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Form 8-K

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): May 27, 2009

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

DELAWARE

001-15749

31-1429215

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

17655 WATERVIEW PARKWAY

DALLAS, TEXAS 75252

(Address and Zip Code of Principal Executive Offices)

(972) 348-5100

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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

¨	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act

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

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

ITEM 1.01.

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Purchase Agreement

On May 27, 2009, Alliance Data Systems Corporation (the “Company”) entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) under which it agreed to sell $300 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.75% convertible senior notes due 2014 (the “Notes”) to certain initial purchasers named therein (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”). The Purchase Agreement also granted the Initial Purchasers the option to purchase up to an additional $45 million aggregate principal amount of Notes to cover over-allotments. The closing of the Notes occurred on June 2, 2009. The description of the Purchase Agreement herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such Purchase Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

Indenture

The Notes are governed by an indenture dated June 2, 2009 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Pursuant to the Indenture, interest on the Notes will accrue at a rate of 4.75% per annum on the principal amount from June 2, 2009, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2009. The Notes will mature on May 15, 2014 (the “Maturity Date”), subject to earlier conversion or repurchase. The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to the Maturity Date.

Conversion Rights

Holders may convert their Notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the Maturity Date of the Notes, in equal multiples of $1,000 principal amount, under the following circumstances:

•

during any fiscal quarter (and only during such fiscal quarter) after the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2009, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock for at least 20 trading days in the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter is equal to or more than 130% of the conversion price of the Notes on the last day of such preceding fiscal quarter;

•

during the five business-day period after any five consecutive trading-day period, or the measurement period, in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes for each day of that measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Company’s common stock and the conversion rate of the Notes on each such day; or

•

upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate transactions.

In addition, holders may convert their Notes at their option at any time beginning on January 13, 2014 and ending on the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, without regard to the foregoing circumstances.

The initial conversion rate for the Notes will be 21.0235 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $47.57 per share of the Company’s common stock (the “Initial Conversion Price”). Such conversion rate will be subject to adjustment in certain events, but will not be adjusted for accrued interest, including any additional interest.

Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination thereof at the Company’s election (the “Conversion Obligation”). If the Company satisfies its Conversion Obligation solely in cash or through payment and delivery, as the case may be, of a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, the amount of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, if any, due upon conversion will be based on a daily conversion value (as described in the Indenture) calculated on a proportionate basis for each trading day in the 40 trading-day cash settlement averaging period (as described in the Indenture).

Fundamental Change

Upon the occurrence of certain fundamental corporate changes, holders will have the option to require the Company to purchase the Notes or any portion of the principal amount thereof that is equal to $1,000, or an integral multiple of $1,000. In such event, the Company must pay 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be purchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, including any additional interest. Any Notes purchased by the Company pursuant to the provisions for fundamental change will be paid for in cash.

Events of Default

The Indenture includes customary events of default, including, among other things, payment default, covenant default, conversion default, certain defaults under other indebtedness of the Company or certain of its subsidiaries, the failure to timely satisfy judgments over a certain sum against the Company or certain of its subsidiaries, failure to provide certain notices required by the Indenture and bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting the Company or certain of its subsidiaries.

Ranking

The Notes will be equal in right of payment with the Company’s existing and future unsecured senior debt and senior in right of payment to the Company’s debt that is expressly subordinated to the Notes, if any. The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt that the Company or its subsidiaries may incur. The Notes will be structurally subordinated to all debt and other liabilities and commitments (including trade payables and guarantees of the Company’s debt) of the Company’s subsidiaries, including such subsidiaries’ guarantees of the Company’s indebtedness under the Company’s revolving credit facility, term loan facility and existing senior notes. The Notes will also be effectively junior to the Company’s secured debt, if any, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

No Registration Rights; Additional Interest

The Company will not file a shelf registration statement for the resale of the Notes or any common stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes. As a result, holders may only resell the Notes or common stock issued upon conversion of the Notes, if any, pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and other applicable securities laws.

If, at any time during the six-month period beginning on, and including, the date which is six months after the date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company fails to timely file any document or report that it is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as applicable (other than current reports on Form 8-K), or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by holders other than affiliates of the Company (as a result of restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities law or the terms of the Indenture or the Notes), the Company will pay additional interest on the Notes. Additional interest will accrue on the Notes at the rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Notes outstanding for each day during such period for which such failure to file continues; provided that the Company will have 14 days, in the aggregate, to cure any such late filings before any additional interest shall accrue. If, and for so long as, the restrictive legend on the Notes has not been removed or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by holders other than affiliates of the Company as of the 365th day after the last date of original issuance of the Notes, then the Company will pay additional interest on the Notes at an annual rate equal to 0.50% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. Additional interest will be payable in arrears on each interest payment date following accrual in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes.

The description of the Indenture herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such Indenture, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

Convertible Note Hedges; Warrants; Prepaid Forwards

Concurrently with the pricing of the Notes, on May 27, 2009 the Company entered into convertible note hedge transactions with respect to its common stock (the “Convertible Note Hedges”) with the following affiliates of three of the Initial Purchasers: J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch; Bank of America, N.A.; and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC (collectively, the “Hedge Counterparties”). The Convertible Note Hedges cover, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, approximately 6.3 million shares of the Company’s common stock at an initial strike price equal to the Initial Conversion Price.

Separately and concurrently with the pricing of the Notes, on May 27, 2009, the Company entered into warrant transactions (the “Warrants”) whereby it sold to the Hedge Counterparties warrants to acquire, subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments, up to approximately 6.3 million shares of its common stock at an initial strike price of approximately $70.54.

The Convertible Note Hedges and Warrants are separate transactions (in each case entered into by the Company with the Hedge Counterparties), are not part of the terms of the Notes and thus will not affect the holders’ rights under the Notes. The Convertible Note Hedges are expected to reduce the potential dilution with respect to the Company’s common stock upon conversion of the Notes in the event that the market value per share of the Company’s common stock, as measured under the Convertible Note Hedges, at the time of conversion is greater than the strike price of the Convertible Note Hedges, which corresponds to the Initial Conversion Price of the Notes and is similarly subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments. If, however, the volume-weighted price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds the strike price of the Warrants when they expire, there would be additional dilution from the issuance of common stock pursuant to the Warrants.

Concurrently with the pricing of the Notes, on May 27, 2009 the Company entered into prepaid forward transactions (the “Prepaid Forwards”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as agent for Merrill Lynch International, and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC, (collectively, the “Forward Counterparties”). Under the prepaid forward transactions, we purchased approximately 1.9 million shares of our common stock with proceeds from the offering. The shares are to be delivered over a settlement period in late 2014. Each of the Prepaid Forwards is subject to early settlement, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the final settlement date at the option of the applicable Forward Counterparty, as well as early settlement or settlement with alternative consideration in the event of certain corporate transactions. In the event the Company pays any cash dividends on its common stock, the Forward Counterparties will pay an equivalent amount to the Company. The shares to be purchased under the Prepaid Forwards will be treated as retired as of the effective date of the applicable Prepaid Forward, but will remain outstanding for corporate law purposes, including for purposes of any future stockholders votes.

The Forward Counterparties have advised the Company that in connection with entering into the Prepaid Forwards, they or their respective affiliates expect to enter into derivative transactions relating to the Company’s common stock with purchasers of the Notes who are hedging their exposure to the Notes, and that they or their respective affiliates expect to purchase in secondary market transactions or otherwise acquire shares of the Company’s common stock prior to or at the time of settlement of their respective Prepaid Forwards. These activities could have the effect of increasing, or preventing a decline in, the trading price of the Company’s common stock, concurrently with or following the pricing of the Notes and during the term of the Prepaid Forwards, including the settlement period related to such transactions.

The description of the Convertible Note Hedges, Warrants, and Prepaid Forwards herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreements, forms of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.

Use of Proceeds

After deducting the discount to the Initial Purchasers and the estimated offering expenses, the net proceeds to the Company from the offering of Notes are estimated to be approximately $290 million. The Company expects to use the net proceeds of the offering of Notes to: (i) repurchase approximately $74.9 million worth of shares of Alliance Data common stock through the Prepaid Forwards; (ii) pay approximately $44.1 million for the cost of the Convertible Note Hedges, taking into account the proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Warrants; and (iii) for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of outstanding indebtedness under the Company’s revolving credit facility.

Several of the Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates have engaged in transactions with and performed various financial advisory, investment banking and commercial banking services for the Company in the past, for which they have received compensation, are currently doing so and may do so from time to time in the future. In addition, the Company has provided transaction processing and other services to several Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates in the past, for which the Company has received compensation, is currently doing so and may do so from time to time in the future. In addition, affiliates of several Initial Purchasers are lenders under the Company’s revolving credit facility, conduit and term loan credit facility and holders of the Company’s existing notes. Affiliates of BMO Capital Markets Corp. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. are co-lead arrangers, an affiliate of BMO Capital Markets Corp. is the sole book runner, an affiliate of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. is the syndication agent and affiliates of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc. are co-documentation agents under the Company’s revolving credit facility, which facility the Company may pay down with a portion of the net proceeds of the offering of the Notes. Affiliates of BMO Capital Markets Corp. and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. are co-lead arrangers and co-book runners, an affiliate of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. is the syndication agent, and affiliates of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc. are co-documentation agents under the Company’s term loan credit facility. Additionally, affiliates of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. are counterparties under the Company’s existing convertible note hedges and existing warrants and engage in hedging transactions from time to time in the Company’s stock in connection with those instruments.

The Notes, any shares of the Company’s common stock issuable in certain circumstances upon conversion of the Notes, the Warrants and the underlying shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The Company offered and sold the Notes and Warrants to the Initial Purchasers and Hedge Counterparties, respectively, in reliance on the exemption from registration requirements provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. The Company relied on this exemption from registration requirements in part based on representations made by the Initial Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement. The Initial Purchasers then sold the Notes to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to the exemption from registration requirements provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act. This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

ITEM 2.03.

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

The information provided in Item 1.01 above is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 3.02.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

The Notes and any shares of the Company’s common stock issuable in certain circumstances upon conversion of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act. The Company offered and sold the Notes to the Initial Purchasers in reliance on the exemption from registration requirements provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. The Company relied on this exemption from registration requirements in part based on representations made by the Initial Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement. The Initial Purchasers then sold the Notes to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to the exemption from registration requirements provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

The Warrants that the Company sold to the Hedge Counterparties and the underlying shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United Sates, absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The Company offered and sold the Warrants to the Hedge Counterparties in reliance on the exemption from registration requirements provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

This Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Additional information pertaining to the Notes and Warrants is set forth in Item 1.01 above and is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits


EXHIBIT NUMBER		DESCRIPTION
4.1		Indenture, dated June 2, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (including the form of the Company’s 4.75% Convertible Senior Note due May 15, 2014).



10.1		Purchase Agreement, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and the several Initial Purchasers party thereto.

10.2		Form of Convertible Note Hedge confirmation, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and each of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC.

10.3		Form of Warrant confirmation, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and each of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch, Bank of America, N.A., and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC.

10.4		Form of Forward Stock Purchase Transaction, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as agent for Merrill Lynch International, and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC.

SIGNATURES

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


Alliance Data Systems Corporation
Date: June 2, 2009

By:		/s/ Edward J. Heffernan
		Edward J. Heffernan
		President and Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT NUMBER		DESCRIPTION
4.1		Indenture, dated June 2, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (including the form of the Company’s 4.75% Convertible Senior Note due May 15, 2014).

10.1		Purchase Agreement, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and the several Initial Purchasers party thereto.

10.2		Form of Convertible Note Hedge confirmation, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and each of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Bank of America, N.A., and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC.

10.3		Form of Warrant confirmation, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and each of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as agent for JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch, Bank of America, N.A., and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC.

10.4		Form of Forward Stock Purchase Transaction, dated May 27, 2009, between Alliance Data Systems Corporation and each of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as agent for Merrill Lynch International, and Barclays Capital Inc., as agent for Barclays Bank PLC.

Indenture

Exhibit 4.1

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

as Issuer

AND

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of June 2, 2009

4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01.	Definitions	1
ARTICLE 2
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES
Section 2.01.	Designation and Amount	11
Section 2.02.	Form of Notes	11
Section 2.03.	Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest	12
Section 2.04.	[Reserved]	13
Section 2.05.	Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes	13
Section 2.06.	Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary	13
Section 2.07.	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes	19
Section 2.08.	Temporary Notes	19
Section 2.09.	Cancellation of Notes Paid, Etc.	20
Section 2.10.	CUSIP Numbers	20
Section 2.11.	Additional Notes; Repurchases	20
Section 2.12.	Automatic Exchange From Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Global Note	21
ARTICLE 3
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE 4
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 4.01.	Satisfaction and Discharge	21
ARTICLE 5
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Section 5.01.	Payment of Principal, Interest and Additional Interest	22
Section 5.02.	Maintenance of Office or Agency	22
Section 5.03.	Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office	22
Section 5.04.	Provisions as to Paying Agent	23
Section 5.05.	Existence	24
Section 5.06.	Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports	24
Section 5.07.	Stay, Extension and Usury Laws	25
Section 5.08.	Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults	25
Section 5.09.	[Reserved]	25
Section 5.10.	Further Instruments and Acts	25

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		Page
ARTICLE 6
LISTS OF NOTEHOLDERS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 6.01.	Lists of Noteholders	26
Section 6.02.	Preservation and Disclosure of Lists	26
Section 6.03.	Reports by Trustee	26
ARTICLE 7
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 7.01.	Events of Default	26
Section 7.02.	Acceleration	28
Section 7.03.	Additional Interest	29
Section 7.04.	Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor	30
Section 7.05.	Application of Monies Collected by Trustee	31
Section 7.06.	Proceedings by Noteholders	32
Section 7.07.	Proceedings by Trustee	32
Section 7.08.	Remedies Cumulative and Continuing	32
Section 7.09.	Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Noteholders	33
Section 7.10.	Notice of Defaults	33
Section 7.11.	Undertaking to Pay Costs	33
ARTICLE 8
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 8.01.	Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee	34
Section 8.02.	Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc.	35
Section 8.03.	No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc.	36
Section 8.04.	Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents or Registrar May Own Notes	37
Section 8.05.	Monies to Be Held in Trust	37
Section 8.06.	Compensation and Expenses of Trustee	37
Section 8.07.	Officers’ Certificate as Evidence	37
Section 8.08.	Conflicting Interests of Trustee	38
Section 8.09.	Eligibility of Trustee	38
Section 8.10.	Resignation or Removal of Trustee	38
Section 8.11.	Acceptance by Successor Trustee	39
Section 8.12.	Succession by Merger, Etc.	40
Section 8.13.	Limitation on Rights of Trustee as Creditor	40
Section 8.14.	Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company	40
ARTICLE 9
CONCERNING THE NOTEHOLDERS
Section 9.01.	Action by Noteholders	40
Section 9.02.	Proof of Execution by Noteholders	41
Section 9.03.	Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners	41
Section 9.04.	Company-Owned Notes Disregarded	41
Section 9.05.	Revocation of Consents; Future Noteholders Bound	42

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		Page
ARTICLE 10
NOTEHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
Section 10.01.	Purpose of Meetings	42
Section 10.02.	Call of Meetings by Trustee	42
Section 10.03.	Call of Meetings by Company or Noteholders	42
Section 10.04.	Qualifications for Voting	43
Section 10.05.	Regulations	43
Section 10.06.	Voting	43
Section 10.07.	No Delay of Rights by Meeting	44
ARTICLE 11
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 11.01.	Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Noteholders	44
Section 11.02.	Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Noteholders	45
Section 11.03.	Effect of Supplemental Indentures	46
Section 11.04.	Notation on Notes	46
Section 11.05.	Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished to Trustee	46
ARTICLE 12
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE
Section 12.01.	Company May Consolidate, Etc.	46
Section 12.02.	Successor Corporation to Be Substituted	47
Section 12.03.	Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee	47
ARTICLE 13
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 13.01.	Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations	48
ARTICLE 14
[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE 15
CONVERSION OF NOTES
Section 15.01.	Conversion Privilege	48
Section 15.02.	Conversion Procedure	50
Section 15.03.	Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes	54
Section 15.04.	Adjustment of Conversion Rate	55
Section 15.05.	Shares to Be Fully Paid	65
Section 15.06.	Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale	65
Section 15.07.	Certain Covenants	67

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		Page
Section 15.08.	Responsibility of Trustee	67
Section 15.09.	Notice to Noteholders Prior to Certain Actions	68
Section 15.10.	Stockholder Rights Plans	69
Section 15.11.	Exchange in Lieu of Conversion	69
ARTICLE 16
REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS
Section 16.01.	[Reserved]	69
Section 16.02.	Repurchase at Option of Noteholders upon a Fundamental Change	70
Section 16.03.	Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice	72
Section 16.04.	Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price	73
ARTICLE 17
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 17.01.	Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors	73
Section 17.02.	Official Acts by Successor Corporation	73
Section 17.03.	Addresses for Notices, Etc.	74
Section 17.04.	Governing Law	74
Section 17.05.	Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee	74
Section 17.06.	Legal Holidays	75
Section 17.07.	No Security Interest Created	75
Section 17.08.	Benefits of Indenture	75
Section 17.09.	Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.	75
Section 17.10.	Authenticating Agent	75
Section 17.11.	Execution in Counterparts	76
Section 17.12.	Severability	76
Section 17.13.	Waiver of Jury Trial	76
Section 17.14.	Force Majeure	77
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A	Form of Note	A-1
Exhibit B	Form of Notice of Conversion	B-1
Exhibit C	Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice	C-1
Exhibit D	Form of Assignment and Transfer	D-1

-iv-

INDENTURE dated as of June 2, 2009 between Alliance Data Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation, as issuer (the “Company”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issue of its 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014 (hereinafter sometimes called the “Notes”), initially in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300,000,000 (as increased by the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to their option to purchase additional Notes set forth in the Purchase Agreement), and in order to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Form of Note, the certificate of authentication to be borne by each Note, the Form of Notice of Conversion, the Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and the Form of Assignment and Transfer to be borne by the Notes are to be substantially in the forms hereinafter provided for; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to constitute a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture and the issue hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or that are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this Indenture. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” and words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article include the plural as well as the singular.

“Additional Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Sections 5.06(d), 5.06(e) and 7.03, as applicable, hereof.

-1-

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Automatic Exchange” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12.

“Automatic Exchange Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12.

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

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it hereunder.

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

“Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which the banking institutions in The City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close or be closed.

“Capital Stock” means, for any entity, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) stock issued by that entity.

“Cash Settlement Averaging Period” means, with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion, the forty consecutive Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the third Trading Day immediately following the Conversion Date for such Note; provided that, with respect to any Conversion Date occurring during the period beginning on, and including, January 13, 2014 and ending at the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately prior to the Maturity Date, the “Cash Settlement Averaging Period” means the forty consecutive Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the forty-second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the Maturity Date.

“close of business” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Common Equity” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled (a) to vote in the election of directors of such Person or (b) if such Person is not a corporation, to vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.

“Common Stock” means, subject to Section 15.06, shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and that have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or

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winding up of the Company and that are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion that the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

“Company” means Alliance Data Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and subject to the provisions of Article 12, shall include its successors and assigns.

“Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company (i) by its Chairman, a Vice Chairman, its President or a Vice President and (ii) by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and delivered to the Trustee; provided, however, that such written request or order may be signed by any two of the officers or directors listed in clause (i) above in lieu of being signed by one of such officers or directors listed in such clause (i) and one of the officers listed in clause (ii) above.

“Continuing Director” means a director who either was a member of the Board of Directors on June 2, 2009 or who becomes a member of the Board of Directors subsequent to that date and whose election, appointment or nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company is duly approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors on the Board of Directors at the time of such approval, either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by the Company on behalf of the entire Board of Directors in which such individual is named as nominee for director.

“Conversion Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.02.

“Conversion Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(e).

“Conversion Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

“Conversion Price” means as of any date, $1,000, divided by the Conversion Rate as of such date.

“Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(a).

“Conversion Trigger Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(b)(iv).

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 2 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1020, Chicago, IL 60602, Attn: Global Corporate Trust, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Noteholders and the Company, or the principal 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 Noteholders and the Company).

“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

“Daily Conversion Value” means, for each of the forty consecutive Trading Days during the Cash Settlement Averaging Period, one-fortieth (1/40th) of the product of (a) the then-applicable Conversion Rate on such Trading Day and (b) the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock on such Trading Day.

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“Daily Measurement Value” is equal to the Specified Dollar Amount, divided by forty.

“Daily Settlement Amount,” for each of the forty consecutive Trading Days during the Cash Settlement Averaging Period, shall consist of:

(a) cash equal to the lesser of the Daily Measurement Value and the Daily Conversion Value for such Trading Day; and

(b) to the extent the Daily Conversion Value for such Trading Day exceeds the Daily Measurement Value, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Daily Share Amount.

“Daily Share Amount” means, to the extent the Daily Conversion Value exceeds the Daily Measurement Value, (i) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and the Daily Measurement Value, divided by (ii) the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock for such Trading Day.

“Daily VWAP” for the Common Stock, in respect of any Trading Day, means the per share volume-weighted average price on the New York Stock Exchange as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “ADS.N <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled opening of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of the Common Stock on such Trading Day as determined by the Board of Directors in a commercially reasonable manner, using a volume-weighted average price method) and will be determined without regard to after hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session.

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

“Defaulted Interest” means any interest on any Note that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the applicable Interest Payment Date.

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Global Notes the Person specified in Section 2.06 as the Depositary with respect to such Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

“Designated Institution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.11.

“Distributed Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.04(c).

“Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.03(a).

“Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

“Ex-Dividend Date” means, with respect to any issuance, dividend or distribution in which the holders of Common Stock (or other security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property, the first date on which the shares of the Common Stock (or other security) trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question.

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

“Expiration Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.04(e).

“Expiration Time” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.04(e).

“Fiscal Quarter” means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year.

“Fiscal Year” means a fiscal year of the Company.

“Fundamental Change” means the occurrence after the original issuance of the Notes of any of the following events:

(a) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company, its Subsidiaries or the employee benefit plans of the Company or any such Subsidiary, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect ultimate “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s Common Equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s Common Equity;

(b) consummation of any share exchange, exchange offer, tender offer, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one or more of the Company’s Subsidiaries; (any such exchange, offer, consolidation, merger, transaction or series of transactions being referred to herein as an “event”); provided, however, that any such event where the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to such event, own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of common equity of the continuing or surviving person or transferee or the Parent thereof immediately after such event shall not be a Fundamental Change;

(d) the stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(e) the Common Stock (or other common stock into which the Notes are then convertible) ceases to be listed on at least one U. S. national securities exchange,

provided, however, in the case of an event described in clause (a) or (b) above, if at least 90% of the consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in the event constituting the Fundamental Change consists of shares of Publicly Traded Securities, and as a result of the event, the Notes become convertible into such Publicly Traded Securities, excluding cash payments for fractional shares (subject to the provisions of Section 15.02(b)), such event shall not be a Fundamental Change.

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For purposes of this definition, whether a “person” is a “beneficial owner” shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act and “person” includes any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(b).

“Fundamental Change Expiration Time” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(b)(ix).

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(a).

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(a)(i).

“Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(a).

“Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.06(b).

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented.

“Initial Purchasers” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc. and the other several initial purchasers named in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement.

“Interest Payment Date” means each May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning on November 15, 2009; provided, however, that if any Interest Payment Date falls on a date that is not a Business Day, such payment of interest (or principal in the case of the Maturity Date) will be postponed until the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest or other amount will be paid as a result of such postponement.

“Interest Record Date,” with respect to any Interest Payment Date, shall mean the May 1 or November 1 (whether or not such day is a Business Day) immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date, respectively.

“Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock on any date means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed for trading. The Last Reported Sale Price will be determined without reference to after-hours or extended market trading. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange on the relevant date, then the “Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock will be the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by Pink OTC Markets Inc. or similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock will be determined by a U.S. nationally recognized independent investment banking firm selected by the Company for this purpose.

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“Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.03(a).

“Make-Whole Fundamental Change” means any transaction or event that constitutes a Fundamental Change under clause (a) or (b) of the definition thereof (in the case of any Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition thereof, determined without regard to the proviso in such clause (b)). For the avoidance of doubt, a transaction or event does not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least 90% of the consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in the event constituting the Fundamental Change consists of shares of Publicly Traded Securities, and as a result of the event, the Notes become convertible into such Publicly Traded Securities, excluding cash payments for fractional shares (subject to the provisions of Section 15.02(b)).

“Make-Whole Fundamental Change Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.03(a).

“Market Disruption Event” means (a) a failure by the primary exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock trades or is quoted, as the case may be, to open for trading during its regular trading session or (b) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Trading Day for the Common Stock of an aggregate one-half hour period, of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options, contracts or future contracts relating to the Common Stock.

“Maturity Date” means May 15, 2014.

“Measurement Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.01(b)(i).

“Merger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.06.

“Note” or “Notes” shall mean any note or notes, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Noteholder” or “holder,” as applied to any Note, or other similar terms (but excluding the term “beneficial holder”), shall mean any person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Register.

“Note Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a).

“Note Registrar” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a).

“Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(d).

“Offering Memorandum” means the final offering memorandum dated May 27, 2009 relating to the offering and sale of the Notes.

“Officer” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer, and (ii) the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary.

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“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. Each Officers’ Certificate (other than certificates provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall include the statements provided for in TIA Section 314(e).

“opening of business” means 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or other counsel acceptable to the Trustee, that is delivered to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 17.05 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

“outstanding,” when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 9.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

(a) Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or accepted by the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Notes that have been paid pursuant to Section 2.07 or Notes in lieu of which, or in substitution for which, other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07 unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Notes are held by protected purchasers in due course;

(c) Notes that have become due and payable, whether at the Maturity Date, any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, upon conversion or otherwise, for which the Company has deposited with the Trustee or delivered to Noteholders, as applicable, cash or cash and shares of Common Stock, if any (solely to satisfy the Company’s Conversion Obligation, if applicable), sufficient to pay all of the outstanding Notes and all other sums due payable under this Indenture by the Company; and

(d) Notes converted pursuant to Article 15.

“Paying Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.02.

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

“Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of or in exchange for a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note that it replaces.

“Publicly Traded Securities” means shares of common stock, depositary receipts or other certificates representing common equity interests, in each case, that are traded on a national securities exchange or that will be so traded when issued or exchanged in connection with a Fundamental Change described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition thereof.

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“Purchase Agreement” means that certain Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2009, between the Company and the several Initial Purchasers.

“Record Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.04(f).

“Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.06(b).

“Resale Restriction Termination Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.06(d).

