SEC Filing | Ross Stores, Inc.

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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):
September 15, 2014

ROSS STORES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	0-14678	94-1390387
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation)		No.)

5130 Hacienda Drive, Dublin, California 94568
(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(925) 965-4400

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

[ ] 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))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On September 15, 2014, Ross Stores, Inc. (the “Company”) agreed to issue $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 3.375% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”) in an underwritten public offering. The closing took place on September 18, 2014. The Notes were offered by the Company pursuant to its effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-198738) and a related prospectus supplement and prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Notes were issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2014 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, as supplemented and amended by an Officers’ Certificate establishing the terms and form of the Notes, dated as of September 18, 2014 (the “Officers’ Certificate”). On September 15, 2014, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein, with respect to the Company’s issuance and sale of the Notes.

Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2015. The Notes will mature on September 15, 2024.

The public offering price of the Notes was 99.329% of the principal amount. The Company received net proceeds of approximately $245.7 million from the offering of the Notes, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses.

The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to fund the exercise of an option to purchase for $222 million the building in which the Company’s New York buying office is located. The Company intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include funding the Company’s share repurchase program, working capital requirements, and capital expenditures related to continued store growth and store remodeling programs.

The foregoing descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes are qualified in their entirety by reference to the complete terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Officers’ Certificate and the form of Note, which are filed herewith as Exhibits 1.1, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. In connection with the issuance of the Notes, DLA Piper LLP (US) provided the Company with the legal opinion attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 5.1.

On September 16, 2014, the Company issued a press release announcing the pricing of the Notes. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)		Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
1.1		Underwriting Agreement, dated as of September 15, 2014, by and among Ross Stores, Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representatives of the underwriters named therein

4.1		Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2014, between Ross Stores, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association

4.2		Officers’ Certificate, dated as of September 18, 2014, establishing the terms and form of the Notes

4.3		Form of the 3.375% Senior Notes Due 2024 (included in Exhibit 4.2)

5.1		Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US)

23.1		Consent of DLA Piper LLP (US) (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)

99.1		Press Release dated September 16, 2014 announcing the pricing of the Notes

SIGNATURES

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

Date: September 18, 2014

ROSS STORES, INC.
Registrant


By:	/s/ M. Hartshorn
	Michael Hartshorn
	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
	Principal Accounting Officer

Exhibit 1.1

$250,000,000

Ross Stores, Inc.

3.375% Senior Notes due 2024

Underwriting Agreement

New York, New York
September 15, 2014

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                      Incorporated
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
       As representatives of the several
       underwriters named in Schedule I hereto

c/o	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 383 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10179

	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated One Bryant Park New York, New York 10036

	Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 550 South Tyron Street Charlotte, NC 28202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Ross Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such Schedule A of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.375% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”). J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Wells Fargo, LLC have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of September 18, 2014 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes will be issued in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), pursuant to a Letter of Representations, to be dated on or before the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2 below) (the “DTC Agreement”), among the Company, the Trustee and the Depositary.

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-198738), which contains a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of debt securities, including the Notes, and other securities of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Such registration statement, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective under the Securities Act, including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, is called the “Registration Statement.” The term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus supplement relating to the Notes, together with the Base Prospectus, that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this Agreement is executed (the “Execution Time”) by the parties hereto. The term “Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Notes, together with the Base Prospectus, that is first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents that are or are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act prior to 2:40 p.m. on September 15, 2014 (the “Initial Sale Time”). All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Initial Sale Time; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, after the Initial Sale Time.

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company

The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Initial Sale Time and as of the Closing Date (in each case, a “Representation Date”), as follows:

a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with. In addition, the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective and at each Representation Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (i) complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, and (ii) did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. At the date of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date, neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any of the Underwriters through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

Each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time each was filed with the SEC, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Notes will, at the time of such delivery, be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

b) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus dated September 15, 2014, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified in Annex I hereto and (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package. As of the Initial Sale Time, the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

c) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (i) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and (ii) when read together with the other information in the Disclosure Package, at the Initial Sale Time, and when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the date of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

d) Company is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Notes in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, and (iv) as of the Execution Time, the Company was and is a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, that automatically became effective not more than three years prior to the Execution Time; the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration form.

e) Company is not an Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering of Notes under this Agreement or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

g) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Notes, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representatives and included in Annex I hereto or any electronic road show or other written communications reviewed and consented to by the Representatives and listed on Annex II hereto (each a, “Company Additional Written Communication”). Each such Company Additional Written Communication, when taken together with the Disclosure Package, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Company Additional Written Communication based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

h) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

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

j) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

k) Authorization of the Notes. The Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

l) Description of the Notes and the Indenture. The Notes and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

m) Accuracy of Statements. The statements in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of the Notes” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” in each case insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

n) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package, (i) except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree and (ii) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the business, properties, results of operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”).

o) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended February 1, 2014, February 2, 2013 and January 28, 2012 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and are an independent public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

p) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements together with the related notes thereto incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements comply as to form with the accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The selected financial data and the summary financial information (if any) included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

q) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its significant subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02(10) of Regulation S-X, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company has no Significant Subsidiaries other than the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21 to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2014. Each of the Company and each such subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect (i) on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the business, properties, results of operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under, and consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes (each, a “Material Adverse Effect”). All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each such subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim.

r) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be).

s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents or (ii) in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”) or (iii) in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, as applicable, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such Defaults or violations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, or of the charter documents of any of its subsidiaries, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or a Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, except for such except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, violations, breaches, Defaults, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is required for the Company’s execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package or by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (the “FINRA”). As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) issued by the Company, the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

t) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters pertaining to the Company or its subsidiaries, where any such action, suit or proceeding, if determined adversely, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

u) Labor Matters. None of the Company or the Company’s subsidiaries is involved in any strike, job action or labor dispute with any group of employees that would, individually or on the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and to the Company’s knowledge, no such action or dispute is threatened.

v) Intellectual Property Rights. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company or its subsidiaries own or possess a valid right to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) used by the Company or its subsidiaries in, and material to, the conduct of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ business as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property rights of any third party, which individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

w) All Necessary Permits, etc. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Significant Subsidiary possess all consents, licenses, certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory authorities that are necessary to conduct their respective businesses. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization, permit, license, approval, consent or other authorization which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

x) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(p) above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests,, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The property and buildings held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property or buildings by the Company or such subsidiary.

y) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns in a timely manner and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, except for any taxes, assessments, fines or penalties as are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and except where a failure to make such filings or payments would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(p) above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined.

z) Company Not an Investment Company. The Company has been advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Investment Company Act”). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

aa) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain similar coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

bb) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed or would be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.

cc) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

dd) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit from corporate funds to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, rules or regulations; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

ee) No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

ff) No Conflict with OFAC Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer or employee of the Company or any agent, or affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), or other sanctions authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country in violation of Sanctions or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, initial purchaser, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past 5 years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, and are not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country in violation of Sanctions.

gg) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, and (iv) are not subject to any claims or liabilities arising out of the release of or exposure to wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and are not aware of any facts or circumstances which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim.

hh) ERISA Compliance. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA for which the Company would have any material liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any such “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) which, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and each “pension plan” for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

ii) Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

jj) Internal Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness or significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

kk) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; and such disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s management (including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer) by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters set forth therein.

SECTION 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Notes.

a) The Notes. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally and not jointly, all of the Notes upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their names on Schedule A at a purchase price of 98.679% of the principal amount of the Notes, payable on the Closing Date.

b) The Closing Date. Delivery of one or more certificates for the Notes in global form to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at the offices of Mayer Brown LLP at 1675 Broadway, New York, New York 10019 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on September 18, 2014, or such other time and date as the Underwriters and the Company shall mutually agree (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).

c) Public Offering of the Notes. The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Notes as soon after the Execution Time as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.

d) Payment for the Notes. Payment for the Notes shall be made at the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.

It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own accounts and for the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Notes that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. The Representatives may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Notes to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

e) Delivery of the Notes. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, certificates for the Notes at the Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Notes shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives shall have requested at least two full business days prior to the Closing Date, and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date at a location in New York City, as the Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company.

The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B of the Securities Act, and will promptly notify the Representatives, and confirm the notice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below) of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of any supplement or amendment to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (ii) the receipt of any comments from the Commission during the Prospectus Delivery Period, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Notes for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424 and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424 were received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that either was not, the Company will promptly file such document. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

b) Filing of Amendments. During such period beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Notes by an Underwriter or dealer, including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 of the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), the Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to file or use any amendment to the Registration Statement, or any amendment, supplement or revision to the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.

c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including copies of exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of the Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter may reasonably request, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, such number of copies of the Prospectus as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Notes as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the Initial Sale Time or at the time of delivery or conveyance to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of either such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of any law, the Company will (1) notify the Representatives of any such event, development or condition and (2) promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such law, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Notes for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Notes. The Company shall not be required to qualify to transact business or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign business. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Notes for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

g) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

h) Depositary. The Company will cooperate with the Underwriters and use its reasonable best efforts to permit the Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the Depositary.

i) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Nasdaq Global Select Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.

j) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representatives), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the Company similar to the Notes or securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities similar to the Notes (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Notes).

k) Final Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet containing only a description of the Notes, in a form approved by the Underwriters and attached as Exhibit B hereto, and will file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act within the time required by such rule (such term sheet, the “Final Term Sheet”). Any such Final Term Sheet is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement.

l) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make, any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Representatives shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in Annex I to this Agreement. Any such free writing prospectus consented to or deemed to be consented to by the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping. The Company consents to the use by any Underwriter of a free writing prospectus that (a) is not an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433, and (b) contains only (i) information describing the preliminary terms of the Notes or their offering, (ii) information permitted by Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (iii) information that describes the final terms of the Notes or their offering and that is included in the Final Term Sheet of the Company contemplated in Section 3(k).

m) Registration Statement Renewal Deadline. If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Notes remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will file prior to the Renewal Deadline, following written request from one or more of the Underwriters, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If immediately prior to the Renewal Deadline any of the Notes remain unsold by the Underwriters and the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will file, prior to the Renewal Deadline, following written request from one or more of the Underwriters, if it has not already done so, a new shelf registration statement relating to the Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Notes to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Notes. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.

n) Notice of Inability to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form. If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Notes to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

o) Filing Fees. The Company agrees to pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Notes within the time required by and in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1) and 457(r) of the Securities Act.

p) Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

q) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.

The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Notes (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent registered public accountants and other advisors to the Company, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, the Indenture, the DTC Agreement and the Notes, (v) all filing fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Notes for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vi) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review, if any, by the FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Notes, (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Notes, (viii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Notes with the ratings agencies, (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company in connection with approval of the Notes by the Depositary for “book-entry” transfer, (x) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement, and (xi) all other fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. Except as provided in this Section 4 and Sections 6, 8 and 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

SECTION 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Notes as provided herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof, as of the Initial Sale Time, and as of the Closing Date as though then made and to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or be pending or threatened by the Commission, any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters and the Company shall not have received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form. The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or any required post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A).

b) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent registered public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.

c) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

d) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change;

(ii) there shall not have been any change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section 5 which is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Notes as contemplated by the Prospectus; and

(iii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading in or withdrawal of, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or withdrawal or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

e) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion and negative assurance letter of DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, substantially in the form of which is attached as Exhibit A.

f) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably requested by the Underwriters.

g) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or a Senior Vice President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:

(i) the Company has received no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission;

(ii) the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form;

(iii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and

(iv) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.

h) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Sections 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

SECTION 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5 or 11, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Notes on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Notes, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.

