sale of the securities, the underwriters will acquire the offered securities for their own account. We will execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters once an agreement for sale of the securities is reached. The underwriters may resell the offered securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The underwriters may sell the offered securities directly or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to offered securities, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase those offered securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of those offered securities if they purchase any of them.

Through Dealers. If we use a dealer to sell the securities, we will sell the offered securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell those offered securities at varying prices determined at the time of resale. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

Through Agents. If we use agents in the sale of securities, we may designate one or more agents to sell offered securities. Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment.

Directly to Purchasers. We may sell the offered securities directly to one or more purchasers. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved. We will describe the terms of our direct sales in our prospectus supplement.

General Information. A prospectus supplement will state the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent and the amount of any compensation, underwriting discounts or concessions paid, allowed or reallowed to them. A prospectus supplement will also state the proceeds to us from the sale of offered securities, any initial public offering price and other terms of the offering of those offered securities.

Our agents, underwriters and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

We may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase offered securities from us at the public offering price and on terms described in the related prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. If we use delayed delivery contracts, we will disclose that we are using them in our prospectus supplement and will tell you when we will demand payment and delivery of the securities. The delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to the conditions we set forth in our prospectus supplement.

We may enter into agreements to indemnify agents, underwriters and dealers against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

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LEGAL OPINIONS

Schiff Hardin LLP, Chicago, Illinois, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus for us. The opinions with respect to the securities may be subject to assumptions regarding future action to be taken by us and the trustee, if applicable, in connection with the issuance and sale of the securities, the specific terms of the securities and other matters that may affect the validity of securities but that cannot be ascertained on the date of those opinions.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the NiSource Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Form 10-K/A filed on May 8, 2017, and the effectiveness of NiSource Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference (which reports (1) express an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule and include an explanatory paragraph relating to NiSource’s spin-off of its subsidiary Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. on July 1, 2015 and (2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting). Such consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following table sets forth fees and expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby (other than any underwriting discounts and commissions). All amounts set forth below relate to the registration of the securities pursuant to this registration statement and are estimates. As the amount of securities to be issued and distributed pursuant to this registration statement is indeterminate, the fees and expenses of such issuances and distributions cannot be determined or estimated at this time.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee

   $ *  

Trustee’s fees

     5,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     15,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     35,000  

Printing expenses

     7,000  

Miscellaneous expenses

     3,000  
  

 

 

 

TOTAL

   $ 65,000  
  

 

 

 

 

* This registration statement relates to the registration of securities having an indeterminate maximum aggregate principal amount. The registration fee will be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and calculated in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r).

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section B.1. of Article V of NiSource Inc.’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that no director shall be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Section B.2. of Article V of NiSource Inc.’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, requires NiSource to provide indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. As authorized by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, NiSource Inc. will indemnify any person who was or is involved in any manner (including, without limitation, as a party or a witness) or is threatened to be made so involved in any threatened, pending or completed investigation, claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including, without limitation, any employee benefit plan) against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such investigation, claim, action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner that he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reason to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Pursuant to Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, if the investigation, claim, action, suit or proceeding is a derivative action (meaning one brought by or on behalf of the corporation), NiSource Inc. will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, as then in effect, indemnify any person against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such investigation, claim, action, suit or proceeding if incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such investigation, claim, action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification

 

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may be made in respect to any investigation, claim, action, suit, proceeding or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which the action or suit is brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in light of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expense as the court deems proper.

NiSource Inc.’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and the General Corporation Law of Delaware permit NiSource Inc. and its subsidiaries to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is a director or officer for acts committed in their capacities as such directors or officers. NiSource Inc. currently maintains such liability insurance.

 

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

Reference is made to the information in the Exhibit Index filed as part of this registration statement.

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;

Provided, however, paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of 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 will 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:

(A) 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

 

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(B) 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 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 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement will be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the 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, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

The following documents are filed as part of the registration statement or are incorporated by reference:

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Document Description

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement*
  4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of NiSource Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit   3.1 to the NiSource Inc. Form  10-Q filed on August  3, 2015)
  4.2    Bylaws of NiSource Inc., as amended and restated through January  29, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit   3.1 to the NiSource Inc. Current Report on Form  8-K filed on February  1, 2016)
  4.3    Indenture, dated as of November   14, 2000, originally among NiSource Finance Corp., NiSource Inc., as guarantor, and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee and now between NiSource Inc., as successor issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  4.1 to the NiSource Inc. Form  S-3 filed November  17, 2000 (Registration No.  333-49330))
  4.4    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 30, 2017, between NiSource Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee*
  4.5    Form of Subordinated Indenture between NiSource Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee*
  5.1    Opinion of Schiff Hardin LLP*
12.1    Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (incorporated by reference to Exhibit   12.1 to the NiSource Inc. Form 10-Q filed on November  1, 2017)
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP*
23.2    Consent of Schiff Hardin LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1    Powers of Attorney authorizing certain persons to sign Registration Statement No.  333-214360 and amendments and supplements thereto on behalf of certain directors and officers of NiSource Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 24.1 to the NiSource Inc. Form S-3 filed November  1, 2016 (Registration No. 333-214360))
24.2    Powers of Attorney authorizing certain persons to sign amendments and supplements to Registration Statement No.  333-214360 on behalf of certain directors of NiSource Inc.*
25.1    Form   T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee with respect to the Indenture dated as of November   14, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to the NiSource Inc. Form S-3 filed November  1, 2016 (Registration No.  333-214360))
25.2    Form of Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Bank of New York Mellon, with respect to the Form of Subordinated Indenture*

* Filed herewith.

 

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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 Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Columbus, State of Ohio, on November 30, 2017.

 

NISOURCE INC.

(Registrant)

By:   /s/ Joseph Hamrock
  Name:   Joseph Hamrock
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

      

Title

 

Date

/s/ Joseph Hamrock

Joseph Hamrock

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   November 30, 2017

/s/ Donald E. Brown

Donald E. Brown

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)  

November 30, 2017

/s/ Joseph W. Mulpas

Joseph W. Mulpas

   Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)  

November 30, 2017

*

Richard L. Thompson

   Chairman of the Board and Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Richard A. Abdoo

   Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Peter A. Altabef

   Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Eric L. Butler

   Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Aristides S. Candris

   Director  

November 30, 2017

 

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*

Wayne S. DeVeydt

   Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Deborah A. Henretta

   Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Michael E. Jesanis

   Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Kevin T. Kabat

   Director  

November 30, 2017

*

Carolyn Y. Woo

   Director  

November 30, 2017

* By:  

/s/ Shawn Anderson

Shawn Anderson, Attorney-in-fact

    

 

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Exhibit 1.1

NISOURCE INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

1. Introductory . NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ NiSource ”), proposes to issue and sell from time to time certain of its common stock, par value $.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”), preferred stock, and unsecured debt securities, in each case registered under the registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) (“ Registered Securities ”).

The Registered Securities constituting debt securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of November 14, 2000, among NiSource Finance Corp., an Indiana corporation, NiSource and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as original trustee, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 14, 2000 among NiSource Finance Corp., NiSource and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as original trustee, and a Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 30, 2017, between NiSource and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor trustee (the “ Indenture ”), in one or more series, which series may vary as to interest rates, maturities, redemption provisions, selling prices and other terms.

The Registered Securities constituting preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, which series may vary as to dividend rates, redemption provisions, selling prices and other terms.

Particular series or offerings of Registered Securities will be sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3, for resale in accordance with terms of offering determined at the time of sale.

The Registered Securities involved in any such offering are hereinafter referred to as the “ Offered Securities. ” The firm or firms which agree to purchase the Offered Securities are hereinafter referred to as the “ Underwriters ” of such securities, and the representative or representatives of the Underwriters, if any, specified in a Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3 are hereinafter referred to as the “ Representatives ”; provided, however, that if the Terms Agreement does not specify any representative of the Underwriters, the term “Representatives,” as used in this Agreement (other than in Sections 2(c), 3, 5(b), 5(c), 5(f), 6(d) and 7, the first use of such term in Section 5(g) and the last use of such term in Section 4(d)), shall mean the Underwriters.

2. Representations and Warranties of NiSource . NiSource, as of the Applicable Time (as so defined in the Terms Agreement relating to each series of Offered Securities) and the date of each Terms Agreement referred to in Section 3, represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriters that:

(a) A registration statement on Form S-3, as amended (No. 333-214360), including a prospectus, relating to the Registered Securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“ Commission ”) and has become effective. Such registration statement, as used with respect to a series of Offered Securities, including the information deemed a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), on the date of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such Section applies to NiSource and the Underwriters for the Offered Securities pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Act (the “ Effective Date ”), including the exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 at the Effective Date, is hereinafter referred to as the “ Registration Statement ”; the base prospectus relating to the Registered Securities in the form in which it has most recently been filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of the Terms Agreement relating to each series of Offered Securities being herein called the “ Basic Prospectus ”; the Basic Prospectus as amended and supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement relating to each series of Offered Securities and as further amended and supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time is hereinafter called the “ Pricing Prospectus ”; the Basic Prospectus as amended or supplemented in final form, which is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act with respect to each series of Offered Securities is hereinafter called the “ Final Supplemented Prospectus ”; any


reference herein to the Basic Prospectus, any Pricing Prospectus or any Final Supplemented Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the date of such Basic Prospectus, Pricing Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus, any Pricing Prospectus or any Final Supplemented Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such Basic Prospectus, Pricing Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), and incorporated by reference in such Basic Prospectus, Pricing Prospectus or Final Supplemented Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of NiSource filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

For purposes of this Agreement, the documents listed in the Terms Agreement under the caption, “Pricing Disclosure Package,” taken together, are referred to as the “ Pricing Disclosure Package .”

(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and as of such time of filing, when read together with the Pricing Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Final Supplemented Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and, when read together with the Final Supplemented Prospectus as it otherwise may be amended or supplemented, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) The Registration Statement complies and the Final Supplemented Prospectus will comply, and any further amendments or supplements thereto, when any such amendments become effective or supplements are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will comply, in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act, the 1934 Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (“ Trust Indenture Act ”), and the general rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus do not and will not, (i) as of the Effective Date as to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, (ii) as of the Applicable Time as to the Pricing Disclosure Package and (iii) as of the date of the Final Supplemented Prospectus and the Closing Date as to the Final Supplemented Prospectus or as of the date when any supplement is filed as to the Final Supplemented Prospectus as further supplemented, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the case of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, and, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in the case of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus as further supplemented; except that NiSource does not make any representations or warranties with respect to (A) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statements of Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act or (B) statements or omissions made in a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to NiSource by the Underwriters through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

Each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus does not include anything that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that NiSource makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statement or omissions made in a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to NiSource by the Underwriters through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

2


(d) With respect to the Registration Statement, (i) the Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), (ii) NiSource has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement and (iii) the conditions for use of Form S-3, as set forth in the General Instructions thereof, have been satisfied.

(e) (A) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or form of prospectus) and (C) at the time NiSource, or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act), made any offer relating to the Offered Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act, NiSource was a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act).

(f) NiSource has been duly incorporated and is a validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and NiSource is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction.

(g) Each significant subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) of NiSource (each direct and indirect significant subsidiary of NiSource being hereinafter referred to as a “ Significant Subsidiary ” and all such direct and indirect significant subsidiaries of NiSource being hereinafter referred to collectively as the “ Significant Subsidiaries ”) has been duly incorporated or duly formed and is a validly existing corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, with power and authority (corporate or limited liability, and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and, to the extent applicable, nonassessable; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary is owned by NiSource, directly or through subsidiaries, free from liens, encumbrances and defects.

(h) If the Offered Securities are debt securities: The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by NiSource and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; the Offered Securities have been duly authorized, and when the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date (as defined below) or pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts (as defined below), such Offered Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, and the Indenture and such Offered Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of NiSource, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and the Indenture will conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus.

(i) If the Offered Securities are preferred stock: The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date, such Offered Securities will have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and the stockholders of NiSource have no preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities.

(j) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock: The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of NiSource have been duly authorized; all outstanding shares of capital stock of NiSource are, and, when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with the Terms Agreement on the

 

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Closing Date, such Offered Securities will have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and the stockholders of NiSource have no preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities.

