Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 2, 2024

EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

Oklahoma		001-13726		73-1395733
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

6100 North Western Avenue	Oklahoma City	OK		73118
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

(405) 848-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

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

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

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

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share	EXE	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class A Warrants to purchase Common Stock	EXEEW	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class B Warrants to purchase Common Stock	EXEEZ	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class C Warrants to purchase Common Stock	EXEEL	The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

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 13(a) of the Exchange Act.	¨

Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 2, 2024, Expand Energy Corporation (the “Company”) completed its previously announced underwritten public offering (the “Notes Offering”) of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”).

The Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-283348), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and automatically effective on November 20, 2024 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”). The terms of the Notes are further described in the Company’s prospectus supplement dated November 21, 2024, as filed with the SEC under Rule 424(b)(2) of the Act on November 22, 2024.

On December 2, 2024, the Notes were issued pursuant to the Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of December 2, 2024, between the Company and Regions Bank (the “Trustee”), as trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 2, 2024 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee, setting forth specific terms applicable to the Notes.

The Notes are the Company’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right to payment of the holders of the Company’s other current and future unsecured senior debt, including debt under the Company’s revolving credit facility and the Company’s existing senior notes, and senior in right of payment to any future subordinated debt that the Company may incur. The Notes are not guaranteed by any of the Company’s subsidiaries and are therefore structurally subordinated to any indebtedness incurred by any of the Company’s subsidiaries.

The Company may optionally redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to October 15, 2034 (the “Par Call Date”), at a redemption price calculated in a manner set forth in the Indenture. On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but not including the redemption date.

The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants, including limitations on the Company’s ability and the ability of certain of its subsidiaries to incur liens securing funded indebtedness and on the Company’s ability to consolidate or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person.

The foregoing description of the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, which are set forth as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, hereto and are incorporated by reference herein.

Item 2.03

Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Notes is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 8.01

Other Events.

In connection with closing of the Notes Offering, the Company is filing the legal opinions of Latham & Watkins LLP, regarding the enforceability of the Notes issued in the Notes Offering, and Derrick & Briggs, LLP, regarding the legality of the Notes issued in the Notes Offering, attached as Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2, respectively, hereto, to incorporate such opinions by reference into the Shelf Registration Statement.

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number		Description

4.1		Indenture, dated as of December 2, 2024, by and between Expand Energy Corporation and Regions Bank, as Trustee.
4.2		First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 2, 2024, by and between Expand Energy Corporation and Regions Bank, as Trustee (including the form of the Notes).
5.1		Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP regarding the enforceability of the Notes.
5.2		Opinion of Derrick & Briggs, LLP regarding the legality of the Notes.
23.1		Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2		Consent of Derrick & Briggs, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2 hereto).
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

SIGNATURE

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

		EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION

		By:	/s/Chris Lacy
			Chris Lacy
			Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Date:	December 2, 2024

Exhibit 4.1

Expand Energy Corporation

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 2, 2024

Regions Bank

Trustee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE			1
	Section 1.1.	Definitions.	1
	Section 1.2.	Other Definitions.	4
	Section 1.3.	Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.	4
	Section 1.4.	Rules of Construction.	5

ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES			5
	Section 2.1.	Issuable in Series.	5
	Section 2.2.	Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.	6
	Section 2.3.	Execution and Authentication.	8
	Section 2.4.	Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent.	9
	Section 2.5.	Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.	10
	Section 2.6.	Holder Lists.	10
	Section 2.7.	Transfer and Exchange.	10
	Section 2.8.	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.	11
	Section 2.9.	Outstanding Securities.	12
	Section 2.10.	Treasury Securities.	12
	Section 2.11.	Temporary Securities.	12
	Section 2.12.	Cancellation.	13
	Section 2.13.	Defaulted Interest.	13
	Section 2.14.	Global Securities.	13
	Section 2.15.	CUSIP Numbers.	15

ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION			15
	Section 3.1.	Notice to Trustee.	15
	Section 3.2.	Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.	16
	Section 3.3.	Notice of Redemption.	16
	Section 3.4.	Effect of Notice of Redemption.	17
	Section 3.5.	Deposit of Redemption Price.	17
	Section 3.6.	Securities Redeemed in Part.	17

ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS			18
	Section 4.1.	Payment of Principal and Interest.	18
	Section 4.2.	SEC Reports.	18
	Section 4.3.	Compliance Certificate.	18
	Section 4.4.	Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.	19

ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS			19
	Section 5.1.	When Company May Merge, Etc.	19
	Section 5.2.	Successor Corporation Substituted.	19

ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES			20
	Section 6.1.	Events of Default.	20

	Section 6.2.	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.	21
	Section 6.3.	Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.	22
	Section 6.4.	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.	22
	Section 6.5.	Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.	23
	Section 6.6.	Application of Money Collected.	23
	Section 6.7.	Limitation on Suits.	24
	Section 6.8.	Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.	24
	Section 6.9.	Restoration of Rights and Remedies.	24
	Section 6.10.	Rights and Remedies Cumulative.	25
	Section 6.11.	Delay or Omission Not Waiver.	25
	Section 6.12.	Control by Holders.	25
	Section 6.13.	Waiver of Past Defaults.	26
	Section 6.14.	Undertaking for Costs.	26

ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE			26
	Section 7.1.	Duties of Trustee.	26
	Section 7.2.	Rights of Trustee.	28
	Section 7.3.	Individual Rights of Trustee.	29
	Section 7.4.	Trustee’s Disclaimer.	29
	Section 7.5.	Notice of Defaults.	29
	Section 7.6.	Reports by Trustee to Holders.	29
	Section 7.7.	Compensation and Indemnity.	30
	Section 7.8.	Replacement of Trustee.	30
	Section 7.9.	Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.	31
	Section 7.10.	Eligibility; Disqualification.	32
	Section 7.11.	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.	32

ARTICLE VIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE			32
	Section 8.1.	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.	32
	Section 8.2.	Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.	33
	Section 8.3.	Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.	34
	Section 8.4.	Covenant Defeasance.	36
	Section 8.5.	Repayment to Company.	37
	Section 8.6.	Reinstatement.	37

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS			37
	Section 9.1.	Without Consent of Holders.	37
	Section 9.2.	With Consent of Holders.	38
	Section 9.3.	Limitations.	38
	Section 9.4.	Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.	39
	Section 9.5.	Revocation and Effect of Consents.	39
	Section 9.6.	Notation on or Exchange of Securities.	40
	Section 9.7.	Trustee Protected.	40

ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS			40
	Section 10.1.	Trust Indenture Act Controls.	40
	Section 10.2.	Notices.	40

	Section 10.3.	Communication by Holders with Other Holders.	42
	Section 10.4.	Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.	42
	Section 10.5.	Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.	42
	Section 10.6.	Rules by Trustee and Agents.	43
	Section 10.7.	Legal Holidays.	43
	Section 10.8.	No Recourse Against Others.	43
	Section 10.9.	Counterparts.	43
	Section 10.10.	Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction.	43
	Section 10.11.	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.	44
	Section 10.12.	Successors.	44
	Section 10.13.	Severability.	44
	Section 10.14.	Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.	44
	Section 10.15.	Securities in a Foreign Currency.	45
	Section 10.16.	Judgment Currency.	45
	Section 10.17.	Force Majeure.	46
	Section 10.18.	U.S.A. Patriot Act.	46

ARTICLE XI. SINKING FUNDS			46
	Section 11.1.	Applicability of Article.	46
	Section 11.2.	Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.	46
	Section 11.3.	Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.	47

iii

EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of December 2, 2024

§ 310(a)(1)		7.10
(a)(2)		7.10
(a)(3)		Not Applicable
(a)(4)		Not Applicable
(a)(5)		7.10
(b)		7.10
§ 311(a)		7.11
(b)		7.11
(c)		Not Applicable
§ 312(a)		2.6
(b)		10.3
(c)		10.3
§ 313(a)		7.6
(b)(1)		7.6
(b)(2)		7.6
(c)(1)		7.6
(d)		7.6
§ 314(a)		4.2, 10.5
(b)		Not Applicable
(c)(1)		10.4
(c)(2)		10.4
(c)(3)		Not Applicable
(d)		Not Applicable
(e)		10.5
(f)		Not Applicable
§ 315(a)		7.1
(b)		7.5
(c)		7.1
(d)		7.1
(e)		6.14
§ 316(a)		2.10
(a)(1)(A)		6.12
(a)(1)(B)		6.13
(b)		6.8
§ 317(a)(1)		6.3
(a)(2)		6.4
(b)		2.5
§ 318(a)		10.1

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

Indenture dated as of December 2, 2024 between Expand Energy Corporation, a company incorporated under the laws of Oklahoma (“Company”), and Regions Bank (“Trustee”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.

ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1.      Definitions.

“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.

“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 Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the City of New York, New York (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment) on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.

“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.

“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be principally administered.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice, passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“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, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; 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.

“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of the United States of America.

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

“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of the United States of America.

“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America 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 have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.

“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 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.

“Holder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

“interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

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

“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary and any Vice President of the Company.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer that meets the requirements of this Indenture.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company. The opinion may contain customary limitations, conditions and exceptions.

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

“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, the Security.

“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having responsibility for administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Security” or “Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.

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

“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; 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 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” means securities which are direct obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Section 1.2.      Other Definitions.

TERM	DEFINED IN SECTION

“Agent Member”	2.14.6
“Bankruptcy Law”	6.1
“Custodian”	6.1
“Event of Default”	6.1
“Judgment Currency”	10.16
“mandatory sinking fund payment”	11.1
“New York Banking Day”	10.16
“Notice Agent”	2.4
“optional sinking fund payment”	11.1
“Paying Agent”	2.4
“Registrar”	2.4
“Required Currency”	10.16
“Specified Courts”	10.10
“successor person”	5.1

Section 1.3.      Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

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.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

Section 1.4.      Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)      a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b)      an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

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

(e)      provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(f)       in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including,” and the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”; and

(g)      the phrase “in writing” as used herein shall be deemed to include PDFs, e-mails and other electronic means of transmission, unless otherwise indicated.

ARTICLE II.
THE SECURITIES

Section 2.1.      Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

Section 2.2.      Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.23) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate:

2.2.1.            the title (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series) and ranking (including the terms of any subordination provisions) of the Series;

2.2.2.            the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

2.2.3.            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 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);

2.2.4.            the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

2.2.5.            the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

2.2.6.            the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such 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 such Series and this Indenture may be delivered, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

2.2.7.            if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

2.2.8.            the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the 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;

2.2.9.            the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;

2.2.10.          if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

2.2.11.          the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;

2.2.12.          if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;

2.2.13.          the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

2.2.14.          the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;

2.2.15.          if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

2.2.16.          the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

2.2.17.          the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;

2.2.18.          any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;

2.2.19.          any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants applicable to Securities of the Series;

2.2.20.          any Depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;

2.2.21.          the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of such Series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, the conversion or exchange period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such Series of Securities are redeemed;

2.2.22.          any other terms of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series), including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that Series; and

2.2.23.          whether any of the Company’s direct or indirect Subsidiaries will guarantee the Securities of that Series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees.

All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate referred to above.

Section 2.3.      Execution and Authentication.

An Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual, facsimile or electronic signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officer’s Certificate complying with Sections 10.4 and 10.5, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Sections 10.4 and 10.5.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith determines that such action may expose the Trustee to personal liability.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

Section 2.4.      Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent.

The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, 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 all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands; provided, however, that any appointment of the Trustee as the Notice Agent shall exclude the appointment of the Trustee or any office of the Trustee as an agent to receive the service of legal process on the Company.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional notice agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 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 name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional notice agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Notice Agent” includes any additional notice agent. The Company or any of its Affiliates may serve as Registrar or Paying Agent.

The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued. The rights, powers, duties, obligations and actions of each Agent under this Indenture are several and not joint or joint and several, and the Agents shall only be obliged to perform those duties expressly set out in this Indenture and shall have no implied duties.

Section 2.5.      Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Securities or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities and will notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, a Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be held harmless and have no liability with respect to payments or disbursements (including to the Holders) until they have confirmed receipt of funds sufficient to make the relevant payment. No money held by an Agent needs to be segregated except as is required by law.

Section 2.6.      Holder Lists.

If it is serving as Registrar, the Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders of each Series of Securities.

Every Holder, by receiving and holding Securities, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee or 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 in accordance with TIA § 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of sending any material pursuant to a request made under TIA § 312(b).

Section 2.7.      Transfer and Exchange.

Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).

Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days immediately preceding the sending of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day such notice is sent, (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part or (c) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series between a record date and payment date for such Series of Securities.

Section 2.8.      Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

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

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity bond as may be required by each of them to hold itself and any of its agents 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 receipt of a Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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 destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.

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 2.9.      Outstanding Securities.

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security (but see Section 2.10 below).

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

Section 2.10.    Treasury Securities.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

Section 2.11.    Temporary Securities.

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company Order shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.

Section 2.12.    Cancellation.

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act and the Trustee) and deliver a certificate of such cancellation to the Company upon written request of the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.13.    Defaulted Interest.

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least ten days before the special record date, the Company shall send to the Trustee and to each Holder of the Series a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.

Section 2.14.    Global Securities.

2.14.1.          Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

2.14.2.          Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such 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 Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.

Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.

None of the Trustee or any Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

None of the Trustee or any Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in any Security or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of optional redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Security.

2.14.3.          Legends. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a 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 THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, 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 A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

In addition, so long as the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) is the Depositary, each Global Security registered in the name of DTC or its nominee shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

2.14.4.          Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

2.14.5.           Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.

2.14.6.           Agent Members. The registered Holder of a Security will be treated as the owner of such Security for all purposes and only registered Holders shall have rights under this Indenture and the Securities. Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) and persons who hold beneficial interests in a Global Security through an Agent Member shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary. The Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any agent of the foregoing as the absolute owner of the Global Securities for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any agent of the foregoing 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 of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.

Section 2.15.    CUSIP Numbers.

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

ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION

Section 3.1.      Notice to Trustee.

The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of the Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 15 days before the redemption date (or such shorter period as may be acceptable to the Trustee).

Section 3.2.      Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Securities of the Series to be redeemed will be selected as follows: (a) if the Securities are in the form of Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, (b) if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed or (c) if not otherwise provided for under clause (a) or (b) in the manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, including by lot or other method, unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements, subject, in the case of Global Securities, to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Securities to be redeemed shall be selected from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. Portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000 may be selected for redemption. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selected for redemption shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and the authorized integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be liable for any selection made by it in accordance with this paragraph (including the procedures of the Depositary).

Section 3.3.      Notice of Redemption.

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date (except that redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities), the Company shall send or cause to be sent by first-class mail or electronically, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.

The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:

(a)      the redemption date;

(b)      the redemption price;

(d)     if any Securities are being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date and upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Security shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Security;

(e)      that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(f)       that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date unless the Company defaults in the deposit of the redemption price;

(g)      the “CUSIP” number, if any; and

(h)      any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense, provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least 10 days (unless a shorter time shall be acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the notice date, an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice and the form of such notice.

Section 3.4.      Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is sent as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Except as otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate for a Series, a notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

Section 3.5.      Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

Section 3.6.      Securities Redeemed in Part.

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Debt Security or Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS

Section 4.1.      Payment of Principal and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of each Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

Section 4.2.      SEC Reports.

To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC 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 SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a). Reports, information and documents filed with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time of such filing via EDGAR for purposes of this Section 4.2.

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.2 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of the covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). All such reports, information or documents referred to in this Section 4.2 that the Company files with the SEC via the SEC’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee and transmitted to Holders at the time such reports, information or documents are filed via the EDGAR system (or any successor system). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, our compliance with the covenants.

Section 4.3.      Compliance Certificate.

To the extent any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his/her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which the Officer may have knowledge).

Section 4.4.      Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, 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 has been enacted.

ARTICLE V.
SUCCESSORS

Section 5.1.      When Company May Merge, Etc.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:

(a)      the Company is the surviving entity or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes by supplemental indenture the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture; and

(b)      immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officer’s Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officer’s Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.

Section 5.2.      Successor Corporation Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.1.      Events of Default.

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

(a)      default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the 30^th day of such period);

(b)      default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity;

(c)      default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than defaults pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above or pursuant to a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, mailed by first class mail (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), email, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

(d)      the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

   (i)      commences a voluntary case,

   (ii)     consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

   (iii)    consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

   (iv)    makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

  (v)      generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due;

  (e)      a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

  (i)       is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,

  (ii)       appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

  (iii)     orders the liquidation of the Company,

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

(f)      any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.18.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

The Company will provide the Trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

Section 6.2.      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 (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on 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) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to 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 all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.