SECTION 7. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective until the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto.

SECTION 8. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such director, officer, employee, affiliate, agent or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such director, officer, employee, affiliate, agent and controlling person for any and all expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such director, officer, employee, affiliate, agent or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” and the third sentence of the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.

(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8 or to the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, such indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party, unless: (i) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed promptly to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and the indemnifying party or any affiliate of the indemnifying party, and such indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that either (x) there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party or such affiliate of the indemnifying party or (y) a conflict may exist between such indemnified party and the indemnifying party or such affiliate of the indemnifying party (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to a single firm of local counsel) for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and that all such reasonable fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred). Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence, in which case the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

Section 9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Notes as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any reasonable legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Notes underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer, employee, affiliate and agent of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

Section 10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Notes, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such Notes set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of such Notes set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase such Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase such Notes and the aggregate principal amount of such Notes with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Notes are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

Section 11. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or trading in securities generally on either the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any federal or New York authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity involving the United States, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Notes in the manner and on the terms described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Sections 4 and 6 hereof, and provided further that Sections 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

Section 12. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Notes and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company or its affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the several Underwriters have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the several Underwriters with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the several Underwriters (in such capacity) with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

Section 13. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement (i) will remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any (A) investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or employees of any Underwriter, or any person controlling the Underwriter, the Company, the officers or employees of the Company, or any person controlling the Company, as the case may be or (B) acceptance of the Notes and payment for them hereunder and (ii) will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement; provided that, with respect to a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement, such indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements shall survive to the extent provided in the last sentence of said Section 11.

Section 14. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

If to the Representatives:

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179
Facsimile: 212-270-1063
Attention: High Grade Syndicate Desk, 3^rd Floor

and

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
50 Rockefeller Plaza
NY1-050-12-01
New York, NY 10020
Facsimile: 646-855-5958
Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal

and

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tyron Street, 5th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
Facsimile: 704-410-0326
Attention: Transaction Management

with a copy to:

Mayer Brown LLP
71 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
Facsimile: 312-706-8106
Attention: Edward S. Best

If to the Company:

Ross Stores, Inc.
5130 Hacienda Drive
Dublin, CA 94568
Facsimile: 925-965-4189
Attention: General Counsel

with a copy to:

DLA Piper LLP (US)
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 27^th Floor
New York, NY 10020
Facsimile: 212-884-8692
Attention: Jamie Knox

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

Section 15. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents and controlling persons referred to in Sections 8 and 9, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Notes as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.

Section 16. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

Section 17. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THAT STATE.

(a) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan, or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail 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 parties 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 in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

Section 18. Trial by Jury. THE COMPANY (ON ITS BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS AND AFFILIATES) AND EACH OF THE UNDERWRITERS 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 AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 19. Research Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company, its subsidiaries and/or the offering of the Notes that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by their independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by such Underwriters’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 20. General Provisions. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

ROSS STORES, INC.


By:	/s/ Michael Hartshorn
	Name: Michael Hartshorn
	Title: Chief Financial Officer

Signature page to Underwriting Agreement

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
MERRILL LYNC	H, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
	INCORPORATED
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
Acting as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.

By:	J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

By:	/s/ Robert Bottamedi
	Name: Robert Bottamedi
	Title: Vice President

By:	MERRILL LYNC	H, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
		INCORPORATED

By:	/s/ Brendan Hanley
	Name: Brendan Hanley
	Title: Managing Director

By:	WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

By:	/s/ Carolyn Hurley
	Name: Carolyn Hurley
	Title: Director

Signature page to Underwriting Agreement

SCHEDULE A

	Aggregate
	Principal
	Amount of
	Notes to be
Underwriters	Purchased
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith	$	75,000,000
Incorporated
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC	$	75,000,000
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC	$	62,500,000
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.	$	10,000,000
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.	$	10,000,000
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.	$	7,500,000
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.	$	5,000,000
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC	$	5,000,000

Total	$	250,000,000

Sch-1

ANNEX I

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

Final Term Sheet dated September 15, 2014

Annex-1

ANNEX II

Company Additional Written Communication

Electronic (Netroadshow) road show of the Company relating to the offering of the Notes dated September 15, 2014.

Annex-2

EXHIBIT A

Form of Opinion of DLA Piper LLP (US)

1. The Company is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease, and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 1 hereto.

2. Each of the Company’s subsidiaries listed on Schedule 2 hereto has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and each has corporate authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; each such subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction listed on Schedule 2 hereto; all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each such subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim.

3. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate actions on the part of the Company. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company.

4. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Notes. The execution and delivery of the Notes by the Company have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. The Notes have been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due authentication thereof by the Trustee) constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

5. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Indenture and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance of the Indenture by the Company have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due execution thereof by the Trustee) constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

A-1

6. No consent, approval, waiver, license or authorization or other action by or filing with any California, New York, Delaware corporate or federal governmental or regulatory authority is required in connection with the execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes, the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby or the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, except as needed for compliance with state securities or blue sky laws, as to which we express no opinion in this paragraph.

7. The execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture, the Notes and the Underwriting Agreement and performance of its obligations thereunder will not conflict with, constitute a default under, or violate (i) any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (ii) any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the contracts listed on Schedule A, (iii) California, New York, Delaware corporate or federal law or regulation (other than federal and state securities or blue sky laws, as to which we express no opinion in this paragraph), or (iv) any judgment, writ, injunction, decree, order or ruling of any court or governmental authority binding on the Company of which we are aware.

8. The statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, are accurate in all material respects.

9. The statements in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” insofar as they constitute statements of U.S. federal income tax law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, and subject to the limitations set forth therein, fairly summarize the matters referred to therein in all material respects.

10. The Company is not, nor immediately after the sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds from such sale (as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) will be, an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

11. The Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, in each case, excluding the documents incorporated therein by reference, and any further amendments and supplements thereto, as applicable, made by the Company prior to the Closing Date (other than the exhibits, financial statements and related schedules and other financial data included therein, as to which we express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, as applicable; it being understood, however, that we express no view with respect to Regulation S-T promulgated under the Securities Act.

A-2

12. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time they were filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

13. The Registration Statement was automatically effective upon filing with the Commission under the Securities Act on September 15, 2014. To our knowledge, the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act objecting to the Company’s use of the automatic shelf registration form. To our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. Any required filing of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b). The required filing of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus contained in the Disclosure Package pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 433.

14. To our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits, proceedings or investigations (including arbitration proceedings) pending or threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination matters related to the Company or its subsidiaries, in each case, which are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and which are not disclosed therein.

A-3

FORM OF NEGATIVE ASSURANCE LETTER TO BE DELIVERED BY DLA PIPER

Based upon our participation described above, we advise you that nothing has come to our attention that caused us to believe that (i) the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no view), as of the time it became effective or is deemed to have become effective under Section 11(d) of the Act and Rule 430(B) thereunder, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Disclosure Package (other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no view), as of the Initial Sale Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iii) the Prospectus (other than the financial statements, schedules and other financial data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no view), as of its date and the date hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

A-4

Supplementing the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated
September 15, 2014 (To Prospectus dated September 15, 2014)

EXHIBIT B

ROSS STORES, INC.

$250,000,000

3.375% Senior Notes due 2024

Form of Pricing Term Sheet

September 15, 2014

Issuer:	Ross Stores, Inc.
Anticipated Ratings:*	A3/A- (Moody’s/S&P)
Principal Amount:	$250,000,000
Offering Format:	SEC Registered
Trade Date:	September 15, 2014
Settlement Date:	September 18, 2014 (T+3)
Maturity Date:	September 15, 2024
Coupon (Interest Rate):	3.375%
Interest Payment Dates:	Semi-annually on March 15 and September 15, beginning on
	March 15, 2015
Price to Public:	99.329%
Yield to Maturity:	3.455%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:	0.87% (87 basis points)
Benchmark Treasury:	UST 2.375% due August 15, 2024
Benchmark Treasury Price/Yield:	98-05+; 2.585%
Make-Whole Call:	Prior to June 15, 2024, T+15 basis points
Par Call:	On or after June 15, 2024
Change of Control:	If the Issuer experiences a Change of Control Repurchase
	Event (as defined in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement),
	it will be required, unless it has exercised the right to redeem
	the notes, to offer to repurchase the notes at a purchase price
	equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and
	unpaid interest to the repurchase date.
CUSIP/ISIN:	778296AA1/US778296AA10
Joint Book-Running Managers:	Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
	Incorporated
	Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
	J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Co-Managers:	U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
	Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc.
	SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.
	Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
	BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC

Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

B-1

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC can arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling J.P. Morgan Securities LLC collect at 1-212-834-4533, by calling or e-mailing Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated at 1-800-294-1322 or dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com or calling or e-mailing Wells Fargo Securities, LLC at 1-800-326-5897 or cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com.

B-2

Exhibit 4.1

ROSS STORES, INC.

and

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of September 18, 2014

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

				Page
ARTICLE I		DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE		1
	Section 1.1.		Definitions	1
	Section 1.2.		Other Definitions	10
	Section 1.3.		Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act	10
	Section 1.4.		Rules of Construction	11
ARTICLE II		THE SECURITIES		11
	Section 2.1.		Form, Dating and Terms	11
	Section 2.2.		Denominations	14
	Section 2.3.		Forms Generally	14
	Section 2.4.		Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating	15
	Section 2.5.		Registrar and Paying Agent	17
	Section 2.6.		Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust	17
	Section 2.7.		Holder Lists	17
	Section 2.8.		Transfer and Exchange	18
	Section 2.9.		Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Wrongfully Taken Securities	18
	Section 2.10.		Outstanding Securities	19
	Section 2.11.		Cancellation	19
	Section 2.12.		Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest	20
	Section 2.13.		Temporary Securities	21
	Section 2.14.		Persons Deemed Owners	21
	Section 2.15.		Computation of Interest	21
	Section 2.16.		Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions	22
	Section 2.17.		CUSIP Numbers, Etc	23
	Section 2.18.		Original Issue Discount and Foreign-Currency Denominated
			Securities	24
ARTICLE III		COVENANTS		24
	Section 3.1.		Payment of Securities	24
	Section 3.2.		Reports	24
	Section 3.3.		Maintenance of Office or Agency	25
	Section 3.4.		Corporate Existence	25
	Section 3.5.		Maintenance of Properties	26
	Section 3.6.		Payment of Taxes and Other Claims	26