(k) If the Offered Securities are convertible into Common Stock: When the Offered Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date, such Offered Securities will be convertible into Common Stock of NiSource in accordance with their terms (if the Offered Securities are preferred stock) or the Indenture (if the Offered Securities are debt securities); the shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of such Offered Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion and, when issued upon such conversion, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and the stockholders of NiSource have no preemptive rights with respect to the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Offered Securities.

(l) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock: Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between NiSource and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against NiSource or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities.

(m) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock: There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between NiSource and any person granting such person the right to require NiSource to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of NiSource owned or to be owned by such person or to require NiSource to include such securities with the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or with any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by NiSource under the Act.

(n) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock: The outstanding shares of Common Stock are listed on The New York Stock Exchange (the “ Stock Exchange ”) and the Offered Securities (if they are Common Stock) or the Common Stock into which the Offered Securities are convertible (if they are convertible) have been approved for listing on the Stock Exchange, subject to notice of issuance. If the Offered Securities are debt securities or preferred stock: The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on the stock exchange indicated in the Terms Agreement, subject to notice of issuance.

(o) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities by NiSource, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and, if the Offered Securities are debt securities, the Trust Indenture Act, and such as may be required under the Federal Power Act, and under state securities laws.

(p) The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture (if the Offered Securities are debt securities) did not, and the execution, delivery and performance of the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) and any Delayed Delivery Contracts and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities and, if the Offered Securities are debt securities or preferred stock, compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, (i) the charter or by-laws of NiSource or any subsidiary of NiSource (each direct and indirect subsidiary of NiSource being hereinafter referred to as a “Subsidiary” and all such direct and indirect subsidiaries of NiSource being hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Subsidiaries” ), (ii) any statute or any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over NiSource or any Subsidiary or any of their properties, or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which NiSource or any Subsidiary is a party or by which NiSource or any Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of NiSource or any Subsidiary is subject, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) where such violation, breach or default would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of NiSource and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole (“ Material Adverse Effect ”) and would not materially and adversely affect the ability of NiSource to perform its obligations under the Indenture (if the Offered

 

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Securities are debt securities), the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) or any Delayed Delivery Contracts, or which would otherwise be material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and NiSource has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement).

(q) The Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) and, if the Offered Securities are debt securities or preferred stock, any Delayed Delivery Contracts have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by NiSource.

(r) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, NiSource and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them or would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, NiSource and the Subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them or would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

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

(t) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, neither NiSource nor any Significant Subsidiary has any material contingent liability.

(u) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, there are no pending actions, suits, proceedings or investigations against or affecting NiSource or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or operations that could, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or to affect materially and adversely the ability of NiSource to perform its obligations under the Indenture (if the Offered Securities are debt securities), the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) or any Delayed Delivery Contracts, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and, to the knowledge of NiSource, no such actions, suits, proceedings or investigations are threatened.

(v) The financial statements of NiSource included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the entity presented and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis with all other financial statements presented for such entity; any schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(w) Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of NiSource and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by NiSource on any class of its capital stock.

 

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(x) NiSource is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, will not be an “ investment company ” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(y) Neither NiSource nor any of its affiliates does business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes and NiSource agrees to comply with such Section if prior to the completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities it commences doing such business.

(z) At the determination date for purposes of the Offered Securities within the meaning of Rule 164(h) under the Act, NiSource was not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act.

(aa) NiSource maintains a system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the 1934 Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by NiSource in reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to NiSource’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. NiSource has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the 1934 Act.

(bb) NiSource maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the 1934 Act) that complies with the requirements of the 1934 Act and has been designed by, or under the supervision of, its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(cc) Neither NiSource nor any of its affiliates nor, to the knowledge of NiSource, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of NiSource is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and NiSource will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Offered Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(dd) Neither NiSource nor, to the knowledge of NiSource, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of NiSource has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(ee) The operations of NiSource and the Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where NiSource or its Subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving NiSource or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of NiSource or any of the Subsidiaries, threatened.

 

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3. Purchase and Offering of Offered Securities . The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Offered Securities will be evidenced by an agreement or exchange of other written communications (“ Terms Agreement ”) at the time NiSource determines to sell the Offered Securities. The Terms Agreement will incorporate by reference the provisions of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided therein, and will specify the firm or firms which will be Underwriters, the names of the Representatives, the principal amount or number of shares to be purchased by each Underwriter, the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters and (if the Offered Securities are debt securities or preferred stock) the terms of the Offered Securities not already specified (in the Indenture, in the case of Offered Securities that are debt securities), including, but not limited to, interest rate (if debt securities), dividend rate (if preferred stock), maturity (if debt securities), any redemption provisions and any sinking fund requirements and whether any of the Offered Securities may be sold to institutional investors pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts. The Terms Agreement will also specify the time and date of delivery and payment (such time and date, or such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Underwriter first named in the Terms Agreement (the “ Lead Underwriter ”) and NiSource agree as the time for payment and delivery, being herein and in the Terms Agreement referred to as the “ Closing Date ”), the place of delivery and payment and any details of the terms of offering that should be reflected in the Pricing Prospectus. For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the 1934 Act, the Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering, other than Contract Securities (as defined below) for which payment of funds and delivery of securities shall be as hereinafter provided. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Offered Securities will be several and not joint. It is understood that the Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale as set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus.

If the Terms Agreement provides for sales of Offered Securities pursuant to delayed delivery contracts, NiSource authorizes the Underwriters to solicit offers to purchase Offered Securities pursuant to delayed delivery contracts substantially in the form of Annex I attached hereto (“ Delayed Delivery Contracts ”) with such changes therein as NiSource, may authorize or approve. Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional investors, including commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and charitable institutions. On the Closing Date NiSource will pay, as compensation, to the Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters, the fee set forth in such Terms Agreement in respect of the principal amount or number of shares of Offered Securities to be sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts (“ Contract Securities ”). The Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or the performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts. If NiSource executes and delivers Delayed Delivery Contracts, the Contract Securities will be deducted from the Offered Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters and the aggregate principal amount or number of shares of Offered Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter will be reduced pro rata in proportion to the principal amount or number of shares of Offered Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter’s name in such Terms Agreement, except to the extent that the Lead Underwriter determines that such reduction shall be otherwise than pro rata and so advises NiSource. NiSource will advise the Lead Underwriter not later than the business day prior to the Closing Date of the principal amount or number of shares of Contract Securities.

If the Offered Securities are preferred stock or Common Stock, the certificates for the Offered Securities delivered to the Underwriters on the Closing Date will be in definitive fully registered form, and if the Offered Securities are debt securities, the Offered Securities delivered to the Underwriters on the Closing Date will be in definitive fully registered form, in each case in such denominations and registered in such names as the Lead Underwriter requests.

If the Offered Securities are debt securities and the Terms Agreement specifies “Book-Entry Only” settlement or otherwise states that the provisions of this paragraph shall apply, NiSource will deliver against payment of the purchase price the Offered Securities in the form of one or more permanent global securities in definitive form (the “ Global Securities ”) deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Interests in any permanent global securities will be held only in book-entry form through DTC, except in the limited circumstances described in the Final Supplemented Prospectus. Payment for the Offered Securities shall be made by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by official check or checks or wire transfer to an account previously designated by NiSource at a bank acceptable to the Lead Underwriter, in each case drawn to the order of NiSource at the place of payment specified in the Terms Agreement on the Closing Date, against delivery to the Trustee as custodian for DTC of the Global Securities representing all of the Offered Securities.

 

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4. Free Writing Prospectuses .

(a) NiSource represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of NiSource and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or a free writing prospectus, that is required to be filed by NiSource pursuant to Rule 433 or one or more free writing prospectuses through customary Bloomberg distribution that do not contain substantive changes from or additions to the information contained in the Permitted Free Writing Prospectus attached to the applicable Terms Agreement; any such free writing prospectus (which shall include the pricing term sheet discussed in Section 4(b) hereof), the use of all of which shall have been consented to by NiSource and the Representatives, will be listed in the Terms Agreement and herein called a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .”

(b) NiSource agrees to prepare a pricing term sheet, substantially in the form attached to the Terms Agreement, and approved by the Representatives, and to file such pricing term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time period prescribed by such Rule.

(c) NiSource and the Representatives have complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any free writing prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required and legending.

(d) NiSource agrees that if at any time following issuance of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus or include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, NiSource will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter a free writing prospectus or other document, the use of which has been consented to by the Representatives, which will correct such conflict, statement or omission; provided, however, that this Section 4(d) shall not apply to any statements or omissions in a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to NiSource by an Underwriter through the Representatives, expressly for use therein.

(e) NiSource agrees that if there occurs an event or development as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, NiSource will promptly notify the Representatives so that any use of the Pricing Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented.

5. Certain Agreements of NiSource . NiSource agrees with the several Underwriters that it will furnish to counsel for the Underwriters, one copy of the executed registration statement relating to the Registered Securities, including all exhibits, in the form in which it became effective and of all amendments thereto and that, in connection with each offering of Offered Securities:

(a) NiSource will file the Final Supplemented Prospectus, in a form approved by the Representatives, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) and within the time period required by Rule 424. Furthermore, NiSource will make any other required filings pursuant to Rule 433(d)(1) of the Act within the time period required by such Rule.

 

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(b) NiSource will advise the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Final Supplemented Prospectus and will afford the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such proposed amendment or supplement; and NiSource will also advise the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, promptly of the filing of any such amendment or supplement and of the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof and will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued.

(c) NiSource will comply with the provisions of the Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder so as to permit completion of the distribution of the Offered Securities as contemplated by the applicable Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus. If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Act) in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Supplemented Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Final Supplemented Prospectus to comply with the Act, NiSource promptly will notify the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at the expense of NiSource, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Lead Underwriter’s or Representatives’, as applicable, consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6 hereof.

(d) As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months, after the date of each Terms Agreement, NiSource will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the later of (i) the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, (ii) the effective date of the most recent post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to become effective prior to the date of such Terms Agreement and (iii) the date of NiSource’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission prior to the date of such Terms Agreement, which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

(e) NiSource will furnish to the Representatives copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any Pricing Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Lead Underwriter reasonably requests. NiSource will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

(f) NiSource will arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, designates and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution, provided that, in connection with such qualification, NiSource shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

(g) During the period of five years after the date of any Terms Agreement, NiSource will furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, if any, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and NiSource will furnish to the Representative (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of NiSource filed with the Commission under the 1934 Act or mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning NiSource as the Lead Underwriter may reasonably request; provided that no reports, proxy statements or other information need be furnished pursuant to this Section 5(g) to the extent they are available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System.

(h) NiSource will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), any filing fees or other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with qualification of the Registered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Lead Underwriter may designate and the printing of memoranda relating thereto, any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities (if they are debt securities or preferred stock), any applicable

 

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filing fee incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the Registered Securities, the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties), any fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Offered Securities on the Stock Exchange and any travel expenses of its officers and employees and any other expenses incurred by it in connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers of Registered Securities.

(i) If the Offered Securities are debt securities or preferred stock NiSource will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to United States dollar-denominated debt securities having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue (if the Offered Securities are debt securities) or any series of preferred stock issued by NiSource (if the Offered Securities are preferred stock), or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives for a period beginning at the time of execution of the Terms Agreement and ending the number of days after the Closing Date specified under “Blackout” in the Terms Agreement.

(j) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock, NiSource will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to, any additional shares of its Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its Common Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives for a period beginning at the time of execution of the Terms Agreement and ending the number of days after the Closing Date specified under “Blackout” in the Terms Agreement, except issuances of Common Stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities or the exercise of warrants or options, in each case outstanding on the date of the Terms Agreement, or pursuant to an employee benefit plan or a dividend and stock purchase plan, in each case outstanding on the date of the Terms Agreement, or issuances of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options granted under any such employee benefit plan.