“Responsible Officer” means, 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 shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Restricted Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12.

“Restricted Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.06(d).

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Scheduled Trading Day” means any day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day.

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

“Settlement Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 15.02(b).

“Settlement Method” means, with respect to a conversion of Notes, the relative proportions of cash and/or shares of Common Stock with which such conversion is settled under this Indenture, as elected (or deemed elected) by the Company.

“Settlement Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 15.02(b)(iii).

“Significant Subsidiary” means, at any date of determination, any Subsidiary that would constitute a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning of Article 1 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act as in effect on May 27, 2009.

“Specified Dollar Amount” means an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of a converted Note specified by the Company in the Settlement Notice related to such converted Note.

“Spin-Off” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.04(c).

“Stock Price” means (a) in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change in which holders of Common Stock receive solely cash consideration in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the amount of cash paid per share of the Common Stock and (b) in the case of all other Make-Whole Fundamental Changes, the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices per share of Common Stock over the period of five consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of

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such Make-Whole Fundamental Change. The Board of Directors will make appropriate adjustments, in its good faith determination, to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date of the event occurs, during such five consecutive Trading Day period.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

“Successor Company” shall have the meaning specified in Section 12.01(a).

“Trading Day” means a day during which trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the primary exchange or quotation system on which Common Stock then trades or is quoted and there is no Market Disruption Event. If the Common Stock (or other security for which a Last Reported Sale Price or Daily VWAP must be determined) is not so traded or quoted, “Trading Day” means “Business Day.”

“Trading Price” of the Notes on any date of determination means the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by the Company for $5.0 million principal amount of Notes (expressed as a price per $1,000 principal amount) at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent U.S. nationally recognized securities dealers selected by the Company; provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Company, but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Company, that one bid shall be used. If the Company cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $5.0 million principal amount of Notes from a U.S. nationally recognized securities dealer, then the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the applicable Conversion Rate.

“transfer” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.06(d).

“Trigger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.04(c).

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as it was in force at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 11.03 and Section 15.06; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date hereof, the term “Trust Indenture Act” shall mean, to the extent required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

“Unrestricted Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12.

“Valuation Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.04(c).

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“Weighted Average Consideration” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.06(c)(iv).

ARTICLE 2

ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION

AND EXCHANGE OF NOTES

Section 2.01. Designation and Amount. The Notes shall be designated as the “4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014.” The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is initially limited to $300,000,000 (as increased by the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to their option to purchase additional Notes set forth in the Purchase Agreement), subject to Section 2.11 and except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.08, Section 2.12, Section 11.04, Section 15.02 and Section 16.04 hereof.

Section 2.02. Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially in the respective forms set forth in Exhibit A, which are incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture.

Any Global Note may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture as may be required by the Custodian, the Depositary, any regulatory body or as may be required for the Notes to be tradable on any other market developed for trading of securities pursuant to Rule 144A or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Notes may be listed or traded or designated for issuance or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

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

A Global Note shall represent such principal amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect repurchases, conversions, transfers or exchanges permitted hereby. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in such manner and upon instructions given by the holder of such Notes in accordance with this Indenture. Payment of principal (including any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), accrued and unpaid interest, and Additional Interest, if any, on a Global Note shall be made to the holder of such Note on the date of payment, unless a record date or other means of determining holders eligible to receive payment is provided for herein.

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

Section 2.03. Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest. The Notes shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication and shall bear interest from the date specified on the face of the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto. Interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

The Person in whose name any Note (or its Predecessor Note) is registered on the Note Register at the close of business on any Interest Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date. Interest (including Additional Interest, if any) shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained by the Company for such purposes in The Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, which shall initially be the office of the Paying Agent. The Company shall pay interest (including Additional Interest, if any) (a) on any Notes in certificated form by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the Note Register or (b) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

Any Defaulted Interest shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Noteholder on the relevant Interest Record Date by virtue of its having been such Noteholder, and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall be not less than twenty-five days after the receipt by the Trustee of such notice, unless the Trustee shall consent to an earlier date), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or 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 Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than fifteen days and not less than ten days prior to the date of the proposed payment, and not less than ten days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment (unless the Trustee shall consent to an earlier date). The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such special record date and the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each holder at its address as it appears in the Note Register, not less than ten days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such special record date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2) of this Section 2.03.

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(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system.

Section 2.04. [Reserved]

Section 2.05. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes. The Notes shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any of its Executive or Senior Vice Presidents.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, which order shall set forth the number of separate Note certificates, the principal amount of each of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, the registered holders of the said Notes and delivery instructions, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes, without any further action by the Company hereunder.

Only such Notes as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth on the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto, executed manually or by facsimile by an authorized officer of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee as provided by Section 17.10), shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee (or such an authenticating agent) upon any Note executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Note so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Notes shall cease to be such officer before the Notes so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Notes nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Notes had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Note may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Note, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

Section 2.06. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary.

(a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 5.02 being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers of Notes. Such register shall be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable period of time. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Note Registrar” for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars in accordance with Section 5.02.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note to the Note Registrar or any co-registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.06, the Company

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shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.

Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 5.02. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes that the holder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing registration numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

All Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, repurchase or conversion shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by the holder thereof or its attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be charged to the Noteholder for any exchange or registration of transfer of Notes, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessments or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the holder of the new Notes issued upon such exchange or registration of transfer of Notes being different from the name of the holder of the old Notes presented or surrendered for such exchange or registration of transfer.

None of the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-registrar shall be required to exchange or register a transfer of (i) any Notes surrendered for conversion or, if a portion of any Note is surrendered for conversion, such portion thereof surrendered for conversion or (ii) any Notes, or a portion of any Note, surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in accordance with Article 16 hereof.

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

(b) So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary, unless otherwise required by law, all Notes shall be represented by one or more Notes in global form (each, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note that does not involve the issuance of a definitive Note shall be effected through the Depositary (but not the Trustee or the Custodian) in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor.

(d) Every Note that bears or is required under this Section 2.06(d) to bear the legend set forth in this Section 2.06(d) (together with any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes and required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.06(e), collectively, the “Restricted Securities”) shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.06(d) (including the legend set forth below), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be eliminated or otherwise waived by written consent of the Company, and the holder of each such Restricted Security, by such holder’s acceptance

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thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer. As used in Section 2.06(d) and Section 2.06(e), the term “transfer” encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition whatsoever of any Restricted Security.

Until the date (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”), which is the later of (1) the date that is one year after the last date of original issuance of the Notes (or such other date as permitted by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor provision thereto), and (2) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable laws, any certificate evidencing such Note (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof, other than Common Stock, if any, issued upon conversion thereof which shall bear the legend set forth in Section 2.06(e), if applicable) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Notes have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee):

THE SALE OF THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES (1) THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF NOTES (INCLUDING THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES) AND (Y) 90 DAYS AFTER IT CEASES TO BE AN AFFILIATE (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), OFFER, RESELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY OR THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF SUCH NOTES, EXCEPT: (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF; (B) UNDER A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; (C) TO A PERSON THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A (IF AVAILABLE); OR (D) UNDER ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, INCLUDING RULE 144, IF AVAILABLE; AND (2) THAT IT WILL, PRIOR TO ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN THE LATER OF (X) SIX MONTHS (OR, IF THE COMPANY HAS NOT SATISFIED THE CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144, ONE YEAR) AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF NOTES (INCLUDING THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES) AND (Y) 90 DAYS AFTER IT CEASES TO BE AN AFFILIATE (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144 ADOPTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REQUIRE AND MAY RELY UPON TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE

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PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. IN ANY EVENT, NO AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY MAY RESELL THIS NOTE OTHER THAN UNDER A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IN A TRANSACTION THAT RESULTS IN SUCH NOTE NO LONGER BEING “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” (AS DEFINED UNDER RULE 144).

No transfer of any Note prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date will be registered by the Note Registrar unless the applicable box on the completed Form of Assignment and Transfer has been checked.

Any Note (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of such Note for exchange to the Note Registrar in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.06, be exchanged for a new Note or Notes, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.06(d). The Company shall notify the Trustee upon the occurrence of the Resale Restriction Termination Date and promptly after a registration statement with respect to the Notes or any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in this Section 2.06(d)), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole or in part except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes. Initially, the Global Notes shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and initially deposited with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary.

If (i) the Depositary notifies the Company at any time that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days or (iii) an Event of Default in respect of the Notes has occurred and is continuing, upon the request of the beneficial owner of the Notes, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes, will authenticate and deliver Notes in definitive form to each such beneficial owner of the related Notes (or a portion thereof) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, and upon delivery of the Global Note to the Trustee such Global Note shall be canceled.

Definitive Notes issued in exchange for all or a part of the Global Notes pursuant to this Section 2.06(d) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. Upon execution and authentication, the Trustee shall deliver such definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such definitive Notes are so registered.

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At such time as all interests in a Global Note have been converted, canceled, repurchased or transferred, such Global Note shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Trustee in accordance with its standing procedures. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Note is exchanged for definitive Notes, converted, canceled, repurchased or transferred to a transferee who receives definitive Notes therefor or any definitive Note is exchanged or transferred for part of such Global Note, the principal amount of such Global Note shall be appropriately reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction or increase.

None of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

(e) Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any stock certificate representing Common Stock issued upon conversion of such Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless the Note or such Common Stock has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or such Common Stock has been issued upon conversion of Notes that have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company with written notice thereof to the Trustee and any transfer agent for the Common Stock):

THE SALE OF THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES (1) THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES (INCLUDING THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES) UPON THE CONVERSION OF WHICH THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED AND (Y) 90 DAYS AFTER IT CEASES TO BE AN AFFILIATE (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), OFFER, RESELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE SECURITY EVIDENCED HEREBY, EXCEPT: (A) TO THE COMPANY; (B) UNDER A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; (C) TO A PERSON THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A (IF AVAILABLE); OR (D) UNDER ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, INCLUDING RULE 144, IF AVAILABLE; AND (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL, PRIOR TO ANY TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY WITHIN THE LATER OF (X) SIX MONTHS (OR,

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IF THE COMPANY HAS NOT SATISFIED THE CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144, ONE YEAR) AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES (INCLUDING THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES) UPON THE CONVERSION OF WHICH THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED AND (Y) 90 DAYS AFTER IT CEASES TO BE AN AFFILIATE (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY, FURNISH TO THE TRANSFER AGENT AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REQUIRE AND MAY RELY UPON TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. IN ANY EVENT, NO AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY MAY RESELL THIS SECURITY, UPON THE CONVERSION OF THE NOTE PURSUANT TO WHICH THIS SECURITY WAS ISSUED, OTHER THAN UNDER A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IN A TRANSACTION THAT RESULTS IN SUCH SECURITY NO LONGER BEING “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” (AS DEFINED UNDER RULE 144).

Any such Common Stock as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms may, upon surrender of the certificates representing such shares of Common Stock for exchange in accordance with the procedures of the transfer agent for the Common Stock, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.06(e).

(f) Any Note or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exchange of a Note that is purchased or owned by the Company or any Affiliate thereof may not be resold by the Company or such Affiliate unless registered under the Securities Act or resold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in a transaction that results in such Notes or Common Stock, as the case may be, no longer being “restricted securities” (as defined under Rule 144). During the period of one year after the last original issuance of the Notes, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its “affiliates” (as defined under Rule 144) to, resell any of the Notes that constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144 that have been reacquired by any of them.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 2.06 to the contrary, in the event Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor rule) is amended to change the one-year holding period thereunder (or the corresponding period under any successor rule), from and after receipt by the Trustee of the Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for in this Section 2.06(g), (i) each reference in Section 2.06(d) to “one year” and in the restrictive legend set forth in such paragraph to “ONE YEAR” shall be deemed for all purposes hereof to be references to such changed period, (ii) each reference in Section 2.06(e) to “one year” and in the restrictive legend set forth in such paragraph to “ONE YEAR” shall be deemed for all purposes hereof to be references to such changed period and (iii) all corresponding references in the Notes (including the definition of Resale Restriction Termination Date) and the restrictive legends thereon shall be deemed for all purposes hereof to be references to such changed period, provided that such changes shall not become effective if they are otherwise prohibited by, or would otherwise cause a violation of, the then-applicable federal securities laws. The provisions of this Section 2.06(g) will not be effective until such time as the Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate have been received by the Trustee hereunder. This Section 2.06(g) shall apply to successive amendments to Rule 144 (or any successor rule) changing the holding period thereunder.

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Section 2.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. In case any Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon its written request the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

The Trustee or such authenticating agent may authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the receipt of such security or indemnity as the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, such authenticating agent may require. Upon the issuance of any substitute Note, the Company or the Trustee may require the payment by the holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Note that has matured or is about to mature or has been tendered for repurchase upon a Fundamental Change or is about to be converted into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, in its sole discretion, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of or convert or authorize the conversion of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note), as the case may be, if the applicant for such payment or conversion shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless for any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, including without limitation if a Note is replaced and subsequently presented or claimed for payment and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent evidence of their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

Every substitute Note issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.07 by virtue of the fact that any Note is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, all Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment or conversion or repurchase of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment or conversion of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.08. Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of Notes in certificated form, the Company may execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall, upon written request of the Company, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the Notes in certificated form but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be

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appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or such authenticating agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Notes in certificated form. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or such authenticating agent Notes in certificated form (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 5.02 and the Trustee or such authenticating agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of Notes in certificated form. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Notes in certificated form authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.09. Cancellation of Notes Paid, Etc. All Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, repurchase, conversion, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent or any Note Registrar or any Conversion Agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Notes shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures and, after such disposition, shall deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company, at the Company’s written request. If the Company shall acquire any of the Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Notes unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.10. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in all notices issued to Noteholders as a convenience to them; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or on such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers. Until such time as the Company notifies the Trustee to remove the restrictive legend as set forth in Section 2.06(d) from the Notes or a transfer of Notes from a Restricted Global Note to an Unrestricted Global Note is otherwise made pursuant to the terms hereof, the restricted CUSIP will be the CUSIP number for the Notes. At such time as the Company notifies the Trustee to remove the restrictive legend as set forth in Section 2.06(d) from the Notes, such legend shall be deemed removed from any Global Notes and an unrestricted CUSIP number for the Notes shall be deemed to be the CUSIP number for the Notes.

Section 2.11. Additional Notes; Repurchases. The Company may, without the consent of the Noteholders and notwithstanding Section 2.01, reopen this Indenture and increase the principal amount of the Notes by issuing additional Notes in the future pursuant to this Indenture with the same terms and with the same CUSIP number as the Notes initially issued hereunder in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, which will form the same series with the Notes initially issued hereunder, provided that no such additional Notes may be issued unless they will be fungible with the original Notes for U.S. federal income tax and securities law purposes. Prior to the issuance of any such additional Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a Company Order, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to cover such matters, in addition to those required by Section 17.05, as the Trustee shall reasonably request. The Company may also from time to time repurchase the Notes in open market purchases or negotiated transactions without prior notice to Noteholders.

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Section 2.12. Automatic Exchange From Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Global Note. Beneficial interests in a Global Note that is subject to restrictions set out in Section 2.06(d) (including the legend set forth in Section 2.06(d)) (the “Restricted Global Note”) may be automatically exchanged, at the election of the Company, into beneficial interests in an unrestricted Global Note that is no longer subject to the restrictions set out in Section 2.06(d) (including removal of the legend set forth in Section 2.06(d)) (the “Unrestricted Global Note”) without any action required by or on behalf of the Noteholder (the “Automatic Exchange”). In order to effect such exchange, the Company shall at least 15 days but not more than thirty days prior to the automatic exchange date, deliver a notice of Automatic Exchange (an “Automatic Exchange Notice”) to each Noteholder at such Noteholder’s address appearing in the Note Register, with a copy to the Trustee. The Automatic Exchange Notice shall identify the Notes subject to the Automatic Exchange and shall state: (1) the date of the Automatic Exchange; (2) the section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Automatic Exchange shall occur; (3) the “CUSIP” number of the Restricted Global Note from which such Noteholders’ beneficial interests will be transferred and (4) the “CUSIP” number of the Unrestricted Global Note into which such Noteholders’ beneficial interests will be transferred. At the Company’s request on no less than 5 days’ prior notice, the Trustee shall deliver, in the Company’s name and at its expense, the Automatic Exchange Notice to each Noteholder at such Noteholder’s address appearing in the Note Register; provided, however, that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give the Automatic Exchange Notice (in the name and at the expense of the Company) and setting forth the information to be stated in the Automatic Exchange Notice as provided in the preceding sentence. As a condition to any such exchange pursuant to this Section 2.12, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Company, and rely conclusively without any liability, upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Company, in form and in substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that such transfer of beneficial interests to the Unrestricted Global Note shall be effected in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon such exchange of beneficial interests pursuant to this Section 2.12, the Registrar shall endorse the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note to the relevant Notes and reflect on its books and records the date of such transfer and a decrease and increase, respectively, in the principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Note(s) and the Unrestricted Global Note, respectively, equal to the principal amount of beneficial interests transferred. If an Unrestricted Global Note is not then outstanding at the time of the Automatic Exchange, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver an Unrestricted Global Note to the Depositary. Following any such transfer pursuant to this Section 2.12, the relevant Restricted Global Note shall be cancelled.

ARTICLE 3

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

ARTICLE 4

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture shall upon request of the Company contained in an Officers’ Certificate cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when (a) (i) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (x) Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and (y) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 5.04(d)) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (ii) the Company has deposited with the Trustee or delivered to Noteholders, as applicable, after the Notes have become due and payable, whether at the Maturity Date, any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, upon conversion or otherwise, cash or cash and shares of Common Stock, if any (solely to satisfy the Company’s Conversion

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Obligation, if applicable), sufficient to pay all of the outstanding Notes and all other sums due payable under this Indenture by the Company; and (b) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 8.06 shall survive.

ARTICLE 5

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 5.01. Payment of Principal, Interest and Additional Interest . The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be paid the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on each of the Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes. Each installment of accrued and unpaid interest, and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes due may be paid by mailing checks for the amount payable to Noteholders entitled thereto as they shall appear on the registry books of the Company; provided that payment of accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, made to the Depositary shall be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds in accordance with such wire transfer instructions and other procedures provided by the Depositary from time to time.

Section 5.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency . The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where the Notes in certificated form may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or repurchase (“Paying Agent”) or for conversion (“Conversion Agent”). Except for the surrender or presentation of Notes in certificated form as described in the preceding sentence, the Corporate Trust Office will be the office where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency maintained in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York. 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.

The Company may also from time to time designate co-registrars, one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to facilitate the surrender or presentation of Notes in certificated form. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The terms “Paying Agent” and “Conversion Agent” include any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.

The Company hereby initially designates the Trustee as the Paying Agent, Note Registrar, Custodian and Conversion Agent.

Section 5.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 8.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

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Section 5.04. Provisions as to Paying Agent.

(a) If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 5.04:

(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes;

(ii) that it will give the Trustee prompt notice of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and

(iii) that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it will forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.

The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), or accrued and unpaid interest or Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), or accrued and unpaid interest or Additional Interest, if any, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action; provided that if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit must be received by the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date.

(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.

(c) Anything in this Section 5.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section 5.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained, and upon such payment by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

(d) Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), interest or Additional Interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on request of the Company contained in an Officers’ Certificate, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such

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trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than thirty days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

Section 5.05. Existence . Subject to Article 12, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

Section 5.06. Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports.

(a) At any time the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall, so long as any of the Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and shall, upon written request, provide to any holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of such Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes or shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Company shall take such further action as any holder or beneficial owner of such Notes or such Common Stock may reasonably request to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder or beneficial holder to sell such Notes or shares of Common Stock in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time.

(b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within fifteen days after the same is required to be filed with the Commission, copies of the quarterly and annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports, if any, that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), and the Company shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a). Any such report, information or document that the Company files with the Commission through the Commission’s EDGAR database shall be deemed delivered to the Trustee for purposes of this Section 5.06(b) at the time of such filing through the EDGAR database.

(c) Delivery of the reports, information and documents described in clause (b) above 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 conclusively rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).

(d) If, at any time during the six-month period beginning on, and including, the date which is six months after the date of original issuance of the Notes, the Company fails to timely file any document or report that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable (other than current reports on Form 8-K), or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by holders other than the Company’s affiliates (as a result of restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities law or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes), the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes. Such Additional Interest will accrue on the Notes at an annual rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Notes outstanding for each day during such period for which the Company’s failure to file continues; provided that the Company shall have 14 days, in the aggregate, to cure any such late filings before any Additional Interest shall accrue.

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(e) If, at any time after the 365th day after the last date of original issuance of the Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (i) the restrictive legend on the Notes has not been removed in accordance with Section 2.06(d) or Section 2.12, and (ii) the Notes are not freely tradable pursuant to Rule 144 without volume restrictions by holders other than the Company’s affiliates (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities law or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes), the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes. Such Additional Interest will accrue on the Notes at an annual rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Notes outstanding for each day after the 365th day after the last date of original issuance of the Notes until (i) the restrictive legend on the Notes has been removed in accordance with Section 2.06(d) or Section 2.12, and (ii) the Notes are freely tradable pursuant to Rule 144 without volume restrictions by holders other than the Company’s affiliates (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities law or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes).

(f) Additional Interest payable in accordance with Section 5.06(d) or (e) will be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date following accrual in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes.

Section 5.07. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

Section 5.08. Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each Fiscal Year (beginning with the Fiscal Year ending on December 31, 2009) an Officers’ Certificate stating whether or not the signer thereof has knowledge of any failure by the Company to comply with all conditions and covenants then required to be performed under this Indenture and, if so, specifying each such failure and the nature thereof.

In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible, and in any event within thirty days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default, its status and the action that the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 5.09. [Reserved]

Section 5.10. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.

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ARTICLE 6

LISTS OF NOTEHOLDERS AND REPORTS BY

THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

Section 6.01. Lists of Noteholders. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, semi-annually, not more than fifteen days after each November 1 and May 1 in each year, beginning with November 1, 2009, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within thirty days after receipt by the Company of any such request (or such lesser time as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to enable it to timely provide any notice to be provided by it hereunder), a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Noteholders as of a date not more than fifteen days (or such other date as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to so provide any such notices) prior to the time such information is furnished, except that no such list need be furnished so long as the Trustee is acting as Note Registrar.

Section 6.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Noteholders contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 6.01 or maintained by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 6.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) The rights of Noteholders to communicate with other Noteholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Notes and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

(c) Every holder of a Note, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Noteholders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 6.03. Reports by Trustee.

(a) The Trustee shall transmit to holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty days after each May 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, that complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Noteholders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange and automated quotation system upon which the Notes are listed and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing within a reasonable time when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or automated quotation system and when any such listing is discontinued.

ARTICLE 7

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 7.01. Events of Default. Each of the following shall be an “Event of Default”:

(a) default in the payment in respect of the principal of any Note at its maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

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(b) default in the payment of any interest upon any Note when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

(c) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is specifically dealt with in clauses (a), (b) or (f) of this Section 7.01), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after written notice thereof has been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes;

(d) a default or defaults under any bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (other than the Notes) by the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) having, individually or in the aggregate, a principal or similar amount outstanding of at least $40.0 million, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default or defaults shall have resulted in the acceleration of the maturity of such indebtedness prior to its express maturity or shall constitute a failure to pay at least $40.0 million of such indebtedness when due and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto;

(e) the entry against the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary (or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of a final judgment or final judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $40.0 million, by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, which judgments remain undischarged, unwaived, unstayed, unbonded or unsatisfied for a period of 60 consecutive days;

(f) the failure to comply with the obligations to convert the Notes into Common Stock, cash or a combination of cash and Common Stock, as applicable, upon exercise of a holder’s conversion right and such failure continues for five days;

(g) the failure to timely issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice in accordance with Section 16.02(b); or

(h) (i) the Company, any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken as a whole, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(a) commences a voluntary case,

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

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

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(e) generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

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

(a) is for relief against the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in an involuntary case;

(b) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or

(c) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

Section 7.02. Acceleration. In case one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(h) with respect to the Company (and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, or a group of Subsidiaries of the Company that in aggregate would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company), unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable (or waived), either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Noteholders), may declare 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes solely because an Event of Default described in Section 7.01(d) has occurred and is continuing, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded and annulled if the Event of Default or payment default triggering such Event of Default pursuant to Section 7.01(d) shall be remedied or cured by the Company or a Subsidiary or waived by the holders of the relevant indebtedness within 90 Business Days after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and if the rescission and annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Trustee for the payment of amounts due on the Notes.

If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(h) with respect to the Company (and not solely with respect to a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, or a group of Subsidiaries of the Company that in aggregate would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company) occurs and is continuing, the principal of all the Notes and accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, shall be immediately due and payable. This provision, however, is subject to the conditions that if, at any time after the principal of the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained

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or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay installments of accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, upon all Notes and the principal of any and all Notes that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law), and on such principal at the rate borne by the Notes at such time) and amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.06, and if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) any and all Events of Defaults under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of principal of and accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on Notes that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to Section 7.07, then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Notes (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from a failure to repurchase any Notes when required upon a Fundamental Change or a failure to deliver, upon conversion, cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, due upon conversion) and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences (other than a declaration or consequences, as the case may be, resulting from a failure to repurchase any Notes when required upon a Fundamental Change or a failure to deliver, upon conversion, cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, due upon conversion) and such Default (other than a Default resulting from a failure to repurchase any Notes when required upon a Fundamental Change or a failure to deliver, upon conversion, cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, due upon conversion) shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom (other than a Default resulting from a failure to repurchase any Notes when required upon a Fundamental Change or a failure to deliver, upon conversion, cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, due upon conversion) shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 7.03. Additional Interest. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary (except as provided in Section 5.06(d) or 5.06(e)), if the Company so elects, the sole remedy of Noteholders for an Event of Default relating to any obligation to file reports as required under Section 5.06(a) or (b) shall, for the first 365 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default which will be the 60th day after written notice is provided to the Company in accordance with Section 7.01(c)), consist exclusively of the right to receive Additional Interest on the Notes at an annual rate equal to (x) 0.25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes for the first 180 days an Event of Default is continuing in such 365-day period and (y) 0.50% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes for the remaining 185 days an Event of Default is continuing in such 365-day period. Additional Interest shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date following the occurrence of such Event of Default in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes. The Company may elect to pay Additional Interest as the sole remedy under this Section 7.03 by giving notice to the holders, the Trustee and Paying Agent of such election on or before the close of business on the 5th Business Day after the date on which such Event of Default otherwise would occur. If the Company fails to timely give such notice or pay Additional Interest, the Notes will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02. On the 366th day after such Event of Default (if such violation is not cured or waived prior to such 366th day), the Notes will be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02. This Section 7.03 shall not affect the rights of the Noteholders in the event of the occurrence of any other Event of Default. In the event the Company does not elect to pay Additional Interest upon an Event of Default in accordance with this Section, the Notes will be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 7.02. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of interest on, or in respect of, any Note, such mention

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shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of “Additional Interest” provided for in this Section 7.03 and Sections 5.06(d) and 5.06(e) to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of such sections, and express mention of the payment of Additional Interest (if applicable) in any provision shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions where such express mention is not made.