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

Section 6.3.      Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(a)      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,

(b)     default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

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

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed 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 any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, subject to Article VII hereof, 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 6.4.      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 expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(a)      to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal 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 compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(b)      to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the compensation, reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.5.      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 compensation, reasonable 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 6.6.      Application of Money Collected.

Any money or property 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 or property on account of principal 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 7.7; and

Second:      To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of 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 interest, respectively; and

Third:      To the Company.

Section 6.7.      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

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

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

(c)      such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by the Trustee in compliance with such request;

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

(e)      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, intended and expressly covenanted by the Holder of every Security with every other Holder and the Trustee 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 such Holders of the applicable Series.

Section 6.8.      Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal 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 interest, if any, on such Security on the Maturity of such Security, including the Stated Maturity 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 6.9.      Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

Section 6.10.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11.    Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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

Section 6.12.    Control by Holders.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that

(a)      such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

(b)      the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction,

(c)      subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability, and

(d)      prior to taking any action as directed under this Section 6.12, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

Section 6.13.    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, by written notice to the Trustee and the Company, waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). 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 6.14.    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 Company, 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 for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Maturity of such Security, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).

ARTICLE VII.
TRUSTEE

Section 7.1.      Duties of Trustee.

(a)       If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise 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 person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

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

   (i)       The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations will be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

   (ii)      In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officer’s Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officer’s Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the form requirements of this Indenture.

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

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

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

   (iii)      The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such 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 in accordance with Section 6.12.

(d)       Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

(e)       The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power.

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

(g)       No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if adequate indemnity against such risk is not assured to the Trustee in its satisfaction.

(h)      The Paying Agent, the Notice Agent, the Registrar, any authenticating agent and the Trustee when acting in any other capacity hereunder shall be entitled to the protections and immunities as are set forth in this Article VII.

(i)        The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and will be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities under this Indenture.

Section 7.2.      Rights of Trustee.

(a)      The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b)       Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c)      The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.

(d)      The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

(e)      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.

(f)       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 unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(g)      The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

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

(i)       In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.

(j)       The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so.

(k)      The Trustee will not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 7.3.      Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.4.      Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities and shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.5.      Notice of Defaults.

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to each Holder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of that Series. The Trustee will not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice thereof has been received by a Responsible Officer, and such notice references the applicable Series of Securities and this Indenture and states on its face that a Default or Event of Default has occurred.

Section 7.6.      Reports by Trustee to Holders.

Within 60 days after each anniversary of the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such date, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.

A copy of each report at the time of its delivery to Holders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing when Securities of any Series are listed on any national securities exchange.

Section 7.7.      Compensation and Indemnity.

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including for the cost of defending itself) against any cost, expense or liability, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder, unless and to the extent that the Company is materially prejudiced thereby. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel, and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through willful misconduct or negligence, as determined by a final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Section 7.8.      Replacement of Trustee.

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:

(a)      the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(b)      the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(d)      the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall send a notice of its succession to each Holder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it for actions taken or omitted to be taken in accordance with its rights, powers and duties under this Indenture prior to such replacement.

Section 7.9.      Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc.

Any organization or entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any organization or entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any organization or entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such organization or entity shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under Section 7.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

Section 7.10.    Eligibility; Disqualification.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11.     Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

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

ARTICLE VIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

Section 8.1.      Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Order be discharged with respect to the Securities of any Series and cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of such Series (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(a)      either

(i)            all Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii)            all such Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(1)            have become due and payable by reason of sending a notice of redemption or otherwise,

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

(3)            have been called for redemption or 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, or

(4)            are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;

and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount of money or U.S. Government Obligations, which amount shall be sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants (or if no nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants agrees to express such opinion, a certificate from the chief financial officer of Expand Energy expressing his or her opinion) for the purpose of paying and discharging each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments) of and interest on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest are due;

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

(c)       the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, (x) the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, (y) if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5, and (z) the rights, powers, trusts and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith shall survive.

Section 8.2.      Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

(a)       Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4, 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 interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4.

(b)       The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee (which indemnity shall survive termination of this Indenture) against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

(c)       The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Order any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants (or if no nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants agrees to express such opinion, a certificate from the chief financial officer of Expand Energy expressing his or her opinion) expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

Section 8.3.      Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.

Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, execute instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

(a)       the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;

(b)      the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 7.7, 8.2, 8.3, 8.5 and 8.6; and

(c)      the rights, powers, trusts and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith;

provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(d)      the Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants (or if no nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants agrees to express such opinion, a certificate from the chief financial officer of Expand Energy expressing his or her opinion) expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest and such sinking fund payments are due;

(e)       such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(f)       no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

(g)      the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

(h)       the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

(i)       the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

Section 8.4.      Covenant Defeasance.

Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 5.1 and, unless otherwise specified therein, any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities will be unaffected thereby; provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(a)      with reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants (or if no nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants agrees to express such opinion, a certificate from the chief financial officer of Expand Energy expressing his or her opinion) expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments) of and interest on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of principal or interest are due;

(b)      such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(c)       no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(d)      the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;

(e)      The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

(f)      The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

Section 8.5.      Repayment to Company.

Subject to applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.

Section 8.6.      Reinstatement.

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money deposited with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent after payment in full to the Holders.

ARTICLE IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 9.1.      Without Consent of Holders.

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Holder:

(a)      to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

(b)      to comply with Article V;

(d)      to add guarantees with respect to Securities of any Series or secure Securities of any Series;

(e)      to surrender any of the Company’s rights or powers under this Indenture;

(f)      to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of Securities of any Series;

(g)      to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;

(h)      to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(i)      to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;

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

(k)      to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or

(l)       to conform the text of this Indenture or any Securities to any provision of the “Description of Debt Securities” or “Description of the Notes” (or comparable) section in any offering memorandum, prospectus or prospectus supplement of the Company prepared from time to time with respect to the offer and sale of Securities of any series, to the extent that such provision was intended to be a complete description or summary of a provision of this Indenture or the Securities, as determined in good faith by the Company (which intent will be established by an Officer’s Certificate).

Section 9.2.      With Consent of Holders.

Subject to Section 9.3, the Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, and subject to Section 9.3, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

Section 9.3.      Limitations.

Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

(a)      reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b)       reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;

(c)       reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

(d)       reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

(e)       waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(f)       make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;

(g)      make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or

(h)      waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is made at the Company’s option.

Section 9.4.      Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.5.      Revocation and Effect of Consents.

Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Holder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the second immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

Section 9.6.      Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

The Company or the Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a Company Order in accordance with Section 2.3 new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.

Section 9.7.      Trustee Protected.

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, an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel complying with Sections 10.4 and 10.5 stating that such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon such Officer’s Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures upon delivery of such an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel or both, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture.

ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1.    Trust Indenture Act Controls.

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

Section 10.2.    Notices.

Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), email or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

if to the Company:

Expand Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Attention: Chris Lacy

Email: legal@expandenergy.com

with a copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

811 Main Street, Suite 3700

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Kevin Richardson

Email: kevin.richardson@lw.com

if to the Trustee:

Regions Bank,

1717 McKinney Avenue 11th Floor

Dallas, Texas 75202

Attention: Shawn Bednasek

Office: (214) 220-6158

Fax: (713) 960-4058

Email: shawn.bednasek@regions.com

The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be sent electronically or by first-class mail or overnight air courier to his, her or its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders of that or any other Series.

If a notice or communication is sent or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Holder receives it.

If the Company sends a notice or communication to Holders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

The Trustee shall not have any duty to confirm that the person sending any notice, instruction or other communication by electronic transmission (including by e-mail, facsimile transmission, web portal or other electronic methods) is, in fact, a person authorized to do so. Electronic signatures believed by the Trustee to comply with the ESIGN Act of 2000 or other applicable law (including electronic images of handwritten signatures and digital signatures provided by DocuSign, Orbit, Adobe Sign or any other digital signature provider acceptable to the Trustee) shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes. The Company assumes all risks arising out of the use of electronic signatures and electronic methods to send communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on an unauthorized communication, and the risk of interception or 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 (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.

Section 10.3.    Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

Holders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 10.4.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a)       an Officer’s Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent , if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b)       an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

Section 10.5.     Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

(a)      a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

(b)      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;

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

(d)      a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 10.6.    Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 10.7.     Legal Holidays.

If a payment date for any payment made under this Indenture is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

Section 10.8.     No Recourse Against Others.