(k) If at any time when Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, NiSource receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Act or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, NiSource will (i) promptly notify the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives or Lead Underwriter, as applicable, of such effectiveness. NiSource will take all other reasonable action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which NiSource has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriter . The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of NiSource herein, to the accuracy of the statements of officers of NiSource made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by NiSource of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a) On or prior to the date of the Terms Agreement, the Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the date of delivery thereof, of Deloitte & Touche LLP, confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and stating to the effect that:

(i) in their opinion the financial statements and financial statement schedules audited by them and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

 

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(ii) they have performed the procedures specified by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for a review of interim financial information as described in Statement of Auditing Standards No. 100, Interim Financial Information, or Statement of Auditing Standards No. 71, Interim Financial Information, as applicable, on any unaudited financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus;

(iii) on the basis of the review referred to in clause (ii) above, a reading of the latest available interim financial statements of NiSource, inquiries of officials of NiSource who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters and other specified procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

(A) the unaudited financial statements, if any, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or any material modifications should be made to such unaudited financial statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

(B) if any unaudited “capsule” information is contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, the unaudited consolidated operating revenues, gross income, net income and net income per share amounts or other amounts constituting such “capsule” information and described in such letter do not agree with the corresponding amounts set forth in the unaudited consolidated financial statements or were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with that of the corresponding amounts in the audited statements of income;

(C) at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date not more than three business days prior to the date of such letter, there was any change in the capital stock or any increase in short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of NiSource and its consolidated subsidiaries or, at the date of the latest available balance sheet read by such accountants, there was any decrease in consolidated net current assets or net assets, as compared with amounts shown on the latest balance sheet incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; or

(D) for the period from the closing date of the latest income statement incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus and Final Supplemented Prospectus to the closing date of the latest available income statement read by such accountants there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, in consolidated gross revenues, operating income or net income; except in all cases set forth in clauses (C) and (D) above for changes, increases or decreases which the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter; and

(iv) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial information contained in the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus (in each case to the extent that such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information are derived from the general accounting records of NiSource and its subsidiaries subject to the internal controls of NiSource’s accounting system or are derived directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the results obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and other procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar amounts, percentages and other financial information to be in agreement with such results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.

All financial statements and schedules included in material incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus shall be deemed included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Final Supplemented Prospectus for purposes of this subsection.

(b) The Final Supplemented Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act and Section 5(a) of this Agreement. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no

 

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proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against NiSource shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of NiSource or any Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission. The pricing term sheet contemplated by Section 4(b) of this Agreement, and any other material required to be filed by NiSource pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed by NiSource with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433.

(c) Subsequent to the execution of the Terms Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of NiSource and the Subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of NiSource by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of NiSource (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls as would, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters including any Representatives, be likely to prejudice materially the success of the proposed issue, sale or disposition of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any material suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of NiSource on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (v) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New York authorities; (vi) any major disruption of settlements of securities or clearance services in the United States or (vii) any attack on outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters, including any Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities.

(d) (x) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Schiff Hardin LLP, counsel for NiSource, to the effect that:

(i) NiSource has been duly incorporated and is a validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and NiSource is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Indiana;

(ii) If the Offered Securities are debt securities: The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by NiSource, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and constitutes legal, valid and binding obligation of NiSource enforceable against NiSource in accordance with its 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; the Offered Securities have been duly authorized and duly executed and, when authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) or sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of NiSource enforceable against NiSource in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;; and the Indenture and the Offered Securities other than any Contract Securities conform, and any Contract Securities, when so delivered and sold will conform, as to legal matters in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus;

(iii) If the Offered Securities are preferred stock: The Offered Securities have been duly authorized; the Offered Securities other than any Contract Securities when delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; any Contract Securities, when delivered and sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery

 

12


Contracts, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and the Offered Securities other than any Contract Securities conform, and any Contract Securities, when so delivered and sold, will conform, as to legal matters in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and the stockholders of NiSource have no statutory preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities;

(iv) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock: The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and when delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and conform as to legal matters in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and the stockholders of NiSource have no statutory preemptive rights with respect to the Offered Securities;

(v) If the Offered Securities are convertible into Common Stock: The Offered Securities other than any Contract Securities are, and any Contract Securities (if the Offered Securities are debt securities), when executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in the manner provided in the Indenture and sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts or (if the Offered Securities are preferred stock) when issued, delivered and sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts, will be, convertible into Common Stock in accordance with (if they are debt securities) the Indenture or (if they are preferred stock) their terms; the shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Offered Securities have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion and, when issued upon such conversion, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; the Common Stock conforms as to legal matters in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus; and the stockholders of NiSource have no statutory preemptive rights with respect to the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Offered Securities;

(vi) If the Offered Securities are Common Stock or are convertible into Common Stock: There are no contracts, agreements or understandings known to such counsel between NiSource and any person granting such person the right to require NiSource to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of NiSource owned or to be owned by such person or to require NiSource to include such securities with the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or with any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by NiSource under the Act;

(vii) Neither the execution and delivery by NiSource of the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) nor the performance by NiSource of its obligations under the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) requires any consent or approval of any nature from or filing with any governmental authority of the State of Indiana or the United States of America, nor is any such consent, approval or filing required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, except for filings required under the Act or the 1934 Act;

(viii) NiSource is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, will not be an “ investment company ” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(ix) Each of the Significant Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is a corporation validly existing and, where applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and Final Supplemented Prospectus; and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each of the jurisdictions set forth opposite the name of such Significant Subsidiary on a schedule attached to the opinion;

(x) To the knowledge of such counsel, based in part upon a review of the stock register of Northern Indiana Public Service Company (“ NIPSCO ”), all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of NIPSCO is owned by NiSource, directly or through subsidiaries. There is no perfected lien upon the outstanding shares of capital stock of NIPSCO and, to the knowledge of such counsel, there is no other lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon the capital stock of NIPSCO;

 

13


(xi) The execution and delivery by NiSource of the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) do not, and the performance by NiSource of its obligations under the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), including the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, will not, (i) violate the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of NiSource, (ii) violate any law, rule or regulation applicable to NiSource and generally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) undertaken by issuers engaged in businesses similar to the businesses of NiSource, (iii) violate any judgment, injunction, order or decree identified by an officer of NiSource as material to NiSource and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole (which judgments, injunctions, orders and decrees, if any, shall be set forth in a certificate attached to the opinion), or (iv) breach or result in a default under any indenture, mortgage, instrument or agreement which is filed as an exhibit to or filed as an exhibit through incorporation by reference to either NiSource’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended on the December 31 preceding the date of delivery of such opinion or any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K filed subsequent to the date of such Form 10-K and prior to the Closing Date;

(xii) The descriptions in the Registration Statement and in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus of any statutes, contracts and documents, insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of matters of law and legal conclusions with respect thereto, are correct in all material respects; and such counsel do not know of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Supplemented Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so described or filed as required;

(xiii) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the Final Supplemented Prospectus was filed with the Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) specified in such opinion on the date specified therein, and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against NiSource have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act, and the Registration Statement on the Effective Date and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, as of the date of the Terms Agreement, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; such counsel have had no facts come to their attention that have led them to believe that the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, that the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that the Final Supplemented Prospectus, as of its date and as amended or supplemented as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial data contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Supplemented Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto; and

(xiv) The Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) and, if the Offered Securities are Contract Securities, the Delayed Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by NiSource.

(xv) The statements made in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus under the caption “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of United States federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, have been reviewed by such counsel and are accurate and complete in all material respects.

(d)(y) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of internal counsel for NiSource, to the effect that:

(i) The descriptions in the Registration Statement and in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus of any legal and governmental proceedings insofar as such statements purport to constitute summaries of matters of law and legal conclusions with respect thereto, are correct in all material

 

14


respects; and such counsel do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or to which any of their respective properties is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Final Supplemented Prospectus and are not so described; and

(ii) To the knowledge of such counsel, except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, there are no pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or investigations against or affecting NiSource or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or operations that could reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the ability of NiSource to perform its obligations under the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) or which could be reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(e) The Representatives shall have received from Hunton & Williams LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of NiSource, the validity of the Offered Securities, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Final Supplemented Prospectus and other related matters as the Representatives may require, and NiSource shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(f) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal financial or accounting officer of NiSource in which such officers, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state that the representations and warranties of NiSource in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects, that NiSource has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by the Commission and that, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of NiSource and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in or contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Final Supplemented Prospectus.

(g) The Representatives shall have received a letter, dated the Closing Date, of Deloitte & Touche LLP which meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to in such subsection will be a date not more than three days prior to the Closing Date for the purposes of this subsection.

NiSource agrees to furnish the Representatives with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably request. The Lead Underwriter may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and the Terms Agreement.

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) NiSource will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any free writing prospectus used by NiSource other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided , however , that NiSource will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance

 

15


upon and in conformity with written information furnished to NiSource by any Underwriter through the Representatives, if any, specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in the Terms Agreement.

(b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless NiSource, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls NiSource within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which NiSource may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Final Supplemented Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to NiSource by such Underwriter through the Representatives, if any, specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by NiSource in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in the Terms Agreement.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by NiSource on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of NiSource on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by NiSource on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by NiSource bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by NiSource on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such

 

16


untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Offered Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

(e) The obligations of NiSource under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which NiSource may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of NiSource, to each officer of NiSource who has signed the Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls NiSource within the meaning of the Act.

8. Default of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities under the Terms Agreement and the aggregate principal amount (if debt securities) or number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount (if debt securities) or number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) of Offered Securities, the Lead Underwriter may make arrangements satisfactory to NiSource for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments under the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement), to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal amount (if debt securities) or number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount (if debt securities) or number of shares (if preferred stock or Common Stock) of Offered Securities and arrangements satisfactory to the Lead Underwriter and NiSource for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, the Terms Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or NiSource, except as provided in Section 9. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. If the Offered Securities are debt securities or preferred stock, the respective commitments of the several Underwriters for the purposes of this Section shall be determined without regard to reduction in the respective Underwriters’ obligations to purchase the principal amounts (if debt securities) or numbers of shares (if preferred stock) of the Offered Securities set forth opposite their names in the Terms Agreement as a result of Delayed Delivery Contracts entered into by NiSource.

9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of NiSource or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to the Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, NiSource or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the Terms Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or if for any reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated, NiSource shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective obligations of NiSource and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of the Terms Agreement pursuant to Section 8 or the occurrence of any event specified in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) of Section 6(c), NiSource will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

 

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10. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . NiSource acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Terms Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between NiSource, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith each Underwriter is acting as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of NiSource and (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of NiSource with respect to the offering of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Terms Agreement or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising NiSource on other matters) or any other obligations to NiSource with respect to the offering of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Terms Agreement or the process leading thereto, except the obligations expressly set forth in the Terms Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement.

11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to them at their address furnished to NiSource in writing for the purpose of communications hereunder or, if sent to NiSource, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410, Attention: Shawn Anderson, with a copy to Robert J. Minkus, Schiff Hardin LLP, 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 6600, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6473.

12. Successors . The Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon NiSource and such Underwriters as are identified in the Terms Agreement and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

13. Representation of Underwriters . Any Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection with the financing described in the Terms Agreement, and any action under such Terms Agreement (including the provisions of this Agreement) taken by the Representatives jointly or by the Lead Underwriter will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

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

15. Applicable Law . This Agreement and the Terms Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

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

Dated: November 30, 2017

 

18


ANNEX I

(Three copies of this Delayed Delivery Contract should be signed and returned

to the address shown below so as to arrive not later than 9:00 A.M.,

New York time, on [                      ] , 20    )

DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT

[ Insert date of initial public offering ]

NISOURCE INC.

c/o    

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ NiSource ”), and NiSource agrees to sell to the undersigned, as of the date hereof, for delivery on [                  ] , 20     (“ Delivery Date ”), [              shares ] [ $         principal amount ] of NiSource’s [ insert title of securities ] (“ Securities ”), offered by the Prospectus of NiSource dated [                  ] , 20     and a Prospectus Supplement dated [                  ] , 20     relating thereto, receipt of copies of which is hereby acknowledged, at— % of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any,—$ per share plus accrued dividends, if any,—and on the further terms and conditions set forth in this Delayed Delivery Contract (“ Contract ”).