Section 7.04. Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor. If an Event of Default under clause (a) or (b) of Section 7.01 shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest and Additional Interest, if any, with interest on any overdue principal, interest and Additional Interest, if any, at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 8.06. If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.

In the event there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or such other obligor, the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the event of any other judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor upon the Notes, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.04, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, in respect of the Notes, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such other actions as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Noteholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Notes, its or their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of any amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, custodian or similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Noteholders to make such payments to the Trustee, as administrative expenses, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Noteholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements, including agent’s and counsel fees, and including any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 8.06 hereof, incurred by it up to the date of such distribution. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements out of the estate in any such proceedings 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, monies, securities and other property that the holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.

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

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Notes.

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and in any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Notes, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Notes parties to any such proceedings.

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such waiver or rescission and annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Noteholders, and the Trustee shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Noteholders, and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 7.05. Application of Monies Collected by Trustee. Any monies collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 7 with respect to the Notes shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such monies, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

First, to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 8.06;

Second, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on the Notes, including Additional Interest, if any, in default in the order of the date due of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

Third, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount including the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and the cash component of the Conversion Obligation, if any, then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, including Additional Interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal and interest without preference or priority of principal over interest, or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, and Additional Interest, if any; and

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Fourth, to the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

Section 7.06. Proceedings by Noteholders. No holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue of or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (iii) such holders shall have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for sixty days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) no direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding within such sixty-day period pursuant to Section 7.09; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and holder of every Note with every other taker and holder and the Trustee that no one or more Noteholders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Noteholder, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Noteholders (except as otherwise provided herein). For the protection and enforcement of this Section 7.06, each and every Noteholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture and any provision of any Note, the right of any Noteholder to receive payment of the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price upon repurchase pursuant to Section 16.02), and accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note or in this Indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates against the Company shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Noteholder.

Anything in this Indenture or the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, the holder of any Note, without the consent of either the Trustee or the holder of any other Note, in its own behalf and for its own benefit, may enforce, and may institute and maintain any proceeding suitable to enforce, its rights of conversion as provided herein.

Section 7.07. Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as are necessary to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

Section 7.08. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. Except as provided in the second paragraph of Section 2.07 and Section 7.04, all powers and remedies given by this Article 7 to the Trustee or to the Noteholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the

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Notes, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or any acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.06, every power and remedy given by this Article 7 or by law to the Trustee or to the Noteholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Noteholders.

Section 7.09. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Noteholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to Notes; provided, however, that (a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and (b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that it determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except (i) a default in the payment of accrued and unpaid interest or accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on, or the principal (including any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) of, the Notes when due that has not been cured pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.01, (ii) a failure by the Company to deliver cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, upon conversion of the Notes or (iii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 11 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Notes shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 7.09, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 7.10. Notice of Defaults. The Trustee shall, within ninety days after the occurrence and continuance of a Default of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge, mail to all Noteholders as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Note Register, notice of all Defaults known to a Responsible Officer, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; and provided that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest or accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on any of the Notes, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing any Default in the payment of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, then in any such event the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a committee of Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Noteholders.

Section 7.11. Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant;

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provided that the provisions of this Section 7.11 (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Noteholder, or group of Noteholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Noteholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of accrued and unpaid interest or accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on any Note (including, but not limited to, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to the Notes being repurchased as provided in this Indenture) on or after the due date expressed or provided for in such Note or to any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Note in accordance with the provisions of Article 15.

ARTICLE 8

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 8.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiver of all Events of Default that may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent 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 any of 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 reasonable indemnity or security against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

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

(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and, after it has been qualified thereunder, the Trust Indenture Act, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act against the Trustee; and

(ii) in the absence of bad faith and willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);

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

(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;

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

(e) the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the Company or any Paying Agent or any records maintained by any co-registrar with respect to the Notes;

(f) if any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred, unless such Responsible Officer of the Trustee had actual knowledge of such event;

(g) in the absence of written investment direction from the Company, all cash received by the Trustee shall be placed in a non-interest bearing trust account, and in no event shall the 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 amounts held hereunder in the absence of such written investment direction from the Company; and

(h) in the event that the Trustee is also acting as Custodian, Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or transfer agent hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article 8 shall also be afforded to such Custodian, Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or transfer agent.

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

Section 8.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.01:

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, Note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

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(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel and require an opinion of counsel and any advice of such counsel or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Noteholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Noteholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby;

(e) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

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

(g) the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.

In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action other than any such loss or damage caused by the Trustee’s willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee by the Company or by any holder of the Notes.

Section 8.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

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Section 8.04. Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents or Registrar May Own Notes. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Note Registrar.

Section 8.05. Monies to Be Held in Trust. All monies received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as may be agreed from time to time by the Company and the Trustee.

Section 8.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to in writing between the Trustee and the Company, and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture in any capacity thereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall have been caused by its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee in any capacity under this Indenture and any other document or transaction entered into in connection herewith and its agents and any authenticating agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, its officers, directors, agents or employees, or such agent or authenticating agent, as the case may be, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or in any other capacity hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 8.06 to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a senior claim to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except, subject to the effect of Section 7.05, funds held in trust herewith for the benefit of the holders of particular Notes. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 8.06 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company (even though the Notes may be so subordinated). The obligation of the Company under this Section 8.06 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal or the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The indemnification provided in this Section 8.06 shall extend to the officers, directors, agents and employees of the Trustee and shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee and its agents and any authenticating agent incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(g) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

Section 8.07. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in

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the absence of gross negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness and bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such Officers’ Certificate, in the absence of gross negligence, willful misconduct, recklessness and bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 8.08. Conflicting Interests of Trustee. After qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, if the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either (a) eliminate such interest within ninety days, (b) apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee or (c) resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

Section 8.09. Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 8.10. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.

(a) The Trustee may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof to the Noteholders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within sixty days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Noteholders, the resigning Trustee may, upon ten Business Days’ notice to the Company and the Noteholders, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Noteholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 7.11, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 8.08 within a reasonable time after written request therefor by the Company or by any Noteholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months, or

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Noteholder, or

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

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then, in any such case, the Company may by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 7.11, any Noteholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, as determined in accordance with Section 9.04, may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee that shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee unless within ten days after notice to the Company of such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Noteholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in Section 8.10(a) provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee.

(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 8.10 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 8.11.

Section 8.11. Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 8.10 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act.

Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a senior claim to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by such trustee as such, except for funds held in trust for the benefit of holders of particular Notes, to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.06.

No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 8.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 8.08 and be eligible under the provisions of Section 8.09.

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 8.11, each of the Company and the successor trustee, at the written direction and at the expense of the Company, shall mail or cause to be mailed notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Noteholders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

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Section 8.12. Succession by Merger, Etc. Any corporation or other entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of this Indenture), shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that in the case of any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, such corporation or other entity shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 8.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 8.09.

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

Section 8.13. Limitation on Rights of Trustee as Creditor. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), after qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of the claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

Section 8.14. Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company (other than with regard to any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Trustee that affects the rights of the holders of the Notes under this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any officer that the Company has indicated to the Trustee should receive such application actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date), unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of any omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in accordance with this Indenture in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

ARTICLE 9

CONCERNING THE NOTEHOLDERS

Section 9.01. Action by Noteholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Notes may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action, the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Noteholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the

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record of the Noteholders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Noteholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article 10, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Noteholders. Whenever the Company or the Trustee solicits the taking of any action by the holders of the Notes, the Company or the Trustee may, but shall not be required to, fix in advance of such solicitation, a date as the record date for determining Noteholders entitled to take such action. The record date if one is selected shall be not more than fifteen days prior to the date of commencement of solicitation of such action.

Section 9.02. Proof of Execution by Noteholders. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, Section 8.02 and Section 10.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Noteholder or its agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register or by a certificate of the Note Registrar. The record of any Noteholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 10.06.

Section 9.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. The Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent and any Note Registrar may deem the Person in whose name a Note shall be registered upon the Note Register to be, and may treat it as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by any Person other than the Company or any Note Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and (subject to Section 2.03) accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on such Note, for conversion of such Note and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Conversion Agent nor any Note Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being, or upon its order, shall be valid and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for monies payable upon any such Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes following an Event of Default, any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may directly enforce against the Company, without the consent, solicitation, proxy, authorization or any other action of the Depositary or any other Person, such holder’s right to exchange such beneficial interest for a Note in certificated form in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Section 9.04. Company-Owned Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under this Indenture, Notes that are 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 for the purpose of any such determination; provided that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent, waiver or other action only Notes that a Responsible Officer knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 9.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to so act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to Section 8.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

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Section 9.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Noteholders Bound. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 9.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Notes specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Note that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Notes the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 9.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Note. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Note and of any Notes issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Note or any Note issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof.

ARTICLE 10

NOTEHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

Section 10.01. Purpose of Meetings. A meeting of Noteholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 for any of the following purposes:

(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee or to give any directions to the Trustee permitted under this Indenture, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Noteholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article 7;

(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 8;

(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.02; or

(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

Section 10.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Noteholders to take any action specified in Section 10.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Noteholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting and the establishment of any record date pursuant to Section 9.01, shall be mailed to holders of such Notes at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Such notice shall also be mailed to the Company. Such notices shall be mailed not less than twenty nor more than ninety days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

Any meeting of Noteholders shall be valid without notice if the holders of all Notes then outstanding are present in person or by proxy or if notice is waived before or after the meeting by the holders of all Notes outstanding, and if the Company and the Trustee are either present by duly authorized representatives or have, before or after the meeting, waived notice.

Section 10.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Noteholders. In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding those Notes identified in Section 9.04),

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shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Noteholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within twenty days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Noteholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 10.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 10.02.

Section 10.04. Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Noteholders a Person shall (a) be a holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Noteholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 10.05. Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Noteholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Noteholders as provided in Section 10.03, in which case the Company or the Noteholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting.

Subject to the provisions of Section 9.04, at any meeting of Noteholders each Noteholder or proxyholder shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by it or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating it as the proxy to vote on behalf of other Noteholders. Any meeting of Noteholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02 or Section 10.03 may be adjourned from time to time by the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented at the meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 10.06. Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Noteholders shall be by written ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Noteholders or of their representatives by proxy and the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Noteholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 10.02. The record shall show the principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or against any

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resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

Section 10.07. No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing contained in this Article 10 shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Noteholders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Noteholders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes.

ARTICLE 11

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 11.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Noteholders. The Company and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency in this Indenture or the Notes;

(b) to conform the terms of the Indenture or the Notes to the description thereof in the Offering Memorandum;

(c) to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture pursuant to Article 12;

(d) to add guarantees with respect to the Notes;

(e) to secure the Notes;

(f) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the benefit of the Noteholders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;

(g) to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any holder;

(h) to appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes; or

(i) to comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

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Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 11.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 11.02.

Section 11.02. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Noteholders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article 9) of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (determined in accordance with Article 9 and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Notes), the Company, when authorized by the resolutions of the Board of Directors and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Notes or waiving any past default; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall:

(a) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding necessary to modify or amend this Indenture or to waive any past Default or Event of Default;

(b) reduce the rate or extend the stated time for payment of interest, including Additional Interest, on any Note;

(d) make any change that impairs or adversely affects the conversion rights of any Notes;

(e) reduce the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of any Note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the holders of the Notes the Company’s obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

(f) make any Note payable in a currency other than that stated in the Note;

(g) change the ranking of the Notes;

(h) impair the right of any holder to receive payment of principal of and interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on such holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder’s Note; or

(i) make any change in this Article 11 that requires each holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions in Section 7.01 or Section 7.09,

in each case without the consent of each holder of an outstanding Note affected.

Upon the written request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Noteholders as aforesaid and subject to Section 11.05, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

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It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Noteholders under this Section 11.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. After an amendment under this Indenture becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

Section 11.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article 11 shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect; provided that this Section 11.03 shall not require such supplemental indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act prior to the time such qualification is in fact required under the terms of the Trust Indenture Act or this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, nor shall any such qualification constitute any admission or acknowledgment by any party to such supplemental indenture that any such qualification is required prior to the time such qualification is in fact required under the terms of the Trust Indenture Act or this Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 11, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Noteholders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 11.04. Notation on Notes. Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 11 may, at the Company’s expense, bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may, at the Company’s expense, be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee (or an authenticating agent duly appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 17.10) and delivered in exchange for the Notes then outstanding, upon surrender of such Notes then outstanding.

Section 11.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished to Trustee. In addition to the documents required by Section 17.05, the Trustee shall receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article 11 and is permitted or authorized by the Indenture.

ARTICLE 12

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

Section 12.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms. Subject to the provisions of Section 12.02, the Company shall not consolidate with, merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to another Person, unless:

(a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “Successor Company”), if not the Company, shall be a corporation, partnership, trust or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture; and

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

Upon any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture.

For purposes of this Section 12.01, the conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries of the Company to another Person, which properties and assets, if held by the Company instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to another Person.

Section 12.02. Successor Corporation to Be Substituted. In case of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and upon the assumption by the Successor Company, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on all of the Notes, the due and punctual delivery or payment, as the case may be, of any consideration due upon conversion of the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, such Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part. Such Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name any or all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor Company instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Notes that such Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Notes so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Notes theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Notes had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer (but not in the case of a lease), the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor that shall thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article 12 may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter and, except in the case of a lease, such Person shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Notes and from its obligations under this Indenture.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Notes thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

Section 12.03. Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee. The Company shall not effect any merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease referred to in Section 12.01 unless the Trustee shall receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such assumption and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, complies with the provisions of this Article 12.

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ARTICLE 13

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 13.01. Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Additional Interest, if any, on any Note, nor for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Note, nor because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer or director or Subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation or entity, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation or entity, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Notes.

ARTICLE 14

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

ARTICLE 15

CONVERSION OF NOTES

Section 15.01. Conversion Privilege.

(a) Upon compliance with the provisions of this Article 15, a Noteholder shall have the right, at such holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) of such Note (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 15.01(b), at any time prior to January 13, 2014 under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 15.01(b), and (ii) irrespective of the conditions set forth in Section 15.01(b), on or after January 13, 2014 and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, at an initial conversion rate (the “Conversion Rate”) of 21.0235 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.04 of this Indenture) per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (subject to the settlement provisions of Section 15.02, the “Conversion Obligation”).

(b)(i) Prior to the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, the Notes may be surrendered for conversion during the five Business Day period immediately after any five consecutive Trading Day period (the “Measurement Period”) in which the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for each day of such Measurement Period was less than 98% of the product of the then-applicable Conversion Rate on such Trading Day and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on such Trading Day. The Company shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price of the Notes unless a Noteholder provides the Company with reasonable evidence that the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes would be less than 98% of the product of the then-applicable Conversion Rate and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock at such time, at which time the Company shall determine, or shall instruct the Trustee to determine, the Trading Price of the Notes beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per Note is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the then-applicable Conversion Rate and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on such Trading Day. If the Company does not determine the Trading Price of the Notes as provided in the preceding sentence, then

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the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the then-applicable Conversion Rate. If the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Company shall so notify the Noteholders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent. If, at any time after the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than 98% of the product of the then-applicable Conversion Rate and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on such Trading Day, the Company shall so notify the holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent.

(ii) In the event that the Company elects to:

(A) distribute to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than sixty calendar days after the record date for such distribution, to subscribe for or purchase its Common Stock, at a price per share less than the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock for the Trading Day immediately preceding the declaration date for such distribution; or

(B) distribute to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock the Company’s assets, debt securities, or rights to purchase securities of the Company, which distribution has a per share value (as determined by the Board of Directors) exceeding 10% of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of declaration for such distribution,

then, in each case, the Company shall notify all holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent not less than thirty-five Business Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. Once the Company has given such notice, the Notes may be surrendered for conversion at any time until the earlier of (1) the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately prior to such Ex-Dividend Date and (2) the Company’s announcement that such distribution will not take place, even if the Notes are not otherwise convertible at such time. No Noteholder may exercise this right to convert if the Noteholder otherwise may participate in the distribution without conversion (based upon the then-applicable Conversion Rate and upon the same terms as holders of the Company’s Common Stock).

(iii) In the event of a Fundamental Change (determined without regard to the proviso to such definition) or a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, a Noteholder may surrender Notes for conversion at any time from and after the forty-fifth Business Day prior to the anticipated effective date of such Fundamental Change or a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, as the case may be, until the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date corresponding to such Fundamental Change (or, in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change that does not constitute a Fundamental Change by virtue of the parenthetical in the definition of Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the twenty-fifth Trading Day immediately following such effective date). The Company shall give notice of the anticipated effective date of any Fundamental Change or Make-Whole Fundamental Change, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after the Company first determines the anticipated effective date of such Fundamental Change or Make-Whole Fundamental Change, as the case may be, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make such determination in time to give such notice fifty Business Days in advance of such anticipated effective date; provided that the Company will not be required to give such notice more than fifty Business Days in advance of such anticipated effective date.

(iv) Prior to the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, the Notes may be surrendered for conversion in any Fiscal Quarter after the Fiscal Quarter ending

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December 31, 2009, and only during such Fiscal Quarter, if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock for at least twenty Trading Days in a period of thirty consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the last Trading Day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter is equal to or more than 130% of the then-applicable Conversion Price on the last day of such preceding Fiscal Quarter (such price, the “Conversion Trigger Price”). The Company shall determine, at the beginning of each Fiscal Quarter commencing after December 31, 2009, whether the Notes may be surrendered for conversion in accordance with this clause (iv) and shall notify the Trustee.

Section 15.02. Conversion Procedure.

(a) [Reserved]

(b) Subject to this Section 15.02, upon any conversion of any Note, the Company shall deliver to converting Noteholders, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, solely cash, solely shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common Stock (the “Settlement Amount”), at its election, as set forth in this Section 15.02.

(i) All conversions on or after January 13, 2014 will be settled using the same Settlement Method.

(ii) Prior to January 13, 2014, the Company will elect (or be deemed to have elected) the same Settlement Method for all conversions occurring on any given Conversion Date. Except for any conversions that occur on or after January 13, 2014, the Company need not elect the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions that occur on different Trading Days.

(iii) If, in respect of any Conversion Date (or the period beginning on, and including, January 13, 2014 and ending on, and including, the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, as the case may be), the Company elects to deliver a notice (the “Settlement Notice”) of the relevant Settlement Method in respect of such Conversion Date (or such period, as the case may be), the Company, through the Trustee, shall deliver such Settlement Notice to converting Noteholders no later than the second Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date. Such Settlement Notice shall specify whether the Company shall satisfy its Conversion Obligation by (A) delivering solely shares of Common Stock, (B) paying solely cash or (C) paying and delivering, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock. In the case of an election to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, the relevant Settlement Notice shall indicate the Specified Dollar Amount. If the Company does not deliver a Settlement Notice, the Company will be deemed to have elected to deliver a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock in respect of its Conversion Obligation, and the Specified Dollar Amount shall be deemed to be equal to $1,000. If the Company delivers a Settlement Notice electing to pay and deliver, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock in respect of its Conversion Obligation but does not indicate a Specified Dollar Amount in such Settlement Notice, the Specified Dollar Amount shall be deemed to be equal to $1,000.

(iv) The Settlement Amount in respect of any conversion of Notes shall be computed as follows:

(A) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by delivering solely Common Stock, the Company will deliver to the converting Noteholder a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (1)(i) the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be converted, divided by (ii) $1,000, multiplied by (2) the then-applicable Conversion Rate;

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(B) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by paying solely cash, the Company shall pay to the converting Noteholder, cash in an amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each of the forty consecutive Trading Days during the related Cash Settlement Averaging Period; and

(C) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by paying and delivering, as the case may be, a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, if any, the Company shall pay and deliver to the converting Noteholder, as the case may be, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, a Settlement Amount equal to the sum of the Daily Settlement Amounts for each of the forty consecutive Trading Days during the related Cash Settlement Averaging Period.

(v) The Company will also deliver to each converting Noteholder cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock as set forth pursuant to clause (l) below.

(vi) The Daily Settlement Amounts (if applicable) and the Daily Conversion Values (if applicable) shall be determined by the Company promptly following the last day of the Cash Settlement Averaging Period. Promptly after such determination of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash deliverable in lieu of fractional shares (if any), the Company shall notify the Trustee and the Conversion Agent of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash deliverable in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall have no responsibility for any such determination.

(d) Before any holder of a Note shall be entitled to convert the same as set forth above, such holder shall (i) in the case of a Global Note, comply with the procedures of the Depositary in effect at that time and, if required, pay funds equal to the amount of interest and Additional Interest, if any, payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 15.02(j) and, if required, all transfer or similar taxes, if any, and (ii) in the case of a Note issued in certificated form, (1) complete and manually sign and deliver an irrevocable notice to the Conversion Agent in the form on the reverse of such certificated Note (or a facsimile thereof) (Exhibit B hereto) (a “Notice of Conversion”) at the office of the Conversion Agent and shall state in writing therein the principal amount of Notes to be converted and the name or names (with addresses) in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for any shares of Common Stock, if any, to be delivered upon settlement of the Conversion Obligation to be registered, (2) surrender such Notes, duly endorsed to the Company or in blank (and accompanied by appropriate endorsement and transfer documents), at the office of the Conversion Agent, (3) if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 15.02(j), (4) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and (5) if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes, if any as set forth in Section 15.02(g). The Trustee (and if different, the relevant Conversion Agent) shall notify the Company of any conversion pursuant to this Article 15 on the date of such conversion. No Notice of Conversion with respect to any Notes may be surrendered by a holder thereof if such holder has also delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to the Company in respect of such Notes and not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 16.03, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

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If more than one Note shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same holder, the Conversion Obligation with respect to such Notes, if any, that shall be payable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted thereby) so surrendered.

(e) A Note shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the date (the “Conversion Date”) that the holder has complied with the requirements set forth in clause (d) of this Section 15.02. The Company shall pay and deliver, as the case may be, the cash and/or shares of Common Stock due in respect of its Conversion Obligation (i) for conversions that occur prior to January 13, 2014, on the third Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date, if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation solely in shares of Common Stock (provided that if calculating any adjustment to the Conversion Rate in accordance with Section 15.04 cannot be accomplished prior to such third Trading Day following the relevant Conversion Date, the Company shall deliver the additional shares of Common Stock resulting from that adjustment on the third Trading Day after the earliest Trading Day on which such calculation can be made and provided further that if application of this sentence would otherwise result in the settlement of a conversion during the 10 Trading Days immediately following the effective date of a Fundamental Change settlement will instead take place on the tenth Trading Day following that effective date), (ii) for conversions that occur on or after January 13, 2014 and if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation solely in shares of Common Stock, on the Maturity Date or (iii) by the third Trading Day immediately following the last Trading Day of the Cash Settlement Averaging Period, in the case of any other Settlement Method. If any shares of Common Stock are due to converting Noteholders, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued, and deliver to the Conversion Agent or to such Noteholder, or such Noteholder’s nominee or nominees, certificates or a book-entry transfer through the Depositary for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which such Noteholder shall be entitled in satisfaction of such Conversion Obligation.

(f) In case any Note shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the holder of the Note so surrendered, without charge to such holder, a new Note or Notes in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Note.

(g) If a holder submits a Note for conversion, the Company shall pay all stamp and other duties, if any, that may be imposed by the United States or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to the issuance of shares of Common Stock, if any, upon the conversion. However, the holder shall pay any such tax that is due because the holder requests any shares of Common Stock to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name. The Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock being issued in a name other than the holder’s name until the Trustee receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax that will be due because the shares are to be issued in a name other than the holder’s name. Nothing herein shall preclude any tax withholding required by law or regulations.

(h) Except as provided in Section 15.04, no adjustment shall be made for dividends on any shares issued upon the conversion of any Note as provided in this Article.

(i) Upon the conversion of an interest in a Global Note, the Trustee, or the Custodian at the direction of the Trustee, shall make a notation on such Global Note as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversion of Notes effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.

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(j) Upon conversion, a Noteholder shall not receive any additional cash payment for accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, except as set forth below. The Company’s settlement of the Conversion Obligations pursuant to Section 15.02 shall be deemed to satisfy its obligation to pay the principal amount of the Note and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the Conversion Date. As a result, accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to, but not including, the Conversion Date shall be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if Notes are converted after the close of business on a Interest Record Date, holders of such Notes as of the close of business on the Interest Record Date will receive the interest and Additional Interest, if any, payable on such Notes on the corresponding Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion of such Notes at any time after the close of business on the applicable Interest Record Date. Notes surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Interest Record Date to the opening of business on the corresponding Interest Payment Date must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the interest and Additional Interest, if any, payable on the Notes so converted; provided, however, that no such payment shall be required (1) if the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after a Interest Record Date but on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, (2) to the extent of any Defaulted Interest, if any, existing at the time of conversion with respect to such Note or (3) if the Notes are surrendered for conversion after the close of business on the Interest Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date. Except as set forth in this Section 15.02(j), no payment or adjustment will be made for accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on converted Notes.

(k) The Person in whose name the certificate for any shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion is registered shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date (if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation solely in shares of Common Stock) or the last Trading Day of the related Cash Settlement Averaging Period (in the case of any other Settlement Method), as the case may be; provided, however, if such Conversion Date or such last Trading Day of the Cash Settlement Averaging Period occurs on any date when the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed, such occurrence shall not be effective to constitute the Person or Persons entitled to receive any such shares of Common Stock due upon conversion as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on such date, but such occurrence shall be effective to constitute the Person or Persons entitled to receive such shares of Common Stock as the record holder or holders thereof for all purposes at the close of business on the next succeeding day on which such stock transfer books are open. Upon conversion of Notes, such Person shall no longer be a Noteholder.