A director, officer, employee or stockholder (past or present), as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

Section 10.9.     Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Unless otherwise provided herein or in any other Securities, the words “execute”, “execution”, “signed” and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any Securities or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

Section 10.10.   Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS (BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE SECURITIES) EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, 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 OR THEREBY.

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The Company, the Trustee and the Holders (by their acceptance of the Securities) each hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 10.11.  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 10.12.  Successors.

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

Section 10.13.  Severability.

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 10.14.   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 10.15.  Securities in a Foreign Currency.

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in more than one currency, then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be determined by converting any such other currency into a currency that is designated upon issuance of any particular Series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, such conversion shall be at the spot rate for the purchase of the designated currency as published in The Financial Times in the “Currency Rates” section (or, if The Financial Times is no longer published, or if such information is no longer available in The Financial Times, such source as may be selected in good faith by the Company) on any date of determination. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

All decisions and determinations provided for in the preceding paragraph shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Trustee and all Holders.

Section 10.16.  Judgment Currency.

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in the City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in the City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Section 10.17.  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, pandemics, epidemics or other public health emergencies, 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 best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 10.18.  U.S.A. Patriot Act.

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

ARTICLE XI.
SINKING FUNDS

Section 11.1.    Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series if so provided by the terms of such Securities pursuant to Section 2.2, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such 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 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.

Section 11.2.    Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the 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. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.

Section 11.3.    Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officer’s Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory 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 of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date will be selected in the manner specified in Section 3.2, and the Company shall send or cause to be sent a notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in and in accordance with Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.

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

EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION

By:	/s/ Mohit Singh
	Name:	Mohit Singh
	Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	REGIONS BANK, as Trustee

	By:	/s/ Shawn Bednasek
		Name: Shawn Bednasek
		Title: Senior Vice President

[Signature Page to Indenture]

Exhibit 4.2

EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION,

as the Company

and

REGIONS BANK,

as the Trustee

5.700% Senior Notes due 2035

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of December 2, 2024

to the

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 2, 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ARTICLE I SCOPE OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE; GENERAL; THE NOTES		2
Section 1.1	Scope of Supplemental Indenture; General	2
Section 1.2	Applicability of Sections of the Base Indenture	2
Section 1.3	Form, Dating and Terms	2
Section 1.4	Additional Notes	5
ARTICLE II CERTAIN DEFINITIONS		5
Section 2.1	Certain Definitions	5
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION		13
Section 3.1	Optional Redemption	13
Section 3.2	Sinking Fund; Mandatory Redemption	14
Section 3.3	Redemption Provisions	14
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS		15
Section 4.1	Limitation on Liens	15
Section 4.2	Reports	15
Section 4.3	Unrestricted Subsidiaries	16
ARTICLE V [RESERVED]		16
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES		16
Section 6.1	Events of Default	17
Section 6.2	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment	18
ARTICLE VII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE		19
ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER		19
Section 8.1	Without Consent of Holders	19
Section 8.2	With Consent of Holders	20
Section 8.3	Limitations	21
Section 8.4	Compliance with Trust Indenture Act	21
Section 8.5	Revocation and Effect of Consents	21
Section 8.6	Notation on or Exchange of Notes	22
Section 8.7	Effect of Supplemental Indenture	22
ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS		22
Section 9.1	Governing Law	22
Section 9.2	Successors	22

Section 9.3	Multiple Originals	23
Section 9.4	Paying Agent and Security Registrar	23
Section 9.5	Severability	23
Section 9.6	Trust Indenture Act Controls	23
Section 9.7	Table of Contents; Headings	23
Section 9.8	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements	23
Section 9.9	Ratification and Incorporation of Base Indenture	23
Section 9.10	Benefits of Supplemental Indenture	23
Section 9.11	The Trustee	23

EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A Form of Note

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of December 2, 2024 (this “Supplemental Indenture”) by and between EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION, an Oklahoma corporation (referred to herein as the “Company”), and Regions Bank, as trustee (referred to herein as the “Trustee”), supplementing the Indenture dated as of December 2, 2024, by and between the Company and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes (as such terms are defined herein):

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s Securities to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Base Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee;

WHEREAS, Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of any Holder, enter into a supplemental indenture: in accordance with clause (i) thereof, to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any series as permitted by the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the issue of its 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 as a series of Securities under the Base Indenture (as they may be issued from time to time under this Supplemental Indenture, including any Additional Notes (as defined below) issued pursuant to Section 1.4 of this Supplemental Indenture, the “Notes”); and in connection therewith, there being no Notes Outstanding at the time of execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, the Company has duly determined to make, execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to establish the form and terms of the Notes as required by the Base Indenture, to add to, change and eliminate certain provisions of the Base Indenture in respect of the Notes;

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, and has requested the Trustee to join them in the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, in order to establish the form and terms of, and to provide for the issuance by the Company of, the Notes, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, on the terms set forth herein;

WHEREAS, the Company now wishes to issue $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes (the “Initial Notes”);

WHEREAS, the conditions set forth in the Base Indenture for the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture have been complied with;

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make the Initial Notes, when Global Securities representing the Initial Notes have been duly executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized Authenticating Agent, as provided in the Base Indenture, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary have been done to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, and a valid amendment of, and supplement to, the Base Indenture.

NOW, THEREFORE:

In consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee, for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, that the Base Indenture is supplemented and amended, to the extent expressed herein, as follows:

ARTICLE I

SCOPE OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE; GENERAL; THE NOTES

Section 1.1        Scope of Supplemental Indenture; General. This Supplemental Indenture supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces, the provisions of the Base Indenture, to which provisions reference is hereby made.

The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and govern the terms of, and shall be deemed expressly included in this Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of, the Notes (which shall be initially in the aggregate principal amount of $750,000,000) and shall not apply to any other series of Securities that have been or may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other series of Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.

Section 1.2        Applicability of Sections of the Base Indenture. Except as expressly specified hereby, each of the provisions of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

Section 1.3        Form, Dating and Terms.

(a)            General. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited. The aggregate principal amount of the Initial Notes initially authorized for authentication and delivery pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture is limited to $750,000,000 (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 1.3(b), 1.3(c) and 8.6 of this Supplemental Indenture and Sections 2.7, 2.8, 2.11 and 3.6 of the Base Indenture). Pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, there is hereby created and designated one series of Securities under the Indenture entitled “5.700% Senior Notes due 2035.”

In addition, with respect to the Notes, the Company may issue, from time to time subsequent to the Issue Date in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, additional Securities (such Securities, the “Additional Notes”) of the same series as the Notes.

The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture. Holders of the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one series of Securities, and none of the Holders of the Initial Notes or the Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class or series on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.

Initial Notes and Additional Notes shall be initially issued in the form of one or more permanent Global Securities substantially in the form of Exhibit A (each, a “Global Note”), duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the Base Indenture. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee.

The Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the officer executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture or the Base Indenture or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

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

The Company shall pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes at the office or agency designated by the Company, which is initially the corporate trust office of the Trustee in Birmingham, Alabama. The Company shall pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Global Notes registered in the name of or held by the Depositary or its nominee in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such Global Note. The Company shall make all payments in respect of a Definitive Note by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof as such address shall appear in the Security Registrar’s books; provided, however, that payments on the Notes represented by Definitive Notes may also be made, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

(b)          Book-Entry Provisions. Except as otherwise stated in this Section 1.3(b) and Section 1.3(c) below, Section 2.14 of the Base Indenture will apply to the Notes.

(i)             This Section 1.3(b) shall apply only to Global Notes deposited with the Notes Custodian with respect to such Notes (as appointed by the Depositary), or any successor Person thereto, which shall initially be the Trustee.

(ii)            Each Global Note initially shall (x) be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or the nominee of such Depositary, (y) be delivered to the Notes Custodian for such Depositary and (z) bear the legend set forth in Exhibit A.

(iii)            Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as the custodian of the Depositary or under such Global Note, 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 such Global Note 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 of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.

(iv)           The registered Holder of a Global Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under the Indenture or the Notes.

(v)           In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Note to beneficial owners pursuant to Section 1.3(c) of this Supplemental Indenture, such Global Note shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.

(vi)           Any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

(c)           Definitive Notes. Except as provided in the Indenture, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive Definitive Notes. Definitive Notes shall be delivered to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Note if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Note 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 90 days of such notice or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to deliver Definitive Notes to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in such Global Note. Definitive Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note unless the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate to the effect that such transfer will comply with any appropriate transfer restrictions applicable to such Notes.