[ If two or more delayed closings, insert the following:

The undersigned will purchase from NiSource as of the date hereof, for delivery on the dates set forth below, Securities in the—principal—amounts set forth below:

 

Delivery Date        [Number of Shares/Principal Amount]    
          
          

Each of such delivery dates is hereinafter referred to as a Delivery Date. ]

Payment for the Securities that the undersigned has agreed to purchase for delivery on—the—each—Delivery Date shall be made to NiSource or its order in Federal (same day) funds by certified or official bank check or wire transfer to an account designated by NiSource at a bank acceptable to the Underwriter, at the office of     at A.M. on—the—such—Delivery Date upon delivery to the undersigned of the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned—for delivery on such Delivery Date—in definitive [ If debt issue, insert —fully registered ] form and in such denominations and registered in such names as the undersigned may designate by written or telegraphic communication addressed to NiSource not less than five full business days prior to—the—such—Delivery Date.

It is expressly agreed that the provisions for delayed delivery and payment are for the sole convenience of the undersigned; that the purchase hereunder of Securities is to be regarded in all respects as a purchase as of the date of this Contract; that the obligation of NiSource to make delivery of and accept payment for, and the obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment for, Securities on—the—each—Delivery Date shall be subject only to the conditions that (1) investment in the Securities shall not at—the—such—Delivery Date be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which the undersigned is subject and (2) NiSource shall have sold to the Underwriters the total—principal amount—number of shares—of the Securities less the—principal amount—number of shares—thereof covered by this and other similar Contracts. The undersigned represents that its investment in the Securities is not, as of the date hereof, prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject and which governs such investment.


Promptly after completion of the sale to the Underwriters, NiSource will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address set forth below notice to such effect, accompanied by—a copy—copies—of the opinion [ s ] of counsel for NiSource delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.

This Contract will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by either party hereto without the written consent of the other.

It is understood that the acceptance of any such Contract is in NiSource’s sole discretion and, without limiting the foregoing, need not be on a first-come, first-served basis. If this Contract is acceptable to NiSource, it is requested that NiSource sign the form of acceptance below and mail or deliver one of the counterparts hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth below. This will become a binding contract between NiSource and the undersigned when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.

Yours very truly,

 

 
(Name of Purchaser)
By    
 
[Name/Title]

(Address of Purchaser)

 
 
 

 

Accepted, as of the above date.
NISOURCE INC.

By

   
 

[ Insert Title ]

 

2

Exhibit 4.4

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of November 30, 2017, between NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ NiSource ”), and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, not in its individual capacity but solely as successor trustee (the “ Trustee ”) under the Indenture dated as of November 14, 2000 among NiSource Finance Corp., an Indiana corporation (“ NiSource Finance ”), NiSource and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as original trustee (as supplemented, the “ Indenture ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, NiSource Finance and NiSource, as parent guarantor, executed and delivered to the Trustee (as successor in interest to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank) the Indenture in order to provide for the issuance from time to time of NiSource Finance’s unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (collectively, the “ Securities ”) fully and unconditionally guaranteed by NiSource, to be issued in one or more series as might be determined by NiSource Finance under the Indenture in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, which may be authenticated and delivered as provided in the Indenture;

WHEREAS, Section 801 of the Indenture permits NiSource Finance to merge with or into another Person, provided that , among other things, the Person into which NiSource Finance is merged expressly assumes (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and (ii) the performance of every covenant of the Indenture to be performance or observed on the part of NiSource Finance;

WHEREAS, Section 802 of the Indenture provides, among other things, that upon any merger in accordance with Section 801, the surviving entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, NiSource Finance under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as NiSource Finance therein.

WHEREAS, Section 901(1) of the Indenture provides, among other things, that the Indenture may be supplemented without the consent of any Holders of Securities in order to evidence the succession of another entity to NiSource Finance and the assumption by such successor of the covenants of NiSource Finance in the Indenture and in the Securities;

WHEREAS, effective as of the date hereof, NiSource Finance has merged with and into NiSource (the “ Merger ”), and, as the surviving corporation in the Merger, NiSource is responsible for all the debts, liabilities and duties of NiSource Finance, including under the Indenture and the Securities;

WHEREAS, as a result of the Merger and NiSource’s succession to all the obligations of NiSource Finance under the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture relating to the Security Guarantee and NiSource in its capacity as a parent guarantor have become redundant and unnecessary;

WHEREAS, NiSource desires and has requested that the Trustee join in the execution of this Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of evidencing NiSource’s assumption of the obligations of NiSource Finance;


WHEREAS, the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture has been authorized by resolutions of the board of directors of NiSource; and

WHEREAS, all conditions precedent and requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding instrument in accordance with its terms have been complied with, performed and fulfilled, and the execution and delivery hereof has been in all respects duly authorized.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, NiSource and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the benefit of each other and the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Securities as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1 Defined Terms . As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used as so defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

ARTICLE 2

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS OF NISOURCE

Section 2.1 NiSource represents, warrants and agrees as follows:

(a) It is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Delaware.

(b) The execution, delivery and performance by it of this Supplemental Indenture has been authorized and approved by all necessary corporate or other action on its part, and this Supplemental Indenture is its valid and legally binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

(c) The Merger has become effective on the date hereof.

(d) The Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms immediately after the execution of this Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE 3

ASSUMPTION AND AGREEMENTS

Section 3.1 NiSource hereby assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of the Indenture to be performed or observed on the part of NiSource Finance.

 

- 2 -


Section 3.2 NiSource shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, NiSource Finance under the Indenture and the Securities, with the same effect as if NiSource had been named as NiSource Finance therein.

ARTICLE 4

PARENT GUARANTEE AND OBLIGATIONS

Section 4.1 The Indenture shall be amended to remove Section 803 ( Assumption by the Parent or Subsidiary ) and Article Fifteen ( Security Guarantee ), each in its entirety, and to remove all cross-references to such Section and Article in the Indenture.

Section 4.2 The separate rights, powers, covenants, agreements and obligations in the Indenture applicable to NiSource solely in its capacity as a parent guarantor under the Indenture shall be extinguished, and NiSource shall hereafter have only the rights, powers, covenants, agreements and obligations that, prior to the Merger, applied to NiSource Finance, provided that references in the Indenture to the “Parent” shall be retained to the extent necessary to avoid adverse consequences to the Holders of Securities.

ARTICLE 5

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 5.1 Execution and Delivery . This Supplemental Indenture shall be effective upon execution by the parties hereto.

Section 5.2 Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Indenture . Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Securities heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby.

Section 5.3 Severability . In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture 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 and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

Section 5.4 Governing Law . THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONTRARY CONFLICT OF LAWS OR CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS OF THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

Section 5.5 Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF NISOURCE AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

- 3 -


Section 5.6 Counterparts . The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture (including by electronic transmission). Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 5.7 Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 5.8 Trustee . The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by NiSource.

[Signature page follows]

 

- 4 -


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

 

N I S OURCE I NC .
By:  

/s/ Donald E. Brown

Name:       Donald E. Brown
Title:       Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Attest:

 

By:  

/s/ Samuel K. Lee

       Samuel K. Lee
       Vice President and Corporate Secretary

 

  T HE B ANK OF N EW Y ORK M ELLON , as Trustee
  By:  

/s/ Laurence J. O’Brien

  Name:       Laurence J. O’Brien
  Title:       Vice President
Attest:      

 

By:  

        /s/ Latoya S. Elvin

          Latoya S. Elvin
          Vice President

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]

Exhibit 4.5

N I S OURCE I NC .

To

T HE B ANK OF N EW Y ORK M ELLON

as Trustee

I NDENTURE

Dated as of [ ]

Providing for Issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities


NiSource Inc.

Reconciliation and Tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and

Indenture, dated as of [ ]

 

Trust Indenture
Act Section

        Indenture
Section(s)
§310      (a)(1)       609
     (a)(2)       609
     (a)(3)       Not Applicable
     (a)(4)       Not Applicable
     (a)(5)       609
     (b)       608, 610
     (c)       Not Applicable
§311      (a)       613
     (b)       613
     (c)       613
§312      (a)       701, 702(a)
     (b)       702(a)
     (c)       702(b)
§313      (a)       703(a)
     (b)       703(b)
     (c)       703(c)
     (d)       703(c)
§314      (a)       704
     (a)(4)       101, 1009
     (b)       Not Applicable
     (c)(1)       102
     (c)(2)       102
     (c)(3)       Not Applicable
     (d)       Not Applicable
     (e)       102
     (f)       Not Applicable
§315      (a)       601
     (b)       602
     (c)       601
     (d)       601
     (e)       514
§316      (a)(1)(A)       502, 512
     (a)(1)(B)       513
     (a)(2)       Not Applicable
     (b)       508
     (c)       104
§317      (a)(1)       503
     (a)(2)       504
     (b)       1003
§318      (a)       108

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


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
Article One    Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application      1  

Section 101.

  

Definitions

     1  

Section 102.

  

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

     8  

Section 103.

  

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

     8  

Section 104.

  

Acts of Holders; Record Dates

     9  

Section 105.

  

Notices, etc., to Trustee and the Company

     11  

Section 106.

  

Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver

     11  

Section 107.

  

Language of Notices, Etc

     12  

Section 108.

  

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     12  

Section 109.

  

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

     12  

Section 110.

  

Successors and Assigns

     12  

Section 111.

  

Separability Clause

     12  

Section 112.

  

Benefits of Indenture

     12  

Section 113.

  

Governing Law

     12  

Section 114.

  

Legal Holidays

     13  

Section 115.

  

Appointment of Agent for Service

     13  

Section 116.

  

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

     13  

Section 117.

  

Execution in Counterparts

     13  

Section 118.

  

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

     13  

Section 119.

  

Submission to Jurisdiction

     14  

Section 120.

  

Force Majeure

     14  

Section 121.

  

FATCA

     14  
Article Two    Security Forms      14  

Section 201.

  

Forms Generally

     14  

Section 202.

  

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     15  

Section 203.

  

Securities in Global Form

     15  

Section 204.

  

Form of Legend for Global Securities

     15  
Article Three    The Securities      16  

Section 301.

  

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

     16  

Section 302.

  

Denominations

     18  

Section 303.

  

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     18  

Section 304.

  

Temporary Securities

     21  

Section 305.

  

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     21  

Section 306.

  

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

     23  

Section 307.

  

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     24  

Section 308.

  

Persons Deemed Owners

     25  

Section 309.

  

Cancellation

     26  

Section 310.

  

Computation of Interest

     26  

Section 311.

  

CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers

     26  


Article Four    Satisfaction and Discharge      26  

Section 401.

  

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     26  

Section 402.

  

Application of Trust Money

     28  
Article Five    Remedies      28  

Section 501.

  

Events of Default

     28  

Section 502.

  

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

     30  

Section 503.

  

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     31  

Section 504.

  

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     31  

Section 505.

  

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     32  

Section 506.

  

Application of Money Collected

     32  

Section 507.

  

Limitation on Suits

     33  

Section 508.

  

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

     33  

Section 509.

  

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     33  

Section 510.

  

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     34  

Section 511.

  

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     34  

Section 512.

  

Control by Holders of Securities

     34  

Section 513.

  

Waiver of Past Defaults

     34  

Section 514.

  

Undertaking for Costs

     35  

Section 515.

  

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

     35  
Article Six    The Trustee      35  

Section 601.

  

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

     35  

Section 602.

  

Notice of Defaults

     37  

Section 603.

  

Certain Rights of Trustee

     37  

Section 604.

  

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

     38  

Section 605.

  

May Hold Securities

     38  

Section 606.

  

Money Held in Trust

     38  

Section 607.

  

Compensation and Reimbursement

     38  

Section 608.

  

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

     39  

Section 609.

  

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     39  

Section 610.

  

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     39  

Section 611.

  

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

     41  

Section 612.

  

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     42  

Section 613.

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

     42  

Section 614.

  

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

     42  
Article Seven    Holders’ Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company      44  

Section 701.

  

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

     44  

Section 702.

  

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

     44  

Section 703.

  

Reports by Trustee

     45  

Section 704.