(l) For each Note surrendered for conversion, if the Company has elected to deliver a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock in respect of its Conversion Obligation, the number of full shares that shall be issued upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate Daily Settlement Amounts for the applicable Cash Settlement Averaging Period and any fractional shares remaining after such computation shall be paid in cash. If more than one Note shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same holder, the number of full shares that shall be issued upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof) so surrendered. The Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes. Instead, the Company shall pay cash in lieu of fractional shares based on the Daily VWAP on the relevant Conversion Date (if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation solely in shares of Common Stock) or based on the Daily VWAP on the last Trading Day of the relevant Cash Settlement Averaging Period (in the case of any other Settlement Method).

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Section 15.03. Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes.

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Conversion Rate applicable to each Note that is surrendered for conversion, in accordance with this Article 15, at any time from, and including, the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change until, and including, the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date corresponding to such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, or the twenty-fifth Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change (in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change that does not constitute a Fundamental Change by virtue of the parenthetical in the definition of Make-Whole Fundamental Change) (such period, the “Make-Whole Fundamental Change Period”), shall be increased to an amount equal to the Conversion Rate that would, but for this Section 15.03, otherwise apply to such Note pursuant to this Article 15, plus an amount equal to the Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment.

As used herein, “Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment” shall mean, with respect to a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the amount set forth in the following table that corresponds to the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change and the Stock Price for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, all as determined by the Company:

Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment

(per $1,000 principal amount of Notes)


Stock Price
Effective Date	$	40.31	$	45.00	$	50.00	$	55.00	$	60.00	$	80.00	$	100.00	$	150.00	$	200.00	$	250.00
June 2, 2009		3.7842		3.2929		2.8910		2.5768		2.3250		1.6805		1.3386		0.9074		0.6793		0.5204
May 15, 2010		3.7842		3.1833		2.7520		2.4225		2.1636		1.5212		1.1717		0.7808		0.5942		0.4821
May 15, 2011		3.7842		3.0530		2.5700		2.2127		1.9407		1.3052		0.9967		0.6485		0.4841		0.3869
May 15, 2012		3.7842		2.8881		2.3132		1.9095		1.6176		1.0026		0.7511		0.4830		0.3614		0.2895
May 15, 2013		3.7842		2.5180		1.8088		1.3548		1.0589		0.5579		0.4104		0.2669		0.2004		0.1607
May 15, 2014		3.7842		1.1987		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000		0.0000

provided, however, that:

(i) if the actual Stock Price of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is between two Stock Prices listed in the table above under the row titled “Stock Price,” or if the actual Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is between two Effective Dates listed in the table above in the column immediately below the title “Effective Date,” then the Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment for such Make-Whole Fundamental Change shall be determined by the Company by straight-line interpolation between the Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment set forth for such higher and lower Stock Prices, or for such earlier and later Effective Dates based on a 365 day year, as applicable;

(ii) if the actual Stock Price of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is greater than $250.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Price as provided in clause (iii) below), or if the actual Stock Price of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is less than $40.31 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Price as

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provided in clause (iii) below), then the Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment shall be equal to zero and this Section 15.03 shall not require the Company to increase the Conversion Rate with respect to such Make-Whole Fundamental Change;

(iii) if an event occurs that requires, pursuant to this Article 15 (other than solely pursuant to this Section 15.03), an adjustment to the Conversion Rate, then, on the date and at the time such adjustment is so required to be made, each price set forth in the table above under the row titled “Stock Price” shall be deemed to be adjusted so that such Stock Price, at and after such time, shall be equal to the product of (1) such Stock Price as in effect immediately before such adjustment to such Stock Price and (2) a fraction whose numerator is the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before such adjustment to the Conversion Rate and whose denominator is the Conversion Rate to be in effect, in accordance with this Article 15, immediately after such adjustment to the Conversion Rate;

(iv) [Reserved];

(v) each Make-Whole Conversion Rate Adjustment set forth in the table above shall be adjusted in the same manner in which, at the same time and for the same events for which, the Conversion Rate is to be adjusted pursuant to Section 15.04; and

(vi) in no event will the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes exceed 24.8077 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 15.04.

(b) As soon as practicable after the Company determines the anticipated Effective Date of any proposed Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall mail to each Noteholder, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent written notice of, and shall issue a press release indicating, and publicly announce, through a public medium that is customary for such announcements, and publish on the Company’s website, the anticipated Effective Date of such proposed Make-Whole Fundamental Change and shall use commercially reasonable efforts in time to give such notice fifty Business Days in advance of such anticipated Effective Date; provided that the Company shall not be required to give such notice or issue such press release more than fifty Business Days in advance of such anticipated Effective Date. Each such press release notice, announcement and publication shall also state that in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall increase, in accordance herewith, the Conversion Rate applicable to Notes entitled as provided herein to such increase (along with a description of how such increase shall be calculated and the time periods during which Notes must be surrendered in order to be entitled to such increase). No later than five Business Days after the actual Effective Date of each Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall mail to each Noteholder, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent written notice of, and shall issue a press release indicating, and publicly announce, through a public medium that is customary for such announcements, and publish on the Company’s website, such Effective Date and the amount by which the Conversion Rate has been so increased.

Nothing in this Section 15.03 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 15.04 in respect of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

Section 15.04. Adjustment of Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company as follows:

(a) If the Company issues solely shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on all or substantially all of the shares of Common Stock, or if the Company effects a share split or share combination of the Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:


CR = CR₀	x	OS
CR = CR₀	x	OS₀

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where


CR₀	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the effective date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be;

CR	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the effective date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be;

OS₀	=	the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the effective date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be; and

OS	=	the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the effective date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be.

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or the effective date for such share split or share combination. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 15.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, or the outstanding shares of Common Stock are not split or combined, as the case may be, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, or split or combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, as the case may be, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination had not been declared or announced.

(b) If the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them for a period of not more than sixty days from the record date for such distribution to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock, at a price per share less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the ten consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the declaration date for such distribution, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:


CR = CR₀	x	OS₀ + X
CR = CR₀	x	OS₀ + Y

where



CR₀	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

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CR	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

OS₀	=	the number of shares of the Common Stock that are outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

X	=	the total number of shares of the Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and

Y	=	the number of shares of the Common Stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date relating to such distribution of such rights, options or warrants.

Such adjustment shall be successively made whenever any such rights, options or warrants are distributed and shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. To the extent that shares of the Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustments made upon the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution had not been fixed.

For purposes of this Section 15.04(b), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for each Trading Day in the applicable ten-consecutive-Trading Day period, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors. In no event shall the Conversion Rate be decreased pursuant to this Section 15.04(b).

(c) If the Company shall distribute shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness or other of its assets or property other than (i) dividends or distributions (including share splits) covered by Section 15.04(a) or Section 15.04(b), (ii) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash and covered by Section 15.04(d), and (iii) Spin-Offs to which the provisions set forth below in this Section 15.04(c) shall apply (any of such shares of Capital Stock, indebtedness, or other asset or property hereinafter in this Section 15.04(c) called the “Distributed Property”), to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock, then, in each such case the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:


CR = CR₀	x	SP₀
CR = CR₀	x	SP₀ - FMV

where



CR₀	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

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CR	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

SP₀	=	the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and

FMV	=	the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of the shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets or property distributed with respect to each outstanding share of the Common Stock as of the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; provided that if “FMV” as set forth above is equal to or greater than “SP₀” as set forth above, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provisions shall be made so that each Noteholder shall have the right to receive on conversion in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of the Notes held by such holder, in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate, the amount and kind of Distributed Property such holder would have received had such holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to the Record Date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. If the Board of Directors determines “FMV” for purposes of this Section 15.04(c) by reference to the actual or when issued trading market for any securities, it must in doing so consider the prices in such market over the same period used in computing the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 15.04(c) where there has been a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company (a “Spin-Off”), the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:


CR = CR₀	x	FMV₀ + MP₀
CR = CR₀	x	MP₀

where



CR₀	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off;

CR	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off;

FMV₀	=	the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Common Stock applicable to one share of the Common Stock over the first ten consecutive Trading Day period immediately following, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off (such period, the “Valuation Period”), and

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MP₀	=	the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the Valuation Period.

The adjustment to the Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.04(c) shall be made immediately after the opening of business on the day after the last day of the Valuation Period, but shall become effective as of the opening of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off. If the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off is less than ten Trading Days prior to, and including, the end of the Cash Settlement Averaging Period in respect of any conversion, if applicable, references within this Section 15.04(c) to ten Trading Days shall be deemed replaced, for purposes of calculating the affected daily Conversion Rates in respect of that conversion, with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off to, and including, the last Trading Day of such Cash Settlement Averaging Period. For purposes of determining the applicable Conversion Rate, in respect of any conversion during the ten Trading Days commencing on the Ex-Dividend Date of any Spin-Off, references in the portion of this Section 15.04(c) related to Spin-Offs to ten Trading Days shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin-Off to, but excluding, the Conversion Date for such conversion.

Subject in all respect to Section 15.10, rights, options or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of its Common Stock entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, including Common Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights, options or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”): (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of the Common Stock; (ii) are not exercisable; and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of the Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 15.04 (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 15.04 will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights and warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under this Section 15.04(c). If any such right, option or warrant, including any such existing rights, options or warrants distributed prior to the date of this Indenture, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights, options or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and Ex-Dividend Date with respect to new rights, options or warrants with such rights (and a termination or expiration of the existing rights, options or warrants without exercise by any of the holders thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights, options or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 15.04 was made, (1) in the case of any such rights, options or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights, options or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase, and (2) in the case of such rights, options or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options and warrants had not been issued.

For purposes of this Section 15.04(c), Section 15.04(a), and Section 15.04(b), any dividend or distribution to which this Section 15.04(c) is applicable that also includes shares of Common Stock, or rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock to which Section 15.04(b) applies (or both), shall be deemed instead to be (1) a dividend or distribution of the

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evidences of indebtedness, assets or shares of capital stock other than such shares of Common Stock or rights, options or warrants to which Section 15.04(c) applies (and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by this Section 15.04(c) with respect to such dividend or distribution shall then be made) immediately followed by (2) a dividend or distribution of such shares of Common Stock or such rights, options or warrants (and any further Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 15.04(a) and Section 15.04(b) with respect to such dividend or distribution shall then be made), except (A) the Ex-Dividend Date of such dividend or distribution shall be substituted as “the Ex-Dividend Date,” “the Ex-Dividend Date relating to such distribution of such rights, options or warrants” and “the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution” within the meaning of Section 15.04(a) and Section 15.04(b) and (B) any shares of Common Stock included in such dividend or distribution shall not be deemed “outstanding immediately prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or the effective date of such share split or share combination, as the case may be” within the meaning of Section 15.04(a) or “outstanding immediately prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution” within the meaning of Section 15.04(b).

In no event shall the Conversion Rate be decreased pursuant to this Section 15.04(c).

(d) If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of its outstanding Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:


CR = CR₀	x	SP₀
CR = CR₀	x	SP₀ - C

where



CR₀	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;

CR	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;

SP₀	=	the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and

C	=	the amount in cash per share the Company pays or distributes to holders of its Common Stock.

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; provided that if “C” as set forth above is equal to or greater than “SP0” as set forth above, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Noteholder shall have the right to receive on the date on which the relevant cash dividend or distribution is distributed to holders of Common Stock, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, the amount of cash such holder would have received had such holder owned a number of shares equal to the Conversion Rate on the Record Date for such distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

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For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 15.04(d), in the event of any reclassification of the Common Stock, as a result of which the Notes become convertible into more than one class of Common Stock, if an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required pursuant to this Section 15.04(d), references in this Section to one share of Common Stock or Last Reported Sale Prices of one share of Common Stock shall be deemed to refer to a unit or to the price of a unit consisting of the number of shares of each class of Common Stock into which the Notes are then convertible equal to the numbers of shares of such class issued in respect of one share of Common Stock in such reclassification. The above provisions of this paragraph shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications.

In no event shall the Conversion Rate be decreased pursuant to this Section 15.04(d).

(e) If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for the Common Stock and if the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of the Common Stock exceeds the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading-Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (the “Expiration Date”), the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:


CR = CR₀	x	AC + (SP x OS)
CR = CR₀	x	OS₀ x SP

where



CR₀	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date;

CR	=	the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date;

AC	=	the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) paid or payable for shares of Common Stock purchased in such tender or exchange offer;

OS₀	=	the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to such tender offer or exchange offer);

OS	=	the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (after giving effect to such tender offer or exchange offer); and

SP	=	the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date.

Such adjustment under this Section 15.04(e) shall become effective at the opening of business on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date. If the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date is less than ten Trading Days prior to, and including, the end of the Cash Settlement Averaging Period in respect of any conversion, references within this Section 15.04(e) to ten Trading Days shall be deemed replaced, for purposes of calculating the affected daily Conversion Rates in respect of that

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conversion, with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date to, and including, the last Trading Day of such Cash Settlement Averaging Period. For purposes of determining the applicable Conversion Rate, in respect of any conversion during the ten Trading Days commencing on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date, references within this Section 15.04(e) to ten Trading Days shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date to, but excluding, the Conversion Date for such conversion. If the Company is obligated to purchase shares pursuant to any such tender or exchange offer, but the Company is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any or all or any portion of such purchases or all such purchases are rescinded, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such tender or exchange offer had not been made or had been made only in respect of the purchases that had been effected. In no event shall the Conversion Rate be decreased pursuant to this Section 15.04(e).

(f) The term “Record Date” shall mean, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of Common Stock (or other security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock (or other applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors or by statute, contract or otherwise).

(g) Except as stated herein, the Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate for the issuance of shares of its Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its Common Stock or the right, option or warrant to purchase shares of its Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities.

(h) Notwithstanding this Section 15.04 or any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes, if any Conversion Rate adjustment becomes effective, or any Ex-Dividend Date for any issuance, dividend or distribution (relating to a required Conversion Rate adjustment) occurs, during the period beginning on, and including, the open of business on a Conversion Date and ending on, and including, (x) the close of business on the third Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date (if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation solely in shares of Common Stock) or (y) the close of business on the last Trading Day of a related Cash Settlement Averaging Period (in the case of any other Settlement Method), the Board of Directors shall make adjustments to the Conversion Rate and the amount of cash or number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, as the case may be, as are necessary or appropriate to effect the intent of this Section 15.04 and the other provisions of this Article 15 and to avoid unjust or inequitable results, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 15.04(h) shall apply in lieu of the adjustment or other term that would otherwise be applicable.

(i) In addition to those required by clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 15.04, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of the New York Stock Exchange, the Company from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least twenty Business Days if the Board of Directors determines that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest. In addition, the Company may also (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock in connection with any dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event. Whenever the Conversion Rate is increased pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company shall mail to the holder of each Note at its last address appearing on the Note Register provided for in Section 2.06 a notice of the increase at least fifteen days prior to the date the increased Conversion Rate takes effect, and such notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period during which it will be in effect.

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(j) The Company shall not take any action that would result in adjustment of the Conversion Rate, pursuant to this Article 15, in such a manner as to result in the reduction of the Conversion Price to less than the par value per share of Common Stock.

(k) The applicable Conversion Rate will not be adjusted:

(i) upon the issuance of any shares of the Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of the Common Stock under any plan;

(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of the Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of, or assumed by, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

(iii) upon the issuance of any shares of the Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in clause (ii) of this subsection and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued;

(iv) for a change in the par value of the Common Stock;

(v) for accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any; or

(vi) for any transactions described in this Section 15.04 if Noteholders participate (as a result of holding the Notes, and at the same time as holders of Common Stock participate) in such transactions as if such Noteholders held a number shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate at the time such adjustment would be required, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Noteholder, without having to convert their Notes.

(l) All calculations and other determinations under this Article 15 shall be made by the Company and shall be made to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000) of a share.

(m) The Company shall not be required to make an adjustment in the Conversion Rate unless the adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the Conversion Rate. However, the Company shall carry forward any adjustments that are less than 1% of the Conversion Rate and make such carried forward adjustment, regardless of whether the aggregate adjustment is less than 1%, (i) upon any conversion of Notes, and (ii) on each of the forty-two Scheduled Trading Days immediately preceding the Maturity Date.

(n) Except as set forth in this Article 15, the Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate.

(o) Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee and any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such

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Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and shall mail such notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate to the holder of each Note at its last address appearing on the Note Register provided for in Section 2.06 of this Indenture, within ten days of the effective date of such adjustment. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment.

(p) If, in respect of any Trading Day within the Cash Settlement Averaging Period for a converted Security:

(i) shares of Common Stock are deliverable with respect to the Daily Settlement Amount for such Trading Day in accordance with this Article 15;

(ii) any event that requires an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under any of clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 15.04 has not resulted in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate as of such Trading Day; and

(iii) the shares of Common Stock the holder of such Note shall receive in respect of such Trading Day are not entitled to participate in the distribution or transaction giving rise to such adjustment event because, pursuant to the terms of Section 15.02(k), such shares were not held by such holder on the record date corresponding to such distribution or transaction,

then the Company will adjust the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable with respect to the Daily Settlement Amount for such Trading Day to reflect the relevant distribution or transaction.

(q) If:

(i) the Company elects to satisfy the Conversion Obligation solely in shares of Common Stock;

(iii) the shares of Common Stock the holder of such Note shall receive on settlement are not entitled to participate in the distribution or transaction giving rise to such adjustment event because, pursuant to the terms of Section 15.02(k), such shares were not held by such holder on the record date corresponding to such distribution or transaction,

then the Company will adjust the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable with respect to the relevant Trading Day to reflect the relevant distribution or transaction.

(r) For purposes of this Section 15.04, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company will not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

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Section 15.05. Shares to Be Fully Paid. The Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares or shares held in treasury, sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion.

Section 15.06. Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale. Upon the occurrence of (i) any reclassification or change of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a split, subdivision or combination covered by Section 15.04(a)), (ii) any consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company, or (iii) any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company to any other Person, in each case as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock (any such event a “Merger Event”), then:

(a) the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture (which shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture if such supplemental indenture is then required to so comply) permitted under Section 11.01(g) providing for the conversion and settlement of the Notes as set forth in this Indenture. Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article 15. If, in the case of any Merger Event, the Reference Property includes shares of stock or other securities and assets of a corporation other than the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other corporation and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the holders of the Notes as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing, including to the extent required by the Board of Directors and practicable the provisions providing for the repurchase rights set forth in Article 16 herein.

In the event the Company shall execute a supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section 15.06, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of cash, securities or property or asset that will comprise the Reference Property after any such Merger Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent have been complied with, and shall promptly mail notice thereof to all Noteholders. The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each Noteholder, at its address appearing on the Note Register provided for in this Indenture, within twenty days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 15.02(b), and subject to the provisions of Section 15.01 and Section 15.03, at and after the effective time of such Merger Event, (i) the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock at the Company’s election as set forth in Section 15.02 will be changed to a right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of such Note into cash, the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such transaction would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property”) or a combination of cash and Reference Property at the Company’s election and (ii) the related Conversion Obligation shall be settled as set forth under clause (c) below, it being understood and agreed that for purposes of Section 15.01(b), references

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therein to “the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock” shall be deemed at and after the effective time of such Merger Event to be references to “the Last Reported Sale Price of a unit of Reference Property comprised of the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive based on the Weighted Average Consideration” and references therein to “the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock” shall be deemed at and after the effective time of such Merger Event to be references to “the Daily VWAP of a unit of Reference Property comprised of the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive based on the Weighted Average Consideration.” The Company shall not become a party to any Merger Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 15.06. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a holder of Notes to convert its Notes into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, as set forth in Section 15.01 and Section 15.02 prior to the effective date of such Merger Event.

(c) With respect to each $1,000 principal amount of Notes surrendered for conversion after the effective date of any such Merger Event, the Company’s Conversion Obligation shall be settled in cash or units of Reference Property, at the Company’s election, in accordance with Section 15.02(b) as follows:

(i) (A) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by delivering solely Reference Property, the Company shall deliver to the converting Noteholder a number of units of Reference Property (each such unit comprised of the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive based on the Weighted Average Consideration) equal to (1) the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be converted, divided by $1,000, multiplied by (2) the then-applicable Conversion Rate; (B) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by paying solely cash, the Company shall pay to the converting Noteholder cash in an amount, per $1,000 principal amount of Notes equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each of the forty consecutive Trading Days during the related Cash Settlement Averaging Period, such Daily Conversion Values determined as if the reference to “the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock” in definition thereof were instead a reference to “the Daily VWAP of a unit of Reference Property comprised of the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive based on the Weighted Average Consideration”; and (C) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation through delivery of a combination of cash and Reference Property, the Company shall deliver in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, a Settlement Amount equal to the sum of the Daily Settlement Amounts for each of the forty consecutive Trading Days during the Cash Settlement Averaging Period for such Note, such Daily Settlement Amounts determined as if the reference to “the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock” in definition of Daily Conversion Value and Daily Share Amount were instead a reference to “the Daily VWAP of a unit of Reference Property comprised of the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive based on the Weighted Average Consideration.”

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(ii) The Company will deliver the cash in lieu of fractional units of Reference Property as set forth pursuant to Section 15.02(l) (provided that the amount of such cash shall be determined as if references in such Section to “the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock” were instead a reference to “the Daily VWAP of a unit of Reference Property composed of the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of one share of Common Stock immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive based on the Weighted Average Consideration”).

(iii) The Daily Settlement Amounts (if applicable) and Daily Conversion Values (if applicable) shall be determined by the Company promptly following the last day of the Cash Settlement Averaging Period.

(iv) For purposes of this Section 15.06, the “Weighted Average Consideration” shall mean the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of the Common Stock entitled to receive cash, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock in any Merger Event who affirmatively make such an election.

(v) The Company shall notify the holders of the Weighted Average Consideration as soon as practicable after the Weighted Average Consideration is determined.

(d) The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Merger Events.

Section 15.07. Certain Covenants.

(a) The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Notes will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

(b) The Company covenants that, if any shares of Common Stock to be provided for the purpose of conversion of Notes hereunder require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any federal or state law before such shares may be validly issued upon conversion, the Company will, to the extent then permitted by the rules and interpretations of the Commission, secure such registration or approval, as the case may be.

(c) The Company further covenants that if at any time the Common Stock shall be listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Company will list and keep listed, so long as the Common Stock shall be so listed on such exchange or automated quotation system, any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes.

Section 15.08. Responsibility of Trustee. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Noteholder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such

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adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 15.06 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Noteholders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 15.06 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 8.01, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officers’ Certificate (which the Company shall be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event contemplated by Section 15.01(b) has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent the notices referred to in Section 15.01(b) with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notices to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent immediately after the occurrence of any such event or at such other times as shall be provided for in Section 15.01(b).

Section 15.09. Notice to Noteholders Prior to Certain Actions. In case:

(a) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 15.04; or

(b) the Company shall authorize the granting to all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any share of any class or any other rights, options or warrants; or

(c) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value), or of any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any stockholders of the Company is required, or of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

(d) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and to be mailed to each Noteholder at its address appearing on the Note Register, provided for in Section 2.06 of this Indenture, as promptly as possible but in any event at least twenty days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or rights, options or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution or rights are to be determined, or (ii) the date on which such

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reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

Section 15.10. Stockholder Rights Plans. To the extent that the Company has a stockholder rights plan or other “poison pill” in effect upon conversion of the Notes, each share of Common Stock, if any, issued upon such conversion shall be entitled to receive the appropriate number of rights, if any, and the certificates representing the Common Stock issued upon such conversion shall bear such legends, if any, in each case as may be provided by the terms of any such stockholder rights plan or poison pill, as the same may be amended from time to time. If, however, prior to the time of conversion, the rights have separated from the shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable stockholder rights agreement so that the holders of the Notes would not be entitled to receive any rights in respect of Common Stock, if any, issuable upon conversion of the Notes, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company has distributed to all holders of Common Stock, shares of Capital Stock of the Company, evidence of indebtedness or assets as provided in Section 15.04(c), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

Section 15.11. Exchange in Lieu of Conversion. When a holder surrenders its Notes for conversion, the Company may, at its election, direct the Conversion Agent to surrender, on or prior to the second Business Day following the relevant Conversion Date, such Notes to a financial institution designated by the Company (the “Designated Institution”) for exchange in lieu of conversion. In order to accept any Notes surrendered for conversion for exchange in lieu of conversion, the Designated Institution must agree to timely deliver, in exchange for such Notes, the shares of Common stock and/or cash that would otherwise be due upon conversion pursuant to Section 15.02 and in respect of which the Company has notified converting Noteholders. If the Company makes the election provided for in this Section 15.11, the Company shall, by the close of business on the second Business Day following the relevant Conversion Date as part of its Settlement Notice, notify the holder surrendering its Notes for conversion that it has made such election. In addition, the Company shall concurrently notify the Designated Institution of the Settlement Method (and, if applicable, the Specified Dollar Amount) that Company has elected with respect to such conversion and the relevant deadline for delivery of the consideration due upon conversion. Any Notes exchanged by the Designated Institution will remain outstanding.

If the Designated Institution agrees to accept any Notes for exchange but does not timely deliver the related consideration due upon conversion to the Conversion Agent, or if the Designated Institution does not accept such Notes for exchange, the Company shall, within the time period specified in Section 15.02(e), convert such Notes into cash and/or shares of Common Stock, as applicable in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.02.

For the avoidance of doubt, in no event will the Company’s designation of a Designated Institution pursuant to this Section 15.11 require the Designated Institution to accept any Notes for exchange.

ARTICLE 16

REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 16.01. [Reserved]

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Section 16.02. Repurchase at Option of Noteholders upon a Fundamental Change. (a) If there shall occur a Fundamental Change at any time prior to the Maturity Date, then each Noteholder shall have the right, at such holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such holder’s Notes, or any portion thereof that is an integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount, on the date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) specified by the Company that is not less than twenty Business Days and not more than thirty-five Business Days after the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice (as defined below) at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest, including unpaid Additional Interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”), unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is after an Interest Record Date and on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, in which case interest accrued to the Interest Payment Date will be paid to holders of the Notes as of the preceding Interest Record Date and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price payable to the holder surrendering the Note for repurchase pursuant to this Article 16 shall be equal to the principal amount of Notes subject to repurchase and will not include any accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any. Repurchases of Notes under this Section 16.02 shall be made, at the option of the holder thereof, upon:

(i) delivery to the Paying Agent by a holder of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note as Exhibit C thereto on or prior to the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and

(ii) delivery or book-entry transfer of the Notes to the Paying Agent at any time after delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) at the office of the Paying Agent, such delivery being a condition to receipt by the holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor; provided that such Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 16.02 only if the Note so delivered to the Paying Agent shall conform in all respects to the description thereof in the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.