-i-

	Section 3.7.		Limitation on Liens	26
	Section 3.8.		Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions	28
	Section 3.9.		Limitations Upon Permitting Restricted Subsidiaries to become
			Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries to
			become Restricted Subsidiaries	29
	Section 3.10.		Compliance Certificate	29
	Section 3.11.		Statement by Officers as to Default	30
	Section 3.12.		Additional Amounts	30
	Section 3.13.		Calculation of Original Issue Discount	30
ARTICLE IV		SUCCESSORS		31
	Section 4.1.		Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets	31
ARTICLE V		REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES		31
	Section 5.1.		Applicability of Article	31
	Section 5.2.		Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	32
	Section 5.3.		Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed	32
	Section 5.4.		Notice of Redemption	32
	Section 5.5.		Deposit of Redemption Price	33
	Section 5.6.		Securities Payable on Redemption Date	33
	Section 5.7.		Securities Redeemed in Part	34
ARTICLE VI		DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES		34
	Section 6.1.		Events of Default	34
	Section 6.2.		Acceleration	36
	Section 6.3.		Other Remedies	37
	Section 6.4.		Waiver of Past Defaults	37
	Section 6.5.		Control by Majority	37
	Section 6.6.		Limitation on Suits	37
	Section 6.7.		Rights of Holders to Receive Payment	38
	Section 6.8.		Collection Suit by Trustee	38
	Section 6.9.		Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	38
	Section 6.10.		Priorities	39
	Section 6.11.		Undertaking for Costs	39
ARTICLE VII		TRUSTEE		39
	Section 7.1.		Duties of Trustee	39
	Section 7.2.		Rights of Trustee	41
	Section 7.3.		Individual Rights of Trustee	43

-ii-

	Section 7.4.		Trustee’s Disclaimer	43
	Section 7.5.		Notice of Defaults	43
	Section 7.6.		Reports by Trustee to Holders	43
	Section 7.7.		Compensation and Indemnity	44
	Section 7.8.		Replacement of Trustee	44
	Section 7.9.		Successor Trustee by Merger	46
	Section 7.10.		Eligibility; Disqualification	46
	Section 7.11.		Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	46
ARTICLE VIII		LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE		47
	Section 8.1.		Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance	47
	Section 8.2.		Legal Defeasance and Discharge	47
	Section 8.3.		Covenant Defeasance	48
	Section 8.4.		Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance	48
	Section 8.5.		Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in
			Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions	49
	Section 8.6.		Repayment to Company	50
	Section 8.7.		Reinstatement	50
ARTICLE IX		AMENDMENTS		50
	Section 9.1.		Without Consent of Holders	50
	Section 9.2.		With Consent of Holders	52
	Section 9.3.		Compliance with Trust Indenture Act	53
	Section 9.4.		Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers	53
	Section 9.5.		Notation on or Exchange of Securities	54
	Section 9.6.		Trustee To Sign Amendments	54
ARTICLE X		SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE		54
	Section 10.1.		Satisfaction and Discharge	54
ARTICLE XI		MISCELLANEOUS		55
	Section 11.1.		Trust Indenture Act Controls	55
	Section 11.2.		Notices	56
	Section 11.3.		Communication by Holders with other Holders	56
	Section 11.4.		Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent	56
	Section 11.5.		Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion	57
	Section 11.6.		When Securities Disregarded	58
	Section 11.7.		Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar	58
	Section 11.8.		Legal Holidays	58

-iii-

Section 11.9.	GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	58
Section 11.10.	No Recourse Against Others	58
Section 11.11.	Successors	58
Section 11.12.	Multiple Originals	58
Section 11.13.	Severability	59
Section 11.14.	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements	59
Section 11.15.	Table of Contents; Headings	59
Section 11.16.	Force Majeure	59
Section 11.17.	U.S.A. Patriot Act	59

-iv-

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

TIA			Indenture
Section			Section
310(a)(1)			7.10
(a)(2)			7.10
(a)(3)			N.A.
(a)(4)			N.A.
(b)			7.8; 7.10
311(a)			7.11
(b)			7.11
312(a)			2.7
(b)			11.3
(c)			11.3
313(a)			7.6
(b)(1)			7.6
(b)(2)			7.6
(c)			7.6
(d)			7.6
314(a)			3.2; 3.5; 11.2
(b)			N.A.
(c)(1)			11.4
(c)(2)			11.4
(c)(3)			N.A.
(d)			N.A.
(e)			11.5
315(a)			7.1
(b)			7.5; 11.2
(c)			7.1
(d)			7.1
(e)			6.11
316(a)(last sentence)			12.6
(a)(1)(A)			6.5
(a)(1)(B)			6.4
(a)(2)			N.A.
(b)			6.7
317(a)(1)			6.8
(a)(2)			6.9
(b)			2.6
318(a)			11.1

N.A. means Not Applicable.

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

-v-

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of September 18, 2014, is entered into by and between ROSS STORES, INC. a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company may from time to time duly authorize the issue of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”) up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and administration of the Securities; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture and agreement in accordance with its terms have been done;

NOW, THEREFORE:

In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

Section 1.1. Definitions.

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts required by the express terms of a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein or pursuant thereto, to be paid by the Company with respect to certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to those Holders.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means 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, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.

“Attributable Debt” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction referred to in Section 3.8 means, at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the imputed rate of interest of such transaction determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended). The term “net rental payments” under any lease for any period shall mean the sum of the rental and other payments required to be paid in such period by the lessee thereunder, not including any amounts required to be paid by such lessee (whether or not designated as rental or additional rental) on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges required to be paid by such lessee thereunder or any amounts required to be paid by such lessee thereunder contingent upon the amount of sales, maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges.

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

“Board of Directors” means:

	(1)		with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

	(2)		with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership;

	(3)		with respect to a limited liability company, the manager, managers, managing member or members or any controlling committee of managers or managing members thereof, as the case may be; and

	(4)		with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

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

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York and Los Angeles or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is not a Business Day, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

“Capital Stock” means:

	(1)		with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of such Person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing; and

	(2)		with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person under a lease that are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease obligations under GAAP and, for purposes of this definition, the amount of such obligations at any date shall be the capitalized amount of such obligations at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP, and the stated maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease.

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

“Company” has the meaning ascribed to it in the first introductory paragraph of this Indenture.

“Company Order” and “Company Request” mean, respectively, a written order or request signed in the name of the Company by two Officers of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Consolidated” when used with respect to, any of the terms defined herein refers to such terms as reflected in a consolidation of the accounts of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total amount of assets (less depreciation and valuation reserves and other reserves and items deductible from the gross book value of specific asset accounts under generally accepted accounting principles) which under generally accepted accounting principles would be included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, after deducting therefrom (i) all current liabilities (excluding any amounts that constitute Funded Debt by reason of being extendible or renewable), and (ii) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized Debt discount and expense and other like intangibles, all as computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and as shown in the latest quarterly consolidated balance sheet of the Company contained in the Company’s then most recent annual report to stockholders or quarterly report filed with the SEC, as the case may be.

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

“Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice 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 global form, the Person specified pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof as the initial Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include that successor.

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

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depositary 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.

“Exempted Debt” means the sum of the following items outstanding as of the date Exempted Debt is being determined: (i) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries secured by a Mortgage and not permitted to exist pursuant to Section 3.7(a), and (ii) Attributable Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of all Sale and Leaseback Transactions not permitted pursuant to Section 3.8(a).

“Funded Debt” of any Person means Indebtedness, whether incurred, assumed or guaranteed, maturing by its terms more than one year from the date of creation thereof or that is extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor in such manner that it may become payable more than one year from the date of creation thereof; provided, however, that Funded Debt shall not include (i) obligations created pursuant to leases, (ii) any Indebtedness or portion thereof maturing by its terms within one year from the time of any computation of the amount of outstanding Funded Debt unless such Indebtedness shall be extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor in such manner that it may become payable more than one year from such time, or (iii) any Indebtedness for the payment or redemption of which money in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust either at or before the maturity date thereof.

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

“Global Securities” of any series means a Security of that series that is issued in global form in the name of the Depositary with respect thereto or its nominee.

“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which obligations or guarantee the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged.

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

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, (i) the principal of and any premium and interest on (a) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (b) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable; (ii) all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (iii) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in (i) through (iii) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by such Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit); (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured; and (vii) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clauses (i) through (vi) above.

“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of any particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.1.

“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, shall have the meaning assigned to that term in the Security as contemplated by Section 2.1.

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

“Non-U.S. Person” means a person who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.

“Obligations” means any principal, premium, if any, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, charges, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any indebtedness.

“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, or Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Officers of the Person, at least one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer.

“Operating Assets” means all merchandise inventories, furniture and equipment (including all transportation and warehousing equipment and store racks and showcases but excluding office equipment and data processing equipment) owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Operating Property” means all real property and improvements thereon owned by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary constituting, without limitation, any store, warehouse, service center or distribution center wherever located, provided that such term shall not include any store, warehouse, service center or distribution center that the Board of Directors declares by resolution not to be of material importance to the business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries. Operating Property is treated as having been “acquired” on the day the Operating Property is placed in operation by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary after the later of (a) its acquisition from a third party, including an Unrestricted Subsidiary, (b) completion of its original construction or (c) completion of its substantial reconstruction, renovation, remodeling, expansion or improvement (whether or not constituting an Operating Property prior to such reconstruction, renovation, remodeling, expansion or improvement).

“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 any Subsidiary of the Company.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable on a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

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

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

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

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

“Restricted Subsidiary” of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person which at the time of determination is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the second introductory paragraph of this Indenture.

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

“Securities Register” means the register of Securities, maintained by the Registrar, pursuant to Section 2.5.

“Security Custodian” means, with respect to Securities of a series issued in global form, the Trustee for Securities of that series, as custodian with respect to the Securities of that series, or any successor entity thereto.

“Senior Funded Debt” means all Funded Debt of the Company or any other Person, except Subordinated Funded Debt.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such indebtedness as of the date of this Indenture, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.

“Subordinated Funded Debt” means any unsecured Indebtedness of the Company that is expressly made subordinate and junior in rank and right of payment to the Securities of any Series and such other Indebtedness of the Company as may be specified or characterized in the instruments evidencing the Subordinated Funded Debt or the indenture or other similar instrument under which it is issued (which indenture or other instrument shall be binding on all holders of such Subordinated Funded Debt) (the Securities and any other Indebtedness of the Company to which the Subordinated Funded Debt is subordinate and junior being hereinafter in this paragraph called “Superior Debt”), by provisions not substantially more favorable to the holders of the Subordinated Funded Debt than the following:

(1) in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in connection therewith, relative to the Company or to its creditors, as such, or to its property, and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, then the holders of Superior Debt shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all Principal and interest on all Superior Debt before the holders of the Subordinated Funded Debt are entitled to receive any payment on account of Principal or interest upon the Subordinated Funded Debt, and to that end (but subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred by the provisions of the Subordinated Funded Debt upon the Superior Debt and the holders thereof with respect to the Subordinated Funded Debt and the holders thereof by a lawful plan or reorganization under applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law) the holders of Superior Debt shall be entitled to receive for application in payment thereof any payment or distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash or property or securities, which may be payable or deliverable in any such proceedings in respect of the Subordinated Funded Debt, except securities which are subordinate and junior in right of payment to the same extent as the Subordinated Funded Debt to the payment of all Superior Debt (and any securities issued in exchange therefor) then outstanding;