  

Reports by the Company

     45  
Article Eight    Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease      46  

Section 801.

  

The Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

     46  


Section 802.

  

Successor Corporation Substituted

     46  
Article Nine    Supplemental Indentures      47  

Section 901.

  

Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders

     47  

Section 902.

  

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

     48  

Section 903.

  

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     49  

Section 904.

  

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     49  

Section 905.

  

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

     49  

Section 906.

  

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

     49  

Section 907.

  

Subordination Unimpaired

     49  
Article Ten    Covenants      50  

Section 1001.

  

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     50  

Section 1002.

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     50  

Section 1003.

  

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

     50  

Section 1004.

  

Additional Amounts

     51  

Section 1005.

  

Corporate Existence

     52  

Section 1006.

  

Maintenance of Properties

     52  

Section 1007.

  

Payment of Taxes and Other Claims

     52  

Section 1008.

  

Restrictions on Liens

     53  

Section 1009.

  

Statement as to Default

     55  

Section 1010.

  

Waiver of Certain Covenants

     55  
Article Eleven    Redemption of Securities      55  

Section 1101.

  

Applicability of Article

     55  

Section 1102.

  

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

     55  

Section 1103.

  

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

     56  

Section 1104.

  

Notice of Redemption

     56  

Section 1105.

  

Deposit of Redemption Price

     57  

Section 1106.

  

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     57  

Section 1107.

  

Securities Redeemed in Part

     57  
Article Twelve    Sinking Funds      58  

Section 1201.

  

Applicability of Article

     58  

Section 1202.

  

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     58  

Section 1203.

  

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     58  
Article Thirteen    Meetings of Holders of Securities      59  

Section 1301.

  

Purposes for Which Meetings May be Called

     59  

Section 1302.

  

Call Notice and Place of Meeting

     59  

Section 1303.

  

Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

     59  

Section 1304.

  

Quorum; Action

     60  

Section 1305.

  

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

     60  

Section 1306.

  

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

     61  

Section 1307.

  

Action Without Meeting

     61  


Article Fourteen    Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers, Directors and Employees      62  

Section 1401.

  

Liability Solely Corporate

     62  
Article Fifteen    Subordination of Securities      62  

Section 1501.

  

Subordination Terms

     62  

Section 1502.

  

Notice to Trustee of Facts Prohibiting Payments

     62  

Section 1503.

  

Application by Trustee of Moneys Deposited With It

     63  

Section 1504.

  

Subrogation

     63  

Section 1505.

  

Right of Trustees to Hold Senior Indebtedness

     63  

Section 1506.

  

Not to Prevent Events of Default

     63  

Section 1507.

  

Trustee’s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification

     63  

Section 1508.

  

Article Applicable to Paying Agents

     63  

Section 1509.

  

Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness

     64  


I NDENTURE , dated as of [•], between NiSource Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “ Company ”), having its principal office at 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410, and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York Banking Corporation, having its principal corporate trust office at 101 Barclay Street, 7E, New York, New York, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”).

R ECITALS OF THE C OMPANY

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein collectively called the “ Securities ,” and individually called a “ Security ”), which may or may not be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

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

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

N OW , T HEREFORE , T HIS I NDENTURE W ITNESSETH :

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

Article One

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

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 in the Trust Indenture Act;

(3)    all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term


“generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America at the date of such computation;

(4)    the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto” 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; and

(5)    the word “or” is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both,” not “either A or B but not both”).

Certain terms used principally in certain Articles are defined in those Articles.

Act ,” when used with respect to any Holder of a Security, 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 or Persons authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate one or more series of Securities.

Bankruptcy Law ” means Title 11 of the United States Code or any similar United States federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Benefited Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1501.

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate 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 ” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks and trust companies located in the municipality in which the Corporate Trust Office is located are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such 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.

 

2


Common Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents, however designated, whether voting or non-voting, of that Person’s equity, other than preferred stock of that Person, whether now outstanding or issued after the date of this Indenture, including, without limitation, all series and classes of that common stock.

Company ” means NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any and all successors thereto.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means the total amount of assets appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries less, without duplication, the following:

(a)    all current liabilities (excluding any thereof which are by their terms extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor thereon without requiring the consent of the obligee to a date more than 12 months after the date of determination);

(b)    all reserves for depreciation and other asset valuation reserves but excluding any reserves for deferred Federal income taxes arising from accelerated amortization or otherwise;

(c)    all intangible assets such as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, patents and unamortized debt discount and expense carried as an asset on said balance sheet; and

(d)    all appropriate adjustments on account of minority interests of other Persons holding Common Stock in any Subsidiary.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and as of a date not more than 90 days prior to the happening of the event for which such determination is being made.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee of a series of Securities at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office on the date of execution of this Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, 7E, New York, New York, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, except that with respect to presentation of Securities of a series for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Trustee of such series designated for such purpose, which office or agency on the date of execution of this Indenture is located at 101 Barclay Street, 7E, New York, New York.

Corporation ” includes any corporation, association, company, limited liability company or business trust.

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

3


Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301 or any successor clearing agency registered under such Act as contemplated by Section 305, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, the term “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series.

Dollar ” or “ $ ” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

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

Global Security ” means a Security bearing the legend specified in Section 204 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

Guarantee ” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities.

Holder ,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register.

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

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.

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.

Obligations ” means any principal (including reimbursement obligations and guarantees), premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of, or which would have accrued but for the filing of, any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), penalties, fees, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursements, claims for rescission, damages, gross-up payments and all other amounts and other liabilities payable under the Securities, this Indenture and any indentures supplemental hereto.

 

4


Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller or Assistant Controller and the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary, of the Company that complies with the requirements of Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee, that complies with the requirements of Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act and Section 102 of this Indenture.

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:

(i)    Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(ii)    Securities 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 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; and

(iii)    Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 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 bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

and provided further, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have been given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, 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

 

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any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which 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 pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

Person ” means any individual, Corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

Place of Payment ,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

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.

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

Responsible Officer ,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any Vice President, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, any cashier, any assistant cashier, any senior trust officer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing corporate trust functions on behalf of the Trustee under 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.

 

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Securities ” and “ Security ” have the meanings stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, the term “Securities,” with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

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

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

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series 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 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. For the purposes of this definition, the term “voting stock” means stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the purposes of such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case may be.

Trustee ” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter the term “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, the term “Trustee,” as used with respect to the Securities of any series, shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

United States ” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

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

 

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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.

Utility ” means any subsidiary of the Company that is subject to regulation by a federal or state utility regulatory commission or other utility regulatory body.

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 stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, 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 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.

 

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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 .

(a)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, 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 record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1306.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be given or taken by a Depositary or impair, as between a Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of any Security.

Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security may give its proxy or proxies to the Depositary’s participants or the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security, as the case may be, through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

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Subject to the next succeeding paragraph, the Company may, in the circumstances permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, fix any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series. If not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of Securities of such series made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day prior to such first solicitation or vote, or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 701, as the case may be. With regard to any record date for action to be taken by the Holders of one or more series of Securities, only the Holders of Securities of such series on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give or take, or vote on, the relevant action.

The Trustee shall fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any permanent Global Security held by a Depositary and who are entitled under the procedures of such Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders. If such a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be valid or effective if made, given or taken more than 90 days after such record date.

(b)    The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c)    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.

(d)    The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing, the authority of the Person executing the same and the date of holding the same may also be proved in any other reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

(e)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, 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.

 

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Section  105.      Notices, etc., to Trustee and the Company . Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or other Act of Holders of a series of Securities or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(1)    the Trustee of such series by any Holder of a Security of such series or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee of such series at its Corporate Trust Office, or

(2)    the Company by the Trustee of such series or by any Holder of a Security of such series 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 the attention of its Corporate Secretary, at 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee of such series by the Company.

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event or any other communication (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices at the Depositary.

Section  106.      Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities (of any series) of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security of such series affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such Notice.

 

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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 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 of Securities given as provided above.

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.      Language of Notices, Etc . Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election 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  108.      Conflict with Trust Indenture Act . If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any duties under any required provision of the Trust Indenture Act deemed included herein by Section 318(c) thereof, such required provision shall control.

Section  109.      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  110.      Successors and Assigns . All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind their respective successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section  111.      Separability Clause . In case any provision in this Indenture or 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  112.      Benefits of Indenture . Nothing in this Indenture or the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities (and, with respect to the provisions of Article Fifteen, the holders of Senior Indebtedness), any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section  113.      Governing Law . This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of the State of New York, without giving effect to any contrary conflict of laws or choice of law provisions of the law of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction.

 

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Section  114.      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) 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 on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

Section  115.      Appointment of Agent for Service . By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent upon which process may be served in any legal action or proceeding which may be instituted in any Federal or State court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture. Service of process upon such agent at the office of such agent at 101 Barclay Street, 7E, New York, New York, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration (or such other address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as may be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee), and written notice of said service to the Company by the Person serving the same addressed as provided in Section 105, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such legal action or proceeding, and the Company hereby submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in which any such legal action or proceeding is so instituted. Such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as the Holders of Securities shall have any rights pursuant to the terms thereof or of this Indenture until the appointment of a successor by the Company with the consent of the Trustee and such successor’s acceptance of such appointment. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of such agent or successor.

By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Trustee hereby agrees to act as such agent and undertakes promptly to notify the Company of receipt by it of service of process in accordance with this Section.

Section  116.      No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements . This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any of its Affiliates. No such indenture, loan or debt agreement may be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section  117.      Execution in Counterparts . 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.

Section  118.      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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Section  119.      Submission to Jurisdiction . The parties irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claim that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section  120.      Force Majeure . 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, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; 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.

Section  121.      FATCA . The Company agrees (i) to provide the Trustee with such reasonable information as it has in its possession to enable the Trustee to determine whether any payments pursuant to this Indenture are subject to the withholding requirements described in Section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof (“Applicable Law”), and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law, for which the Trustee shall not have any liability.

Article Two

Security Forms

Section  201.      Forms Generally . The Securities of each series and the Global Securities, if any, issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in such 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 as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities (but which do not affect the rights or duties of the Trustee). If the forms of Securities of any 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 Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Order of the Company contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

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The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article or Article Six.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in global and registered form without coupons.

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

Section  202.      Form of Trustee s Certificate of Authentication . Subject to Section 614, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

 

    The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
Dated:                                               By:    
      Authorized Officer
     

Section  203.      Securities in Global Form . If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, any such Security may provide that it or any number of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Order of the Company to be delivered pursuant to Sections 303 or 304 with respect thereto. 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 Order of the Company. If the Order of the Company pursuant to Sections 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officers’ Certificate and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

Section  204.      Form of Legend for Global Securities . Any Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form, or in such other form that is acceptable to the Depositary and the Trustee:

 

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“UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

Article Three

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 set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

(1)    the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of all other series issued by the Company);

(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);

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

(4)    the subordination terms of the Securities of the series;

(5)    the right, if any, to extend the Stated Maturity on which the Company will pay any installment of principal of or interest on the Securities of the series;

(6)    the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the basis upon which interest will be computed if other than that specified in Section 310, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on Securities on any Interest Payment Date;

(7)    the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

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

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

(10)    the right, if any, of the Company or a third party to redeem or purchase Securities of the series and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such right;

(11)    the denominations in which Securities of the series, if any, shall be issuable if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple thereof;

(12)    the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be payable (if other than the currency of the United States of America);

(13)    if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

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

(15)    any additional Events of Default or additional covenants of the Company pertaining to the Securities of the series ;

(16)    whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a Person who is a United States Alien in respect of taxes or similar charges withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

(17)    whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, if so, (a) the Depositary with respect to such Global Security or Securities and (b) the circumstances under which beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security may exchange such interest for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such exchange may occur, if other than as set forth in Section 305;

 

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(18)    if any of such Securities are to be issued in global form and are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents, or conditions;

(19)    the date or dates, if any, after which the Holders may convert the Securities into shares of Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company and the terms for that conversion; and

(20)    any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers’ Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Corporate 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. Such Board Resolution may provide general terms or parameters for Securities of such series and may provide that the specific terms of particular Securities of such series, and the Persons authorized to determine such terms or parameters, may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to the Order of the Company referred to in the third paragraph of Section 303.