(d)           Initial Notes. The Initial Notes may forthwith be executed by the Company and delivered, together with a Company Order, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery by the Trustee for original issue in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture.

(e)           Additional Notes. At any time and from time to time after the issuance of the Initial Notes, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for original issue in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture in an aggregate principal amount determined at the time of issuance and specified in a Company Order which shall be accompanied with the Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture, as applicable, in respect thereof specified in Section 1.4 of this Supplemental Indenture. Such Company Order shall specify the principal amount of the Additional Notes to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of such Additional Notes is to be authenticated.

Section 1.4       Additional Notes. With respect to any Additional Notes, there shall be set forth or determined in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee or established in one or more indentures supplemental to the Indenture, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:

(a)            the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered; and

(b)            the issue price and the issue date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest shall accrue and the first interest payment date therefor.

ARTICLE II

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 2.1        Certain Definitions. Section 1.1 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding the following definitions in their proper alphabetical order which, in the event of a conflict with the definition of terms in the Base Indenture, shall supersede and replace the corresponding definitions in the Base Indenture. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Base Indenture. The rules of construction set forth in Section 1.1 of the Base Indenture shall be applied hereto as if set forth in full herein, except that unless the context indicates otherwise, references in this Supplemental Indenture to an Article or Section refer to an Article or Section of this Supplemental Indenture, as the case may be.

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

“Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including, without limitation, any preferred stock and limited liability company or partnership interests (whether general or limited) of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible or exchangeable into such equity.

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means at any date of determination, the total amount of assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less applicable depreciation and valuation reserves and other reserves and items deductible from the gross book value of specific asset accounts under GAAP) after deducting therefrom:

(1)            all current liabilities (excluding (A) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendable or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed, and (B) current maturities of Funded Debt); and

(2)            the value of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, and other like intangible assets, all as set forth on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of a date no earlier than the date of the Company’s latest available annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

“Customary Recourse Exceptions” means with respect to any Non-Recourse Debt, exclusions from the exculpation provisions with respect to such Non-Recourse Debt for the voluntary bankruptcy of a Person, fraud, misapplication of cash, environmental claims, waste, willful destruction and other circumstances customarily excluded by lenders from exculpation provisions or included in separate indemnification agreements in non-recourse financings.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Definitive Notes” means Notes issued in the form of one or more certificated Notes substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

“Depositary” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depository institution hereinafter appointed by the Company.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Funded Debt” means, in respect of any Person, all Indebtedness Incurred by such Person that matures, or is renewable by such Person to a date, more than one year after the date as of which Funded Debt is being determined.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect as of the Issue Date, including those 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 approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

“guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise). The term “guarantee” will not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Security Registrar’s books.

“Incur” means issue, create, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) will be deemed to be Incurred by such Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary. The terms “Incurred” and “Incurrence” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination, any obligation of such Person, whether contingent or otherwise, for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee thereof.

“Issue Date” means December 2, 2024, the date the Initial Notes are first issued under the Indenture.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction. For the avoidance of doubt, (1) an operating lease shall be deemed not to constitute a Lien and (2) a contract that would not be considered a capital lease pursuant to GAAP prior to the effectiveness of Accounting Standards Codification 842 shall be deemed not to constitute a Lien.

“Non-Recourse Debt” means Indebtedness as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise except, in each case for (i) Customary Recourse Exceptions and (ii) the pledge of (or a guarantee limited in recourse solely to) the Capital Stock of such Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to the Global Notes (as appointed by the Depositary), or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be the Trustee.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company.

“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 or the Trustee.

“Par Call Date” means October 15, 2034.

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

(1)            any Lien in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes or otherwise securing the Notes, a Guarantee or other obligations under the Indenture;

(2)            Liens securing hedging obligations, swap agreements, derivatives, forward contracts, exchange agreements, in each case excluding such arrangement entered into for speculative purposes or obligations with regard to treasury management arrangements;

(3)            Liens in favor of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(4)            Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;

(5)            Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were (i) in existence prior to such acquisition and not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or (ii) incurred to secure Indebtedness incurred to refinance Indebtedness secured by Liens described in the foregoing clause (i);

(6)            Liens to secure the performance of statutory or regulatory obligations, insurance, surety or appeal bonds, workers’ compensation obligations, bid, plugging and abandonment and performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (including Liens to secure letters of credit issued to assure payment of such obligations);

(7)            Liens on insurance policies and proceeds thereof, or other deposits, to secure insurance premium financings;

(8)            Liens on cash or other property arising in connection with the defeasance, discharge, or redemptions of Indebtedness;

(9)            Liens to secure Indebtedness represented by capital lease obligations, finance lease obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations or other Indebtedness, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price, other acquisition cost or cost of design, construction, installation, development, repair or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, and all refinancing indebtedness Incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease, discharge or otherwise retire for value, in whole or in part, such Indebtedness, covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such Indebtedness;

(10)          Grants of software and other technology licenses in the ordinary course of business;

(11)          Liens existing on the date hereof;

(12)          filing of Uniform Commercial Code financing statements as a precautionary measure in connection with operating leases;

(13)          bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff, rights of revocation, refund or chargeback with respect to money, instruments or accounts of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, Liens arising out of judgments or awards and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made;

(14)          Liens in respect of Production Payments and Reserve Sales; provided, that such Liens are limited to the property that is subject to such Production Payments and Reserve Sales;

(15)          Liens arising under, or in connection with, oil and gas leases or subleases, assignments, farmout agreements, farm-in agreements, division orders, contracts for the sale, purchase, exchange, marketing, transportation, gathering, treating, fractionation, compression, stabilization or processing of hydrocarbons, unitizations and pooling designations, declarations, orders and agreements, development agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, operating agreements, royalties, working interests, net profits interests, joint interest billing arrangements, participation agreements, production sales contracts, incentive compensation programs for geologists, geophysicists and other providers of technical services to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, area of mutual interest agreements, gas balancing or deferred production agreements, injection, repressuring and recycling agreements, overriding royalty agreements, gathering agreements, marketing agreements, processing agreements, treating agreements, fractionation agreements, compression agreements, stabilization agreements, construction agreements, storage agreements, net profits agreements, salt water or other disposal agreements, seismic or geophysical permits or agreements, licenses, sublicenses and other agreements that are customary in the oil and gas business; provided, however, in all instances that such Liens are limited to the assets that are the subject of the relevant agreement, program, order or contract and margin and other deposits related thereto;

(16)          Liens for (i) taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on its property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty or, provided the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries have knowledge or should have had knowledge of such Liens, are being actively contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves shall have been set aside on its books in accordance with GAAP (to the extent required thereby) or (ii) for property taxes on property that the Company or any Subsidiary has determined to abandon if the sole recourse for such tax, assessment, charge or claim is to such property;

(17)          Liens imposed by law or ordinary course of business contracts, including, without limitation, carriers’, warehousemen’s, suppliers’, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and similar Liens;

(18)          Liens arising under applicable statutory provisions with respect to production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons purchased from others (such as Chapter 67 of the Texas Property Code and Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 9, §4863, et seq., (including Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 9, §4869));

(19)          Liens in favor of issuers of surety or performance bonds or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

(20)          survey exceptions, encumbrances, ground leases, easements, restrictions, servitudes, permits, conditions, covenants, exceptions or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, roads, pipelines, transmission liens, transportation liens, distribution lines for the removal of gas, oil, coal or other minerals or timber, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or for the joint or common use of real estate, rights of way, facilities and equipment, Liens related to surface leases and surface operations, or zoning, building codes or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or to the ownership of its properties that do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(21)          leases, licenses, subleases and sublicenses of assets that do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;

(22)          Liens on the Capital Stock of a joint venture that does not constitute a Subsidiary securing obligations of such joint venture;

(23)          any interest or title of a lessor under any operating lease;

(24)          Liens on pipelines or pipeline facilities that arise by operation of law;

(25)          Liens on, or related to, properties or assets to secure all or part of the costs incurred in the ordinary course of business for the exploration, drilling, development, construction, production, processing, treating, fractionation, stabilization, compression, gathering, transportation, marketing or storage, plugging, abandonment or operation thereof;

(26)          Liens under industrial revenue, municipal or similar bonds; and

(27)          any Lien renewing, extending, refinancing, replacing or refunding a Lien permitted by this definition, provided that (a) the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien is not increased except by an amount equal to accrued interest and any premium or other amount paid, and fees, costs and expenses incurred, in connection therewith and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (b) no assets are encumbered by any such Lien other than the assets permitted to be encumbered immediately prior to such renewal, extension, refinancing, replacement or refunding.