(2) in the event that any Subordinated Funded Debt is declared due and payable before its expressed maturity because of the occurrence of an event of default with respect to such Subordinated Funded Debt (under circumstances when the provisions of the foregoing clause (i) shall not be applicable), the holders of the Superior Debt outstanding at the time such Subordinated Funded Debt became so due and payable because of such occurrence of such an event of default shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all Principal and interest on all Superior Debt before the holders of such Subordinated Funded Debt are entitled to receive any payments on account of the Principal or interest upon such Subordinated Funded Debt except payments at the expressed maturity of such Subordinated Funded Debt, current interest payments as provided in such Subordinated Funded Debt, payments pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund (or analogous provision) in respect of such Subordinated Funded Debt, and payments for the purpose of curing any such event of default;

(3) in the event that (x) there shall have occurred a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Superior Debt, or (y) there, shall have occurred any other event of default with respect to any Superior Debt permitting the holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof and if written notice thereof shall have been given to the Company by a holder or holders of such Superior Debt or their representative or representatives or trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any such Superior Debt may have been issued, or (z) the payment hereinafter referred to would itself constitute an event of default with respect to any Superior Debt, then, in any such case, unless or until such event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no payment shall be made by the Company on account of Principal of, interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to, any Subordinated Funded Debt (whether pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise) or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of any Subordinated Funded Debt; and

(4) no holder of Superior Debt or trustee for such holder shall be prejudiced in his or her right to enforce subordination of the Subordinated Funded Debt by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company;

provided, however, that the Subordinated Funded Debt may provide that the foregoing provisions are solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of Superior Debt on the one hand, and the holders of the Subordinated Funded Debt on the other hand, and that nothing therein shall impair, as between the Company and the holders of the Subordinated Funded Debt, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the holders thereof the Principal thereof and interest thereon in accordance with its terms, nor shall anything therein prevent the holders of the Subordinated Funded Debt from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law or thereunder upon default thereunder, subject to the rights under clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above of holders of Superior Debt to receive cash, property or securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the holders of the Subordinated Funded Debt; and provided, further, that the Subordinated Funded Debt may provide that, insofar as a trustee or paying agent for such Subordinated Funded Debt is concerned, the foregoing provisions shall not prevent the application by such trustee or paying agent of any moneys deposited with such trustee or paying agent for the purpose of the payment of or on account of the principal and interest on such Subordinated Funded Debt if such trustee or paying agent did not have knowledge at the time of such application that such payment was prohibited by the foregoing provisions.

“Subsidiary” with respect to any Person, means:

	(1)		any corporation of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person; or

	(2)		any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person.

“TIA” or “Trust Indenture Act,” except as otherwise provided in Section 9.3, means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa 77bbbb), as in effect on the date hereof.

“Trust Officer” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Trustee” means the Person named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” means 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 means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” of any Person means:

	(1)		any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be or continue to be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors of the Company in the manner provided below; and

	(2)		any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary all of the outstanding Funded Debt and capital stock of which, other than directors’ qualifying shares, is owned by the Company and its other Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries.

Section 1.2. Other Definitions.

			Defined in
Term			Section
“Agent Members”			2.16
“Corporate Trust Office”			3.3
“Covenant Defeasance”			8.3
“Defaulted Interest”			2.12
“Event of Default”			6.1
“Exchange Rate”			2.18
“Legal Defeasance”			8.2
“Legal Holiday”			11.8
“Mortgage”			3.7
“Paying Agent”			2.5
“protected purchaser”			2.9
“Registrar”			2.5
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction”			3.8
“Special Interest Payment Date”			2.12(a)
“Special Record Date”			2.12(a)
“substantial improvement”			3.7
“Surviving Entity”			4.1

Section 1.3. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

“indenture security holder” means a Holder of a Security.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

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

“obligor” on any series of Securities means the Company and any other obligor on such series of Securities.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined in the TIA by reference to another statute or defined by SEC rules promulgated under the TIA have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

Section 1.4. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) “including” means including without limitation;

(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(6) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the Company dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and

(7) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

ARTICLE II

The Securities

Section 2.1. Form, Dating and Terms.

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. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company or in a Company Order, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

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

(2) if there is to be a limit, the limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that 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 2.8, 2.9, 2.13, 2.16, 5.7 or 9.5 and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 2.4 or 2.16, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however, that unless otherwise provided in the terms of the series, the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may be increased before or after the issuance of any Securities of the series by a Board Resolution (or action pursuant to a Board Resolution) to such effect;

(3) whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form, as Global Securities or otherwise, and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.16, and the initial Depositary and Security Custodian, if any, for any Global Security or Securities of such series;

(4) the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary Global Security on any Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 2.12;

(5) the date or dates on which the principal of and premium (if any) on the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

(6) the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date for the interest payable on any Securities on any Interest Payment Date, or if other than provided herein, the Person to whom any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;

(7) the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;

(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option, and the manner in which the Company must exercise any such option, if different from those set forth herein;

(9) [Reserved]

(10) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay 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 (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid in whole or in part pursuant to such obligation;

(11) if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denomination in which any Securities of that series shall be issuable;

(12) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) or the form, including equity securities, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants or any other securities or property of the Company, or any other Person, in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;

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

(14) if the amount of payments of principal of, premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any commodities, currencies or indices, values, rates or prices or any other index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(15) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;

(16) any additional means of satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and any additional conditions or limitations to discharge with respect to Securities of the series pursuant to Article VIII or any modifications of or deletions from such conditions or limitations;

(17) any deletions or modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 6.1 or covenants of the Company set forth in Article III pertaining to the Securities of the series;

(18) any restrictions or other provisions with respect to the transfer or exchange of Securities of the series, which may amend, supplement, modify or supersede those contained in this Article II;

(19) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, other debt securities (including Securities), warrants, other equity securities or any other securities or property of the Company, or any other Person, at the option of the Company or the Holder or upon the occurrence of any condition or event, the terms and conditions for such conversion or exchange;

(20) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 8.2 or Section 8.3 or both such Sections, and, if such Securities may be defeased, in whole or in part, pursuant to either or both such Sections, any provisions to permit a pledge of obligations other than Government Securities (or the establishment of other arrangements) to satisfy the requirements of Section 8.4(1) for defeasance of such Securities and, if other than by a Board Resolution of the Company, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced; and

(21) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 2.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate or Company Order referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

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

Section 2.2. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.1. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 thereof.

Section 2.3. Forms Generally. The Securities of each series shall be in fully registered form and in substantially such form or forms (including temporary or permanent global form) established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, securities exchange rule, the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other similar governing documents, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). A copy of the Board Resolution establishing the form or forms of Securities of any series shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate or Company Order contemplated by Section 2.4 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

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

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

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

	U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
	Trustee

	By:
		Authorized Signatory”

Section 2.4. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. Two Officers of the Company shall sign the Securities on behalf of the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

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

A Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee, which signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security has been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company delivers such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 2.11, together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 11.5 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities for original issue upon a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by Company Order. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated, the name or names of the initial Holder or Holders and any other terms of the Securities of such series not otherwise determined. If provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize (1) authentication and delivery of Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, with certain terms (including, without limitation, the Maturity dates or dates, original issue date or dates and interest rate or rates) that differ from Security to Security and (2) may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.

If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 2.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive (in addition to the Company Order referred to above and the other documents required by Section 11.4), and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate of the Company setting forth the Board Resolution and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant thereto, as contemplated by the last paragraph of Section 2.1; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:

(i) the form of such Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(iii) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other similar laws in effect from time to time affecting the rights of creditors generally, and the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and

(iv) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with.

If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each such Security, but such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the issuance of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture would affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such 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.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

Section 2.5. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency for each series of Securities where Securities of such series may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities of such series may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Company shall cause each of the Registrar and the Paying Agent to maintain an office or agency in the United States of America. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “Securities Register”). The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.7. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for the Securities.

Section 2.6. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date on which any amount or Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of any Security is due and payable, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient in immediately available funds to pay such amount or Additional Amounts, if any, when due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of the applicable Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of such amount and Additional Amounts, if any, on the applicable Securities and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section 2.6, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.

Section 2.7. Holder Lists. 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. If the Trustee is not the Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, or to the extent otherwise required under the TIA, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date with respect to such series of Securities 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 such series.

Section 2.8. Transfer and Exchange. Except as set forth in Section 2.16 or as may be provided pursuant to Section 2.1, when Securities of any series are presented to the Registrar with the request to register the transfer of those Securities or to exchange those Securities for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same series of like tenor and of other authorized denominations, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its requirements and the requirements of this Indenture for those transactions are met; provided, however, that the Securities presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing, on which instruction the Registrar can conclusively rely.

To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute Securities and the Trustee shall authenticate such Securities at the Registrar’s written request and submission of the Securities (other than Global Securities). No service charge shall be made to a Holder 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 such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable on exchanges pursuant to Section 2.13, 5.7 or 9.5). The Trustee shall authenticate Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.4. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of (a) any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article V, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part or (b) any Security during the period beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of notice of any offer to repurchase Securities of the series required pursuant to the terms thereof or of redemption of Securities of a series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the date of mailing.

Section 2.9. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Wrongfully Taken Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security with respect to such series if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) satisfies the Company or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Company or Trustee prior to the Security being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. Such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, and, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and, upon a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for any such mutilated Security or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security, a new Security of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security of such series, pay such Security.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 2.9, 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) in connection therewith.

Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or wrongfully taken Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 2.9 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 wrongfully taken Securities.

Section 2.10. Outstanding Securities. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those paid pursuant to Section 2.9 and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding. A Security ceases to be outstanding in the event the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company holds the Security, provided, however, that (i) for purposes of determining which are outstanding for consent or voting purposes hereunder, the provisions of Section 11.6 shall apply and (ii) in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making a determination whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes or have consented to or voted in favor of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, amendment or modification hereunder, or relying upon any such quorum, consent or vote, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be held by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall not be considered outstanding.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.9, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a Redemption Date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all amounts and Additional Amounts, if any, payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

Section 2.11. 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 and no one else shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and dispose of such Securities in accordance with its internal policies (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act), and certification of their cancellation shall be delivered to the Company promptly upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Request. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for any reason other than in connection with a transfer or exchange.

Section 2.12. Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of such series which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.8.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, any interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of such series which is payable, but is not paid when the same becomes due and payable and such nonpayment continues for a period of 30 days shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the regular record date, and such defaulted interest and (to the extent lawful) interest on such defaulted interest at the rate provided for in the Securities therefor (such defaulted interest and interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or (b) below:

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date (as defined below) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date (not less than 30 days after such notice) of the proposed payment (the “Special Interest Payment Date”), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which date shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the Special Interest Payment Date and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date, and in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor to be given in the manner provided for in Section 11.2, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date and Special Interest Payment Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid on the Special Interest Payment Date to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

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

(c) The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Defaulted Interest, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of Defaulted Interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of the Defaulted Interest.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of, transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest and Additional Amounts, if any, each as accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

Section 2.13. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities of any series are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities of such series. 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 shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.