Section  302.      Denominations . Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 or 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, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, attested by its Corporate Secretary or one of its Assistant Corporate Secretaries. 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 relevant to the authorization thereof 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 on behalf of the Company to the Trustee for authentication by the Trustee together with an Order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, that, with respect to Securities of a series constituting a medium term note program, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of

 

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such series for original issue from time to time in the aggregate principal amount established for such series pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified from time to time by an Order of the Company. The maturity dates, original issue dates, interest rates and any other terms of the Securities of a subseries of any medium term note program shall be determined by or pursuant to such Order of the Company and procedures.

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 Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(a)    the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto establishing the form of the Securities of that series pursuant to Section 201 and the terms of the Securities of that series pursuant to Section 301 (or, in the case of a Board Resolution, pursuant to which such form and terms are established);

(b)    an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 stating that no Event of Default under this Indenture has occurred and is continuing and complying with Section 102; and

(c)    an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 102 stating,

(i)    that the forms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by an indenture supplemental hereto, as permitted by Section 201 and in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii)    that the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by an indenture supplemental hereto, as permitted by Sections 201 and 301 and in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii)    that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any customary conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that the enforcement of such obligations may be subject to bankruptcy laws or insolvency laws or other similar laws, general principles of equity and such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude are customary or do not materially affect the rights of the Holders of such Securities;

(iv)    that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery of the Securities have been complied with; and

(v)    such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

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With respect to Securities of a subseries of a medium term note program, the Trustee may conclusively rely on the documents and opinion delivered pursuant to Sections 201 and 301 and this Section 303, as applicable (unless revoked by superseding comparable documents or opinions), with respect to the establishment of the medium term note program as to the authorization of the Board of Directors of the Company of any Securities delivered hereunder, the form thereof and the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability thereof.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding two paragraphs, if not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the documents otherwise required pursuant to the preceding clauses (a), (b) or (c) prior to or at the time of issuance of each Security, but such documents shall be delivered prior to or at the time of issuance of the first Security of such series and shall pertain to all of the Securities of such series. After any such first delivery, any separate Request by the Company that the Trustee authenticate Securities of such series for original issue will be deemed to be a certification by the Company that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such Securities continue to have been complied with.

If such forms or terms have been so established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by an indenture supplemental hereto as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such series:

(i)    if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken;

(ii)    if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors, executive committee or a committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any Outstanding series of Securities; or

(iii)    if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties and immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 301 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Order of the Company with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities in permanent form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend as required by Section 204.

 

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Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Global Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.

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 and is 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 an Order of the Company 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, in registered form 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 (but which do not affect the rights or duties of the Trustee).

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, 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 such 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 a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series, including temporary Securities in global form, shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

Section  305.      Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange . The Company shall cause to be kept at one of its offices or agencies designated pursuant to Section 1002 a register (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 of each series and of transfers and exchanges of Securities of such series. Said office or agency is hereby appointed the security registrar (referred to as the “ Security Registrar ) for the purpose of registering Securities of each series and transfers and exchanges of Securities of such series as herein provided.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment maintained for such purpose for such 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, Stated Maturity and original issue date, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

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At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (except a Global Security representing all or a portion of such series) may be exchanged for Securities of the same series, Stated Maturity and original issue date, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any 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 which 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) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar 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 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.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange Securities of any series during a period of 15 Business Days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the serial numbers of the Securities of that series called for redemption, or (ii) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to this Section 305 or Sections 304, 306, 906 or 1107 for Securities registered in the name of, and a transfer of a Global Security of any series may be registered to, any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee only if:

(i)    such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days;

 

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(ii)    the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Order of the Company that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable and the transfer thereof so registrable; or

(iii)    there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series.

Upon the occurrence in respect of any Global Security of any series of any one or more of the conditions specified in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence or such other conditions as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such series, then without unnecessary delay, but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, executed by the Company.

On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such Global Securities shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depositary and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depositary (which instructions shall be in writing but need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Order of the Company with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without service charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered Global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such Global Security to be exchanged; provided, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 Business Days before any selection of Securities of that series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date.

Promptly following any such exchange in part, such Global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to the Depositary in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a Global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the next Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Security, but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such Global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

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, Stated Maturity and original issue date, and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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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 bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its Request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series, Stated Maturity and original issue date, and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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.

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and any such new Security 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 . Unless 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.

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

 

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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 provided in this clause. Following the Trustee’s receipt of such notice, 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 mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, 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, 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 deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) 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 any notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary (or its nominee) shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security or any Security represented thereby, and such Depositary may be treated by the

 

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Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security or any Security represented thereby for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

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 canceled by the Trustee. 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 all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed and certification of their destruction delivered to the Company, unless an Order of the Company shall direct that canceled Securities be returned to the Company.

The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of this Section 309, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with an Order that such Securities be canceled.

Section  310.      Computation of Interest . Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301(4) for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

Section  311.      CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code Numbers . The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP”, “ISIN” or “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP”, “ISIN” or “Common Code” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided , however, 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.

Article Four

Satisfaction and Discharge

Section  401.      Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . This Indenture shall upon a Request of the Company cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange or conversion of Securities herein expressly provided for, and any right to receive additional amounts, as provided in Section 1004), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:

 

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(1)    either

(A)    all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) 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 (B)(i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust dedicated solely for such purpose an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) 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.

 

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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 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 Sections 305, 306, 402, 1002 and 1003 shall survive.

Section  402.      Application of Trust Money . Subject to the provision 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 premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds, except to the extent required by law.

Article Five

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 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)    the Company defaults in the payment of any interest (including any additional amounts due under Section 1004 as specified therein) upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable and continuance of such default for a period of 60 days; or

(2)    the Company defaults in the payment of the principal (including any additional amounts due under Section 1004 as specified therein) of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity and continuance of such default for a period of three Business Days thereafter; or

(3)    the Company defaults in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series and continuance of such default for a period of three Business Days thereafter; or

(4)    the Company defaults in the performance of or breaches 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 or pursuant to this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more 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

 

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of at least 33% 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)    a default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company (including a default with respect to Securities of any series other than that series) or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company (including this Indenture), whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall constitute a failure to pay in excess of $50,000,000 of the principal or interest of such indebtedness when due and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto or shall have resulted in such indebtedness in an amount in excess of $50,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled within a period of 60 days after there shall have 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 33% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Company to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; provided, that subject to the provisions of Sections 601 and 602, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of such default unless either (A) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee assigned to the Corporate Trust Administration (or any successor division or department of the Trustee) shall have actual knowledge of such default or (B) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company, from any Holder, from the holder of any such indebtedness or from the trustee under any such mortgage, Indenture or other instrument; or

(6)    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 a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition by one or more Persons other than the Company or any of its Affiliates 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 for the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, 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)    the commencement by the Company of a case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of it in a case or proceeding

 

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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 similar official in respect of it or any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or its admission in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or its taking of corporate action in furtherance of any such action; or

(8)    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 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 33% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Securities of that series 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.

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 Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and 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 at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; 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 any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607;

and

 

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(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 and annulment 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 at the Maturity thereof and such default continues for a period of three Business Days,

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 premium, if any) and interest, with interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, 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, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607.

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 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, wherever situated.

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 most effectual 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 the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein

 

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expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company or any other obligor for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(i)    to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607) and of the Holders of Securities allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(ii)    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 of Securities 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 of Securities, 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 607.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security 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 of a Security in any such proceeding.

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 premium, if any) 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 607; and

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

 

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THIRD: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) 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 premium, if any) and interest; and

FOURTH: 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 a majority 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 such reasonable indemnity as it may require 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 premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or 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 of a Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture

 

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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 of Securities 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 of Securities 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 Security 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 of Securities may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities, as the case may be.

Section  512.      Control by Holders of Securities . 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:

(1)    such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, expose the Trustee to personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joined therein; and

(2)    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 . 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 premium, if any) 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.

 

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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; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section  514.      Undertaking for Costs . All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of any Security for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

Section  515.      Waiver of 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 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.

Article Six

The Trustee

Section  601.      Certain Duties and Responsibilities .

(a)    Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series:

(1)    the Trustee undertakes to perform, with respect to Securities of such series, such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2)    in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates

 

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or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but 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 be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(b)    In case an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise, with respect to Securities of such series, such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

(1)    this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section;

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

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

(4)    no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it; and

(5)     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.

(d)    Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

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Section  602.      Notice of Defaults . Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 106 of this Indenture, notice of all such defaults hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, that except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

Section  603.      Certain Rights of Trustee . Subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

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

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

(c)    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;

(d)    the Trustee may consult with counsel and the 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;

(e)    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 of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(f)    the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document;

 

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

(h)    except as otherwise provided in Section 501(5), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series for which it is acting as Trustee unless a Responsible Officer has received written notice of such Event of Default from the Company, any other obligor on such Securities or by any Holder of such Securities.

Section  604.      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 the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section  605.      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 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of either with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

Section  606.      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.

Section  607.      Compensation and Reimbursement . The Company agrees:

(1)    to pay to the Trustee and each Authenticating Agent 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

 

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reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and any Authenticating Agent), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and

(3)    to indemnify the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense incurred without negligence, willful misconduct 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.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on particular Securities.

Section  608.      Disqualification; Conflicting Interests . If at any time the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it by the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months then, (i) the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, 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 removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees. The Trustee shall comply with the terms of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section  609.      Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility . There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Person 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 exercise corporate trust powers, or any other Person permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000, is subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State or District of Columbia authority and is not otherwise ineligible under Section 310(a)(5) of the Trust Indenture Act. If such Person 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 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 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  610.      Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

 

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(a)    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 611.

(b)    The Trustee may resign at any time upon 30 days written notice 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 611 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 for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(c)    The Trustee may be removed at any time upon 30 days written notice 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 the Company.

(d)    If at any time:

(1)    the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security 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 609 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 a 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, (i) the Company, by Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated Holders, 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.

(e)    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 611. 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

 

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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 611, 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 and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder of a Security 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.

(f)    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 by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.

Section  611.      Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

(a)    In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment. 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 on the request of 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; provided, that such property and money shall continue to be subject to any lien in favor of the retiring Trustee provided for in Section 607.

(b)    In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) 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

 

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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 on the request of 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, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 607, with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

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

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

Section  612.      Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business . Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, if such Person 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  613.      Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company . If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of Section 311 and any other provision of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

Section  614.      Appointment of Authenticating Agent . At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, 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 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

 

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authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. 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 (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State or District of Columbia authority. If such Corporation 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 Corporation 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 be 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, if 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 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 mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. 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 provisions of Sections 308, 604 and 605 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

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 alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

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

 

The Bank of New York Mellon,

as Trustee

By    
  As Authenticating Agent
By    
  Authorized Signatory

Article Seven

Holders’ Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company

Section  701.      Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders . In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a)    semi-annually, not later than June 1 and December 1, in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, containing all the information in the possession or control of the Company, or any of its Paying Agents other than the Trustee, as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities as of the preceding May 15 or November 15, as the case may be, and

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

provided, that no such list need be furnished if the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

Section  702.      Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

(a)    The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

(b)    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 the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Section  703.      Reports by Trustee .

(a)    Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 301, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Section 313(a) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.

(b)    The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

(c)    Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section  704.      Reports by the Company . The Company, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, shall:

(1)    file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

(2)    file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(3)    transmit, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, to the Holders of Securities, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by 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).

 

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Article Eight

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

Section  801.      The 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, unless:

(1)    the Person formed by any such consolidation or into which it is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, its properties and assets substantially as an entirety shall be organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture to be performed or observed on the part of the Company;

(2)    immediately after giving effect to 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; and

(3)    the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease complies with this Section 801 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

The Company covenants and agrees that if, upon any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person, or upon any consolidation or merger of any other Person with or into the Company, or upon any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company to any other Person, any property of the Company or any Subsidiary or any indebtedness issued by any Subsidiary owned by the Company or by any Subsidiary immediately prior thereto would thereupon become subject to any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance not permitted by Section 1008 hereof, the Company, prior to or concurrently with such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, will by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, effectively secure the Securities then Outstanding (equally and ratably with (or prior to) any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Company or such Subsidiary then entitled thereto) by a direct lien on such property of the Company or any Subsidiary or such indebtedness issued by a Subsidiary, prior to all liens other than any theretofore existing thereon.

