Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

AIRTRAN HOLDINGS, INC.

TO

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

AS TRUSTEE

SENIOR INDENTURE

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 14, 2009

PROVIDING FOR ISSUANCE OF

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES IN SERIES

AIRTRAN HOLDINGS, INC.

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

ii

NOTE: This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

iii

INDENTURE, dated as of October 14, 2009, between AirTran Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (herein called the “ Company ”), having its principal office at 9955 AirTran Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32827, and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States, as Trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1 Definitions.

“ Act ,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.6 .

“ 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” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”) 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. The Trustee may request and conclusively rely on an Officers’ Certificate to determine whether any Person is an Affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor.

“ Agent ” means any Security Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.

“ Agent Members ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 of this Indenture.

“ Airways ” means AirTran Airways, Inc.

“ Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.15 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“ Authentication Order ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3 .

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

“ Board of Directors ” means either the board of directors of the Company or of a Guarantor, as applicable, or any duly authorized committee of that board.

“ Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or any Guarantor, as applicable, 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.

“ Book Entry Securities ” means securities in book entry form, whether or not also evidenced by Global Securities.

“ Business Day ” means any day, other than Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks in any of the cities of Orlando, Florida, New York, New York or a Place of Payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“ Capital Stock ” means, (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or mandatory interest, or (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distribution of assets of, the issuing Person.

“ Clearstream ” means Clearstream Banking, S.A. and its successors.

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

“ Corporate Trust Office ” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its duties under this indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, except that with respect to presentation of the Securities for payment or registration of transfers or exchanges and the location of the register, such term means the office or agency of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate agency business shall be conducted.

“ Currency Agreement ” means, with respect to any Person, any spot or foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against, or to manage exposure to, fluctuations in currency values.

“ Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7 .

“ 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 Book-Entry Securities or Global Securities, one or more of the Depository Trust Company, Euroclear, Clearstream or similar Person or Persons designated as Depositary for such series by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 , which shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, its nominees, and their respective successors; and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series.

“ Euroclear ” means Euroclear Bank S.A. / N.V. and its successors.

“ Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1 .

“ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2

“ GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States of America, which are applicable from time to time and are consistently applied.

“ Global Securities ” means, individually and collectively, Securities offered and sold under this Indenture, which shall be deposited with a Depositary or with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depository, that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears a Global Securities Legend.

“ Global Securities Legend ” means a legend in substantially the form set forth in Section 2.2 , which is required to be placed on all Global Securities issued under this Indenture.

“ Guarantee ” shall mean each guarantee of the Securities by any Guarantor created pursuant to the terms of a supplemental indenture.

“ guarantee ” means, as applied to any obligation, (1) a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner, of any part or all of such obligation; and (2) an agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, the practical effect of which is to assure in any way the payment or performance (or payment of damages in the event of non-performance) of all or any part of such obligation, including, without limiting the foregoing, the payment of amounts drawn down by letters of credit.

“ Guarantor ” means (1) each Person who delivers a Guarantee pursuant to the terms of a supplemental indenture, and (2) shall include any successor replacing a Guarantor pursuant to this Indenture, and thereafter means such successor.

“ Holder ” means a Person in whose name a 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, including, for all purposes of this instrument, and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the forms and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1 .

“ Interest ,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that 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.

“ Lien ” means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or other), security interest, hypothecation, assignment for security, claim, or preference or priority or other encumbrance upon or with respect to any property of any kind. A Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property which such Person has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement.

 

3

“ 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, required repurchase, or otherwise.

“ Note ” means any indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures or similar instruments of the Company and that is defined as such under a supplemental indenture but shall not include any obligation that constitutes a guarantee.

“ Officer ” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Executive Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Controller of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be.

“ Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be (in each case, who has been duly elected and is so serving), and delivered to the Trustee.

“ Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

“ 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 5.2 .

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

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

(2) 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 or any of its Affiliates) in trust 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 Section 11.4 of this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(3) Securities, except to the extent provided in Section 14.2 and Section 14.3 , with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance or covenant defeasance as provided in Article 14 ; and

(4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 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;

provided, however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder, or whether sufficient funds are available for redemption or for any other purpose, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by Section 313 of the TIA, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding

 

4

shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 , (B) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security, (C) the principal amount of any indexed security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such indexed security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 3.1 , and (D) except for the purpose of making the calculations required by Section 313 of the TIA, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually 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.

“ Participant ” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary (and if the Depositary is The Depository Trust Company, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream, respectively).

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

“ Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture association, joint-stock company, trust, charitable foundation, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

“ Physical Security ” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, except that such Security shall not bear the Global Securities Legend or other Global Securities notations.

“ Place of Payment ,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 and Section 10.2 .

“ Predecessor Security ” means, with respect to any particular Security, 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 3.3 hereof in exchange for a mutilated Security or in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

“ Redeemable Capital Stock ” means any shares of any class or series of Capital Stock that, either by the terms thereof, by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or by contract or otherwise, is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed prior to the Stated Maturity with respect to the principal of any Security or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to any such Stated Maturity, or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to any such Stated Maturity.

 

5

“ 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 3.1 .

“ Request ” or “ Order ” means, as to the Company, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President, and by any one of its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, an Assistant Controller, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee and as to any other obligor on the Securities means corresponding officers of such obligor.

“ Responsible Officer ,” or “ Trust Officer ,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer in the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers or assigned by the Trustee to administer 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 or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“ SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, 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 TIA, then the body performing such duties at such time.