Section 2.14. Persons Deemed Owners. The Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of that Security for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, that Security and for all other purposes. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 2.15. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 2.16. Global Securities; Book-Entry Provisions. If Securities of a series are issuable in global form as a Global Security, as contemplated by Section 2.1, then, notwithstanding clause (11) of Section 2.1 and the provisions of Section 2.2, any such Global Security shall represent those of the outstanding Securities of that series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities of that series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities of that series represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, transfers or redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of outstanding Securities of that series represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee (i) in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified in that Security or in a Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.4 or (ii) otherwise in accordance with written instructions or such other written form of instructions as is customary for the Depositary for that Security, from that Depositary or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in that Global Security. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4 and, if applicable, Section 2.13, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon written instructions given by the Person or Persons specified in that Security or in the applicable Company Order. With respect to the Securities of any series that are represented by a Global Security, the Company authorizes the execution and delivery by the Depositary appointed with respect to that Global Security. Any Global Security may be deposited with the Depositary or its nominee, or may remain in the custody of the Trustee or the Security Custodian therefor pursuant to a FAST Balance Certificate Agreement or similar agreement between the Trustee and the Depositary. If a Company Order has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 11.5 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee or the Security Custodian as its custodian, or under that Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee or the Security Custodian and any agent of the Company, the Trustee or the Security Custodian as the absolute owner of that Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the registered holder of a Global Security of any series may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action that a Holder of Securities of that series is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities of that series and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or the Security Custodian or any agent of the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Custodian from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or shall impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a beneficial owner of any Security.

Notwithstanding Section 2.8, and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1, transfers of a Global Security shall be limited to transfers of that Global Security in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in a Global Security may be transferred in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary. Securities of any series shall be transferred to all beneficial owners of a Global Security of that series in exchange for their beneficial interests in that Global Security if, and only if, either (1) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Security or the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered in order to act as depositary, and, in either case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, (2) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of definitive Securities or (3) a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Securities.

In connection with any transfer of a portion of the beneficial interests in a Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.16, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee on receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Securities shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Securities of the same series of like tenor and amount.

In connection with the transfer of all the beneficial interests in a Global Security of any series to beneficial owners pursuant to this Section 2.16, the Global Security 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 the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series of authorized denominations.

Neither the Company, nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, Securities by the Depositary, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of the Depositary relating to those Securities, or for any other actions taken or not taken by the Depositary. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any delay by the related Global Security Holder or the Depositary in identifying the beneficial owners, and each such Person may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in conclusively relying on, instructions from that Global Security Holder or the Depositary for all purposes (including with respect to the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the Securities to be issued).

The provisions of the last sentence of the third paragraph of Section 2.4 shall apply to any Global Security if that Global Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 11.5 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the cancellation or reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of the third paragraph of Section 2.4.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 2.3 and 2.12, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to Securities of any series, payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Global Security shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

Section 2.17. CUSIP Numbers, Etc. The Company in issuing the Securities of any series may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities of such series or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities of such series, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN and Common Code numbers.

Section 2.18. Original Issue Discount and Foreign-Currency Denominated Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of outstanding Securities have concurred in any direction, amendment, supplement, waiver or consent, unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security of such series shall be the principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of that determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2, and (b) the principal amount of a Security of such series denominated in a foreign currency shall be the Dollar equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for that currency, as that rate is certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Exchange Rate”) on the date of original issuance of that Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the Exchange Rate on the date of original issuance of that Security, of the amount determined as provided in (a) above), of that Security.

ARTICLE III

Covenants

Section 3.1. Payment of Securities. The Company shall promptly pay no later than 10:00 a.m. New York City time the principal of, premium, if any, on, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture immediately available funds sufficient to pay all principal, premium and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, then due and the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America from principal or interest payments hereunder.

Section 3.2. Reports. So long as the Securities of any series are outstanding, the Company shall:

(1) furnish to the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same 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 from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company files with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that any such information, document or report filed with the SEC pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (or EDGAR) system or any successor thereto shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no responsibility whatsoever to determine whether such filing has occurred; and

(2) comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a).

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

Section 3.3. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the United States of America an office or agency for any series of Securities where such Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where, if applicable, the Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The designated corporate trust office of the Trustee at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 11.2 hereof, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated corporate trust office of any successor Trustee, or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company (the “Corporate Trust Office”) shall be such office or agency of the Company, unless the Company shall designate and maintain some other office or agency for one or more of such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any change in the location of any such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the 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.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the United States of America for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

Section 3.4. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article IV, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence. This Section 3.4 shall not prohibit or restrict the Company from converting into a different form of legal entity.

Section 3.5. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

Section 3.6. Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges in excess of $250,000 levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income, profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies in excess of $250,000 which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

Section 3.7. Limitation on Liens. (a) The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or other encumbrance (such mortgages, security interests, pledges, liens and other encumbrances being hereinafter called a “Mortgage” or “Mortgages”) upon any Operating Property or Operating Asset of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, whether such Operating Property or Operating Asset is now owned or hereafter acquired, without in any such case effectively providing concurrently with the issuance, assumption or guarantee of any such Indebtedness that the Securities (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other Indebtedness ranking equally with such Securities other than Securities not having the benefit of this provision) shall be secured equally and ratably with such Indebtedness; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not prevent, restrict or apply to:

(a) (A) the giving, simultaneous with or within 180 days after the later of (1) the acquisition or completion of construction or completion of substantial reconstruction, renovation, remodeling, expansion or improvement (each a “substantial improvement”) of such property, or (2) the placing in operation of such property after the acquisition or completion of any such construction or substantial improvement, of any purchase money Mortgage on such property (including security for inventory financing in the ordinary course of business and vendors’ rights under purchase contracts under an agreement whereby title is retained for the purpose of securing the purchase price thereof) whether occurring prior to or after the date of this Indenture, or (B) the acquiring hereafter of property not theretofore owned by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary subject to any then existing Mortgage securing Indebtedness (whether or not assumed), including, in each case, Indebtedness incurred for reimbursement of funds previously expended for any such purpose; provided, however, that, in each case, (y) such Mortgage is limited to any or all of (1) such acquired or constructed property or substantial improvement (including accretions thereto), (2) the real property on which any construction or substantial improvement occurs or (3) with respect to distribution centers, any equipment used directly in the operation of, or the business conducted on, the real property on which any construction or substantial improvement occurs, and (z) the total amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Mortgage, together with all other Indebtedness to Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary secured by Mortgages on such Mortgaged property, shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the total cost of such Mortgaged property, including any such construction or substantial improvement, to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or (B) the fair market value thereof immediately following the acquisition, construction or substantial improvement thereof by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(b) the giving by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of a Mortgage on real property or, with respect to distribution centers, on equipment used directly in the operation of, or the business conducted on, such real property which is the sole security for Indebtedness (1) incurred within three years after the latest of (A) the date of issuance of the first Series of Securities hereunder, (B) the date of acquisition of such real property or (C) the date of completion of construction or substantial improvement made thereon, (2) incurred for the purpose of reimbursing itself for the cost of acquisition and/or cost of improvement of such real property and equipment, (3) the amount of which does not exceed the lesser of the aggregate cost of such real property, improvements and equipment or the fair market value thereof, and (4) the holder of which shall be entitled to enforce payment of such Indebtedness solely by resorting to the security therefor, without any liability on the part of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for any deficiency;

(c) Any Mortgage (1) existing on the date of this Indenture, (2) on the assets of a Restricted Subsidiary existing on the date it became a Subsidiary or (3) on the assets of a Subsidiary that is newly designated as a Restricted Subsidiary, if such Mortgage would have been permitted under this Section 3.7(a) if such Mortgage was created while such Subsidiary was a Restricted Subsidiary;

(d) Any Mortgage given in favor of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(e) Any Mortgage given as security for the Indebtedness issued hereunder; or

(f) Any Mortgage incurred in connection with any refinancing, extension, renewal or replacement of Indebtedness secured by a Mortgage permitted under clauses (i) to (v) above; provided, that the principal amount of the extended, renewed, refinanced or replaced Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness so refinanced, extended, renewed or replaced, plus transaction costs and fees, and that such Mortgage applies only to the same property or assets subject to the prior permitted Mortgage (and, in the case of real property improvements).

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 3.7, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may, in addition to Mortgages permitted by subsection (a) of this Section 3.7, create or assume and renew, extend or replace Mortgages which would otherwise be subject to such subsection (a), provided that at the time of such creation, assumption, renewal, extension or replacement, and after giving effect thereto, Exempted Debt does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Section 3.8. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.

(a) Without equally and ratably securing the Securities (together with, if the Company so determines, any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the Securities), the Company will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Operating Property or Operating Asset now owned or hereafter acquired that has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person with the intention of taking back a lease of such property (a “Sale and Leaseback Transaction”) unless the terms of such sale or transfer have been determined by the Board of Directors to be fair and arms’ length and (i) within 180 days after the receipt of the proceeds of such sale or transfer, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary applies an amount equal to the greater of the net proceeds of such sale or transfer or the fair value of such Operating Property or Operating Asset at the time of such sale or transfer to the prepayment or retirement (other than any mandatory prepayment or retirement) of Senior Funded Debt of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, or (ii) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled, at the effective date of such sale or transfer, to incur Indebtedness secured by a Mortgage on such Operating Property or Operating Asset, in an amount at least equal to the Attributable Debt in respect thereof, without equally and ratably securing the Securities pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.7, above. The foregoing restriction shall not apply to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction for a term of not more than three years including renewals, (x) any Sale and Leaseback Transaction with respect to Operating Property and, with respect to distribution centers, equipment used directly in the operation of, or the business conducted on, such Operating Property) if a binding commitment is entered into with respect to said Sale and Leaseback Transaction within three years after the latest of (1) the date of issuance of the first Series of Securities hereunder or (2) the date when such Operating Property was acquired (as the term “acquired” is used in the definition of Operating Property), any Sale and Leaseback Transaction with respect to Operating Assets if a binding commitment with respect thereto is entered into within 180 days after the later of the date such property was acquired and, if applicable, the date such property was first placed in operation, or (z) any Sale and Leaseback Transaction between the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries provided that the lessor shall be the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 3.8, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may, in addition to Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by subsection (a) of this Section 3.8, enter into Sale and Leaseback Transactions without any obligation to retire any Senior Funded Debt of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that, at the time of entering into such Sale and Leaseback Transactions, and after giving effect thereto, Exempted Debt does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Section 3.9. Limitations Upon Permitting Restricted Subsidiaries to become Unrestricted Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries to become Restricted Subsidiaries.

(a) The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as or otherwise to become an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless immediately after such Restricted Subsidiary becomes an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Unrestricted Subsidiary will not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of any other Restricted Subsidiary or any Mortgage on property of any other Restricted Subsidiary.

(b) The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary that has previously been a Restricted Subsidiary to be designated as a Restricted Subsidiary unless such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall not, at any time after it ceased to be a Restricted Subsidiary, have participated in any Sale and Leaseback Transaction involving any Operating Property or Operating Asset owned by such Subsidiary, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than in a transaction permitted under Section 3.8 for such Subsidiary if it had been a Restricted Subsidiary at the time), unless the Operating Property or Operating Asset involved in such transaction shall no longer be leased by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or such Subsidiary or shall be owned by the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary;

(c) Promptly after the adoption of any Board Resolution designating a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, or the making of an election by duly authorized Officers of the Company to effect any such designation, a copy of such Board Resolution or a written statement as to such designation signed by such Officers shall be filed with the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate stating that the provisions of this Section 3.9 have been complied with in connection with such designation, and, in case of the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, setting forth the name of each other Subsidiary (if any) that has become an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a result of such designation.