Section  802.      Successor Corporation Substituted . Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the Company’s properties and assets substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor formed by such consolidation or into which it is merged or to which

 

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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 had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

Article Nine

Supplemental Indentures

Section  901.      Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders . Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, 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 one or more of the following purposes only:

(1)    to evidence the succession of another Corporation 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; or

(4)    to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided, that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; 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, to contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, 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 611(b); or

 

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(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 change shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture and shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

(9)    to conform this Indenture to any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section  902.      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders . With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in 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 modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, 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 of 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 the method of calculating the rate of interest thereon, or change any obligation of the Company to pay additional amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (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 that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or change any Place of Payment in the United States where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or the 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);

(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 reduce the requirements of Section 1304 for quorum or voting;

(3)    change any obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment, or any obligation of the Company to maintain an office or agency outside the United States pursuant to Section 1002; or

(4)    modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1010, 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.

 

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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.

The Company shall have the right to set a record date for the solicitation of any consents under this Article Nine, which record date shall be set in accordance with Section 104.

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 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, immunities or liabilities 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 as then in effect.

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.

Section  907.      Subordination Unimpaired . No supplemental indenture entered into under this Article Nine shall modify, directly or indirectly, the provisions of Article Fifteen or the definition of Senior Indebtedness in Section 101 in any manner that might alter or impair the subordination of the Securities with respect to Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless each holder of such Senior Indebtedness has consented thereto in writing.

 

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Article Ten

Covenants

Section  1001.      Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest . The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

Section  1002.      Maintenance of Office or Agency . The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities 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 initially hereby appoints the Trustee, its office or agency for each of said purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of 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 Trustee 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, 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 in accordance with the requirements set forth above 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 (and premium, if any) 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 premium, if any) 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, on or prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the

 

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principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of 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)    hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(2)    give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series; and

(3)    at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

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 Order of the Company direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms 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 sums.

Any sums deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Request of the Company, 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, 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 mailed to each such Holder 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 or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section  1004.      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 any series additional amounts as provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any

 

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context, the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) 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.

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 premium, if any) is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal (and premium, if any) 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 Paying 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 premium, if any) 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, claim, damage 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.

Section  1005.      Corporate 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 corporate existence and its rights (charter and statutory) and franchises.

Section  1006.      Maintenance of Properties . The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business and in the business of the Subsidiaries 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 may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties or disposing of them if such discontinuance or disposal is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of the Subsidiaries and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of Securities.

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

 

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taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or any of the Subsidiaries, or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, 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 of the Subsidiaries; provided, that none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries shall 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 by appropriate proceedings.

Section  1008.      Restrictions on Liens .

(a)    So long as any Securities remain outstanding, the Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary, other than a Utility, to, issue, assume or guarantee any debt for money borrowed (hereinafter in this Section 1008 referred to as “Debt”), secured by any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance (hereinafter in this Section 1008 called “mortgage” or “mortgages”) upon any property of the Company or any such Subsidiary (other than a Utility), except indebtedness issued by any such Subsidiary and owned by the Company or any other such Subsidiary (whether such property or indebtedness is now owned or hereafter acquired), without in any such case effectively securing, prior to or concurrently with the issuance, assumption or guarantee of any such Debt, the Securities (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Company or such Subsidiary ranking equally with the Securities and then existing or thereafter created) equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Debt; provided, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to nor prevent the creation or existence of:

(i)    mortgages on any property, acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries other than the Utilities after the date of this Indenture, and any improvements thereon, accessions thereto or other property acquired or constructed for use in connection therewith or related thereto, which are created or assumed prior to or contemporaneously with, or within 180 days after, such acquisition or completion of such construction or improvement, or within one year thereafter pursuant to a firm commitment for financing arranged with a lender or investor within such 180-day period, to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of such property or the cost of such construction or improvement incurred after the date of this Indenture, or, in addition to mortgages contemplated by clauses (ii) and (iii) below, mortgages on any property existing at the time of acquisition thereof; provided, that the mortgages shall not apply to any property theretofore owned by the Company or any such Subsidiary other than, in the case of any such construction or improvement, (1) unimproved real property on which the property so constructed or the improvement is located, (2) other property (or improvements thereon) which is an improvement to or is acquired or constructed for use in connection therewith or related thereto, (3) any right and interest under any agreement or other documents relating to the property being so constructed or improved or such other property and (4) the stock of any Subsidiary created or maintained for the primary purpose of owning the property so constructed or improved;

 

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(ii)    existing mortgages on any property or indebtedness of a Person which is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary;

(iii)    mortgages on property or indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary;

(iv)    mortgages to secure Debt of a Subsidiary to the Company or to another Subsidiary (other than a Utility);

(v)    mortgages in favor of the United States of America, any State, any foreign country or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of any such jurisdiction, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such mortgages, including, without limitation, mortgages to secure Debt of the pollution control or industrial revenue bond type;

(vi)    mortgages to secure Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary maturing within 12 months from the creation thereof and incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(vii)    mortgages on any property (including any natural gas, oil or other mineral property) to secure all or part of the cost of exploration, drilling or development thereof or to secure Debt incurred to provide funds for any such purpose;

(viii)    mortgages existing on the date of this Indenture; and

(ix)    mortgages for the purposes of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or in part Debt secured by any mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) to (viii), inclusive, or this clause (ix); provided, that the principal amount of Debt secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Debt so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property or indebtedness which secured the mortgage so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).

(b)    The provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 1008 shall not apply to the issuance, assumption or guarantee by the Company or any Subsidiary of Debt secured by a mortgage which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions up to an aggregate amount which, together with all other Debt of the Company and the Subsidiaries other than the Utilities secured by mortgages (other than mortgages permitted by subsection (a) of this Section 1008 which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions), does not at the time exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

(c)    If at any time the Company or any Subsidiary other than the Utilities shall issue, assume or guarantee any Debt secured by any mortgage and if subsection (a) of this Section 1008 requires that the Securities be secured equally and ratably with such Debt, the Company will promptly deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that, and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, the covenant of the Company contained in subsection (a) of this Section has been complied with.

 

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Section  1009.      Statement as to Default .

(a)    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, a certificate, signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company 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.

(b)    The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within five days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which after notice or lapse of time would become an Event of Default pursuant to clause (4) of Section 501.

Section  1010.      Waiver of Certain Covenants . The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1006 and 1007 with respect to the Securities of any series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority 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.

Article Eleven

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 Securities of any series) 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. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be

 

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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, 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 (other than Securities of such series held by the Company), 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; provided that any Securities to be redeemed held as a Global Security shall be selected in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depositary. Unless otherwise provided in the Securities of a series, partial redemptions must be in an amount not less than $1,000,000 principal amount of Securities.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

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 are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities 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,

 

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(5)    the place or places where such Securities maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency maintained by the Company in each Place of Payment pursuant to Section 1002, and

(6)    that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular 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.

Section  1105.      Deposit of Redemption Price . On or 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, if any, on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

Section  1106.      Securities Payable on Redemption Date . Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, and the conditions, if any, set forth in such notice having been satisfied, 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, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, that installments of interest 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 premium, if any) 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, Stated Maturity and 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.

 

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Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary in global form, without service charge, a new Global Security or Securities of the same series, Stated Maturity and of any authorized denomination as requested by the Depositary, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered.

Article Twelve

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 a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section  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 the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided, that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section  1203.      Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund . Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, 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 of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and stating the basis for such credit and that such Securities have not previously been so credited and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking

 

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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 Thirteen

Meetings of Holders of Securities

Section  1301.      Purposes for Which Meetings May be Called . A meeting of Holders of Securities of series 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 or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

Section  1302.      Call Notice and Place of Meeting .

(a)    The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1301, to be held at 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 1301, 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  1303.      Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings . To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

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Section  1304.      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. 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. Except as provided by Section 1305(d), notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1302(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 Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, that, except as limited by the proviso to 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 an 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, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

Section  1305.      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 such 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. 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.

 

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(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 1302(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 Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, 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 1302 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  1306.      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 triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, 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 1302 and, if applicable, Section 1304. 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.

Section  1307.      Action Without Meeting . In lieu of a vote of Holders at a meeting as hereinbefore contemplated in this Article, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be made, given or taken by Holders by written instruments as provided in Section 104.

 

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Article Fourteen

Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers,

Directors and Employees

Section  1401.      Liability Solely Corporate . No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Securities, or any part thereof, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or of the indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement under this Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director or employee, as such, past, present or future of the Company or of any predecessor or successor Corporation (either directly or through the Company or a predecessor or successor Corporation of the Company), whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture and all the Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director or employee, past, present or future, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor Corporation (either directly or indirectly through the Company or any predecessor or successor Corporation of the Company), because of the indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that any such personal liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.

Article Fifteen

Subordination of Securities

Section  1501.      Subordination Terms . The payment by the Company of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any series of Securities issued hereunder shall be subordinated to the extent set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto relating to such Securities.

Section  1502.      Notice to Trustee of Facts Prohibiting Payments . Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Article Fifteen or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not at any time be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of funds to or by the Trustee unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee assigned to its Corporate Trust Division shall have received at the Corporate Trust Office written notice thereof from the Company or from one or more holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor who shall have been certified by the Company or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee to be such a holder or trustee; and, prior to the receipt of such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided that if prior to the fifth business day preceding the date upon which by the terms hereof any such funds may become payable, or if prior to the third business day preceding the date of the execution of instruments pursuant to Article Four acknowledging satisfaction and discharge

 

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of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such funds the notice provided for in this Section 1502, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys and/or 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 on or after such date; provided no such application shall affect the obligations under this Article Fifteen of the Persons receiving such moneys from the Trustee.

Section  1503.      Application by Trustee of Moneys Deposited With It . Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, any deposit of a sum by the Company with the Trustee or any agent (whether or not in trust) for any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities shall, except as provided in Section 1502, be subject to the provisions of Section 1501.

Section  1504.      Subrogation . Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of assets of the Company applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the Securities shall be paid in full, and none of the payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Fifteen or of payments over, pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fifteen, to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of such Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness; it being understood that the provisions of this Article Fifteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of such Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

Section  1505.      Right of Trustees to Hold Senior Indebtedness . The Trustee shall be entitled to all of the rights set forth in this Article Fifteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it in its individual capacity to the same extent as any other holder of such Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

Section  1506.      Not to Prevent Events of Default . The failure to make a payment pursuant to the terms of the Securities by reason of any provision in this Article Fifteen shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of an Event of Default, if any.

Section  1507.      Trustee s Rights to Compensation, Reimbursement of Expenses and Indemnification . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Trustee’s rights to compensation, reimbursement of expenses and indemnification under Section  607 are not subordinated to the payment of Senior Indebtedness.

Section  1508.      Article Applicable to Paying Agents . The term “Trustee” as used in this Article Fifteen shall (unless the context shall otherwise require) be construed as extending to and including each Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent and Security Registrar appointed by

 

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the Company or the Trustee, as the case may be, and acting hereunder within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent or Security Registrar were named in this Article Fifteen in addition to the Trustee; provided that Section 1502 and Section 1505 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

Section  1509.      Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness . The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if the Trustee shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Fifteen or otherwise. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Fifteen, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

 

 

 

 

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I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

N I S OURCE I NC .
By:    
Name:
Title:

 

Attest:
By:    

 

T HE B ANK OF N EW Y ORK M ELLON , as Trustee
By:    
Name:
Title:

 

Attest:
By:    
 

 

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LOGO      

Schiff Hardin LLP

233 South Wacker Drive

Suite 6600

Chicago, IL 60606

 

 

T 312.258.5500

F 312.258.5600

 

 

schiffhardin.com

November 30, 2017      

Robert J. Minkus

(312) 258.5584

rminkus@schiffhardin.com

 

Exhibit 5.1

NiSource Inc.