The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall state:

(A) if certificated, the certificate numbers of Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

(B) the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

(C) that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;

provided, however, that if the Notes are not in certificated form, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depositary procedures.

Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 16.02 shall be consummated by the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price pursuant to Section 16.04(a).

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 16.02 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date in accordance with Section 16.03.

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The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

(b) On or before the twentieth calendar day after the occurrence of the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall mail or cause to be mailed to all holders of record of the Notes a notice (the “Fundamental Change Company Notice”) of, and issue a press release in respect of, the occurrence of the effective date of the Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right at the option of the holders arising as a result thereof. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The Company shall also deliver a copy of the Fundamental Change Company Notice to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent within five Business Days after the effective date of the Fundamental Change. Simultaneously with the providing of such notice, the Company will also publish a notice containing the information set forth in the Fundamental Change Company Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time. Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:

(i) the events causing the Fundamental Change;

(ii) the effective date of the Fundamental Change, and whether the Fundamental Change is a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, in which case the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change;

(iii) the last date on which a holder may exercise the repurchase right pursuant to this Article 16;

(iv) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

(v) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

(vi) if applicable, the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

(vii) if applicable, the applicable Conversion Rate, and any adjustments to the applicable Conversion Rate;

(viii) if applicable, that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a holder may be converted only if the holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

(ix) that the holder must exercise the repurchase right on or prior to the close of business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the “Fundamental Change Expiration Time”);

(x) that the holder shall have the right to withdraw any Notes surrendered prior to the Fundamental Change Expiration Time; and

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(xi) the procedures that holders must follow to require the Company to repurchase their Notes.

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Noteholders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 16.02.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company at the option of the holders upon a Fundamental Change if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes).

(d) In connection with any purchase offer, the Company will:

(i) comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act, if required under the Exchange Act,

(ii) file a Schedule TO or any successor or similar schedule, if required under the Exchange Act, and

(iii) otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any offer by the Company to purchase the Notes.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Indenture, compliance by the Company with Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rule under the Exchange Act in accordance with clause (i) above, to the extent inconsistent with any other provision of this Indenture, will not, standing alone, constitute an Event of Default solely as a result of compliance by the Company with such rules.

Notwithstanding the foregoing the Company shall not be required to repurchase the Notes in accordance with this Section 16.02 if a third party makes an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 16.02 and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such purchase offer.

Section 16.03. Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.

(a) A Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 16.03 at any time prior to the close of business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, specifying:

(i) the certificate number, if any, of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, or the appropriate Depositary information if the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted is represented by a Global Note,

(ii) the principal amount of the Note with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and

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(iii) the principal amount, if any, of such Note that remains subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which portion must be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000;

provided, however, that if the Notes are not in certificated form, the withdrawal notice must comply with appropriate procedures of the Depositary.

Section 16.04. Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

(a) The Company will deposit with the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company, or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 5.04) on or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date an amount of cash sufficient to repurchase all of the Notes to be repurchased at the appropriate Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Subject to receipt of funds and/or Notes by the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), payment for Notes surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn prior to the Fundamental Change Expiration Time) will be made on the later of (i) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date with respect to such Note (provided the holder has satisfied the conditions in Section 16.02) and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by the holder thereof in the manner required by Section 16.02 by mailing checks for the amount payable to the holders of such Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear in the Note Register, provided, however, that payments to the Depositary shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. The Trustee shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

(b) If by 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) holds money sufficient to make payment on all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be repurchased as a result of the corresponding Fundamental Change, then (i) such Notes will cease to be outstanding, (ii) interest, including Additional Interest, if any, will cease to accrue on such Notes, and (iii) all other rights of the holders of such Notes will terminate (other than the right to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, and previously accrued but unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, upon delivery of the Notes), whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes has been made or the Notes have been delivered to the Trustee or Paying Agent.

(c) Upon surrender of a Note that is to be repurchased in part pursuant to Section 16.02, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the holder a new Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unrepurchased portion of the Note surrendered.

ARTICLE 17

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 17.01. Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

Section 17.02. Official Acts by Successor Corporation. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation or other entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

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Section 17.03. Addresses for Notices, Etc. Any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Noteholders on the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) to Alliance Data Systems Corporation, 17655 Waterview Parkway, Dallas, Texas 75252, Attention: General Counsel with a copy to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, 1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 4100, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attention: Joseph L. Motes III. Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to the Corporate Trust Office.

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

Any notice or communication mailed to a Noteholder shall be mailed to it by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register and shall be sufficiently given to it if so mailed within the time prescribed.

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

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to holders by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Note, where this Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event to a holder of a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee), pursuant to customary procedures of such Depositary.

Section 17.04. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF).

Section 17.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee.

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

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

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

(b) Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

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

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

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

(iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of each such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that, with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificates of public officials.

Section 17.06. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Conversion Date or Maturity Date is not be a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such date.

Section 17.07. No Security Interest Created. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.

Section 17.08. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, any authenticating agent, any Note Registrar and their successors hereunder or the Noteholders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section 17.09. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

Section 17.10. Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that shall be authorized to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Notes in connection with the original issuance thereof and transfers and exchanges of Notes hereunder, including under Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 2.08, Section 11.04 and Section 16.04 as fully to all intents and purposes as though the authenticating agent had been expressly authorized by this Indenture and those Sections to authenticate and deliver Notes. For all purposes of this Indenture, the authentication and delivery of Notes by the authenticating agent shall be deemed to be authentication and delivery of such Notes “by the Trustee” and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement hereunder or in the Notes for the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. Such authenticating agent shall at all times be a Person eligible to serve as trustee hereunder pursuant to Section 8.09.

Any corporation or other entity into which any authenticating agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any authenticating agent shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to the corporate trust business of any authenticating agent, shall be the successor of the authenticating agent hereunder, if such successor corporation or other entity is otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or the authenticating agent or such successor corporation or other entity.

Any authenticating agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any authenticating agent by giving written notice of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor authenticating agent (which may be the Trustee), shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all Noteholders as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Note Register.

The Company agrees to pay to the authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services although the Company may terminate the authenticating agent, if it determines such agent’s fees to be unreasonable.

The provisions of Section 8.02, Section 8.03, Section 8.04, Section 9.03 and this Section 17.10 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.

If an authenticating agent is appointed pursuant to this Section, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:


		,
as Authenticating Agent, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture.


By:
Authorized Officer

Section 17.11. Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 17.12. Severability. In the event any provision of this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then (to the extent permitted by law) the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

Section 17.13. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

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Section 17.14. 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 that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

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


ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

By:		/s/ Alan M. Utay
Name:		Alan M. Utay
Title:		Executive Vice President and General Counsel

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

By:		/s/ Roxane Ellwanger
Name:		Roxane Ellwanger
Title:		Assistant Vice President

[CONVERTIBLE NOTES INDENTURE]

EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.]¹

[THE SALE OF THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND ACCORDINGLY, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER AGREES (1) THAT IT WILL NOT WITHIN THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF NOTES (INCLUDING THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES) AND (Y) 90 DAYS AFTER IT CEASES TO BE AN AFFILIATE (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”), OFFER, RESELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE NOTES EVIDENCED HEREBY OR THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF SUCH NOTES, EXCEPT: (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF; (B) UNDER A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; (C) TO A PERSON THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A (IF AVAILABLE); OR (D) UNDER ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, INCLUDING RULE 144, IF AVAILABLE; AND (2) THAT IT WILL, PRIOR TO ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE WITHIN THE LATER OF (X) SIX MONTHS (OR, IF THE COMPANY HAS NOT SATISFIED THE CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144, ONE YEAR) AFTER THE LAST DATE OF ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF NOTES (INCLUDING THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL NOTES) AND (Y) 90 DAYS AFTER IT CEASES TO BE AN AFFILIATE (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144 ADOPTED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY, FURNISH TO THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THEY MAY REQUIRE AND MAY RELY UPON TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION

¹	Use bracketed language for a Global Note.

A-1

REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. IN ANY EVENT, NO AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY MAY RESELL THIS NOTE OTHER THAN UNDER A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IN A TRANSACTION THAT RESULTS IN SUCH NOTE NO LONGER BEING “RESTRICTED SECURITIES” (AS DEFINED UNDER RULE 144).]²

²	Use bracketed language for Restricted Securities.

A-2

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

4.75% Convertible Senior Note due 2014


No. [ ]		$[ ]

CUSIP No. 018581AB4

Alliance Data Systems Corporation, a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation or other entity under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to [CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns,]³ the principal sum of [ ] Dollars, [as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Note attached hereto,]⁴ on May 15, 2014, interest thereon as set forth below and Additional Interest in the manner, at the rates and to the Persons set forth in Sections 5.06(d), 5.06(e) and 7.03, as applicable, of the Indenture.

The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of 4.75% per annum (subject to increase pursuant to Sections 5.06(d), 5.06(e) and 7.03, as applicable, of the Indenture) from June 2, 2009 until May 15, 2014. The Company will pay interest semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on November 15, 2009, to holders of record at the close of business on the preceding May 1 and November 1 (whether or not such day is a Business Day), respectively. Interest on the Note will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid, or, if no interest has been paid on the Note, from June 2, 2009.

Payment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, on this Note shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such lawful money of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that any payment to the Depositary or its nominee shall be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds in accordance with the wire transfer instruction supplied by the Depositary or its nominee from time to time to the Trustee and Paying Agent (if different from Trustee).

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, including, without limitation, provisions giving the holder of this Note the right to convert this Note into cash, shares of Common Stock of the Company or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, on the terms and subject to the limitations set forth in the Indenture. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

This Note shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of said State (without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof).

³	Use bracketed language for a Global Note.

⁴	Use bracketed language for a Global Note.

A-3

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent under the Indenture.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

A-4

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.


ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

By:
Name:
Title:

Dated:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture.


By:
		Authorized Officer

A-5

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

4.75% Convertible Senior Note due 2014

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Notes”), limited to the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 (as increased by the aggregate principal amount of any additional Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to their option to purchase additional Notes set forth in the Purchase Agreement) all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of June 2, 2009 (as such may be amended from time to time, the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Notes. Additional Notes may be issued in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture.

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of and interest, including Additional Interest, if any, on all Notes may be declared, by either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, and upon said declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company will make all payments and deliveries in respect of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and the principal amount on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the holder who surrenders a Note to a Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Note. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee in certain circumstances, without the consent of the holders of the Notes, and in other circumstances, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures modifying the terms of the Indenture and the Notes as described therein. It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain exceptions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, and Additional Interest, if any, on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the lawful money herein prescribed.

The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples thereof. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, without payment of any service charge but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessments or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the holder of the new Notes issued upon such exchange of Notes being different from the name of the holder of the old Notes surrendered for such exchange.

A-6

The Notes are not subject to redemption through the operation of any sinking fund or otherwise.

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the holder has the right, at such holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the holder hereof has the right, at its option, during certain periods and upon the occurrence of certain conditions specified in the Indenture, prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, to convert any Notes or portion thereof that is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, at a Conversion Rate specified in the Indenture, as adjusted from time to time as provided in the Indenture.

Terms used in this Note and defined in the Indenture are used herein as therein defined.

A-7

ABBREVIATIONS

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


TEN COM -as tenants in common	UNIF GIFT MIN ACT

		Custodian
	(Cust)

TEN ENT -as tenants by the entireties
	(Minor)
JT TEN -as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common	Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
		(State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used

though not in the above list.

A-8

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE ⁵

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $[ ]. The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:


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

⁵	For Global Notes only.

A-9

EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]

To: ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby exercises the option to convert this Note, or the portion hereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, and directs that any shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable upon such conversion, together with any cash comprising the Daily Conversion Values or a portion of the Daily Settlement Amounts for each of the forty Trading Days during the Cash Settlement Averaging Period and for any fractional shares, and any Notes representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any shares of Common Stock or any portion of this Note not converted are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect thereto. Any amount required to be paid to the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Note.


Dated:


						Signature(s)

Signature Guarantee

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible

Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers,

savings and loan associations and credit

unions) with membership in an approved signature

guarantee medallion program pursuant to

Securities and Exchange Commission Rule

17Ad-15 if shares of Common Stock are to be

issued, or Notes to be delivered, other than to and

in the name of the registered holder.

B-1

Fill in for registration of shares if to be issued, and Notes if to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder:

(Name)

(Street Address)

(City, State and Zip Code)

Please print name and address

Principal amount to be converted (if less than all): $ ,000

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

B-2

EXHIBIT C

[FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE]

To: ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from Alliance Data Systems Corporation (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to repay to the registered holder hereof in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not fall during the period after an Interest Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

In the case of certificated Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be repurchased are as set forth below:


Dated:

Signature(s)

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): $ ,000

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

C-1

EXHIBIT D

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

For value received hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

In connection with any transfer of the within Note occurring prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, as defined in the Indenture governing such Note, the undersigned confirms that such Note is being transferred:

¨	To Alliance Data Systems Corporation or a subsidiary thereof; or

¨	Pursuant to the registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

¨	Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

¨	Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

¨	Pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

D-1


Dated:



Signature(s)


Signature Guarantee

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15 Notes are to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.

NOTICE: The signature on the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

D-2

Purchase Agreement dated may 27, 2009

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

$300,000,000 AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

Alliance Data Systems Corporation

4.75% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES

DUE 2014

Purchase Agreement

dated May 27, 2009

Purchase Agreement

May 27, 2009

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH


		INCORPORATED

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

383 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor

New York, New York 10179

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

as Representatives of the several Initial Purchasers

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Alliance Data Systems Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several purchasers named in Schedule A (the “Initial Purchasers”) $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Firm Notes”). In addition, the Company has granted to the Initial Purchasers an option to purchase up to an additional $45,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 4.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2014 (the “Optional Notes” and, together with the Firm Notes, the “Notes”), as provided in Section 2. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc. agreed to act as representatives of the several Initial Purchasers (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes. To the extent that there are no additional Initial Purchasers listed on Schedule A other than you, the terms Representatives and Initial Purchasers as used herein shall mean you, as Initial Purchasers.

The Notes will be convertible on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth therein and in the indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), on the Closing Date (as defined herein). As used herein, “Conversion Shares” means the fully paid, non-assessable shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) to be received by the holders of the Notes upon conversion of the Notes pursuant to the terms of the Notes and the Indenture. The Notes will be convertible initially at a conversion rate of 21.0235 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Notes and the Indenture.

The Notes will be offered and sold to the Initial Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder (the “Securities Act”), in reliance upon an exemption therefrom.

In connection with the offering of the Notes, the Company is entering into convertible note hedge and warrant transactions with one or more of the Initial Purchasers or affiliates thereof pursuant to confirmation letters, dated the date hereof, to the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Hedge and Warrant Documentation”) and a prepaid forward agreement with one or more of the Initial Purchasers or their respective affiliates, dated the date hereof, to the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Prepaid Forward Agreement”). This Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes, the Hedge and Warrant Documentation and the Prepaid Forward Agreement are referred to herein collectively as the “Operative Documents.”

The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an offering of the Notes on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and in the Disclosure Package (as defined below), including the Preliminary Offering Memorandum (as defined below), and the Final Offering Memorandum (as defined below) and agrees that the Initial Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a portion of the Notes to purchasers (the “Subsequent Purchasers”) at any time after the date of this Agreement.

The Company has prepared an offering memorandum, dated the date hereof, setting forth information concerning the Company, the Notes and the Common Stock, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers. As used in this Agreement, “Offering Memorandum” means, collectively, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum dated May 26, 2009 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”) and the offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “Final Offering Memorandum”), each as then amended or supplemented by the Company. As used herein, each of the terms “Disclosure Package,” “Offering Memorandum,” “Preliminary Offering Memorandum” and “Final Offering Memorandum” shall include in each case the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Initial Purchasers as follows:

Section 1. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Company.

The Company hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants with, each Initial Purchaser as follows:

(a) No Registration. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers contained in Section 6 and their compliance with the agreements set forth therein, it is not necessary, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers, the offer, resale and delivery of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers and the conversion of the Notes into Conversion Shares, in each case in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture, the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, to register the Notes or the Conversion Shares under the Securities Act or to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

(b) No Integration. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, directly or through any agent, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any “security” (as defined in the Securities Act) that is or will be integrated with the sale of the Notes or the Conversion Shares in a manner that would require registration under the Securities Act of the Notes or the Conversion Shares.

(c) Rule 144A. No securities of the same class (within the meaning of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act) as the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or quoted on an automated inter-dealer quotation system.

(d) Exclusive Agreement. The Company has not paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another person to purchase any Notes (except as contemplated in this Agreement).

(e) Offering Memoranda. The Company hereby confirms that it has authorized the use of the Disclosure Package, including the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, and the Final Offering Memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers. Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum complied when it was filed, or will comply when it is filed, as the case may be, in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum, at the date thereof, did 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. At the date of this Agreement, the Closing Date and on any Subsequent Closing Date, the Final Offering Memorandum did not and will not (and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the date thereof, at the Closing Date and on any Subsequent Closing Date, will 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; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty as to information contained in or omitted from the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Final Offering Memorandum in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Initial Purchaser consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(f) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented at the Applicable Time, (ii) the Final Term Sheet (as defined herein) and (iii) any other writings that the parties expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package (“Issuer Written Information”) (for the avoidance of doubt, no writings have been agreed to be Issuer Written Information as of the Applicable Time). As of 10:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Applicable 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 Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Initial Purchaser consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

(g) Statements in Offering Memorandum. The statements in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum under the headings: “Description of Notes”; “Purchase of Convertible Note Hedge and Sale of Warrants”; “Prepaid Forward Agreement”; “Certain U.S. Federal Tax Considerations”; “Risk Factors—If we are unable to securitize our credit card receivables due to changes in the market, the unavailability of credit enhancements, an early

amortization event or for other reasons, we would not be able to fund new credit card receivables, which would have a negative impact on our operations and earnings”; “Risk Factors—Legislation relating to consumer privacy may affect our ability to collect data that we use in providing our loyalty and marketing services, which, among other things, could negatively affect our ability to satisfy our clients’ needs”; “Risk Factors—Current and proposed regulation and legislation relating to our retail credit services could limit our business activities, product offerings and fees charged”; “Risk Factors—Our bank subsidiaries are subject to extensive federal regulation that may require us to make capital contributions to them, and that may restrict the ability of these subsidiaries to make cash available to us”; “Risk Factors—If our bank subsidiaries fail to meet certain criteria, we may become subject to regulation under the Bank Holding Company Act, which would force us to cease all of our non-banking activities and thus cause a drastic reduction in our profits and revenue”; “Risk Factors—If our industrial bank fails to meet the requirements of the FDIC or State of Utah, we may be subject to termination of our industrial bank”; “Risk Factors—Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents, Delaware law and the fundamental change purchase rights of our convertible senior notes and the notes offered hereby may discourage or prevent a change of control, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, which could affect our stock price adversely and prevent or delay change of control transactions or attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management”; and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 under the heading “Legal Proceedings”; and in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending March 31, 2009 under the headings: “Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Securitization of Credit Card Receivables”; “Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Debt”; “Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements—Stockholders’ Equity”; “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Liquidity and Capital Resources”; and “Legal Proceedings” incorporated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum by reference insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.

(h) Offering Materials Furnished to Initial Purchasers. The Company has delivered to the Representatives copies of the materials contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, each as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives have reasonably requested for each of the Initial Purchasers.

(i) Authorization of the Purchase 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; on the Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will constitute a legally valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and on the Closing Date, the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(k) Authorization of the Notes. The Notes have been duly authorized by the Company; when the Notes are executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the terms of the

Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement on the respective Closing Date (assuming due authentication of the Notes by the Trustee), such Notes will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and on the Closing Date, the Notes will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(l) Authorization of the Conversion Shares. The Conversion Shares have been duly authorized and reserved and, when issued upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes and the Indenture, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(m) Authorization of the Hedge and Warrant Documentation. The Hedge and Warrant Documentation has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitute legally valid and binding agreements of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and on the Closing Date, the Hedge and Warrant Documentation will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(n) Authorization of the Prepaid Forward Agreement. The Prepaid Forward Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legally valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); and on the Closing Date, the Prepaid Forward Agreement will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(o) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) 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 earnings, business, properties, 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”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction or agreement; in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of their respective capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of their respective capital stock.

(p) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedule included as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.

(q) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements and the supporting schedule included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements and supporting schedule comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of Regulation S-X and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The financial data set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum under the captions “Offering Memorandum Summary—Summary Consolidated Financial and Other Data,” “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and “Capitalization” fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum. The Company’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

(r) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries listed on Schedule D (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated, formed or organized and is validly existing as a corporation or a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, formation or organization and has the requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority necessary 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 Final Offering Memorandum and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or a limited liability company 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, result in a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the earnings, business, properties, 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 (a “Material Adverse Effect”). All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or membership interests of each 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. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than (i) the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, (although it no longer owns AD Diamond LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Green Rewards Inc., an Ontario corporation, which are listed in such exhibit), (ii) LoyaltyOne SBP, Inc., an Ontario corporation and (iii) LoyaltyOne Participoes Ltda., A Brazilian corporation.

(s) 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 Final Offering Memorandum under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, as the case may be). The Common Stock (including the Conversion Shares) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum accurately and fairly presents and summarizes such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

(t) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in violation or in default or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default (collectively, “in Default”) under its charter or by-laws, (ii) is in Default under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, deed of trust, note, contract, franchise, lease or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound (including, without limitation, (A) the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2006, as amended, by and among Alliance Data Systems Corporation, ADS Alliance Data Systems, Inc., ADS Foreign Holdings, Inc., Epsilon Marketing Services, LLC, Epsilon Data Management, LLC, Alliance Data Foreign Holdings, Inc. and the note purchasers thereunder; (B) the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2006, as amended, by and among Alliance Data Systems Corporation, ADS Alliance Data Systems, Inc., ADS Foreign Holdings, Inc., Epsilon Marketing Services, LLC, Epsilon Data Management, LLC, Alliance Data Foreign Holdings, Inc., Bank of Montreal, BMO Capital Markets Financing, Inc. and the lenders named therein; (C) the Indenture, dated as of July 29, 2008, by and among Alliance Data Systems Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee; and (D) the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2009, by and among Alliance Data Systems Corporation, ADS Alliance Data Systems, Inc., ADS Foreign Holdings, Inc., Alliance Data Foreign Holdings, Inc., Epsilon Marketing Services, LLC and Epsilon Data Management, LLC, Bank of Montreal, SunTrust Bank, Bank of America, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Compass Bank, The Huntington National Bank and Royal Bank of Canada (collectively, the “Existing Debt Agreements”), 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 such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except with respect to clause (ii) and (iii), for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of the Operative Documents and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the Final Offering Memorandum (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any Default under the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default 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.

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 and performance of the Operative Documents and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the Final Offering Memorandum, except (A) such as shall have been obtained or made prior to the Closing Date and (B) as may be required to be obtained or made under applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

(u) No Stamp or Transfer Taxes. There are no stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties or other similar fees or charges under federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, or any other U.S. or non-U.S. governmental authority required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance or sale by the Company of the Notes or upon the issuance of Common Stock upon the conversion thereof.

(v) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of 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, where in any such case, (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary, or any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(w) Labor Matters. No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum to be conducted. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, (a) no party has been

granted an exclusive license to use any portion of such Intellectual Property owned by the Company; (b) there is no material infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company; (c) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any material Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts that would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; (d) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts that would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and (e) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company’s business as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact that would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, except with respect to clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), for such licenses, infringements, actions, suits, proceedings or claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and current licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, except where the failure to possess the same would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such license, certificate, authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(q) above or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns (other than filings being contested in good faith or that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect) required to be filed through the date hereof and have paid all taxes (other than those being contested in good faith) due thereon 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 may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(q) 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.

(bb) 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 Final Offering Memorandum will not be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

(cc) Compliance with Reporting Requirements. The Company is subject to and in full compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(dd) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction and acts of vandalism. All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; 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 comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ee) No Restriction on Dividends or other Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends or other distributions to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(ff) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would be reasonably 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. The Company acknowledges that the Initial Purchasers may engage in passive market making transactions in the Common Stock in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

(gg) Related Party Transactions. There are no material business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person that have not been described in the Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum.

(hh) No General Solicitation. None of the Company or any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act (“Regulation D”)), has, directly or through an agent, engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising in connection with the offering of the Notes or the Conversion Shares (as those terms are used in Regulation D) under the Securities Act or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act; the Company has not entered into any contractual arrangement with respect to the distribution of the Notes or the Conversion Shares except for this Agreement, and the Company will not enter into any such arrangement.

(ii) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

“FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(jj) 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 of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(kk) No Conflict with OFAC Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(ll) ERISA Compliance. None of the following events has occurred within the prior six years or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would reasonably be

expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred within the prior six years or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; (ii) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries related to its or their employment that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability.

(mm) Brokers. There is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(nn) No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except for credit card accounts established in the ordinary course of business and normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any of the members of any of their families, except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(oo) Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision 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.

(pp) Internal Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains (i) effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act and (ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(qq) No Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness 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.

(rr) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(ss) Banking Regulations. Each of World Financial Network National Bank and World Financial Capital Bank (collectively, the “Banks”) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. No charge, investigation or proceeding for the termination or revocation of the charter or good standing of either Bank is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. The deposit accounts and investment certificates of each Bank are duly and adequately insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) to the full extent of FDIC insurance limits. No charge, investigation or proceeding for the termination or revocation of World Financial Capital Bank’s FDIC insurance is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. Neither the Company nor either Bank is subject to any order of the Federal Reserve Board (the “Federal Reserve”), the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) or any state or foreign banking departments with jurisdiction over either Bank or its operations, nor, except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum, is the Company or either Bank subject to any agreement or consent related to compliance with banking laws and regulations with, or board resolution adopted at the instigation of, any such regulatory authorities. Each Bank has conducted and is conducting its business so as to comply in all material respects with all applicable federal, foreign and state laws, rules, regulations, decisions, directives and orders of, and agreements with, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, the OCC and any state or foreign banking departments with jurisdiction over such Bank or its operations. No material charge, investigation or proceeding with respect to, or relating to, either Bank is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, by or before any regulatory, administrative or governmental agency, body or authority. Each Bank is in compliance with all applicable capital requirements. Each Bank is well capitalized as defined in FDIC and OCC regulations, with capital ratios as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Memorandum. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, whether singly or in the aggregate, the credit card accounts (the “Accounts”) originated by either Bank, whether securitized by such Bank or retained as seller’s interest for such Bank’s own account, have been created, maintained by such Bank and serviced in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations and the standard policies and procedures of such Bank relating to the administration of the Accounts including, but not limited to, the solicitation, credit approval, processing, servicing, collection and other administration and management of the Accounts, as such policies and procedures may have been modified from time to time. The interest rates, fees and charges in connection with the Accounts comply in all material respects with applicable federal and state laws and regulations and, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, whether singly or in the aggregate, with each agreement between such Bank and a cardholder containing the terms and conditions of the Account. All applications for Accounts have been conducted and evaluated and applicants notified in a manner which is in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and its implementing regulations, as amended. All disclosures made in connection with the Accounts are and have been in compliance, in all material respects, with the applicable provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act and its implementing regulations, as amended. The Company is not required to register as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

(tt) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option designated by the Company at the time of grant as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company or the relevant subsidiary of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and any other exchange on which the securities of the Company are traded, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was equal to or greater than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date and (v) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

(uu) Subsidiaries. The subsidiaries listed on Schedule D attached hereto are the only significant subsidiaries of the Company as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

(vv) Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Initial Purchaser and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Initial Purchaser.