In each case set forth above, notwithstanding any stated limitation on the assets or property that may be subject to such Lien, a Permitted Lien on a specified asset or property or group or type of assets or property may include Liens on all improvements, additions, repairs, attachments and accessions thereto, construction thereon, assets and property affixed or appurtenant thereto, parts, replacements and substitutions therefor and all products and proceeds thereof, including dividends, distributions, interest and increases in respect thereof.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.

“Principal Property” means all property interests in oil and gas reserves located in the United States capable of producing hydrocarbon substances in paying quantities, the net book value of which exceeds 3% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, other than: (1) property not of material importance to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (2) assets used in midstream operations; (3) accounts receivable; and (4) production or proceeds from the production of hydrocarbons.

“Production Payments and Reserve Sales” means the grant or transfer by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to any Person of a royalty, overriding royalty, net profits interest, production payment, partnership or other interest in oil and gas properties, reserves or the right to receive all or a portion of the production or the proceeds from the sale of production attributable to such properties where the holder of such interest has recourse solely to such production or proceeds of production, subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to operate and maintain, or cause the subject interests to be operated and maintained, in a reasonably prudent manner or other customary standard or subject to the obligation of the grantor or transferor to indemnify for environmental, title or other matters customary in the oil and gas business, including any such grants or transfers pursuant to incentive compensation programs on terms that are reasonably customary in the oil and gas business for geologists, geophysicists or other providers of technical services to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means any Subsidiary of the Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security or Indebtedness, the date specified in such security or Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such security or Indebtedness is due and payable, including, without limitation, pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

“Subsidiary” with respect to any Person, means any (i) corporation, limited liability company or other entity (other than a partnership) of which the outstanding Capital Stock having a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors, managers or trustees of such entity under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or any other Person of which a majority of the voting interests under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person or (ii) partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the date of the notice of redemption relating to such redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities—Treasury constant maturities—Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

If on the third Business Day preceding the date of the notice of redemption relating to such redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the date of such notice of redemption of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (1) any Subsidiary of the Company designated as such pursuant to and in compliance with this Indenture and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

In addition to the terms defined above, the following terms are defined in this Supplemental Indenture where indicated below:

Term		Defined in Section
“Additional Notes”		1.3(a)
“Agent Members”		1.3(b)(iii)
“Base Indenture”		Preamble
“Event of Default”		6.1(a)
“Global Note”		1.3(a)
“Indenture”		Preamble
“Initial Notes”		Recitals
“Notes”		Recitals
“payment default”		6.1(a)(5)(A)
“Supplemental Indenture”		Preamble

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

Section 3.1       Optional Redemption.

(a)            Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but not including the Redemption Date.

(b)            On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but not including the Redemption Date.

(c)            The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(d)            In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair, subject to the last sentence of this Section 3.1(d). No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the Holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by the Depositary, the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of such Depositary.

(e)            Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price or any conditions precedent described in the notice of redemption are not satisfied and therefore the notice of redemption is deemed rescinded, on and after the Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Section 3.2       Sinking Fund; Mandatory Redemption. The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption payments or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. Accordingly, Article XI of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.

Section 3.3       Redemption Provisions.

(a)            The first paragraph of Section 3.3 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and in lieu thereof, the following paragraph shall be deemed included in the Indenture for the benefit of the Notes:

Notice of any redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depositary’s Applicable Procedures) in the manner provided in Section 10.2 of the Base Indenture at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a Covenant Defeasance or Defeasance with respect to the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Notes.

(b)            Notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. If the conditions precedent are satisfied, the Company shall provide written notice to the Trustee of the satisfaction of such conditions as soon as practicable following occurrence of the conditions.

(c)            Except as otherwise stated in this Article III or to the extent inconsistent with this Article III, Article III of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.2 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and the covenants in Section 4.2 of the Base Indenture shall be deemed included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than the Notes.

In addition, the following covenants in this Article IV shall apply to the Notes and shall be deemed included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of the Notes:

Section 4.1       Limitation on Liens. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, Incur or assume, any Lien securing Funded Debt (other than Permitted Liens) upon any Principal Property, whether owned on the Issue Date or acquired after that date, unless the Indebtedness due under the Indenture and the Notes is secured equally and ratably with (or senior in priority to in the case of Liens with respect to Funded Debt that is expressly subordinated to the Notes) the Funded Debt secured by such Lien for so long as such Funded Debt is so secured.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the Company may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to, create, Incur or assume, any Lien securing Funded Debt upon any Principal Property without securing the Indebtedness due under the Indenture and the Notes if the aggregate principal amount of such Funded Debt secured by such Lien upon such Principal Property, together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all other Funded Debt of the Company and of any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company secured by any Liens (other than Permitted Liens) upon Principal Property, does not at the time such Funded Debt is created, Incurred or assumed (or, if later, at the time such Lien is created, Incurred or assumed) exceed the greater of (i) 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time and (ii) $3.0 billion.

Section 4.2       Reports.

(a)            The Company will furnish or file with the Trustee, (i) within 15 days after it files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If the Company is not subject to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and (ii) other information, documents, or reports as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act. For purposes of this Section 4.2, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and information to, or filed such reports and information with, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes and prospective purchasers as required by this Section 4.2 if it has filed such reports or information with the SEC via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor filing system) or otherwise made such reports or information publicly available on a freely accessible page on the Company’s website. The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such reports and information have been filed or have been posted on such website.

(b)            The Company also shall furnish to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all covenants under the Indenture.

(c)            The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any events that would constitute an Event of Default, unless such Event of Default has been cured or waived before the end of such 30-day period, their status and what action the Company is taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.

(d)            Delivery of any reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) above is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute notice, constructive or otherwise, of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the compliance by the Company with any of the Company’s covenants (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

Section 4.3       Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

(a)            The Board of Directors of the Company may after the Issue Date designate any Subsidiary as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” if: (1) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of or after giving effect to such designation; and (2) such Subsidiary has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt.

(b)            The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time, subject to the following sentence, designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company. Any such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Funded Debt and Liens by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Funded Debt and Liens, respectively, of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, and such designation will only be permitted if no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.

ARTICLE V

[RESERVED]

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, and shall be deemed not to be included in the Indenture for the benefit of the Notes.

Sections 6.1 and 6.2 below shall apply to the Notes and shall be deemed to be included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of the Notes:

Section 6.1       Events of Default.

(a)            Each of the following is an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes:

(1)            default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days;

(2)            default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise;

(3)            failure by the Company to comply for 180 days after notice as provided below with Section 4.2 of this Supplemental Indenture;

(4)            failure by the Company to comply for 90 days after notice as provided below with its agreements (other than the agreements that are the subjects of clauses (1)-(3) above) contained in the Indenture or the Notes;

(5)            default under any mortgage, indenture or similar instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company), other than Indebtedness owed to a Subsidiary, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, which default:

(A)           is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (“payment default”); or

(B)            results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its maturity;

and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there is an outstanding uncured payment default or the maturity of which has been and remains so accelerated, aggregates $250.0 million or more;

(6)            the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A)            commences a voluntary case or voluntary proceeding;

(B)            consents to the entry of a judgment, decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or involuntary proceeding;

(D)            makes a general assignment of substantially all of its property for the benefit of its creditors; or

(E)            transmits its written consent to or acquiescence in the institution of a bankruptcy proceeding or other collective proceeding for relief by or against its creditors generally; or

(7)            a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A)            is for relief in an involuntary case against the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law;

(B)            appoints a Custodian for all or substantially all of the property of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law; or

(C)            orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law;

and in case of (A), (B) or (C), the order or decree remains unstayed or not dismissed and in effect for 60 days following the entry, issuance or effective date thereof.

(b)            Notwithstanding Section 6.1(a), a default under Section 6.1(a)(3) or Section 6.1(a)(4) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes notify the Company in writing of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in Section 6.1(a)(3) or Section 6.1(a)(4) after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied, and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

Section 6.2         Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in Section 6.1(a)(6) or (7)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, or Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may, and the Trustee at the request of Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes shall, declare the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable. Such notice must specify the Event of Default and state that such notice is a “Notice of Acceleration.” Upon such a declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable immediately.