801 East 86th Avenue

Merrillville, Indiana 46410

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to NiSource Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a post-effective amendment to a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-214360) (the “Amendment”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on November 30, 2017 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Amendment amends the registration statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company and NiSource Finance Corp., a former co-registrant, with the Commission on November 1, 2016 (such registration statement, as so amended, the “Registration Statement”). The Amendment will become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, of an unspecified number or amount of the following securities of the Company: (i) common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) senior debt securities (the “Senior Debt Securities”) and subordinated debt securities (the “Subordinated Debt Securities” and together with the Senior Debt Securities, the “Debt Securities”); (iv) warrants to purchase Debt Securities, warrants to purchase Common Stock and warrants to purchase Preferred Stock (collectively, the “Warrants”); (v) stock purchase contracts (the “Stock Purchase Contracts”); and (vi) stock purchase units consisting of a Stock Purchase Contract and a Debt Security (the “Stock Purchase Units”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”

The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture, dated as of November 14, 2000, by and among the Company, NiSource Finance Corp. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as original trustee, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 14, 2000, as filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (file no. 333-49330) filed November 17, 2000, as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture dated as of November 14, 2000, by and among the Company, NiSource Finance Corp. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as original trustee, as filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 1, 2000, and as further supplemented by a second supplemental


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NiSource Inc.

November 30, 2017

Page 2

 

indenture, dated as of November 30, 2017, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as successor trustee, as filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement (such indenture, as so supplemented and as may be further supplemented from time to time, the “Senior Indenture”). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement (as supplemented from time to time, the “Subordinated Indenture” and, together with the Senior Indenture, the “Indentures”).

This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

In connection with our opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement, including the exhibits thereto, and such other documents, corporate records and instruments, and have examined such laws and regulations, as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion. In making our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the legal capacity of all natural persons. As to matters of fact material to our opinions in this letter, we have relied on certificates and statements from officers and other employees of the Company, public officials and other appropriate persons.

In rendering the opinions in this letter we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification, that each party to each of the documents executed or to be executed, other than the Company, (a) is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) has full power and authority to execute such documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder, (c) has taken all necessary action to authorize execution of such documents on its behalf by the persons executing same, (d) has properly executed and delivered, or will properly execute and deliver, each of such documents to which it is a party, and (e) has duly obtained all consents or approvals of any nature from and made all filings with any governmental authorities necessary for such party to execute, deliver or perform its obligations under such documents to which it is a party. In addition, in rendering such opinions we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification, (i) that the execution and delivery of, and performance of their respective obligations under, the documents executed or to be executed by each party thereto, other than the Company, do not violate any law, rule, regulation, agreement or instrument binding upon such party, (ii) that all acts have been taken without violation of any fiduciary duties and in accordance with any notice or disclosure requirements, (iii) that each of such documents is the legal, valid and binding obligation of, and enforceable against, each party thereto, other than the Company, and (iv) that the execution and delivery by the Company of, and performance by the Company of its obligations under, such documents do not violate any law, rule, regulation, agreement or instrument binding upon the Company or require any consent or approval from or filing with any


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governmental authority (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iv) with respect to those laws, rules and regulations of the states of Delaware, New York and the United States of America that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type provided for by the documents executed or to be executed, but without our having made any special investigation with respect to any other laws, rules or regulations).

We make no representation that we have independently investigated or verified any of the matters that we have assumed for the purposes of this opinion letter.

Based on the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that, when any applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws have been complied with:

1. With respect to any offering of Common Stock (the “Offered Common Stock”), when (i) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Common Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) if the Offered Common Stock is to be sold pursuant to an underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, such agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) 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 of the Offered Common Stock and related matters; and (iv) the terms of the issuance and sale of the Offered Common Stock have been duly established in conformity with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, so as not to violate any applicable law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company or result in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, the Offered Common Stock, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, if any, upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. With respect to any offering of shares of any series of Preferred Stock (the “Offered Preferred Stock”), when (i) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Preferred Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) if the Offered Preferred Stock is to be sold pursuant to an underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, such agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) 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 Preferred Stock and related matters, including the adoption of a Certificate of Designations for the Offered Preferred Stock in accordance with the applicable provisions of Delaware law (the “Certificate of Designations”); (iv) the Certificate of Designations has been


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duly filed with the Delaware Secretary of State; and (v) the terms of the Offered Preferred Stock and of its issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, including the Certificate of Designations, so as not to violate any applicable law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company: (1) the shares of the Offered Preferred Stock, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, if any, upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and (2) if the Offered Preferred Stock is convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of the Offered Preferred Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, assuming the conversion or exchange of the Offered Preferred Stock is in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations.

3. With respect to any offering of any series of Debt Securities (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) if the Offered Debt Securities are to be sold pursuant to an underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, such agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) if the Offered Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt Securities, the Subordinated Indenture is duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee; (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 Debt Securities and related matters; (v) 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 or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws of the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (vi) 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: (1) the Offered Debt Securities, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, if any, will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms; and (2) if the Offered Debt Securities are convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon conversion or exchange of the Offered Debt Securities will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, assuming the conversion or exchange of the Offered Debt Securities is in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and, in the case of Preferred Stock, a Certificate of Designations has been duly adopted and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State.


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4. With respect to any offering of Warrants (the “Offered Warrants”), when (i) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Warrants has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) if the Offered Warrants are to be sold pursuant to an underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, such agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) the board of directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and sale and the terms of the Offered Warrants and related matters, including the adoption of the Warrant Agreement with respect to Warrants to purchase Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement with respect to Warrants to purchase Common Stock or the Warrant Agreement with respect to Warrants to purchase Preferred Stock (individually, a “Warrant Agreement”), as the case may be, for the Offered Warrants; (iv) the terms of the Offered Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company so as not to violate any applicable law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (v) the Warrant Agreement for the Offered Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and certificates representing the Offered Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor: (1) the Offered Warrants, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, if any, will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company; (2) if the Offered Warrants are exercisable for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Offered Warrants will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, assuming the exercise of the Offered Warrants is in accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement and assuming, in the case of Preferred Stock, a Certificate of Designations has been duly adopted and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State; and (3) if the Offered Warrants are exercisable for Debt Securities, the Debt Securities issuable upon exercise of the Offered Warrants will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, assuming the exercise of the Offered Warrants is in accordance with the terms of the applicable Warrant Agreement and the applicable Indenture.

5. With respect to any offering of Stock Purchase Contracts (the “Offered Stock Purchase Contracts”), when (i) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the


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Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) if the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts are to be sold pursuant to an underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, such agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) 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 Contracts and related matters, including adoption of the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement for the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts (the “Stock Purchase Contract Agreements”); (iv) the terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company so as not to violate any applicable law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (v) the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement has been duly executed and duly delivered and certificates representing the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts have been duly executed, authenticated, registered and delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor: (1) the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, if any, will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company; and (2) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon settlement of the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, assuming the Offered Stock Purchase Contracts are settled in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Contract Agreement.

6. With respect to any offering of Stock Purchase Units (the “Offered Stock Purchase Units”), when (i) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Stock Purchase Units has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) if the Offered Stock Purchase Units are to be sold pursuant to an underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, such agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iii) 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, including the adoption of the Stock Purchase Unit Agreement for the Offered Stock Purchase Units (the “Stock Purchase Unit Agreement”); (iv) the terms of the Offered Stock Purchase Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company so as not to violate any applicable law or the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (v) the Stock Purchase Unit Agreement has been duly executed and duly delivered and certificates representing the Offered Stock


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Purchase Units have been duly executed, authenticated, registered and delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor: (1) the Offered Stock Purchase Units, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable underwriting, purchase or agency agreement, if any, will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company; and (2) the shares of Common Stock issuable upon settlement of the Offered Stock Purchase Units will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, assuming the Offered Stock Purchase Units are settled in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Unit Agreement.

The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications:

A. The opinions expressed herein with respect to the legality, validity, binding nature and enforceability of any Securities are subject to (i) applicable laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, whether now or hereafter in effect, (ii) general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, laches, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the principles regarding when injunctive or other equitable remedies will be available (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (iii) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Security denominated other than in United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars in respect to such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law and (iv) government authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies.

B. The foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of Delaware, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are as of the date of this opinion letter only and as to laws covered hereby only as they are in effect on that date, and we assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may come to our attention after that date or any changes in law that may occur or become effective after that date. The opinions herein are limited to the matters expressly set forth in this opinion letter, and no opinion or representation is given or may be inferred beyond the opinions expressly set forth in this opinion letter.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Opinions” in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we


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are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
SCHIFF HARDIN LLP
By:  

  /s/ Robert J. Minkus

  Robert J. Minkus

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-214360 on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 22, 2017, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of NiSource Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company’s spin-off of its subsidiary Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc. on July 1, 2015), and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2016, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Columbus, Ohio

November 30, 2017

Exhibit 24.2

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS , that the undersigned constitutes and appoints Donald E. Brown, Joseph W. Mulpas and Shawn Anderson or any one of them his true lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and re-substitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of NiSource, Inc., a Delaware corporation (File No. 333-214360) and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority, to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, to all intents and purposes and as fully as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated: November 30, 2017

/s/ Peter A. Altabef
Peter A. Altabef
Director


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS , that the undersigned constitutes and appoints Donald E. Brown, Joseph W. Mulpas and Shawn Anderson or any one of them his true lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and re-substitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of NiSource, Inc., a Delaware corporation (File No. 333-214360) and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority, to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, to all intents and purposes and as fully as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated: November 30, 2017

/s/ Eric L. Butler
Eric L. Butler
Director

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

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 MELLON

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

New York

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

13-5160382

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

225 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y.

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

10286

(Zip code)

 

 

NiSource Inc.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

35-2108964

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

801 East 86th Avenue

Merrillville, Indiana

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

46410

(Zip code)

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


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.

 

Name

  

Address

Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services of the State of New York   

One State Street,

New York, N.Y. 10004-1417,

and Albany, N.Y. 12223

Federal Reserve Bank of New York    33 Liberty Street, New York, N.Y. 10045
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation   

550 17 th Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20429

The Clearing House Association L.L.C.   

100 Broad Street

New York, N.Y. 10004

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

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 Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself 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, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121195 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152735).


  4. A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-207042).

 

  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. 333-188382).

 

  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 Mellon, 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 Woodland Park, and State of New Jersey, on the 28th day of November, 2017.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
By:   /s/ Laurence J. O’Brien
  Name:   Laurence J. O’Brien
  Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT 7

 

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

of 225 Liberty 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, 2017, published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

 

ASSETS

     Dollar amounts in thousands  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     4,189,000  

Interest-bearing balances

     85,914,000  

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     40,424,000  

Available-for-sale securities

     74,557,000  

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold in domestic offices

     0  

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     13,632,000  

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0  

Loans and leases held for investment

     32,260,000  

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     137,000  

Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance

     32,123,000  

Trading assets

     3,022,000  

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     1,391,000  

Other real estate owned

     4,000  

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     570,000  

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0  

Intangible assets:

  

Goodwill

     6,308,000  

Other intangible assets

     876,000  

Other assets

     17,866,000  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     280,876,000  
  

 

 

 


LIABILITIES

  

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     126,191,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     80,114,000  

Interest-bearing

     46,077,000  

In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs

     112,793,000  

Noninterest-bearing

     9,023,000  

Interest-bearing

     103,770,000  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased in domestic offices .

     693,000  

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     2,388,000  

Trading liabilities

     3,136,000  

Other borrowed money:

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     2,784,000  

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     515,000  

Other liabilities

     6,552,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     255,052,000  
  

 

 

 

EQUITY CAPITAL

  

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0  

Common stock

     1,135,000  

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     10,643,000  

Retained earnings

     15,327,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     -1,631,000  

Other equity capital components

     0  

Total bank equity capital

     25,474,000  

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     350,000  

Total equity capital

     25,824,000  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     280,876,000  
  

 

 

 


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.

 

Gerald L. Hassell

Samuel C. Scott

Joseph J. Echevarria

                  Directors