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

Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Notes

(a) The Firm Notes. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Initial Purchasers the Firm 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 Initial Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Note to be paid by the several Initial Purchasers to the Company shall be 97% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

(b) The Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Notes to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, One Liberty Plaza, New York, New York 10006 (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 June 2, 2009, or such other time and date not later than 1:30 p.m., New York City time, June 16, 2009 as the Representatives shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).

(c) The Optional Notes; any Subsequent Closing Date. In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Initial Purchasers to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an additional $45,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Optional Notes from the Company at the same price as the purchase price per Firm Note to be paid by the Initial Purchasers for the Firm Notes. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time and from time to time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company, which notice may be given at any time within a period of 13 days beginning with the date of this Agreement. Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount (which shall be an integral multiple of $1,000 in aggregate principal amount) of Optional Notes as to which the Initial Purchasers are exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the Optional Notes are to be registered and (iii) the time, date and place at which such Optional Notes will be delivered (which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in such case the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Notes and the Optional Notes). Each time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the Closing Date, is called a “Subsequent Closing Date” and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than 3 business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Optional Notes are to be purchased, each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the aggregate principal amount of Optional Notes (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional amounts as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total aggregate principal amount of Optional Notes to be purchased as the aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Initial Purchaser bears to the total aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes.

(d) Payment for the Notes. Payment for the Notes shall be made at the Closing Date (and, if applicable, at any Subsequent 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 account and the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Notes and any Optional Notes the Initial Purchasers have agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as the Representative of the Initial Purchasers, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Notes to be purchased by any Initial Purchaser whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Initial Purchaser, but any such payment shall not relieve such Initial Purchaser 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 Initial Purchasers the Firm 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 Company shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Initial Purchasers, the Optional Notes the

Initial Purchasers have agreed to purchase at the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. Delivery of the Firm Notes and the Optional Notes shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct. 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 Initial Purchasers.

Section 3. Covenants of the Company

The Company covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows:

(a) The Representatives’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During such period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date of the completion of the resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers (as notified by the Initial Purchasers to the Company), prior to amending or supplementing the Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not print, use or distribute such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably objects.

(b) Amendments and Supplements to the Offering Memorandum and Other Securities Act Matters. If, at any time prior to the completion of the resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers (as notified by the Initial Purchasers to the Company), any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum in order that the Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum will not include an 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 or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Initial Purchasers it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Final Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Company shall promptly notify the Initial Purchasers and prepare, subject to Section 3(a) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission.

(c) Copies of Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum. The Company agrees to furnish to the Representatives, without charge, until the earlier of nine months after the date hereof or the completion of the resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers (as notified by the Initial Purchasers to the Company) as many copies of the materials contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(d) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request from time to time, to qualify or register the Notes for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial securities laws or other foreign 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 as a foreign corporation 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 corporation. 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 best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(e) Rule 144A Information. For so long as any of the Notes are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Company shall provide to any holder of the Notes or to any prospective purchaser of the Notes designated by any holder, upon request of such holder or prospective purchaser, information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act if, at the time of such request, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(f) Compliance with Securities Law. The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and use its 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.

(g) Legends. Each of the Notes will bear, to the extent applicable, the legend contained in “Notice to Investors” in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum for the time period and upon the other terms stated therein.

(h) Written Information Concerning the Offering. Without the prior written consent of the Representatives, the Company will not give to any prospective purchaser of the Notes or any other person not in its employ any written information concerning the offering of the Notes other than the Disclosure Package, the Final Offering Memorandum or any other offering materials prepared by or with the prior consent of the Representatives.

(i) No General Solicitation. The Company will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, solicit any offer to buy or offer to sell the Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.

(j) No Integration. The Company will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any “security” (as defined in the Securities Act) in a transaction that could be integrated with the sale of the Notes in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the Notes.

(k) Information to Publishers. Any information provided by the Company to publishers of publicly available databases about the terms of the Notes and the Indenture shall include a statement that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and are subject to restrictions under Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

(l) DTC. The Company will cooperate with the Representatives and use its best efforts to permit the Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through The Depository Trust Company.

(m) Rule 144 Tolling. For so long as any Notes or shares of Common Stock issued on conversion thereof constitute “restricted securities” under Rule 144, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any Notes that have been reacquired by any of them.

(n) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from its sale of the Notes in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(o) Transfer Agent. The Company shall maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

(p) Available Conversion Shares. The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of pre-emptive rights, the full number of Conversion Shares.

(q) Conversion Price. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Company will not do or authorize any act or thing that would result in an adjustment of the conversion price.

(r) Company to Provide Interim Financial Statements and Other Information. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish the Initial Purchasers, as soon as they have been prepared by or are available to the Company, a copy of any unaudited interim financial statements of the Company for any period subsequent to the period covered by the most recent financial statements appearing in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(s) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 60th day following the date of the Final Offering Memorandum, 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” or liquidate or decrease a “call equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer (or enter into any transaction that is designed to, or would reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of), or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Notes and the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions described in the Hedge and Warrant Documentation), or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, provided, however, that (i) the Company may issue and sell the Notes under this Agreement, (ii) the Company may issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Notes and make any required related filings under the Securities Act with respect to such shares and (iii) the Company may issue shares of its Common Stock or options to purchase its Common Stock, or Common Stock upon exercise of options, pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(t) Future Reports to Stockholders. The Company will make available to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the date of the Final Offering Memorandum), will make available to its stockholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail.

(u) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Representatives: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each

fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, FINRA or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital stock.

(v) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Notes in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

(w) 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.

(x) Existing Lock-Up Agreements. The Company will enforce any existing agreements between the Company and any of its security holders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities.

(y) New Lock-Up Agreements. Each executive officer or director of the Company has furnished to the Representatives an agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto and each such agreement is in full force and effect.

(z) Final Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of the Notes and the offering thereof, in the form approved by you and attached as Schedule B hereto (the “Final Term Sheet”).

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 fees and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, shipping and distribution of the materials contained in the Disclosure Package, including the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, and the Final Offering Memorandum, all amendments and supplements thereto and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Initial Purchasers 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 or the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Initial Purchasers of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the expenses of the Company and the Initial Purchasers in connection with the marketing and offering of the Notes, including all reasonable transportation and other reasonable

expenses incurred in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Notes, except that the Company and the Initial Purchasers will each pay 50% of the cost of privately chartered airplanes used for such purposes, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Conversion Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and (ix) all expenses and fees in connection with admitting the Notes for trading in the PORTAL Market. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 7, Section 10 and Section 11 hereof, the Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

Section 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Initial Purchasers

The obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase and pay for the Notes as provided herein on the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Notes, any Subsequent 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 and as of the Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Notes, as of any Subsequent Closing Date as though then made, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Initial Purchasers in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to Initial Purchasers, delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Final Offering Memorandum.

(b) No Material Adverse Change or Rating Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Notes, any Subsequent 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 (a) 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 Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum; and

(iii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in 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 for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.

(c) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date or

Subsequent Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B-1. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B-2. On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of Cassells Brock & Blackwell LLP, the Company’s Canadian counsel with regard to LoyaltyOne, Inc. and matters relating to certain agreements governed by Canadian law, Stewart McKelvey LLP, the Company’s Nova Scotia counsel with regard to LMGC Holdings I, ULC and LMGC Holdings II, ULC, Hugh Hayden, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Alliance Data Systems Corporation, with regard to World Financial Network National Bank and the matters set forth in Exhibit B-3 and Mayer Brown LLP, the Company’s special counsel with regard to matters relating to certain securitization agreements, each of which shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers. On the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to, and addressed to, the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Notes, the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Final Offering Memorandum and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, Representatives shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Disclosure Package, including the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, and the Final Offering Memorandum, any amendments or supplements thereto and this Agreement, to the effect set forth in subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 5, and further to the effect that:

(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

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

(iii) no “Default” as that term is used in any of the Existing Debt Agreements exists on such date and the actual and pro forma data concerning compliance by the Company under the financial covenant ratios contained in the Existing Debt Agreements that is attached to such certificate is true, correct and complete;

(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 or Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be.

(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent 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 (a) 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 such Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date.

(g) PORTAL Designation. The Notes shall have been designated PORTAL-eligible securities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

(h) The Company shall have caused the Conversion Shares to be approved for listing, subject to notice of issuance, on the New York Stock Exchange, and satisfactory evidence of such actions have been provided to the Representatives.

(i) Additional Documents. On or before each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers 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 and, with respect to the Optional Notes, at any time prior to the applicable Subsequent Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 14 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

Section 6. Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Initial Purchasers

Each of the Initial Purchasers represents and warrants that it is a “qualified institutional buyer,” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Each Initial Purchaser agrees with the Company that:

(a) it has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, any Notes as part of their distribution at any time except to those it reasonably believes to be “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act).

(b) neither it nor any person acting on its behalf has made or will make offers or sales of the Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in the United States;

(c) in connection with each sale pursuant to Section 6(a), it has taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of such Notes is aware that such sale is being made in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act;

(d) any information provided by the Initial Purchasers to publishers of publicly available databases about the terms of the Notes and the Indenture shall include a statement that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and are subject to restrictions under Rule 144A under the Securities Act; and

(e) it acknowledges that additional restrictions on the offer and sale of the Notes and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof are described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

Section 7. Reimbursement of Initial Purchasers’ Expenses

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 5, Section 10 or Section 11, or if the sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Notes on the Closing Date or any Subsequent 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 Initial Purchasers (or such Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers 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 8. Indemnification

(a) Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Initial Purchaser, director, officer, employee, agent or controlling person may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Final Offering Memorandum, the Final Term Sheet, any Issuer Written Information or any other written information used by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, in each case, 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 Initial Purchaser, its officers, directors, employees, agents and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Initial Purchaser, or its officers, directors, employees, agents or such 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 based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Final Offering Memorandum, the Final Term Sheet, any Issuer Written Information or any other written information used by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Initial Purchaser consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof. 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 Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its

directors, each of its officers 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, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Final Offering Memorandum, the Final Term Sheet, any Issuer Written Information or any other written information used by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Final Offering Memorandum, the Final Term Sheet, any Issuer Written Information or any other written information used by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by 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 that the Initial Purchasers have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Final Offering Memorandum, the Final Term Sheet, any Issuer Written Information or any other written information used by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the offer or sale of the Notes (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in Schedule C. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Initial Purchaser 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 failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. 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 promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the

defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. 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 (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (other than local counsel), reasonably approved by the indemnifying party (or by the Representatives in the case of Section 8(b)), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the 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, which shall not be withheld unreasonably, but if settled with such consent or if there is 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 (x) 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 (y) 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 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 Initial Purchasers, 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 Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the untrue statements or omissions or alleged untrue statements or alleged 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 Initial Purchasers, 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 purchase discount received by the Initial Purchasers bear to the aggregate initial offering price of the Notes. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, 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 Initial Purchasers, 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 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission received by such Initial Purchaser in connection with the Notes purchased by it hereunder. 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 Initial Purchasers’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective purchasing commitments as set forth opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer, employee and agent of an Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial Purchaser, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

Section 10. Default of One or More of the Several Initial Purchasers

If, on the Closing Date or a Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the several Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date or a Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes and the aggregate

principal amount of 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 (other than a defaulting Initial Purchaser) to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9 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 or a Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Final Offering Memorandum or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

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

Section 11. Termination of this Agreement

Prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Notes, any Subsequent 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 by the New York Stock Exchange, or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established by the Commission or FINRA or on either such stock exchange; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States has occurred; or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or any crisis or calamity, 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 and the Final Offering Memorandum or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Initial Purchaser, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 4 and 7 hereof or (b) any Initial Purchaser to the Company.

Section 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the 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 Initial Purchasers, 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 Initial Purchaser 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 Initial Purchaser 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 Initial Purchaser has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Initial Purchaser 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship, although it is understood that this acknowledgement is without prejudice to the obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to perform the terms of this Agreement applicable to them; and (v) the Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers, or any of them, 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 Initial Purchasers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

Section 13. Research Analyst Independence

The Company acknowledges that the Initial Purchasers’ 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 Initial Purchasers’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers’ investment banking divisions. The Company acknowledges that each of the Initial Purchasers 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 14. 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchaser, the officers or employees of any Initial Purchaser, or any person controlling the Initial Purchaser, 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.

Section 15. 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:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (646) 855-3073

Attention: Syndicate Department

with a copy to:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Facsimile: (212) 230-8730

Attention: ECM Legal

and

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

383 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor

New York, New York 10179

Facsimile: (212) 622-8358

Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk

and

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 7th Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Syndicate Registration

Fax: 646-834-8133

with a copy to:

Office of the General Counsel

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 7th Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Fax: 212-520-0421

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, New York 10006

Facsimile: (212) 225-3999

Attention: Leslie N. Silverman, Esq.

If to the Company:

Alliance Data Systems Corporation

17655 Waterview Parkway

Dallas, Texas 75252

Facsimile: 972-348-5162

Attention: General Counsel

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, L.L.P.

1700 Pacific Avenue, Suite 4100

Dallas, Texas 75201

Facsimile: 214-969-4343

Attention: Joseph L. Motes III, Esq.

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

Section 16. Successors and Assigns

This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of (i) the Company, its directors and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (ii) the Initial Purchasers, the officers, directors, employees and agents of the Initial Purchasers and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and (iii) the respective successors and assigns of any of the above, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser of any of the Notes from any of the several Initial Purchasers merely because of such purchase.

Section 17. 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 changes (and only such changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

Section 18. Governing Law Provisions

(a) Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

(b) 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, 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 19. General Provisions

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. 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 Disclosure Package and the Final Offering Memorandum.

[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]

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,

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

By:		/s/ Edward J. Heffernan
Name:		Edward J. Heffernan
Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer

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


MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED

By:		/s/ Pete Chapman
Name:		Pete Chapman
Title:		Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

By:		/s/ Michael O’Donovan
Name:		Michael O’Donovan
Title:		Managing Director

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

By:		/s/ Tommaso Zanosini
Name:		Tommaso Zanosini
Title:		Managing Director

Acting as Representatives of the

several Initial Purchasers named in

the attached Schedule A.

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement

Form of Convertible Note Hedge Confirmation

Exhibit 10.2

EXECUTION VERSION


		May 27, 2009

To:		Alliance Data Systems Corporation
		17655 Waterview Parkway
		Dallas, TX 75252


		Attn:		Chief Financial Officer
		Telephone:		(972) 348-5100
		Facsimile:		(972) 348-5326



From:		[Dealer]
		[Address]


	Attn:	[ ]
	Telephone:	[ ]
	Facsimile:	[ ]

Re:	Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction
	(Transaction Reference Number: )

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between [Dealer] (“Dealer”) and Alliance Data Systems Corporation (“Counterparty”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern. Certain defined terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture to be dated as of June 2, 2009 between Counterparty and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”), relating to the USD300,000,000 principal amount of 4.75% convertible senior notes due 2014 (the “Convertible Securities”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms defined in the Indenture and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern. For the avoidance of doubt, references herein to sections of the Indenture are based on the draft of the Indenture most recently reviewed by the parties at the time of execution of this Confirmation. If any relevant sections of the Indenture are changed, added or renumbered following execution of this Confirmation but prior to the execution of the Indenture, the parties will amend this Confirmation in good faith to preserve the economic intent of the parties. The parties further acknowledge that references to the Indenture herein are references to the Indenture as in effect on the date of its execution, and if the Indenture is amended, modified or supplemented following its execution, any such amendment, modification or supplement will be disregarded for purposes of this Confirmation (other than for purposes of Section 8(a)(i) below) unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “ISDA Form”) as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an agreement in such form (without any Schedule but with the elections set forth in this Confirmation) on the Trade Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

2. The Transaction constitutes a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:


	Trade Date:	May 27, 2009

	Effective Date:	The closing date for the initial issuance of the Convertible Securities.

	Option Type:	Call

	Seller:	Dealer

	Buyer:	Counterparty

	Shares:	The common stock of Counterparty, par value USD0.01 per share (Exchange Symbol: “ADS”).

	Number of Options:	The number of Convertible Securities in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount issued by Counterparty on the closing date for the initial issuance of the Convertible Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, the Number of Options shall not be increased as a result of the exercise by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the Initial Purchasers (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), of their option pursuant to Section 2(c) of the Purchase Agreement dated as of May 27, 2009 among Counterparty and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Barclays Capital Inc., as representatives of the Initial Purchasers party thereto (the “Purchase Agreement”).

	Number of Shares:	As of any date, the product of the Number of Options, the Conversion Rate and the Applicable Percentage.

	Conversion Rate:	As of any date, the “Conversion Rate” (as defined in the Indenture) as of such date, but without regard to any adjustments to the “Conversion Rate” pursuant to Sections 15.03 or 15.04(i) of the Indenture.

	Applicable Percentage:	[ ]%¹

	Premium:	USD[ ]² (Premium per Option USD[ ]³ ).

	Premium Payment Date:	The Effective Date.

	Exchange:	New York Stock Exchange

	Related Exchange:	All Exchanges

Procedures for Exercise:

	Potential Exercise Dates:	Each Conversion Date.

	Conversion Date:	Each “Conversion Date”, as defined in the Indenture, occurring

¹	For Bank of America, N.A. (“*BofA”), insert 50%. For each of Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch (“JPM*”), insert 25%.

²	For BofA, insert 35,115,000. For each of Barclays and JPM, insert 17,557,500.

³	For BofA, insert 117.05. For each of Barclays and JPM, insert 58.5250.


				during the period from and excluding the Trade Date to and including the Expiration Date, for Convertible Securities, each in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount, that are submitted and meet the requirements for conversion on such Conversion Date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (excluding Convertible Securities submitted on such date with respect to which Counterparty makes an “Exchange in Lieu of Conversion” election (an “Exchange Election”) pursuant to Section 15.11 of the Indenture (“Excluded Convertible Securities”)) (such Convertible Securities, other than Excluded Convertible Securities, the “Relevant Convertible Securities” for such Conversion Date). For the avoidance of doubt, Counterparty will not provide Dealer with a Notice of Exercise with respect to any Excluded Convertible Securities for what would otherwise be the corresponding Conversion Date, and such Excluded Convertible Securities may subsequently trigger the exercise of Options hereunder if such Excluded Convertible Securities are resubmitted and meet the requirements for conversion in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (and are not subject to a subsequent Exchange Election).

				If the financial institution designated in connection with any Exchange Election does not accept any Excluded Convertible Securities for exchange or does not timely deliver the related conversion consideration for any accepted securities (a “Failed Exchange Election”), Counterparty will promptly provide Dealer with notice of such Failed Exchange Election, which notice shall specify the number of Options corresponding to such Excluded Convertible Securities, and such Failed Exchange Election shall be an Additional Termination Event as to which the portion of the Transaction described below shall be the sole Affected Transaction, Counterparty shall be the sole Affected Party, and Dealer will promptly designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement with respect to the number of Options corresponding to such Excluded Convertible Securities; provided that the Early Termination Amount with respect to such number of Options shall be capped so that it does not exceed the value of the Delivery Obligation that Dealer would have been required to deliver hereunder if such Options had been exercised.

		Required Exercise on Conversion Dates:		On each Conversion Date, a number of Options equal to the number of Relevant Convertible Securities for such Conversion Date in denominations of USD1,000 principal amount shall be automatically exercised.

		Expiration Date:		The second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture).

		Automatic Exercise:		As provided above under “Required Exercise on Conversion Dates”.

		Notice Deadline:		In respect of any exercise of Options hereunder on any Conversion Date, the Exchange Business Day prior to the first “Scheduled Trading Day” (as defined in the Indenture) of the “Cash Settlement Averaging Period” (as defined in the Indenture and, for the avoidance of doubt, irrespective of whether Counterparty’s election of the settlement method with respect to the Relevant


				Convertible Securities includes any portion thereof to be delivered in cash) relating to the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date occurring on the relevant Exercise Date; provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring during the period beginning on, and including, January 13, 2014 and ending on, and including, the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture) (the “Final Conversion Period”), the Notice Deadline shall be the Exchange Business Day immediately following such Conversion Date.

		Notice of Exercise:		Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, Dealer shall have no obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder unless Counterparty notifies Dealer in writing prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Notice Deadline in respect of such exercise of (i) the number of Options being exercised on such Exercise Date, (ii) the scheduled settlement date under the Indenture for the Convertible Securities converted on the Conversion Date corresponding to such Exercise Date, (iii) whether such Relevant Convertible Securities will be settled by Counterparty by delivery of cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares and, if such a combination, the “Specified Dollar Amount” (as defined in the Indenture) and (iv) the first “Scheduled Trading Day” of the “Cash Settlement Averaging Period” (each as defined in the Indenture); provided that in the case of any exercise of Options hereunder in connection with the conversion of any Relevant Convertible Securities on any Conversion Date occurring during the Final Conversion Period, the contents of such notice shall be as set forth in clause (i) above. Counterparty acknowledges its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined below) and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of any election of a settlement method with respect to the Convertible Securities.

				For the avoidance of doubt, if Counterparty fails to give such notice when due in respect of any exercise of Options hereunder, Dealer’s obligation to make any payment or delivery in respect of such exercise shall be permanently extinguished, and late notice shall not cure such failure; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, such notice (and the related exercise of Options) shall be effective if given after the Notice Deadline, but prior to (x) in the case of the Final Conversion Period, 5:00 P.M. New York City time, on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Settlement Date and (y) in all other cases, 5:00 P.M. New York City time, on the fifth Exchange Business Day following the Notice Deadline, in which event, except in the case of the Final Conversion Period, the Calculation Agent shall have the right to adjust the Delivery Obligation as appropriate to reflect the additional costs (including, but not limited to, hedging mismatches and market losses) and expenses incurred by Dealer in connection with its hedging activities (including the unwinding of any hedge position) as a result of Dealer not having received such notice on or prior to the Notice Deadline.


	Notice of Specified Dollar Amount for Conversions during the Free Convertibility Period:	Counterparty shall notify Dealer in writing before 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately prior to January 13, 2014 of the election by the Counterparty, in accordance with Section 15.02(b)(iii) of the Indenture, of the settlement method and, if applicable, the “Specified Dollar Amount” (each as defined in the Indenture) applicable to the Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring on or after January 13, 2014 and ending on, and including, the second “Scheduled Trading Day” immediately preceding the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture) (the “Free Convertibility Period”). If Counterparty fails timely to provide such notice, Counterparty shall be deemed to have notified Dealer of a “Specified Dollar Amount” (as defined in the Indenture) of USD1,000 for all conversions occurring during the Free Convertibility Period. Counterparty agrees that it shall settle any Relevant Convertible Securities with a Conversion Date occurring during the Free Convertibility Period in the same manner as provided in the Notice of Specified Dollar Amount for Conversions during the Free Convertibility Period it provides or is deemed to have provided hereunder.

	Dealer’s Telephone Number and Telex and/or Facsimile Number and Contact Details for purpose of Giving Notice:	To be provided by Dealer.

Settlement Terms:

	Settlement Date:	In respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, the settlement date for the cash and Shares (if any) to be delivered in respect of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 15.01(a) of the Indenture; provided that the Settlement Date will not be prior to the latest of (i) the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the final day of the relevant Cash Settlement Averaging Period (as modified by the provision set forth opposite the caption “Convertible Security Settlement Method”), (ii) the Exchange Business Day immediately following the date on which Counterparty gives notice to Dealer of such Settlement Date prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time and (iii) the Exchange Business Day immediately following the date Counterparty provides the Notice of Delivery Obligation prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time.

	Delivery Obligation:	In lieu of the obligations set forth in Sections 8.1 and 9.1 of the Equity Definitions, and subject to “Notice of Exercise” above, in respect of an Exercise Date occurring on a Conversion Date, Dealer will deliver to Counterparty, on the related Settlement Date, a number of Shares and/or amount of cash in USD equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Percentage and (ii) the aggregate number of Shares that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to the holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on such Conversion Date pursuant to Section 15.02(b) of the Indenture and/or the aggregate amount of cash, if any, in excess of USD1,000 per Convertible Security (in denominations of USD1,000) that Counterparty would be obligated to deliver to holder(s) pursuant to Section 15.02(b) of the Indenture and cash in lieu of fractional Shares, if any, as if Counterparty had elected to


				satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities by the Convertible Security Settlement Method, notwithstanding any different actual election by Counterparty with respect to the settlement of such Relevant Convertible Securities (the “Convertible Obligation”); provided that such obligation shall be determined excluding any Shares and/or cash that Counterparty is obligated to deliver to holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities as a result of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 15.03 or 15.04(i) of the Indenture; and provided further that if such exercise relates to the conversion of Relevant Convertible Securities in connection with which holders thereof are entitled to receive additional Shares and/or cash pursuant to the adjustments to the Conversion Rate set forth in Section 15.03 of the Indenture, then, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Delivery Obligation shall include the Applicable Percentage of such additional Shares and/or cash, except that the Delivery Obligation shall be capped so that the value of the Delivery Obligation per Option (with the value of any Shares included in the Delivery Obligation determined by the Calculation Agent using the VWAP Price on the last day of the relevant Cash Settlement Averaging Period (as modified by the provision set forth opposite the caption “Convertible Security Settlement Method”)) does not exceed the amount as determined by the Calculation Agent that would be payable by Dealer pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement if such Conversion Date were an Early Termination Date resulting from an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction (except that, for purposes of determining such amount (x) the Number of Options shall be deemed to be equal to the number of Options exercised on such Exercise Date and (y) such amount payable will be determined as if Section 15.03 of the Indenture were deleted) was the sole Affected Transaction and Counterparty was the sole Affected Party (determined without regard to Section 8(b) of this Confirmation). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and in addition to the cap described in the further proviso to the preceding sentence, in all events the Delivery Obligation shall be capped so that the value of the Delivery Obligation does not exceed the Applicable Percentage of the value of the Convertible Obligation (with the Convertible Obligation determined based on the actual settlement method elected by Counterparty with respect to such Relevant Convertible Securities instead of the Convertible Security Settlement Method and with the value of any Shares included in either the Delivery Obligation or such Convertible Obligation determined by the Calculation Agent using the VWAP Price on the last day of the relevant Cash Settlement Averaging Period (as modified by the provision set forth opposite the caption “Convertible Security Settlement Method”)).