In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default described in Section 6.1(a)(5) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if (x) such Indebtedness or guarantee is discharged in full (other than customary surviving contingent obligations) or (y) the Default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(5) shall be remedied or cured by the Company or waived by the Holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 60 days after the written notice of declaration of acceleration of the Notes with respect thereto is received by the Company and if the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.

If an Event of Default pursuant to Section 6.1(a)(6) or (7) occurs, the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration, but before a judgment or decree for the payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may by notice to the Trustee and the Company (including, without limitation, waivers and consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) waive all current defaults (except with respect to nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences if rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.

ARTICLE VII

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

In the case of a Covenant Defeasance as provided in the Base Indenture, (i) the Company will be released from its obligations to comply with Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Supplemental Indenture (for the benefit of Holders of Notes) and Section 5.1 of the Base Indenture (other than Section 5.1(a)) and (ii) the events described in Section 6.1(a), clauses (3), (4) and (5) of this Supplemental Indenture shall no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to Notes.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

Article IX of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes, provided that nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall limit or affect the provisions of Article IX of the Base Indenture (including Section 9.1(f) and Section 9.1(i) thereof) insofar as relating to any amendment or waiver in respect of any series of Securities other than the Notes.

Section 8.1        Without Consent of Holders. Notwithstanding Section 8.2 and Section 8.3, without the consent of any Holder of Notes, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture as it relates to the Notes and the Notes to:

(1)            cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

(2)            provide for the assumption by a successor entity of the obligations of the Company under this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture or the Notes;

(3)            provide for or facilitate the issuance of uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code);

(4)            add Guarantees with respect to the Notes, evidence the release of a Guarantor from its Guarantee or provide for the assumption by a successor entity of the obligations of a Guarantor in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture;

(5)            secure the Notes;

(6)            add covenants of the Company or other obligor under the Indenture or the Notes, as the case may be, or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or to make other changes that would provide additional rights to the Holders of the Notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or other such obligor;

(7)            make any change that does not adversely affect the legal or contractual rights of any Holder under the Indenture or the Notes;

(8)            evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment under the Indenture of a successor trustee; provided that the successor trustee is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under the terms of the Indenture;

(9)            provide for the issuance of Additional Notes permitted to be issued under the Indenture;

(10)          comply with the rules of any applicable securities depositary; or

(11)          conform the text of this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the section of the Company’s Prospectus Supplement dated November 21, 2024 entitled “Description of the Notes” or the “Description of Debt Securities” set forth in the accompanying base prospectus to the extent that such provision in the “Description of the Notes” or the “Description of Debt Securities” was intended to be a complete description or summary of a provision of the Indenture or the Notes as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate.

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under the Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to send to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of any amendment, supplement or waiver.

Section 8.2         With Consent of Holders. Except as set forth in Section 8.1 and Section 8.3, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes) and any past default or compliance with any provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) and the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes).

The consent of the Holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment, supplement or waiver. A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under the Indenture by any Holder of Notes given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender.

Section 8.3        Limitations. Notwithstanding Section 8.2, without the consent of each Holder of an Outstanding Note affected, no amendment, supplement or waiver may (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

(1)            reduce the principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(2)            reduce the stated rate of interest or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;

(3)            reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Note;

(4)            waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes with respect to a nonpayment default and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(5)            reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed as described under Article III, whether through an amendment or waiver of Article III, related definitions or otherwise;

(6)            make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;

(7)            impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes; or

(8)            make any change in the amendment or waiver provisions that require each Holder’s consent.

Section 8.4       Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) or the Notes shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for whether this Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture, the Notes, or any amendment to any of them complies with the Trust Indenture Act or the Company’s compliance with the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 8.5       Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of Notes is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of the Notes or portion of such Notes that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note or Notes, even if notation of the consent is not made on any such Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Notes or portion of such Notes if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.

Any amendment or waiver in respect of the Notes once effective shall bind every Holder of Notes affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of the clauses of Section 8.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Note who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture in respect of the Notes or the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes). If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders of Notes at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders of Notes after such record date.

Section 8.6       Notation on or Exchange of Notes. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on the Notes. The Company in exchange for the Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon written request new Notes that reflect the amendment or waiver.

Section 8.7       Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article VIII, the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes; and, subject to Section 8.3, every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 9.1       Governing Law. This Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

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 ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE (AS IT RELATES TO THE NOTES), THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 9.2       Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 9.3         Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Supplemental Indenture. 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 instrument for all purposes. Signature pages of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. This Section 9.3 is subject to Section 10.9 of the Base Indenture.

Section 9.4         Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent and Security Registrar with respect to any Global Notes.

Section 9.5         Severability. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture or the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 9.6         Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision that is required or deemed to be included in the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, such required or deemed provision shall control. If any provision of the Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to the Indenture as so modified or shall be excluded, as the case may be.

Section 9.7         Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 9.8         No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. The Indenture insofar as relating to the Notes may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement (including the Indenture (including any other supplemental indenture thereto) insofar as relating to any series of Securities other than the Notes) of the Company or any Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement (including the Indenture (including any other supplemental indenture thereto) insofar as relating to any series of Securities other than the Notes) may not be used to interpret the Indenture insofar as relating to the Notes.

Section 9.9         Ratification and Incorporation of Base Indenture. As supplemented hereby, the Base Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes (as it relates to the Notes), and every Holder of Notes shall be bound hereby.

Section 9.10       Benefits of Supplemental Indenture. Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) or in the Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties to this Supplemental Indenture and their successors hereunder and the Holders of the Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Supplemental Indenture as it relates to the Notes or the Indenture.

SECTION 9.11       The Trustee. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity, sufficiency or adequacy of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the statements or recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.

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

	EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION as the Company

	By:	/s/ Mohit Singh
	Name:	Mohit Singh
	Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

	TRUSTEE:

	REGIONS BANK, as Trustee

	By:	/s/ Shawn Bednasek
	Name:	Shawn Bednasek
	Title:	Senior Vice President

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF FACE OF NOTE

[THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL NOTE 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 SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (THE “DEPOSITARY”) TO THE 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.

UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]¹

¹ Depositary legend, if applicable.

A-1

No. [  ]

Principal Amount $ [ ]

[as revised by the Schedule of Increases

and Decreases in the Global Note attached
hereto]¹

CUSIP NO. 165167DH7

ISIN US165167DH73

EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION

5.700% Senior Note due 2035

Expand Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation, promises to pay to [Cede & Co.]¹or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] Dollars, [as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in the Global Note attached hereto]¹, on January 15, 2035.

Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15, commencing July 15, 2025.

Regular Record Dates: January 1 and July 1.

Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.

¹ For Global Notes.

A-2

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be signed manually or by facsimile by its duly authorized officer.

	EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Dated:

Regions Bank,

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.

By:
	Authorized Signatory

FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE

5.700% Senior Note due 2035

Interest

Expand Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate per annum shown above.

The Company shall pay interest semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 2025. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Notes or, if no interest has been paid, from December 2, 2024. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal or premium, if any (plus interest on overdue installments of interest to the extent lawful), at the rate borne by the Notes to the extent lawful. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

2.	Method of Payment

By no later than 12:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note is due and payable, the Company shall irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any, or interest. The Company shall pay interest (except Defaulted Interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders at the close of business on the January 1 or July 1 immediately preceding the interest payment date even if the Notes are cancelled or repurchased after the Regular Record Date and on or before the Interest Payment Date. Holders must surrender the Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company shall pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. The Company shall pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes at the office or agency designated by the Company, which is initially the corporate trust office of the Trustee in Birmingham, Alabama. The Company shall pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Global Notes registered in the name of or held by the Depositary or its nominee in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such Global Note. The Company shall make all payments in respect of a Definitive Note by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof as such address shall appear on the Security Registrar’s books; provided, however, that payments on the Notes represented by Definitive Notes may also be made, by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

A-5

Paying Agent and Security Registrar

Initially, Regions Bank, the trustee under the Indenture (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the “Trustee”), shall act as Paying Agent and Security Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent or Security Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

Indenture

The Company issued the Notes as a series of Securities under the Indenture dated as of December 2, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 2, 2024 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture and any one or more additional supplemental indentures thereto applicable to the Notes, herein called the “Indenture”) by and between the Company and the Trustee. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement of those terms. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Note and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control.