Section 3.10. Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officers’ Certificate, one of the signatories of which shall be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as Officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default and whether or not the signers know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during such period. If they do, the certificate shall describe the Default or Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with TIA § 314(a)(4).

Section 3.11. Statement by Officers as to Default. So long as Securities of any series are outstanding, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within 5 Business Days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default with respect to that series an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

Section 3.12. Additional Amounts. If the Securities of a series expressly provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of that series Additional Amounts as expressly provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received from the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, that mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section 3.7 to the extent that, in that context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.7, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where that express mention is not made.

Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to Securities of any series, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least ten days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least ten days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether that payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then that Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on those payments to those Holders of Securities, and the Company will pay to that Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for and to hold them harmless against any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 3.7.

Section 3.13. Calculation of Original Issue Discount. If the Securities are issued with original issue discount, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE IV

Successors

Section 4.1. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets. The Company shall not consolidate or combine with or merge with or into or, directly or indirectly, sell, assign (excluding any assignment solely as collateral for security purposes under a credit facility but not any outright assignment upon the foreclosure of any such collateral), convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any Person or Persons in a single transaction or through a series of related transactions, unless:

(1) the Company shall be the successor or continuing Person or, if the Company is not the successor or continuing Person, the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Surviving Entity”) is a company organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that expressly assumes all of the Company’s obligations under the Securities and this Indenture pursuant to a supplement hereto executed and delivered to the Trustee;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

(3) the Company or the Surviving Entity shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the transaction or series of related transactions and any supplement hereto complies with the terms of this Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Surviving Entity, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

If any consolidation or merger or any sale, assignment, conveyance, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of its assets occurs in accordance with the terms hereof, the Surviving Entity 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 Surviving Entity had been named as the Company. The Company shall (except in the case of a lease) be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and any Securities issued hereunder, and may be liquidated and dissolved.

ARTICLE V

Redemption of Securities

Section 5.1. Applicability of Article. Redemption of Securities at the election of the Company or otherwise, as permitted or required by any provision of this Indenture, shall be made in accordance with such provision and (except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series) this Article V.

Section 5.2. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. In case of any redemption of any series of Securities at the election of the Company, the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 45 days prior to such Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities of such series to be redeemed pursuant to Section 5.3.

Section 5.3. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed. If fewer than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will, subject to applicable law, select Securities of any series for redemption as follows:

(1) if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed; or

(2) if the Securities are not listed on any national securities exchange, in accordance with the procedures of DTC.

Section 5.4. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 11.2 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, except that redemption notices may be given more than 60 days prior to a Redemption Date if such notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Notice of any redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. The Trustee shall give notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice at the Company’s expense and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the following items.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the redemption price and the amount of accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 5.6;

(3) if less than all outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification of the particular Securities (or portion thereof) to be redeemed, as well as the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be outstanding after such partial redemption;

(4) in case any Securities are is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Securities shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Securities, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;

(5) that on the Redemption Date the redemption price (and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 5.6) will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed, and, unless the Company defaults in making the redemption payment, that interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on Securities (or the portions thereof) called for redemption will cease to accrue on and after said date;

(6) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any;

(7) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(8) that Securities called for redemption (other than a Global Security) must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(9) the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code number, and may state that no representation is made as to the accuracy or correctness of the CUSIP, ISIN or Common Code number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities; and

(10) the section of this Indenture and the paragraph of the Securities pursuant to which the Securities are to be redeemed.

Any redemption and notice thereof pursuant to this Indenture may, in the Company’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions.

Section 5.5. Deposit of Redemption Price. Not later than 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.6) an amount of money sufficient to pay the redemption price of, and accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

Section 5.6. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, unless the notice of redemption is subject to one or more conditions precedent which have not been satisfied, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the redemption price therein specified (together with accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any) such Securities shall cease to bear interest and Additional Amounts, if any. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the redemption price, together with accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the Redemption Date (subject to the rights of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest and Additional Amounts, if any, due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Redemption Date).

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest and Additional Amounts, if any, from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Securities.

Section 5.7. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article V) shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.5 (with, if the Company or the Trustee so require, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder of such Security at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered, provided that each such new Security will be in a principal amount of $1,000 or integral multiple thereof. No Securities of $1,000 or less may be redeemed in part.

ARTICLE VI

Defaults and Remedies

Section 6.1. Events of Default. Unless either inapplicable to a particular series or specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or Company Order establishing such series of Securities or in the form of Security for such series, each of the following constitutes an “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series:

(1) the failure to pay any installment of interest or any Additional Amounts on any Security of that series when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

(2) the failure to pay the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series, when such principal becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

(3) a default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture applicable to the Securities of that series or in the Securities of that series which default continues for a period of 60 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities of that series (except in the case of a default with respect to Section 4.1, which will constitute an Event of Default with such notice requirement but without such passage of time requirement);

(4) the failure to pay at final maturity (giving effect to any applicable grace periods and any extensions thereof) the stated principal amount of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, or the acceleration of the final stated maturity of any such Indebtedness (which acceleration is not rescinded, annulled or otherwise cured within 30 days of receipt by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of notice of any such acceleration) if the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at final stated maturity or which has been accelerated (in each case with respect to which the 30-day period described above has elapsed), aggregates $25.0 million or more at any time;

(5) one or more judgments in an aggregate amount in excess of $25.0 million shall have been rendered against the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgments remain undischarged, unpaid or unstayed for a period of 30 days after such judgment or judgments become final and non-appealable;

(6) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company:

(i) commences a voluntary case under any Bankruptcy Law,

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

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

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

(v) admits in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due; or

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

(i) is for relief in an involuntary case against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

(ii) appoints a custodian or receiver of the Company or any Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of any of the foregoing;

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days;

(8) the Company fails to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any Security of that series; or

(9) any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of that series.

Section 6.2. Acceleration. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of such series, if any Event of Default with respect to any Securities of such series at the time outstanding (other than those of the type described in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.1) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, and at the written direction of the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities of such series shall, declare the principal of all the Securities of that series, together with all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and premium, if any, to be due and payable immediately by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee specifying the respective Event of Default and that such notice is a notice of acceleration, and the same shall become immediately due and payable.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, in the case of an Event of Default with respect to such series specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.1 hereof, all outstanding Securities of such series shall become due and payable immediately without further action or notice by the Trustee or the Holders. Holders may not enforce this Indenture or the Securities except as provided in this Indenture.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities of such series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding (by written notice to the Trustee) may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of that series, rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction;

(2) all existing Defaults and Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal of or interest on the Securities of that series that has become due solely by reason of such declaration of acceleration;

(3) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest (at the same rate specified in the Securities of such series) on overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and overdue payments of principal which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration has been paid;

(4) the Company has paid the Trustee its compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances; and

(5) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.1, the Trustee has received an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel that such Event of Default has been cured or waived.

Section 6.3. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on the Securities of such series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of such series or this Indenture with respect to such series.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

Section 6.4. Waiver of Past Defaults. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such series by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series, (a) waive, by their consent (including, without limitation consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such series), an existing Default or Event of Default, with respect to such series and its consequences or compliance with any provisions except (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on a Security of such series or (ii) a Default or Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.2 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected and (b) rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities of such series and its consequences if rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.

Section 6.5. Control by Majority. With respect to Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

Section 6.6. Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 6.7, a Holder of a Security of any series may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of such series unless:

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

(2) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series have requested in writing that the Trustee pursue the remedy;

(3) such Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense;

(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

Section 6.7. Rights of Holders to Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture (including, without limitation, Section 6.6), the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, when due on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.8. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.1 occurs and is continuing with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) with respect to such series and the amounts provided for in Section 7.7.

Section 6.9. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its Subsidiaries or its or their respective creditors or properties and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make 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, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee and its counsel for amounts due under this Indenture, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

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

THIRD: to the Company or to such other party as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by the Company, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.7 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in outstanding principal amount of the Securities of any series.

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; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security against loss, liability or expense satisfactory to the Trustee in its sole discretion.

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

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(2) 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 certificates, opinions or orders furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

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

(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.1;

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.5.

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.1.

(e) 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.

(f) 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 expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.1 and to the provisions of the TIA.

(i) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.

(j) 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 unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(k) In the absence of written investment direction form the Company, all cash received by the Trustee shall be placed in a non-interest bearing account and in no event shall Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon or for losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any such investment prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investments prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investment to provide timely written investment direction, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amount held hereunder in the abase of such written investment direction from the Company.

(l) In the event Trustee is also acting as Registrar, Paying Agent, or transfer agent hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee under this Indenture shall also be afforded to such Registrar, Paying Agent or transfer agent.

Section 7.2. Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.1:

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably 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 Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officers’ Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.

(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 the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

(f) The Trustee is not required to make any inquiry or investigation into facts or matters stated in any document but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit and, if the Trustee determines to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company personally or by agent, in which case the Company shall be responsible for the reasonable expenses of such investigation, or if paid by Trustee then the Trustee shall be reimbursed by the Company upon demand.

(g) The Trustee is not required to take notice and shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default hereunder with respect to any series of Securities, unless a Trust Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or has received notice in writing of such Default or Event of Default from the Company or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then outstanding and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture, and in the absence of any such notice, the Trustee may conclusively assume that no such Default or Event of Default exists.

(h) The Trustee is not required to give any bond or surety with respect to the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers under this Indenture.

(i) In the event the Trustee receives inconsistent or conflicting requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders of Securities, each representing less than the aggregate principal amount of Securities outstanding required to take any action thereunder, the Trustee, in its sole discretion may determine what action, if any, shall be taken.

(j) The Trustee’s immunities and protections from liability and its right to indemnification in connection with the performance of its duties under this Indenture shall extend to the Trustee’s officers, directors, agents, attorneys and employees and to the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder. Such immunities and protections and right to indemnification, together with the Trustee’s right to compensation, shall survive the Trustee’s resignation or removal, the discharge of this Indenture and final payments of the Securities.

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

(l) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company’s covenants herein.

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

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

(o) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

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 its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.4. Trustee’s Disclaimer. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee’s certificate of authentication.

Section 7.5. Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series occurs and is continuing and if a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of a Security of such series notice of the Default or Event of Default within the later of 30 days after obtaining such knowledge and 90 days after it occurs, unless the Default was already cured or waived. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any Security of any series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of such series.

Section 7.6. Reports by Trustee to Holders. Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture and for so long as the Securities of any series remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of Securities of such series a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports required by TIA § 313(c).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders of Securities of any series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Securities of such series are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee in writing whenever the Securities of any series become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

Section 7.7. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree 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 or made by it, including costs of collection, costs of preparing and reviewing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of mailing of notices to Holders, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee (and its agents, officers and employees) against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims, penalties, fines or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ and agents’ fees and expenses) (for purposes of this Section 7.7, “losses”) incurred by it in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.7) and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or otherwise), except to the extent such losses may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. The indemnification herein shall extend to settlements. 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. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel provided that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee in connection with such defense. The Company shall not be under any obligation to pay for any written settlement without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld. The Company need not reimburse any expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.7, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on particular Securities.

The Company’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section 7.7 shall survive the discharge of this Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and payment in full of the Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in clauses (6) or (7) of Section 6.1 with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 7.8. Replacement of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

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

(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

(3) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series and such Holders of such series do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

If a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of any series does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such series may petition, at the Company’s expense, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of such series.