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

“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

“ Security Register ” and “ Security Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5 . Each of the Securities shall be dated the date of its authentication.

“ Shelf Registration Statement ” means the Company’s Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2009, Registration No. 333-160432 and declared effective on July 15, 2009.

“ Significant Subsidiary ” shall have the same meaning as in Rule 1.02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act.

“ Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7 .

“ 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 and, when used with respect to any other indebtedness, means the date specified in the instrument governing such indebtedness as the fixed date on which the principal of such indebtedness, or any installment of interest thereon, is due and payable.

 

6

“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, (1) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof, and (2) any other Person (other than a corporation), including, without limitation, a joint venture, in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries thereof or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has at least majority ownership interest entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof (or other Person performing similar functions). For purposes of this definition, any directors’ qualifying shares or investments by foreign nationals mandated by applicable law shall be disregarded in determining the ownership of a Subsidiary.

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

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

“ U.S. Government Obligations ” has the meaning specified in Section 14.4 .

“ 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”.

“ Voting Stock ” means any class or classes of Capital Stock pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect the board of directors, managers or trustees of any Person (irrespective of whether or not, at the time, Capital Stock of any other class or classes shall have, or might have, voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

Section 1.2 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

Upon the issuance of the Securities, if any, or the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement (as defined herein), this Indenture will be subject to, and shall be governed by, the provisions of the TIA that are required or deemed to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the TIA. Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

“ Commission ” means the SEC;

“ indenture securities ” means the Securities and any Guarantees;

“ indenture securityholder ” means a Securityholder or Holder;

“ indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture;

“ indenture trustee ” or “ institutional trustee ” means the Trustee; and

 

7

“ obligor ” on the indenture securities means the Company, any Guarantor or any other obligor on the Securities or the Guarantees.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.

Section 1.3 Rules of Construction.

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

(1) a term has the meaning assigned to it in Section 1.1 and Section 1.2 and all other terms defined in the TIA have the meanings assigned therein;

(2) words in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular;

(3) “ or ” is not exclusive;

(4) “ including ” means “including, without limitation,”

(5) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(6) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

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

(8) all references to $ or dollars shall refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America; and

(9) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or “Section” refers to an Article or Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture.

Section 1.4 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 such certificates and opinions as may be required under the TIA. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an Officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the TIA and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

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;

 

8

(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 1.5 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or representations by counsel or an Opinion of Counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate, representations or opinion with respect to the matters upon which such Officer’s Certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or representations of counsel 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 1.6 Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by their agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1 ) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer

 

9

acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

(c) Subject to TIA Section 316(c), the Company may 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 by this Indenture 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 (or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 7.1 ) prior to such first solicitation or vote, 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.

(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

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

Section 1.7 Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

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

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

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

(b) The Trustee and the Company may from time to time, in writing, provide for delivery of writings contemplated by Section 1.7(a) by facsimile transmission or by electronic mail in PDF or comparable agreed form.

Section 1.8 Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security

 

10

Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice. 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 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.

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.

Section 1.9 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

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

Section 1.10 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 1.11 Successors and Assigns.

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

Section 1.12 Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 1.13 Benefits of Indenture.

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

Section 1.14 Governing Law.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES INCONSISTENT THEREWITH.

 

11

Section 1.15 Legal Holidays.

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

Section 1.16 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE COMPANY 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 AS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE ONLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES.

ARTICLE 2

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.1 Forms.

(a) Forms Generally. The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A , or in such other form, including any form for a direct registration system or other Book Entry Securities system, as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to 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 or recorded thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the form of Securities of any series is established by, or by action taken pursuant to, a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Authentication Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

The terms and provisions contained in the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any of the Securities conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

12

(b) Definitive Securities. The definitive Securities may be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner including a direct registration system or other Book Entry Securities system subject to the rules of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

Section 2.2 Additional Provisions Required in Global Securities.

Any Global Security issued hereunder shall, in addition to the provisions contained in Exhibit A and in addition to any legend required by the Depositary, bear a legend (the “Global Securities Legend” ) in substantially the following form:

“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary or a Nominee thereof. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary.”

“Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, or by any such nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or nominee of a successor Depositary, or any nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Transfers of this Global Security shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to nominees of [insert name of nominee], or to a successor thereof or such successor’s nominee, and transfers of portions of this Global Security shall be limited to transfers made in accordance with the restrictions set forth in the Indenture.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of the [name of Depository] (“[ — ]”), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of [insert name of nominee], or such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary (and any payment hereon is made to [insert name of nominee] or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of [insert name of nominee]), any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, [insert name of nominee], has an interest herein.”

Section 2.3 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the form in Exhibit A :

Section 2.4 Issuance of Physical Securities; Book-Entry Provisions for Global Securities

(a) The Global Securities initially shall (1) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, (2) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (3) bear the appropriate legends in substantially the form set forth in Section 2.2 and as provided for in any supplemental indenture.

 

13

(b) Members of, or Participants in, the Depositary (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.

(c) Transfers of any Global Security shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their representative nominees. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive Physical Securities. If required to do so pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, beneficial owners may obtain Physical Securities in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security upon written request in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Security Registrar’s procedures. In addition, Physical Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security of a particular series if (1) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Security or the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered in order to act as depositary, and in each case a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days of such notice, or (2) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and Security Registrar an Officers’ Certificate stating that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable, or (3) an Event of Default has