The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited. This Note is one of the 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 referred to in the Indenture. The Notes include (i) $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 issued under the Indenture on December 2, 2024 in an offering registered under the Securities Act (the “Initial Notes”), and (ii) if and when issued, an unlimited principal amount of additional 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 that may be issued from time to time, under the Indenture, subsequent to December 2, 2024 (the “Additional Notes” and, together with the Initial Notes, the “Notes”). The Initial Notes and the Additional Notes shall be considered collectively as a single series of Securities for all purposes of the Indenture.

5.	Redemption

(a)            Prior to October 15, 2034 (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of (1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but not including the Redemption Date.

6.	Denominations; Transfer; Exchange

The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Security Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents. No service charge will be imposed by the Company, the Trustee or the Security Registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, but the Company may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other governmental taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for redemption or any Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of the Notes to be redeemed.

A-6

7.	Persons Deemed Owners

The registered Holder of this Note shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

8.	Unclaimed Money

Subject to applicable unclaimed property laws, if money for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee or the Paying Agent for payment.

9.	Defeasance

Subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture, the Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to Stated Maturity or a specified redemption date.

10.	Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

The Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture (as it relates to the Notes) and the Notes may be amended or supplemented and certain provisions may be waived as provided in the Indenture.

11.	Defaults and Remedies

The Events of Default as to the Notes are defined in Section 6.1 of the Supplemental Indenture. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights and obligations of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

12.	Trustee Dealings with the Company

Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, 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 the Notes and may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

A-7

13.	No Recourse Against Others

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, manager, member, partner, incorporator or stockholder of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company, respectively, under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

14.	Authentication

This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an Authenticating Agent acting on its behalf) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

15.	Abbreviations

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian) and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).

16.	CUSIP Numbers

Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

17.	Governing Law

This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

A-8

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to

______________________________________________

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

______________________________________________

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.)

and irrevocably appoint _______________ agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date: _______________________		Your Signature: _______________________


Signature Guarantee:		(Signature must be guaranteed)

Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.

A-9

[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE¹

The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:

Date of Increase / Decrease	Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note	Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note	Principal Amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase	Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Notes Custodian

¹ Global Notes.

A-10

Exhibit 5.1

	811 Main Street, Suite 3700
	Houston, TX 77002
	Tel: +1.713.546.5400 Fax: +1.713.546.5401
	www.lw.com

	FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES
	Beijing	Moscow
	Boston	Munich
	Brussels	New York
	Century City	Orange County
	Chicago	Paris
	Dubai	Riyadh
	Düsseldorf	Rome
	Frankfurt	San Diego
	Hamburg	San Francisco
	Hong Kong	Seoul
	Houston	Shanghai
	London	Silicon Valley
	Los Angeles	Singapore
	Madrid	Tokyo
	Milan	Washington, D.C.

December 2, 2024

Expand Energy Corporation

6100 North Western Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Re: Registration Statement No. 333-283348; $750,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 5.700% Senior Notes Due 2035

To the addressees set forth above:

We have acted as special counsel to Expand Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”), under the Indenture, dated the date hereof (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and Regions Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of the date hereof, by and between such parties (the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), and pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on November 20, 2024 (Registration No. 333-283348) (the “Registration Statement”), an accompanying base prospectus, dated November 20, 2024, and included in the Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective (the “Base Prospectus”), and a final prospectus supplement, dated November 21, 2024, and filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act on November 22, 2024 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Notes.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the internal laws of the State of New York, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state. Various issues pertaining to the laws of the State of Oklahoma are addressed in the opinion of Derrick & Briggs, LLP, separately provided to you. We express no opinion with respect to those matters herein, and to the extent elements of those opinions are necessary to the conclusions expressed herein, we have, with your consent, assumed such matters.

December 2, 2024

Page 2

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and when the Notes have been duly authorized, executed, issued, and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor in the circumstances contemplated by the underwriting agreement, dated November 21, 2024, by and among the underwriters named therein and the Company, the Notes will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

Our opinion is subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) (a) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and (c) the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; and (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy. We express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies, or judicial relief, (c) the waiver of rights or defenses contained in Section 4.4 of the Indenture, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any Notes, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (f) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (g) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (h) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (i) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (j) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (k) grants of setoff rights, (l) proxies, powers and trusts, (m) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (n) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (o) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

December 2, 2024

Page 3

With your consent, we have assumed (a) that the Indenture and the Notes (collectively, the “Documents”) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (b) that the Documents constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Company, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms and (c) that the status of the Documents as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties is not affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 2, 2024 and to the reference to our firm contained in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

	Sincerely,

	/s/ Latham & Waktins LLP

Exhibit 5.2

DERRICK & BRIGGS, LLP

A PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIP

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW

BANCFIRST TOWER, SUITE 2700
100 NORTH BROADWAY AVENUE
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73102

December 2, 2024

Expand Energy Corporation
6100 North Western Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118

Re:

Expand Energy Corporation
- Registration Statement No. 333-283348

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We serve as Oklahoma counsel to Expand Energy Corporation, an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance by the Company of $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.700% Senior Notes due 2035 (the “Notes”) under (a) the Registration Statement No. 333-283348 on Form S-3 (the “Initial Registration Statement”) filed on November 20, 2024, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and (b) the related prospectus of the Company dated November 20, 2024, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement relating to the sale of the Notes dated December 2, 2024 (as so supplemented, the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Opinion Letter have the meanings ascribed in the Registration Statement. At your request, this Opinion Letter is being furnished to you for filing as Exhibit 5.2 to the Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K to be filed with the Commission on or about this date (the “Form 8-K”).

The Company is selling the Notes under the terms of an Underwriting Agreement dated as of November 21, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between the Company and the several underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as Representatives of the Underwriters (the “Representatives”).

The Notes are to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of December 2, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company, and Regions Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended by a Supplemental Indenture to be dated as of December 2, 2024 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”).

We are providing this Opinion Letter to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

In preparing this Opinion Letter, we have examined (i) the certificate of incorporation, (the “Organizational Documents”) of the Company, (ii) the Registration Statement and its exhibits, (iii) the Indenture and (iv) originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such other instruments and other certificates of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for our opinions.

We have assumed: (i) the genuineness of any signatures on all documents we have reviewed; (ii) the legal capacity of natural persons who have executed all documents we have reviewed; (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (iv) the conformity to originals of all documents submitted as copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies; (v) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed and relied upon; (vi) the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials; (vii) that the Registration Statement and the Organizational Documents of the Company, as amended to this date, will not have been amended after this date in a manner that would affect the validity of our opinions; and (viii) that the Underwriting Agreement will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. We have relied upon a certificate and other assurances of officers of the Company as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters.

We have further assumed that:

(i) The Registration Statement, and any amendments (including post-effective amendments), has become effective and complies with applicable law;

(ii) The Prospectus (as supplemented) complies with applicable law and has been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Notes offered at such time; and

(iii) The Notes will be issued and sold in compliance with Federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

Our opinions are limited to matters governed by the laws of the State of Oklahoma, and we express no opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction or as to the effect of or compliance with any state securities or blue sky laws.

Based upon the foregoing and on such legal considerations as we deem relevant, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth in this Opinion Letter and in reliance on the statements of fact contained in the documents we have examined, we are of the opinion that:

1. The Company (a) is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, (b) is in good standing under such laws, and (c) has the corporate power and authority under such laws and has taken all necessary corporate action under such laws to issue the Notes and to execute and deliver, and incur and perform all of its obligations under, the Notes and the Indenture.

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus and to the filing of this Opinion Letter as an exhibit to the Form 8-K. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission.

	Very truly yours,

	/s/ Derrick & Briggs, LLP

Cover	Dec. 02, 2024
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 02, 2024
Entity File Number	001-13726
Entity Registrant Name	EXPAND ENERGY CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000895126
Entity Tax Identification Number	73-1395733
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	OK
Entity Address, Address Line One	6100 North Western Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Oklahoma City
Entity Address, State or Province	OK
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	73118
City Area Code	405
Local Phone Number	848-8000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Common Stock [Member]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol	EXE
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Class A Warrants to purchase Common Stock [Member]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Trading Symbol	EXEEW
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Class B Warrants to purchase Common Stock [Member]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class B Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Trading Symbol	EXEEZ
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Class C Warrants to purchase Common Stock [Member]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class C Warrants to purchase Common Stock
Trading Symbol	EXEEL
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ

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