If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of a series fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in TIA § 310(b), any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, each such successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee, to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, power and duties of the retiring Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7.

In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto in which each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall confer to each successor Trustee all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall confirm that all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee. Nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee. Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. On request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall transfer to such successor Trustee all property held by such retiring Trustee as Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Such retiring Trustees shall, however, have the right to deduct its unpaid fees and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

So long as no Event of Default, or no event which is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and except with respect to a Trustee appointed by the act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of then outstanding Securities of any series, if the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee (1) a Board Resolution appointing a successor Trustee, effective as of a date specified therein, and (2) an instrument of acceptance of such appointment, effective as of such date, by such successor Trustee, then the Trustee shall be deemed removed, the successor Trustee shall be deemed to have been appointed by the Company and such appointment shall be deemed to have been accepted as contemplated, all as of such date, and all other provisions of this Section 7.8 shall be applicable to such removal, appointment and acceptance except to the extent inconsistent with this subsection.

Section 7.9. Successor Trustee by Merger. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee. The predecessor Trustee shall have no liability for any action or inaction by any successor Trustee.

In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture.

Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA § 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA § 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA § 310(b)(1) are met.

Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. The Trustee shall comply with 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

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Section 8.1. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. Unless otherwise designated pursuant to Section 2.1(20), the Securities of any series shall be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 2.1 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Article VIII. The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Securities of any series so subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution of the Company or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for such Securities.

Section 8.2. Legal Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.2 with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its Obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities with respect to such series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) through (e) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities with respect to such series and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities with respect to such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Sections 8.4 and 8.5 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s Obligations with respect to such Securities under Article II and Sections 3.1 hereof, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith, (d) the optional redemption provisions, if any, with respect to such Securities, and (e) this Article VIII. If the Company exercises under Section 8.1 hereof the option applicable to this Section 8.2, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, payment of the Securities with respect to such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3 hereof.

Section 8.3. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3 with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall, with respect to such series of Securities, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be released from its obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 3.2 and 3.3, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders of such series (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. If the Company exercises under Section 8.1 hereof the option applicable to this Section 8.3, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clauses (4) (with respect to Sections 3.2 and 3.3), (6) and (7) of such Section 6.1.

Section 8.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof to the outstanding Securities of any series.

In order to exercise Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Securities of any series:

(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars, and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the written opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, and premium, if any, on the outstanding Securities of such series on the stated date for payment or on the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities of such series are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular Redemption Date;

(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that: (a) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or (b) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax law purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and shall be subject to federal income tax law in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that Holders of the outstanding Securities of such series shall not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax law purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and shall be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

(4) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and be continuing with respect to the Securities of such series on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit);

(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(6) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Securities of such series over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

Section 8.5. Deposited Cash and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all cash and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee), collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities of such series and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of Securities of such series of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such cash and securities need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities of such series.

Anything in this Article VIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any cash or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the certification delivered under clause (1) of Section 8.4 hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Section 8.6. Repayment to Company. Any cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on, any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request (unless an abandoned property law designates another Person) or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and such Holder shall thereafter, as an unsecured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such cash and securities, and all liability of the Company as Trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

Section 8.7. Reinstatement. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.5 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such cash and securities in accordance with Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.5 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, on, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on, any Security of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such series to receive such payment from the cash and securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE IX

Amendments

Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Holder:

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

(2) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(3) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1;

(4) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to Holders of Securities of any series in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s properties or assets, as applicable;

(5) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(6) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Securities of any series or that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any such Holder;

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

(8) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities (and, if any such Event of Default is applicable to less than all series of Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable);

(9) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture that is adversely affected in any material respect by such change in or elimination of such provision;

(10) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 8.1; provided, however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect;

(11) to secure the Securities of any series;

(12) to evidence and provide for the acceptance under this Indenture of a successor trustee; or

(13) to conform the text of this Indenture or any Securities to the description thereof in any prospectus or prospectus supplement of the Company with respect to the offer and sale of Securities of any series, to the extent that such provision is inconsistent with a provision of this Indenture or the Securities, as provided in an Officers’ Certificate.

After an amendment under this Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to mail to the Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders of each Security affected thereof, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment or supplemental indenture under this Section 9.1.

Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, except as provided below in this Section 9.2, the Company, and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture with the consent (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or a tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities) of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of each series affected by such amendment or supplement (acting as separate classes).

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a Board Resolution, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.5, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 9.6, join with the Company in the execution of such amendment or supplemental indenture.

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of one or more series or of all series affected by such waiver (acting as separate classes) may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series (including waivers obtained in connection with a purchase of, or a tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such series).

However, except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 2.1 with respect to the Securities of any series, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

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

(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the Securities;

(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest on any Security;

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

(5) make any Security payable in currency other than that stated in the Securities;

(6) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Securities (other than as permitted in clause (7) below);

(7) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security;

(8) impair the right of a Holder of Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Securities; or

(9) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

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

A consent to any amendment or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder of the Securities given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Securities will not be rendered invalid by such tender. After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall promptly mail to Holders of each Security affected thereby a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders of each Security affected thereby, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment, supplemental indenture or waiver under this Section 9.2.

Section 9.3. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as then in effect.

Section 9.4. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers. A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall be in writing and bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective with respect to a series of Securities, it shall bind every Holder of Securities of such series.

For purposes of this Indenture, the written consent of the Holder of a Global Security shall be deemed to include any consent delivered by an Agent Member by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other customary procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, DTC.

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. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving, making or taking of (i) any notice permit to Section 6.1(4) or otherwise of any Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 6.2, (iii) any request to institute proceedings pursuant to Section 6.6(2), or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 6.5, in each case with respect to such series. If a record date is so fixed, then notwithstanding the second 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 to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall become valid or effective more than 180 days after such record date.

Section 9.5. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

Section 9.6. Trustee To Sign Amendments. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall receive indemnity satisfactory to it and shall receive, and (subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.2) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that such amendment is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and that such amendment complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.3).

ARTICLE X

Satisfaction and Discharge

Section 10.1. Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Securities of any series issued hereunder (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities and as otherwise specified hereunder), when:

(1) either:

(a) all Securities of such series that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Securities that have been replaced or paid and Securities of such series for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all Securities of such series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest and Additional Amounts, if any, to the date of maturity or redemption;

(2) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such series has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;

(3) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it hereunder with respect to such series and pursuant to Section 7.7;

(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee hereunder to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such Securities at fixed maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be; and

(5) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which state that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series have been satisfied.

ARTICLE XI

Miscellaneous

Section 11.1. Trust Indenture Act Controls. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the provision required by the TIA shall control.

Section 11.2. Notices. Any notice or communication shall be in writing (including facsimile and electronic transmission in PDF format) and delivered in person, by telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to the Company:

Ross Stores, Inc.
5130 Hacienda Drive
Dublin, California 94568
Attn: Ken Jew
Fax No.: 925-965-4189
Email: ken.jew@ros.com

if to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association
Global Corporate Trust Services
One California Street, Suite 1000
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attn: Myrna Presto-Choroski
Fax No: (415) 677-3768

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

Any notice or communication mailed to a registered Holder shall be mailed to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed. The Registrar shall provide the Company with address information with respect to the Holders as promptly as practicable following the Company’s request therefor. Any notice or communication shall also be mailed to any Person described in TIA § 3.13(c), to the extent required by the TIA.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

Section 11.3. Communication by Holders with other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 11.4. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officers’ Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.5 hereof) 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 fully complied with and satisfied; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.5 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been fully complied with and satisfied.

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

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

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

Section 11.5. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (except for the Certificate specified in Section 3.5) shall include:

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

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

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

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

Section 11.6. When Securities Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of any series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

Section 11.7. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by, or a meeting of, Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

Section 11.8. Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions are authorized or required to be closed in New York, New York and Los Angeles, California. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

Section 11.9. GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

Section 11.10. No Recourse Against Others. No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner, stockholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the Company, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.

Section 11.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

Section 11.12. Multiple Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this 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 Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF 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 PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 11.13. 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 11.14. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary or any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 11.15. Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this 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 11.16. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 11.17. U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, 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.

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

ROSS STORES, INC., as Issuer


By:	/s/ Michael J. Hartshorn
	Name: Michael J. Hartshorn
	Title: Chief Financial Officer

Indenture

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
Trustee


By:	/s/ Andrew Fung
	Name: Andrew Fung
	Title: Vice President

Indenture

Exhibit 4.2

ROSS STORES, INC.
OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, Michael J. Hartshorn, Chief Financial Officer, and William Sheehan, Treasurer of Ross Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to resolutions (the “Resolutions”) of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on May 21, 2014 pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of the indenture, dated as of September 18, 2014 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), do hereby adopt the following resolutions:

RESOLVED, that there is hereby established a series of securities under the Indenture with the following terms:

(i) The securities are entitled 3.375% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Securities”).

(ii) The Securities are limited in aggregate principal amount to $250,000,000 (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities pursuant to Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.13 or 9.5 of the Indenture); provided the Company may, without the consent of holders of the Securities, issue additional debt securities having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Securities, which additional debt securities will constitute a single series of debt securities under the Indenture.

(iii) The principal amount of the Securities will mature on September 15, 2024, subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to acceleration.

(iv) The Securities will bear interest from September 18, 2014 at the rate of 3.375% per annum, or as may be adjusted pursuant to the terms hereof, payable on each March 15 and September 15, commencing March 15, 2015, to the holders of record of the on Securities the March 1 or September 1, as the case may be, preceding such March 15 or September 15. Interest on the Securities will be computed on the basis of a 360 day year of twelve 30-day months.

(v) The principal of and interest on the Securities will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose, pursuant to the Indenture, in the City of San Francisco, which shall be initially the corporate trust office of the Trustee; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, such payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the person entitled thereto as provided in the Indenture.

(vi) The Securities initially will be represented by securities registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company. Except as set forth in the Indenture or in the prospectus supplement dated September 15, 2014 relating to the public offering of the Securities, the Securities will not be issuable in certificated form.

(vii) The Securities will be redeemable prior to maturity as described in Section 2 of the form of the Securities attached hereto.

(viii) The Securities will be subject to repayment at the option of the holders as described in Section 3 of the form of the Securities attached hereto.

(ix) The Securities shall be issued in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(x) The Securities shall be defeasible pursuant to the Article VIII of the Indenture.

(xi) The Securities shall not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

FURTHER RESOLVED, the form of the Securities attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby approved.

All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given such terms in the Indenture.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures appear on next page]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto signed their names this 18^th day of September, 2014.

	By:	/s/ Michael J. Hartshorn
		Name: Michael J. Hartshorn
		Title: Chief Financial Officer


	By:	/s/ William Sheehan
		Name: William Sheehan
		Title: Treasurer

Officers’ Certificate Establishing Series

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (THE “DEPOSITORY”) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

REGISTERED

ROSS STORES, INC.