		Convertible Security Settlement Method:		For any Relevant Convertible Securities, if Counterparty has notified Dealer in the related Notice of Exercise (or in the Notice of Specified Dollar Amount for Conversions during the Free Convertibility Period, as the case may be) that it has elected (or been deemed to have elected) to satisfy its conversion obligation in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities in cash or in a combination of cash and Shares in accordance with Section 15.02(b)(iii) of the Indenture (a “Cash Election”) with a


		“Specified Dollar Amount” (as defined in the Indenture) of at least USD1,000, the Convertible Security Settlement Method shall be the settlement method actually so elected by Counterparty (or been deemed to have elected) in respect of such Relevant Convertible Securities; otherwise, the Convertible Security Settlement Method shall (i) assume Counterparty had made a Cash Election with respect to such Relevant Convertible Securities with a “Specified Dollar Amount” (as defined in the Indenture) of USD1,000 per Relevant Convertible Security and (ii) be calculated as if the relevant “Cash Settlement Averaging Period” (as defined in the Indenture) consisted of 80 “Trading Days” commencing on (x) the third “Scheduled Trading Day” (each as defined in the Indenture) after the Conversion Date for conversions occurring prior to the Free Convertibility Period or (y) the 82 “Scheduled Trading Day” prior to the “Maturity Date” (each as defined in the Indenture) for conversions occurring during the Free Convertibility Period.

	Notice of Delivery Obligation:	No later than the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the last day of the relevant Cash Settlement Averaging Period (as modified by the provision set forth opposite the caption “Convertible Security Settlement Method”), Counterparty shall give Dealer notice of the final number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligation; provided that, with respect to any Exercise Date occurring during the Final Conversion Period, Counterparty may provide Dealer with a single notice of an aggregate number of Shares and/or cash comprising the Convertible Obligations for all Exercise Dates occurring in such period (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that the requirement of Counterparty to deliver such notice shall not limit Counterparty’s obligations with respect to Notice of Exercise or Notice of Specified Dollar Amount for Conversions during the Free Convertibility Period or Dealer’s obligations with respect to Delivery Obligation, each as set forth above, in any way).

	Other Applicable Provisions:	To the extent Dealer is obligated to deliver Shares hereunder, the provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.

	Restricted Certificated Shares:	Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, Dealer may, in whole or in part, deliver Shares required to be delivered to Counterparty hereunder in certificated form in lieu of delivery through the Clearance System. Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the Issuer of the Shares.

Share Adjustments:

	Method of Adjustment:	Notwithstanding Section 11.2 of the Equity Definitions, upon the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in Sections 15.04(a)-(e) of the Indenture, the Calculation Agent shall make a


		corresponding adjustment to any variable relevant to the exercise, settlement, payment or other terms of the Transaction to the extent an analogous adjustment is made under the Indenture. Promptly following the calculation of any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, Counterparty shall notify the Calculation Agent in writing of the details of such adjustment.

Extraordinary Events:

	Merger Events:	Notwithstanding Section 12.1(b) of the Equity Definitions, a “Merger Event” means the occurrence of any event or condition set forth in Section 15.06 of the Indenture.

	Consequences of Merger Events:	Notwithstanding Sections 12.2 and 12.3 of the Equity Definitions, upon the occurrence of a Merger Event, the Calculation Agent shall make the corresponding adjustment in respect of any adjustment under the Indenture to any one or more of the nature of the Shares, the Number of Options, the Option Entitlement and any other variable relevant to the exercise, settlement, payment or other terms of the Transaction; provided that such adjustment shall be made without regard to any adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Sections 15.03 or 15.04(i) of the Indenture; and provided further that if, with respect to a Merger Event, the consideration for the Shares includes (or, at the option of a holder of Shares, may include) shares (or depositary receipts with respect to shares) of an entity or person not organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Calculation Agent determines that (x) treating such shares or depositary receipts as “Reference Property” (as such term is defined in the Indenture) will have a material adverse effect on Dealer’s rights or obligations in respect of the Transaction, on its Hedging Activities in respect of the Transaction or on the costs (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position) of engaging in any of the foregoing and (y) Dealer cannot promptly avoid the occurrence of each such material adverse effect by (I) transferring or assigning its rights and obligations under this Confirmation and the Agreement pursuant to Section 8(f) to an affiliate of Dealer that regularly engages in transactions similar to the Transaction or (II) amending the terms of this Confirmation (whether because amendments would not avoid such occurrence or because Counterparty fails to agree promptly to such amendments), then Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination) shall apply.

	Notice of Merger Consideration:	Upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that causes the Shares to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), Counterparty shall reasonably promptly (but, in any event on or prior to the relevant merger date) notify the Calculation Agent of (i) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration to be received by the holders of Shares entitled to receive cash, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such Shares in any Merger Event who affirmatively make such an election and (ii) the details of the adjustment to be made under the Indenture in respect of such Merger Event.



Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:			Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.

Additional Disruption Events:

	(a)	Change in Law:	Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting the word “or” after the parenthetical “(including, without limitation, any tax law)” in clause (A) thereof, (ii) inserting after the parenthetical in clause (B) thereof the following words “or (C) due to a law or regulation or interpretation becoming applicable as a result of Counterparty’s or one or more of its subsidiaries entering a new business or changing the jurisdiction of organization of Counterparty or one or more of its subsidiaries or as a result of any other action taken by Counterparty or one or more of its subsidiaries”, (iii) deleting the word “or” before “(Y)” in the seventh line thereof and (iv) inserting after the parenthetical in clause (Y) the following words “or (Z) in the case of a Change in Law described in clause (C), there will be a not insignificant adverse effect on Dealer or any of its affiliates in respect of such Transaction or any related transactions”; and provided further that to the extent any increased cost described in clause (Y) of Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is of a type also described in Section 12.9(a)(vi) of the Equity Definitions, then the consequences provided with respect to “Increased Cost of Hedging” in Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions shall apply.

	(b)	Failure to Deliver:	Applicable

	(c)	Insolvency Filing:	Applicable

	(d)	Hedging Disruption:	Not Applicable

	(e)	Increased Cost of Hedging:	Not Applicable

Hedging Party:			For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer

Determining Party:			For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer

Non-Reliance:			Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:			Applicable

Additional Acknowledgments:			Applicable

3. Calculation Agent:

Dealer. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, the Calculation Agent will use its reasonable best efforts to provide to Counterparty by e-mail promptly following such determination or calculation (but in any event no later than three Scheduled Trading Days after any request by Counterparty) a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data without disclosing Dealer’s proprietary models) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be.

4. Account Details:

Dealer Payment Instructions: [ ]

Counterparty Payment Instructions:

To be provided by Counterparty.

5. Offices:

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is:


[Dealer]
[Address]
Attention:		[ ]
Telephone:		[ ]
Facsimile:		[ ]


		The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Not applicable

		6. Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

				Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:


To:		Alliance Data Systems Corporation
		17655 Waterview Parkway
		Dallas, TX 75252
Attn:		Chief Financial Officer
Telephone:		(972) 348-5100
Facsimile:		(972) 348-5326

Address for notices or communications to Dealer:


To:		[Dealer]
		[Address]
Attn:		[ ]
Telephone:		[ ]
Facsimile:		[ ]

7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

(i) On the Trade Date, and as of the date of any election by Counterparty of the Share Termination Alternative under (and as defined in) Section 8(b) below, (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) (A) On the Trade Date, transactions in the Shares are not prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”) as a result of such transactions meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in Sections 101(b)(10) and 102(b)(7) of Regulation M and (B) Counterparty shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution as to which the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b)(10) and 102(b)(7) of Regulation M are available, until the second Exchange Business Day immediately following the Trade Date.

(iii) On the Trade Date, other than (A) purchases of Shares pursuant to the prepaid forward transactions entered into by Counterparty on the date hereof in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Securities; (B) purchases from, by or on behalf of directors, officers and employees of Counterparty and its affiliates that are not “Rule 10b-18 purchases” as such term is defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act (“Rule 10b-18”) and (C) purchases pursuant to any preexisting obligation arising under any employee benefit plan of Counterparty or its subsidiaries, neither Counterparty nor any “affiliate” or “affiliated purchaser” (each as defined in Rule 10b-18) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares.

(iv) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under FASB Statements 128, 133, 149 (each as amended), or 150, EITF Issue No. 00-19, 01-6, 03-6 or 07-5 (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(v) Without limiting the generality of Section 3(a)(iii) of the Agreement, the Transaction will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

(vi) Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer a certified copy of the resolution of Counterparty’s board of directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing the Transaction on or prior to the Trade Date.

(vii) Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(viii) Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(ix) On each of the Trade Date and the Premium Payment Date, Counterparty would be able to purchase the Shares hereunder in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

(x) Counterparty understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(xi) On the Trade Date (A) the assets of Counterparty at their fair valuation exceed the liabilities of Counterparty, including contingent liabilities, (B) the capital of Counterparty is adequate to conduct the business of Counterparty and (C) Counterparty has the ability to pay its debts and obligations as such debts mature and does not intend to, or does not believe that it will, incur debt beyond its ability to pay as such debts mature.

(xii) On the Trade Date, Counterparty is not subject to the requirements of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer upon becoming aware that it is subject to the requirements of the BHCA after the Trade Date.

(b) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1a(12) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account and without a view to the distribution or resale thereof, and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge (A) that this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” as such term is defined in Section 741(8) of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o); 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2); 555 and 560 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date and reasonably acceptable to Dealer in form and substance, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement; provided that such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including without limitation exceptions or qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

(a) Additional Termination Events.

(i) The occurrence of an Amendment Event shall be an Additional Termination Event hereunder with respect to which the Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction and Counterparty is the sole Affected Party and Dealer shall be the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date with respect thereto pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement. Upon a written request by Counterparty prior to the occurrence of an event that would otherwise constitute an Amendment Event, Dealer shall use good faith efforts to propose an adjustment to the terms of the Transaction to preserve the economic intent of the parties. If Dealer proposes such an adjustment and Counterparty accepts Dealer’s proposed adjustment prior to the occurrence of such event, Dealer shall so adjust the Transaction and such event shall not constitute an Amendment Event.

“Amendment Event” means that, without the prior written consent of Dealer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), Counterparty amends, modifies, supplements, waives or obtains a waiver in respect of any term of the Indenture or the Convertible Securities governing the principal amount, coupon, maturity, repurchase obligation of Counterparty, redemption right of Counterparty, any term relating to conversion of the Convertible Securities (including changes to the conversion price, conversion settlement dates or conversion conditions) or any term that would require consent of the holders of not less than 100% of the principal amount of the Convertible Securities to amend.

(ii) The occurrence of an “Event of Default” with respect to Counterparty under the terms of the Convertible Securities as set forth in Section 7.01 of the Indenture shall be an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction and Counterparty is the sole Affected Party and Dealer shall be the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date with respect thereto pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement.

(iii) The occurrence of (x) a Repayment Event or (y) an Unexercised Options Event shall be an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction is the sole Affected Transaction, Counterparty is the sole Affected Party and Dealer shall upon Counterparty’s notice to Dealer thereof, which notice shall be delivered to Dealer on the date of such Repayment Event in the case of a Repayment Event, promptly designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement; provided that in either case the Transaction shall only be terminated in respect of the portion of the Transaction corresponding to

the number of Convertible Securities that cease to be outstanding in connection with, as a result of or following such Repayment Event or Unexercised Options Event; and provided further that in the case of an Unexercised Options Event, the value of the Early Termination Amount shall be capped so that the Early Termination Amount does not exceed in the case of an Unexercised Options Event, the value of the Applicable Percentage of the cash, if any, and Shares, if any, in excess of USD1,000 per Convertible Security (in denominations of USD1,000) that Counterparty is obligated to deliver to the holder(s) of the Relevant Convertible Securities converted on the relevant Conversion Date (with the value of any Shares included in such consideration determined by the Calculation Agent using the VWAP on the last day of the relevant Cash Settlement Averaging Period (as modified by the provision set forth opposite the caption “Convertible Security Settlement Method”)).

“Repayment Event” means that (A) any Convertible Securities are repurchased (whether in connection with or as a result of a fundamental change, howsoever defined, or for any other reason) by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries, (B) any Convertible Securities are delivered to Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries in exchange for delivery of any property or assets of Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries (howsoever described), (C) any principal of any of the Convertible Securities is repaid prior to the final maturity date of the Convertible Securities (whether following acceleration of the Convertible Securities or otherwise), or (D) any Convertible Securities are exchanged by or for the benefit of the holders thereof for any other securities of Counterparty or any of its affiliates (or any other property, or any combination thereof) pursuant to any exchange offer or similar transaction; provided that, in the case of clause (B) and clause (D), conversions of Convertible Securities pursuant to the terms of the Indenture and, for the avoidance of doubt, exchange of Convertible Securities in connection with an Exchange Election shall not be Repayment Events.

“Unexercised Options Event” means that Counterparty fails to give Dealer the Notice of Exercise in writing prior to, in respect of any exercise of Options (x) in the case of the Final Conversion Period, 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Scheduled Trading Day preceding the relevant Settlement Date and (y) in all other cases, 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the fifth Exchange Business Day following the relevant Notice Deadline.

(iv) The occurrence of a Failed Exchange Election shall be an Additional Termination Event for which the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Procedures for Exercise—Conversion Date” shall govern.

(b) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Dealer shall owe Counterparty any amount pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events” above or Sections 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions (except in the event of an Insolvency, a Nationalization or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash) or pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement (except in the event of an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party, that resulted from an event or events within Counterparty’s control) (a “Payment Obligation”), Counterparty shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require Dealer to satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below) by giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. New York City time on the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Additional Disruption Event, as applicable (“Notice of Share Termination”); provided that if Counterparty does not require Dealer to satisfy its Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative, Dealer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to elect to satisfy its Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative, notwithstanding Counterparty’s failure to elect or election to the contrary. Upon such Notice of Share Termination or such Dealer election, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant merger date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Additional Disruption Event, as applicable:


Share Termination Alternative:		Applicable and means that Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to “Consequences of Merger Events” above, Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable, or such later date as the Calculation Agent may reasonably determine (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.


Share Termination Delivery Property:		A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

Share Termination Unit Price:		The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Dealer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

Share Termination Delivery Unit:		In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event, a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event. If such Insolvency, Nationalization or Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

Failure to Deliver:		Applicable

Other applicable provisions:		If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units.”

(c) Disposition of Hedge Shares. Counterparty hereby agrees that if, in the good faith reasonable judgment of Dealer based on the advice of outside counsel, any Shares (the “Hedge Shares”) acquired by Dealer for the purpose of hedging its obligations pursuant to the Transaction cannot be sold in the public market by Dealer without registration under the Securities Act, Counterparty shall, at its election: (i) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a registered offering, make available to Dealer an effective registration statement under the Securities Act to cover the resale of such Hedge Shares and (A) enter into an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, substantially in the form of a registration agreement for a registered offering, (B) provide accountants’ “comfort” letters in customary form for registered offerings of equity securities, (C) provide negative assurance disclosure opinions of nationally recognized outside counsel to Counterparty reasonably acceptable to Dealer, (D) provide other customary opinions, certificates and closing documents customary in form for registered offerings of equity securities and (E) afford Dealer a reasonable opportunity to conduct a “due diligence” investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities; provided, however, that if Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with access to due diligence materials, the results of its due diligence investigation, or the procedures and documentation for the registered offering referred to above, then clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this Section 8(c) shall apply at the election of Counterparty; (ii) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a private placement, enter into a private placement agreement substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, including customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Hedge Shares from Dealer), opinions and certificates and such other documentation as is customary for private placement agreements, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer (in which case, the Calculation Agent shall make any adjustments to the terms of the Transaction that are necessary, in its reasonable judgment, to compensate Dealer for any discount from the public market price of the Shares incurred on the sale of Hedge Shares in a private placement); or (iii) purchase the Hedge Shares from Dealer at the VWAP Price on the days and in the amounts Dealer would have otherwise sold such Hedge Shares in the public markets had Dealer not been restricted from so selling such Hedge Shares. “VWAP Price” means, on any Exchange Business Day, the per Share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg

Screen ADS.N <Equity> AQR (or any successor thereto) in respect of the period from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such Exchange Business Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one Share on such Exchange Business Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent using a volume-weighted method). This paragraph shall survive the termination, expiration or early unwind of the Transaction.

(d) Amendment to Equity Definitions. The following amendment shall be made to the Equity Definitions:

Section 12.6(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) deleting from the fourth line thereof the word “or” after the word “official” and inserting a comma therefor, and (2) deleting the semi-colon at the end of subsection (B) thereof and inserting the following words therefor “or (C) at Dealer’s option, the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 5(a)(vii) (1) through (9) of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement with respect to that Issuer.”

(e) Repurchase and Conversion Rate Adjustment Notices. Counterparty shall, at least 10 Scheduled Trading Days prior to effecting any repurchase of Shares or consummating or otherwise executing or engaging in any transaction or event, other than a stock split or stock dividend (a “Conversion Rate Adjustment Event”) that would lead to an increase in the Conversion Rate (as such term is defined in the Indenture), give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase or Conversion Rate Adjustment Event (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase or Conversion Rate Adjustment Event, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than [ ]%⁴ and (ii) in the case of any Repurchase Notice other than the first such Repurchase Notice, greater by 0.5% or more than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice. The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the sum of (x) the Number of Shares for the Transaction, [ ]⁵, and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Counterparty fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(e) then Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Counterparty) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer. So long as the foregoing notice requirement set forth in this Section 8(e) continues to be applicable to Counterparty, Counterparty shall not be required to comply with the similar notice provision set forth in Section 8(e) of the Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction between Counterparty and Dealer dated June 23, 2008.

(f) Transfer and Assignment. Dealer may transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction only with the prior written consent of Counterparty. Counterparty may transfer its rights and obligations under the Transaction without the consent of Dealer; provided that (i) Counterparty shall deliver opinions and documents reasonably satisfactory to Dealer in connection with such assignment; (ii) such assignment shall be effected on terms

⁴	For each of BofA, Barclays and JPM, insert 17.7, 4.5 and 12.3, respectively.

⁵	For BofA, insert “(y) the Number of Shares for the Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction between Counterparty and Dealer dated June 23, 2008 and (z) the Number of Shares for the Forward Stock Purchase Transaction between Counterparty and Merrill Lynch International dated the date hereof”.

For Barclays, insert “and (y) the Number of Shares for the Forward Stock Purchase Transaction between Counterparty and Dealer dated the date hereof”.

For JPM, insert “and (y) the Number of Shares for the Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction between Counterparty and Dealer dated June 23, 2008”.

reasonably satisfactory to Dealer with respect to any legal and regulatory requirements relevant to Dealer; (iii) Alliance Data Systems Corporation (or any successor obligor under the Convertible Securities) shall continue to be obligated to provide notices hereunder relating to the Convertible Securities and continue to be obligated with respect to “Disposition of Hedge Shares” and “Repurchase and Conversion Rate Adjustment Notices” above; (iv) such assignment shall be made to a U.S. person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended); (v) Dealer shall not, as a result of such assignment, be required to pay the transferee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than the amount that Dealer would have been required to pay to Counterparty in the absence of such transfer and assignment; (vi) no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event shall occur as a result of such assignment; (vii) if Dealer reasonably requests, the transferee shall agree not to hedge its exposure to the Transaction, or to hedge such exposure only pursuant to an effective registration of Alliance Data Systems Corporation (or any successor obligor under the Convertible Securities) or otherwise in compliance with applicable securities laws in a manner that, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer, will not expose Dealer to material risks under applicable securities laws; (viii) without limiting the generality of clause (v), Counterparty shall cause the transferee to make such Payee Tax Representations and to provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Dealer to permit Dealer to determine that results described in clauses (v) and (vi) will not occur upon or after such transfer and assignment; and (ix) Counterparty shall be responsible for Dealer’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including reasonable fees of counsel, incurred in connection with such transfer and assignment. At any time at which any Excess Ownership Position exists, if Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party in accordance with the requirements set forth above after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms reasonably acceptable to Dealer and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Excess Ownership Position no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(b) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Counterparty shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction. “Excess Ownership Position” means any of the following: (i) the Equity Percentage exceeds 8.5%, (ii) the Option Equity Percentage exceeds [ ]%⁶ or (iii) the CBCA Percentage exceeds 8.5%. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part, beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. The “Option Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the sum of (i) the Number of Shares on such day, plus (ii) the Number of Shares (as such term is defined in the Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction between Dealer and Counterparty dated as of July 23, 2008) on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. The “CBCA Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares deemed to be directly or indirectly owned or controlled, for purposes of the Change in Bank Control Act, as amended, by Dealer and its affiliates on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

(g) Staggered Settlement. Dealer may, by notice to Counterparty on or prior to any Settlement Date (a “Nominal Settlement Date”), elect to deliver the Shares on two or more dates (each, a “Staggered Settlement Date”) or at two or more times on the Nominal Settlement Date as follows:

(i) in such notice, Dealer will specify to Counterparty the related Staggered Settlement Dates (each of which will be on or prior to such Nominal Settlement Date, but not prior to the beginning of the related Cash Settlement Averaging Period (as modified by the provision set forth opposite the caption “Convertible Security Settlement Method”)) or delivery times and how it will allocate the Shares it is required to deliver under “Delivery Obligation” (above) among the Staggered Settlement Dates or delivery times; and

(ii) the aggregate number of Shares that Dealer will deliver to Counterparty hereunder on all such Staggered Settlement Dates and delivery times will equal the number of Shares that Dealer would otherwise be required to deliver on such Nominal Settlement Date.

⁶	For BofA, insert 19. For each of Barclays and JPM, insert 14.5.

(h) Right to Postpone or Extend. Dealer may postpone any Settlement Date, in whole or in part, for up to 20 Scheduled Trading Days or extend the Cash Settlement Averaging Period (as modified by the provision set forth opposite the caption “Convertible Security Settlement Method”) by the addition of up to 20 Scheduled Trading Days, in each case if the Calculation Agent determines that such postponement or extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions or to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder, in each case in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer. In connection with any Settlement Date that is postponed or any Cash Settlement Averaging Period that is extended pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, if Shares are to be delivered by Dealer to Counterparty on such postponed Settlement Date or on the Settlement Date related to such extension to the Cash Settlement Averaging Period and the record date for any dividend or distribution on the Shares occurs during the period from, and including, the original Settlement Date to, but excluding, such postponed or extended Settlement Date, then on such postponed or extended Settlement Date, in addition to delivering such Shares, Dealer shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, to Counterparty, the per Share amount of such dividend or distribution multiplied by the number of Shares to be delivered.

(i) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(j) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance.

(k) No Netting and Set-off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set off obligations arising under the Agreement and the Transaction against other obligations between the parties, whether arising under any other agreement, applicable law or otherwise.

(l) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Counterparty’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Counterparty’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Counterparty of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement.

(m) Early Unwind. In the event the sale by Counterparty of the Convertible Securities is not consummated with the initial purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on June 2, 2009 (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties, which in no event shall be later than June 16, 2009) (June 2, 2009 or such later date being the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Counterparty thereunder shall be cancelled and terminated. Following such termination and cancellation, each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of either party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date. Dealer and Counterparty represent and acknowledge to the other that upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

(n) Counterparty’s Obligation to Pay Cancellation Amounts and Early Termination Amounts. Dealer and Counterparty hereby agree that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Agreement, following Dealer’s receipt from Counterparty of the Premium on the Premium Payment Date, in the event that (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction and, as a result, Counterparty owes to Dealer an Early Termination Amount or (b) Counterparty owes to Dealer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, a Cancellation Amount, such amount shall be deemed to be zero. If Counterparty pays the Premium on the Premium Payment Date, then under no circumstances shall Counterparty be required to pay any amount in addition to the Premium under the Transaction. For the avoidance of doubt, the preceding sentence shall not be construed as limiting any damages that may be payable by Counterparty as a result of a breach of or an indemnity under this Confirmation or the Agreement.

(o) [Regulatory Provisions and Role of Agent language to be included, in each case if applicable]

(p) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

(q) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing the copy of this Confirmation enclosed for that purpose and returning it to us.


Yours faithfully,

[DEALER]

By:
Name:
Title:


Agreed and Accepted By:

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

By:
Name:		Edward J. Heffernan
Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer

Form of Warrant Confirmation

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION


	May 27, 2009

To:	Alliance Data Systems Corporation
	17655 Waterview Parkway
	Dallas, TX 75252
	Attn:	Chief Financial Officer
	Telephone:	(972) 348-5100
	Facsimile:	(972) 348-5326

From:	[Dealer]
	[Address]
	Attn:	[ ]
	Telephone:	[ ]
	Facsimile:	[ ]

Re:	Issuer Warrant Transaction
	(Transaction Reference Number: )

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between [Dealer] (“Dealer”) and Alliance Data Systems Corporation (“Issuer”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Issuer as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “ISDA Form”) as if Dealer and Issuer had executed an agreement in such form (without any Schedule but with the elections set forth in this Confirmation) on the Trade Date. For the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall be the only transaction under the Agreement.

2. The Transaction is a Warrant Transaction, which shall be considered a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:


Trade Date:		May 27, 2009

Effective Date:		June 2, 2009, or such other date as agreed between the parties, subject to Section 8(n) below


Components:		The Transaction will be divided into individual Components, each with the terms set forth in this Confirmation, and, in particular, with the Number of Warrants and Expiration Date set forth in this Confirmation. The payments and deliveries to be made upon settlement of the Transaction will be determined separately for each Component as if each Component were a separate Transaction under the Agreement.

Warrant Style:		European

Warrant Type:		Call

Seller:		Issuer

Buyer:		Dealer

Shares:		The common stock of Issuer, par value USD0.01 per share (Exchange Symbol: “ADS”).

Number of Warrants:		For each Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.