3.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2024

CUSIP NO. 778296AA1
ISIN NO. US778296AA10
No. R-1	US$250,000,000

ROSS STORES, INC., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS (US$250,000,000) on September 15, 2024, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest thereon semi-annually on each March 15 and September 15 (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing March 15, 2015 and at maturity on said principal sum, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Security, from the March 15 or September 15, as the case may be, next preceding the date of this Security to which interest has been paid, unless the date hereof is a date to which interest has been paid, in which case from the date of this Security, or unless no interest has been paid on this Security, in which case from September 18, 2014, until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly provided for. Payments of such principal and interest shall be made at the office or agency of the Company in San Francisco, California, which, subject to the right of the Company to vary or terminate the appointment of such agency, shall initially be at the principal office of U.S. Bank National Association, One California Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco, California 94111; provided, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Security register; provided, further that so long as CEDE & CO. or another nominee of the Depository is the registered owner of this Security payments of principal and interest will be made in immediately available funds through the Depository's Same-Day Funds Settlement System. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after March 1 or September 1, as the case may be, and before the following March 15 or September 15, this Security shall bear interest from such March 15 or September 15; provided, that if the Company shall default in the payment of interest due on such March 15 or September 15, then this Security shall bear interest from the next preceding March 15 or September 15, to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on this Security, from September 18, 2014. The interest payable on any March 15 or September 15 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 (each a “Record Date”), as the case may be, next preceding such March 15 or September 15, and the interest payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom the principal hereof shall be payable.

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Security shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

[Signatures appear on next page]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ROSS STORES, INC. has caused this instrument to be signed by facsimile by its duly authorized representative.

Dated: September 18, 2014

Attest:		ROSS STORES, INC.



By:		By:
	Name:		Name: Michael J. Hartshorn
	Title:		Title: Chief Financial Officer



By:		By:
	Name:		Name:
	Title:		Title:

3.375% Senior Notes Due 2024

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

	U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
	as Trustee



	By:
		Authorized Signatory

ROSS STORES, INC.

3.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2024

Section 1. General. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an indenture, dated as of September 18, 2014 (the “Indenture”), between Ross Stores, Inc. (the “Company”) and U.S. Bank, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the Securities of the series designated on the face hereof.

Section 2. Redemption; Sinking Fund. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) below, the Securities are not redeemable prior to maturity.

(b) The Securities are redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, in either case, prior to June 15, 2024 at the option of the Company at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

(i) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed on that redemption date; and

(ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Securities to be redeemed on that redemption date (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus 15 basis points,

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

The Securities are redeemable, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, in either case, on or after June 15, 2024 at the option of Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed on that redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Securities that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant Record Date according to this Security and the Indenture.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term (as measured from the date of redemption) of the Securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Securities.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations, or (iii) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Quotation Agent” means any Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the Company.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (i) each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (or their respective affiliates that are Primary Treasury Dealers (as defined below)) and their respective successors, (ii) a Primary Treasury Dealer selected by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and its successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (iii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.

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

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

Section 3. Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon Change of Control Triggering Event

(a) If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Securities as provided in Section 2 above, the Company will make an offer to each Holder of Securities to repurchase all or any part (in integral multiples of $1,000) of that Holder’s Securities at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities repurchased to the date of purchase.

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below), but after the public announcement of an impending Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase Securities on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice.

(c) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Securities as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 3, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3 by virtue of such conflict.

(d) On the Change of Control Triggering Event payment date, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Securities or portions of Securities (in integral multiples of $1,000) properly tendered pursuant to the aforementioned offer;

(ii) deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Securities or portions of Securities properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Securities properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities being purchased by the Company.

(e) The paying agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Securities properly tendered the purchase price for the Securities, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Security equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Securities surrendered; provided, that each new Security must be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 above that amount.

(f) The Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Securities upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Securities properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

(g) The following terms for purposes of this Section 3 shall have the respective meanings specified below:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Securities cease to be rated Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on any date during the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing 60 days prior to the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as either of the Rating Agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and those of its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries;

(2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Company’s Voting Stock, measured by voting power rather than number of shares;

(3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company or such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Voting Stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; or

(5) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution.

“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who (1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of the issuance of the Securities; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of Directors at the time of such nomination or election (either by a specific vote or by approval of our proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Securities or fails to make a rating of the Securities publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and its successors.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any person, capital stock of any class or kind the Holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

Section 4. Events of Default. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Section 5. Modifications and Waivers; Obligation of the Company Absolute. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Security at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

Section 6. Authorized Denominations. The Securities are issuable in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth and to the limitations described below, if applicable, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

Section 7. Registration of Transfer. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security register upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the City of San Francisco, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the securities registrar (which shall initially be the Trustee, U.S. Bank National Association, One California Street, Suite 1000, San Francisco, California 94111 (Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services) or at such other address as it may designate as its principal corporate trust office in the City of San Francisco), duly executed by the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

This Security is exchangeable only if (x) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for this Security or if at any time the Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (y) the Company in its sole discretion determines that this Security shall be exchangeable for certificated Securities in registered form or (z) an Event of Default, or an event which with the passage of time or the giving of notice would become an Event of Default, with respect to the Securities represented hereby has occurred and is continuing, provided that the definitive Securities so issued in exchange for this permanent Security shall be in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof and be of like aggregate principal amount and tenor as the portion of this permanent Security to be exchanged, and provided further that, unless the Company agrees otherwise, Securities of this series in certificated registered form will be issued in exchange for this permanent Security, or any portion hereof, only if such Securities in certificated registered form were requested by written notice to the Trustee or the Securities Registrar by or on behalf of a person who is beneficial owner of an interest hereof given through the Holder hereof. Except as provided above, owners of beneficial interests in this permanent Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Securities in certificated registered form and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Section 8. Owners. Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security is overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Section 9. No Recourse Against Certain Persons. No recourse for the payment of the principal or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or any Supplemental Indenture thereto or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation of either of them, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation of either of them, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule or law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

Section 10. Defeasance. The Indenture with respect to any series will be discharged and cancelled except for certain Sections thereof, subject to the terms of the Indenture, upon payment of all of the Securities of such series or upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee of cash or U.S. Government Obligations (or a combination thereof) sufficient for such payment in accordance with Article Ten of the Indenture.

Section 11. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. The Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Section 12. Defined Terms. All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM - as tenants in common
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -
(Minor)

Custodian
	(Cust)

Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
	(State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

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

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE


PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing ______ __________________________ attorney to transfer said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:

Signature:

NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER

Exhibit 5.1

DLA Piper LLP (US)
1251 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020

September 18, 2014

Ross Stores, Inc.
5130 Hacienda Drive
Dublin, California 94568

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-198738); 3.375% Senior Notes Due 2024

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Ross Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with (i) the issuance by the Company of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.375% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”) under an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as the date hereof, by and between the Company and US Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”); (ii) the Company’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-198738) (such automatic shelf registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein and the information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on September 15, 2014; (iii) a base prospectus, dated September 15, 2014, included in the Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective (the “Prospectus”) and a final prospectus supplement, dated September 15, 2014, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on September 17, 2014 (the “Prospectus Supplement”); and (iv) the Underwriting Agreement dated September 15, 2014 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and between the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriters”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

In connection with our representation of the Company, we are familiar with the proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the authorization and issuance of the Notes. In addition, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, instruments, corporate records, certificates of officers and representatives of the Company, and we have made such inquiries of such officers and representatives of the Company, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for our opinion. In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity and completeness of the originals of such latter documents. With your consent, we have relied upon the foregoing and upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Notes have been duly issued in accordance with the Indenture, duly authenticated by the Trustee and duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Indenture and as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, and assuming that (x) the Notes as executed and delivered do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and (y) the Notes as executed and delivered comply with all requirements and restrictions, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company or otherwise, the Notes will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

The opinion expressed above is limited by, subject to and based on the assumptions, limitation and qualifications set forth below:

(a) The validity and binding effect of the Notes may be limited or affected by bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether such validity and binding effect are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and may be limited by applicable laws or policies underlying such laws.

(b) The foregoing opinion is limited to the federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New York, the State of California and the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof and the facts as they currently exist. We render no opinion herein as to matters involving the laws of any other jurisdiction. In rendering this opinion, we assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should current laws, or interpretations thereof, be changed.

(c) To the extent that the obligations of the Company under the Indenture or the Notes may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion that the Trustee is duly organized, validity existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; that the Trustee is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by the Indenture; that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms; that the Trustee is in compliance, generally and with respect to acting as a trustee under the Indenture, with all applicable laws and regulations; and that the Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to execute and deliver and to perform its obligations under the Indenture.

In addition, we express no opinion with respect to (i) whether acceleration of the Notes may affect the collectability of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof that might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (ii) compliance with laws relating to permissible rates of interest, (iii) the creation, validity, perfection or priority of any security interest, mortgage, or lien, or (iv) any provision to the extent it requires any party to indemnify any other person against loss in obtaining the currency due following a court judgment in another currency.

We have not been requested to express and, with your consent, do not render any opinion as to the applicability to the obligations of the Company under the Indenture or the Notes of Sections 547 and 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or applicable state law relating to preferences and fraudulent transfers and obligations.

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 September 18, 2014 and to the reference to our firm contained in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement 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.

	Very truly yours,

	/s/DLA Piper LLP (US)

	DLA Piper LLP (US)

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:	Michael Hartshorn	Connie Wong
	Senior Vice President,	Director, Investor Relations
	Chief Financial Officer	(925) 965-4668
	(925) 965-4503	connie.wong@ros.com

ROSS STORES PRICES $250 MILLION NOTES OFFERING

Dublin, California, September 16, 2014 -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) today announced the pricing of the public offering of $250 million of senior notes due in 2024. The notes will be issued at a price of 99.329% of their principal amount and will bear interest at a rate of 3.375% per annum. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering primarily to fund the purchase of its New York Buying Office building, which is expected to close by the end of September 2014. Any remaining net proceeds from this offering will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include funding the Company’s share repurchase program, meeting its working capital requirements, and funding capital expenditures related to its continued store growth and store remodeling programs. This note offering is projected to settle on September 18, 2014, subject to customary closing conditions.

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers. This offering was made under an effective registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release is not an offer to sell nor is it an offer to buy any securities. Any offers to sell, or solicitations to buy, will be made solely by means of a prospectus and related prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the prospectus and prospectus supplement relating to the notes may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the Securities and Exchange Commission website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus and prospectus supplement may be obtained from any of the joint book-running managers by contacting Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, 222 Broadway, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10038, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone: 1-800-294-1322, email: dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 1525 West W.T. Harris Blvd., NC0675, Charlotte, North Carolina 28262, Attn: Capital Markets Client Support, toll-free: 1-800-326-5897, email: cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com; or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, telephone: (212) 834-4533.

ROSS STORES, INC.

5130 Hacienda Drive, Dublin, CA 94568

(925) 965-4400

Ross Stores, Inc. is an S&P 500, Fortune 500 and Nasdaq 100 (ROST) company headquartered in Dublin, California, with fiscal 2013 revenues of $10.2 billion. The Company operates Ross Dress for Less^® (“Ross”), the largest off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States with 1,194 locations in 33 states, the District of Columbia and Guam. Ross offers first-quality, in-season, name brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20% to 60% off department and specialty store regular prices. The Company also operates 144 dd’s DISCOUNTS^® in 13 states that feature a more moderately-priced assortment of first-quality, in-season, name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20% to 70% off moderate department and discount store regular prices. Additional information is available at www.rossstores.com.

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