Warrant Entitlement:		One Share per Warrant

Strike Price:		USD70.5425

Premium:		USD[ ]¹

Premium Payment Date:		The Effective Date

Exchange:		New York Stock Exchange

Related Exchange:		All Exchanges

Procedures for Exercise:

In respect of any Component:

Expiration Time:		Valuation Time

Expiration Date:		As provided in Annex A to this Confirmation (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day that is not already an Expiration Date for another Component); provided that if that date is a Disrupted Day, the Expiration Date for such Component shall be the first succeeding Scheduled Trading Day that is not a Disrupted Day and is not or is not deemed to be an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component of the Transaction hereunder; and provided further that if the Expiration Date has not occurred pursuant to the preceding proviso as of the Final Disruption Date, the Final Disruption Date shall be the Expiration Date (irrespective of whether such date is an Expiration Date occurring on the Final Disruption Date in respect of any other Component for the Transaction) and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation or the Definitions, the VWAP Price for the Expiration Date shall be the prevailing market value per Share determined by the Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable manner. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on any Expiration Date, the Calculation Agent may determine that such

¹	For Bank of America, N.A. (“*BofA”), insert 13,065,000. For each of Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch (“JPM*”), insert 6,532,500.00.


		Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the Calculation Agent shall make adjustments to the number of Warrants for the relevant Component for which such day shall be the Expiration Date and shall designate the Scheduled Trading Day determined in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence as the Expiration Date for the remaining Warrants for such Component. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date occurring on an Expiration Date. “Final Disruption Date” means December 16, 2014.

Market Disruption Event:		Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be,” in clause (ii) thereof.

		Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

Automatic Exercise:		Applicable; and means that the Number of Warrants for each Component will be deemed to be automatically exercised at the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date for such Component unless Dealer notifies Issuer (by telephone or in writing) prior to the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date that it does not wish Automatic Exercise to occur, in which case Automatic Exercise will not apply.

Issuer’s Telephone Number and Telexand/or Facsimile Number and Contact Details for purpose of Giving Notice:		To be provided by Issuer.

Settlement Terms:

In respect of any Component:

Settlement Currency:		USD

Net Share Settlement:		On each Settlement Date, Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares to be Delivered for such Settlement Date to the account specified by Dealer and cash in lieu of any fractional Shares valued at the VWAP Price on the Valuation Date corresponding to such Settlement Date.

Number of Shares to be Delivered:		In respect of any Exercise Date, subject to the last sentence of Section 9.5 of the Equity Definitions, the product of (i) the number of Warrants exercised or deemed exercised on such Exercise Date, (ii) the Warrant Entitlement and (iii) (A) the excess, if any, of the VWAP Price on the Valuation Date occurring on such Exercise Date over the Strike Price divided by (B) such VWAP Price.

		The Number of Shares to be Delivered shall be delivered by Issuer to Dealer no later than 4:00 P.M. (local time in New York City) on the relevant Settlement Date.

VWAP Price:		For any Valuation Date, the Rule 10b-18 dollar volume weighted average price per Share for such Valuation Date based on transactions executed during such Valuation Date, as reported on Bloomberg Screen “ADS.N <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto) or, in the event such price is not so reported on such Valuation Date for any reason, as reasonably determined by the Calculation Agent.


Other Applicable Provisions:		The provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Seller is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction.

Adjustments:

In respect of any Component:

Method of Adjustment:		Calculation Agent Adjustment

Extraordinary Dividend:		Any Dividend (i) that has an ex-dividend date occurring on or after the Trade Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date and (ii) the amount or value of which exceeds the Ordinary Dividend Amount for such Dividend, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

Dividend:		Any cash dividend or distribution on the Shares.

Ordinary Dividend Amount:		USD0.00.

Extraordinary Events:

Consequences of Merger Events:

(a) Share-for-Share:		Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(b) Share-for-Other:		Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination)

(c) Share-for-Combined:		Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination)

Tender Offer:		Applicable.

Consequences of Tender Offers:

(a) Share-for-Share:		Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

(b) Share-for-Other:		Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination) on that portion of the Other Consideration that consists of cash; Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment on the remainder of the Other Consideration.

(c) Share-for-Combined:		Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment:		If, in respect of any Merger Event to which Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment applies, the adjustments to be made in accordance with Section 12.2(e)(i) of the Equity Definitions would result in Issuer being different from the issuer of the Shares, then with respect to such Merger Event, as a condition precedent to the adjustments contemplated in Section 12.2(e)(i) of the Equity Definitions, Issuer and the issuer of the Shares shall, prior to the Merger Date, have entered into such documentation containing representations, warranties and agreements relating to securities law and other issues as requested by Dealer that Dealer has determined, in its reasonable discretion, to be reasonably necessary or appropriate to allow Dealer to continue as a party to the


		Transaction, as adjusted under Section 12.2(e)(i) of the Equity Definitions, and to preserve its hedging or hedge unwind activities in connection with the Transaction in a manner compliant with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer, and if such conditions are not met or if the Calculation Agent determines that no adjustment that it could make under Section 12.2(e)(i) of the Equity Definitions will produce a commercially reasonable result, then the consequences set forth in Section 12.2(e)(ii) of the Equity Definitions shall apply.

New Shares:		In the definition of New Shares in Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions, (a) the text in clause (i) thereof shall be deleted in its entirety (including the word “and” following such clause (i)) and replaced with “publicly quoted, traded or listed (or whose related depositary receipts are publicly quoted, traded or listed) on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors),” and (b) the phrase “and (iii) (1) of any entity or person organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia that also becomes Issuer under the Transaction or (2) of such an entity or person that does not also become Issuer under the Transaction or of an entity or person organized elsewhere, unless, in the case of clause (2), the Calculation Agent determines that (x) treating such shares or depositary receipts as New Shares will have a material adverse effect on Dealer’s rights or obligations in respect of the Transaction, on its Hedging Activities in respect of the Transaction or on the costs (including, without limitation, due to any increase in tax liability, decrease in tax benefit or other adverse effect on its tax position) of engaging in any of the foregoing and (y) Dealer cannot promptly avoid the occurrence of each such material adverse effect by (I) transferring or assigning its rights and obligations under this Confirmation and the Agreement pursuant to Section 8(i) to an affiliate of Dealer that regularly engages in transactions similar to the Transaction or (II) amending the terms of this Confirmation (whether because amendments would not avoid such occurrence or because Issuer fails to agree promptly to such amendments)” shall be inserted immediately prior to the period.

Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting:		Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors). If the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.


Additional Disruption Events:

(a) Change in Law:		Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) deleting the word “or” after the parenthetical “(including, without limitation, any tax law)” in clause (A) thereof, (ii) inserting after the parenthetical in clause (B) thereof the following words “or (C) due to a law or regulation or interpretation becoming applicable as a result of Issuer’s or one or more of its subsidiaries entering a new business or changing the jurisdiction of organization of Issuer or one or more of its subsidiaries or as a result of any other action taken by Issuer or one or more of its subsidiaries”, (iii) deleting the word “or” before “(Y)” in the seventh line thereof and (iv) inserting after the parenthetical in clause (Y) the following words “or (Z) in the case of a Change in Law described in clause (C), there will be a not insignificant adverse effect on Dealer or any of its affiliates in respect of such Transaction or any related transactions”; and provided further that to the extent any increased cost described in clause (Y) of Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is of a type also described in Section 12.9(a)(vi) of the Equity Definitions, then the consequences provided with respect to “Increased Cost of Hedging” in Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions shall apply.

(b) Failure to Deliver:		Applicable

(c) Insolvency Filing:		Applicable

(d) Hedging Disruption:		Not Applicable

(e) Increased Cost of Hedging:		Not Applicable

(f) Loss of Stock Borrow:		Applicable

MaximumStock Loan Rate:		500 basis points per annum

(g) Increased Cost of Stock Borrow:		Applicable

Initial Stock Loan Rate:		25 basis points per annum

Hedging Party:		Dealer for all applicable Additional Disruption Events

Determining Party:		Dealer for all applicable Extraordinary Events

Non-Reliance:		Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgments

Regarding Hedging Activities:		Applicable

Additional Acknowledgments:		Applicable

3. Calculation Agent:		Dealer. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, the Calculation Agent will use its reasonable best efforts to provide to Issuer by e-mail promptly following such determination or calculation (but in any event no later than three Scheduled Trading Days after any request by Issuer) a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data without disclosing Dealer’s proprietary models) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be.

4. Account Details:

Dealer Payment Instructions: [ ]



Issuer Payment Instructions:		To be provided by Issuer.

Offices:

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is:



		[Dealer]
		[Address]
		Attention:		[ ]
		Telephone:		[ ]
		Facsimile:		[ ]

The Office of Issuer for the Transaction is: Not applicable

Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

(a)

Address for notices or communications to Issuer:



		To:		Alliance Data Systems Corporation 17655 Waterview Parkway Dallas, TX 75252
		Attn:		Chief Financial Officer
		Telephone:		(972) 348-5100
		Facsimile:		(972) 348-5326

(b)

Address for notices or communications to Dealer:



		To:		[Dealer]
				[Address]
		Attn:		[ ]
		Telephone:		[ ]
		Facsimile:		[ ]

Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

(a) In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Issuer represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

(i) On the Trade Date, and as of the date of any election by Issuer of the Share Termination Alternative under (and as defined in) Section 8(a) below, (A) Issuer is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Issuer or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Issuer with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Issuer acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under FASB Statements 128, 133, 149 (each as amended), or 150, EITF Issue No. 00-19, 01-6, 03-6 or 07-5 (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(iii) Issuer shall deliver to Dealer a certified copy of the resolution of Issuer’s board of directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing the Transaction on or prior to the Trade Date.

(iv) Issuer is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

(v) Issuer is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(vi) Issuer shall not take any action to decrease the number of Available Shares below the Capped Number (each as defined below).

(vii) Issuer understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any Affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(viii) The Shares of Issuer initially issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (the “Warrant Shares”) have been reserved for issuance by all required corporate action of Issuer. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and, when delivered against payment therefor (which may include Net Share Settlement in lieu of cash) and otherwise as contemplated by the terms of the Warrant following the exercise of the Warrant in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Warrant, will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Warrant Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights and shall, upon such issuance, be accepted for listing or quotation on the Exchange.

(ix) On the Trade Date, Issuer is not subject to the requirements of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”). Issuer shall promptly notify Dealer upon becoming aware that it is subject to the requirements of the BHCA after the Trade Date.

(b) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1a(12) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

(c) Each of Dealer and Issuer acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by virtue of Section 4(2) thereof. Accordingly, Dealer represents and warrants to Issuer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account without a view to the distribution or resale thereof and (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws.

(d) Each of Dealer and Issuer agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge (A) that this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment,” as such term is defined in Section 741(8) of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer,” as such term is defined in Section 101(54) of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 548(d)(2), 555 and 560 of the Bankruptcy Code.

(e) Issuer shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date and reasonably acceptable to Dealer in form and substance, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement; provided that such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including without limitation exceptions or qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

8. Other Provisions:

(a) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If Issuer shall owe Dealer any amount pursuant to Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions (except in the event of an Insolvency, a Nationalization, a Tender Offer or a Merger Event, in each case, in which the consideration or proceeds to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash) or pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement (except in the event of an Event of Default in which Issuer is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Issuer is the Affected Party, that resulted from an event or events within Issuer’s control) (a “Payment Obligation”), Issuer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to satisfy any such Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below) by giving irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. New York City time on the Merger

Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Additional Disruption Event, as applicable (“Notice of Share Termination”); provided that if Issuer does not elect to satisfy its Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative, Dealer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to elect to require Issuer to satisfy its Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative, notwithstanding Issuer’s failure to elect or election to the contrary. Upon such Notice of Share Termination or such Dealer election, the following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the Merger Date, the Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date, Early Termination Date or date of cancellation or termination in respect of an Additional Disruption Event, as applicable:


Share Termination Alternative:		Applicable; and means that Issuer shall deliver to Dealer the Share Termination Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as applicable (the “Share Termination Payment Date”), in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.

Share Termination Delivery

Property:		A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

Share Termination Unit Price:		The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit on the date such Share Termination Delivery Units are to be delivered as Share Termination Delivery Property, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Issuer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

Share Termination Delivery Unit:		In the case of a Termination Event, Event of Default, Delisting or Additional Disruption Event, one Share or, in the case of an Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer, a unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer. If such Insolvency, Nationalization, Merger Event or Tender Offer involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

Failure to Deliver:		Applicable

Other applicable provisions:		If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 (except that the Representation and Agreement contained in Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be modified by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Issuer is the Issuer of the Shares) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Transaction, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units”.

(b) Registration/Private Placement Procedures. (i) If, in the commercially reasonable judgment of Dealer based on the advice of outside counsel, for any reason, any Shares or any securities of Issuer or its affiliates comprising any Share Termination Delivery Units deliverable to Dealer hereunder (any such Shares or securities, “Delivered Securities”) would not be immediately freely transferable by Dealer under Rule 144 under the Securities Act (other than by reason of Dealer being an “affiliate” of Issuer as that term is defined in Rule 144, determined without regard to this Transaction or any Shares received hereunder), then the provisions set forth in this Section 8(b) shall apply. At the election of Issuer by notice to Dealer within one Exchange Business Day after the relevant delivery obligation arises, but in any event at least one Exchange Business Day prior to the date on which such delivery obligation is due, either (A) all Delivered Securities delivered by Issuer to Dealer shall be, at the time of such delivery, covered by an

effective registration statement of Issuer for immediate resale by Dealer (such registration statement and the corresponding prospectus (the “Prospectus”) (including, without limitation, any sections describing the plan of distribution) in form and content commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer) or (B) Issuer shall deliver additional Delivered Securities, which may bear any reasonably necessary restrictive legends, so that the value of such Delivered Securities, as determined by the Calculation Agent to reflect an appropriate liquidity discount, equals the value of the number of Delivered Securities that would otherwise be deliverable if such Delivered Securities were freely tradeable (without prospectus delivery) upon receipt by Dealer (such value, the “Freely Tradeable Value”); provided that Issuer may not make the election described in this clause (B) if, on the date of its election, it has taken, or caused to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the delivery by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Delivered Securities or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Delivered Securities by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer). (For the avoidance of doubt, as used in this paragraph (b) only, the term “Issuer” shall mean the issuer of the relevant securities, as the context shall require.)

(ii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(A) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation with respect to Issuer that is customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities and that yields results that are commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate, as the case may be, in its discretion; and

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Registration Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the public resale of such Delivered Securities by Dealer or such Affiliate substantially similar to underwriting agreements customary for underwritten offerings of equity securities, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer or such Affiliate and Issuer, which Registration Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such underwriting agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all reasonable expenses in connection with such resale, including all reasonable registration costs and all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, and shall provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus.

(iii) If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) above:

(A) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and any potential institutional purchaser of any such Delivered Securities from Dealer or such Affiliate identified by Dealer shall enter into a confidentiality agreement, on terms reasonably satisfactory to Issuer and Dealer, and be afforded a commercially reasonable opportunity to conduct a due diligence investigation in compliance with applicable law with respect to Issuer customary in scope for private placements of equity securities (including, without limitation, the right to have made available to them for inspection all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and other information reasonably requested by them);

(B) Dealer (or an Affiliate of Dealer designated by Dealer) and Issuer shall enter into an agreement (a “Private Placement Agreement”) on commercially reasonable terms in connection with the private placement of such Delivered Securities by Issuer to Dealer or such Affiliate and the private resale of such shares by Dealer or such Affiliate, substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer and Issuer, which Private Placement Agreement shall include, without limitation, provisions substantially similar to those contained in such private placement purchase agreements relating to the indemnification of, and contribution in connection with the liability of, Dealer and its Affiliates and Issuer, shall provide for the payment by Issuer of all reasonable expenses in connection with such resale, including all reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for Dealer, shall contain representations, warranties and agreements of Issuer reasonably necessary or advisable to establish and maintain the availability of an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for such resales, and shall use best efforts to provide for the delivery of accountants’ “comfort letters” to Dealer or such Affiliate with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in or incorporated by reference into the offering memorandum prepared for the resale of such Shares;

(C) Issuer agrees that any Delivered Securities so delivered to Dealer, (i) may be transferred by and among Dealer and its Affiliates, and Issuer shall effect such transfer without any further action by Dealer and (ii) after the then-applicable conditions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision) are satisfied with respect to such Delivered Securities, Issuer shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for such Shares or securities to remove, any legends referring to any such restrictions or requirements from such Delivered Securities upon delivery by Dealer (or such Affiliate of Dealer) to Issuer or such transfer agent of any seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer); and

(D) Issuer shall not take, or cause to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Issuer to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(1) or Section 4(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, by Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer).

(c) Make-whole. If Issuer makes the election described in clause (b)(i)(B) of paragraph (b) of this Section 8, then, subject to applicable securities laws, Dealer or its affiliate may sell such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, during a period (the “Resale Period”) commencing on the Exchange Business Day following delivery of such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, and ending on the Exchange Business Day on which Dealer completes the sale of all such Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, or a sufficient number of Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, so that the realized net proceeds of such sales exceed the Freely Tradeable Value (such amount of the Freely Tradeable Value, the “Required Proceeds”). If any of such delivered Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units remain after such realized net proceeds exceed the Required Proceeds, Dealer shall return such remaining Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units to Issuer. If the Required Proceeds exceed the realized net proceeds from such resale, Issuer shall transfer to Dealer by the open of the regular trading session on the Exchange on the Exchange Business Day immediately following the last day of the Resale Period the amount of such excess (the “Additional Amount”) in cash or in a number of additional Shares or Share Termination Delivery Units, as the case may be, (“Make-whole Shares”) in an amount that, based on the Relevant Price on the last day of the Resale Period (as if such day was the “Valuation Date” for purposes of computing such Relevant Price), has a dollar value equal to the Additional Amount. The Resale Period shall continue to enable the sale of the Make-whole Shares in the manner contemplated by this Section 8(c). This provision shall be applied successively until the Additional Amount is equal to zero, subject to Section 8(e).

(d) Limit on Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement or this Confirmation, Dealer may not exercise any Warrant hereunder, have the “right to acquire” (within the meaning of NYSE Rule 312.04(g)) Shares upon exercise of any Warrant hereunder or be entitled to take delivery of any Shares deliverable hereunder, and Automatic Exercise shall not apply with respect to any Warrant hereunder, to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such receipt of any Shares upon the exercise of such Warrant or otherwise hereunder, (i) Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership would be equal to or greater than 8.5% of the outstanding Shares; (ii) Dealer and its affiliates would directly or indirectly own or control, for purposes of the Change in Bank Control Act, as amended, in excess of 8.5% of the outstanding Shares; or (iii) Dealer would directly or indirectly beneficially own (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) in excess of 2,779,692 Shares (each of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, an “Ownership Limitation”). Any purported delivery hereunder shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such delivery, Dealer would directly or indirectly exceed an Ownership Limitation. If any delivery owed to Dealer or exercise hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Issuer’s obligation to make such delivery and Dealer’s right to such exercise shall not be extinguished and Issuer shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Dealer gives notice to Issuer that, after such delivery, Dealer would not directly or indirectly exceed an Ownership Limitation. “Dealer’s Beneficial Ownership” means the “beneficial ownership” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (collectively, “Section 13”) of Shares by Dealer, together with any affiliate or other person subject to aggregation with Dealer under Section 13, or by any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part. Notwithstanding anything in the Agreement or this Confirmation to the contrary, Dealer (or the affiliate designated by Dealer pursuant to Section 8(k) below) shall not become the record or beneficial owner, or otherwise have any rights as a holder, of any Shares that Dealer (or such affiliate) is not entitled to receive at any time pursuant to this Section 8(d), until such time as such Shares are delivered pursuant to this Section 8(d).

(e) Limitations on Settlement by Issuer. Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Issuer be required to deliver Shares in connection with the Transaction in excess of [ ] ² Shares (the “Capped Number”). Issuer represents and warrants (which shall be deemed to be repeated on each day that the Transaction is outstanding) that the Capped Number is equal to or less than the number of authorized but unissued Shares of the Issuer that are not reserved for future issuance in connection with transactions in the Shares (other than the Transaction) on the date of the determination of the Capped Number (such Shares, the “Available Shares”). In the event Issuer shall not have delivered the full number of Shares otherwise deliverable as a result of this Section 8(e) (the resulting deficit, the “Deficit Shares”), Issuer shall be continually obligated to deliver, from time to time until the full number of Deficit Shares have been delivered pursuant to this paragraph, Shares when, and to the extent, that (i) Shares are repurchased, acquired or otherwise received by Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Trade Date (whether or not in exchange for cash, fair value or any other consideration), (ii) authorized and unissued Shares reserved for issuance in respect of other transactions prior to such date which prior to the relevant date become no longer so reserved or (iii) Issuer additionally authorizes any unissued Shares that are not reserved for other transactions. Issuer shall immediately notify Dealer of the occurrence of any of the foregoing events (including the number of Shares subject to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) and the corresponding number of Shares to be delivered) and promptly deliver such Shares thereafter.

(f) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Exercise Date or any other date of valuation or delivery with respect to some or all of the relevant Warrants (in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Number of Shares to be Delivered with respect to one or more Components), if Dealer determines, in its commercially reasonable discretion, that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions or to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder, in each case in a manner that would, if Dealer were Issuer or an affiliated purchaser of Issuer, be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer.

(g) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Issuer’s bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Issuer’s bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Issuer of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Issuer herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

(h) Amendments to Equity Definitions. The following amendments shall be made to the Equity Definitions:

(i) The first sentence of Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions prior to clause (A) thereof, is hereby amended to read as follows: ‘(c) If “Calculation Agent Adjustment” is specified as the Method of Adjustment in the related Confirmation of a Share Option Transaction, then following the announcement or occurrence of any Potential Adjustment Event, the Calculation Agent will determine whether such Potential Adjustment Event has a material effect on the theoretical value of the relevant Shares or options on the Shares and, if so, will (i) make appropriate adjustment(s), if any, to any one or more of:’ and, the portion of such sentence immediately preceding clause (ii) thereof is hereby amended by deleting the words “diluting or concentrative” and the words “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing such latter phrase with the words “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares but only if such change is the result of a corporate event involving the Issuer)”;

(ii) Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with “material” and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

²	For BofA, insert 4,887,963. For each of Barclays and JPM, insert 2,443,981.

(iii) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “that may have a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with “that is the result of a corporate event involving the Issuer and that may have a material” and adding the phrase “or Warrants” at the end of the sentence;

(iv) Section 12.6(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) deleting from the fourth line thereof the word “or” after the word “official” and inserting a comma therefor, and (2) deleting the semi-colon at the end of subsection (B) thereof and inserting the following words therefor “or (C) at Dealer’s option, the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 5(a)(vii)(1) through (9) of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement with respect to that Issuer.”;

(v) Section 12.9(b)(iv) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) deleting (1) subsection (A) in its entirety, (2) the phrase “or (B)” following subsection (A) and (3) the phrase “in each case” in subsection (B); and (B) deleting the phrase “neither the Non-Hedging Party nor the Lending Party lends Shares in the amount of the Hedging Shares or” in the penultimate sentence; and

(vi) Section 12.9(b)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)” and deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A); (2) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety and deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C); (3) inserting after the phrase “If such notice is not given” in the second sentence thereof the words “or the Non-Hedging Party has not elected an alternative specified in clause (A) or (B) above”; (4) replacing in the penultimate sentence the words “either party” with “the Hedging Party”; and (5) deleting clause (X) in the final sentence.

(i) Transfer and Assignment. Dealer may transfer or assign its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Agreement, in whole or in part, only with the prior written consent of Issuer, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

(j) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Issuer and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Issuer relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

(k) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Issuer, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Issuer only to the extent of any such performance.

(l) Additional Termination Events. The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an Additional Termination Event with respect to which the Transaction shall be the sole Affected Transaction and Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party; provided that with respect to any Additional Termination Event, Dealer may choose to treat part of the Transaction as the sole Affected Transaction, and, upon the termination of the Affected Transaction, a Transaction with terms identical to those set forth herein except with a Number of Warrants equal to the unaffected number of Warrants shall be treated for all purposes as the Transaction, which shall remain in full force and effect:

(i) no later than the first anniversary of the Trade Date (or six months if Issuer is, and has been for a period of at least 90 days immediately before the determination, subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and has been current in its Exchange Act reports for the trailing 12 months), Dealer reasonably determines that it is advisable to terminate a portion of the Transaction so that Dealer’s related hedging activities will comply with applicable securities laws, rules or regulations or related policies and procedures of Dealer (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer);

(ii) At any time at which any Excess Ownership Position exists, if Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party in accordance with the requirements set forth above after using its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing terms reasonably acceptable to Dealer and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Trading Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that such Excess Ownership Position no longer exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a

payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Issuer shall be the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (iii) such portion of the Transaction shall be the only Terminated Transaction. “Excess Ownership Position” means any of the following: (i) the Equity Percentage exceeds 8.5%, (ii) the Option Equity Percentage exceeds 14.5% or (iii) the CBCA Percentage exceeds 8.5%. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer, for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or of any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part, beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. The “Option Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is [ ]⁽³⁾ the sum of (i) the product of the Number of Warrants and the Warrant Entitlement on such day, plus (ii) the product of the Number of Warrants and the Warrant Entitlement (as such terms are defined in the Issuer Warrant Transaction between Dealer and Issuer dated as of July 23, 2008, as amended) on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. The “CBCA Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares deemed to be directly or indirectly owned or controlled, for purposes of the Change in Bank Control Act, as amended, by Dealer and its affiliates on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day;

(iii) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act other than Issuer, its subsidiaries or its or their employee benefit plans, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect ultimate “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of Issuer’s common equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of Issuer’s common equity;

(iv) consummation of any share exchange, exchange offer, tender offer, consolidation or merger of Issuer pursuant to which the Shares will be converted into cash, securities or other property or any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of Issuer and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one or more of Issuer’s subsidiaries (any such exchange, offer, consolidation, merger, transaction or series of transactions being referred to herein as an “event”); provided, however, that any such event where the holders of more than 50% of the Shares immediately prior to such event own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of common equity of the continuing or surviving person or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such event shall not be an Additional Termination Event;

(v) the Continuing Directors cease to constitute at least a majority of Issuer’s board of directors;

(vi) Issuer’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for Issuer’s liquidation or dissolution; or

(vii) the Shares cease to be listed on at least one U.S. national securities exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, an event set forth in clause (iii) or (iv) above will not constitute an Additional Termination Event if at least 90% of the consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in the event constituting the Additional Termination Event consists of shares of common stock, depositary receipts or other certificates representing common equity interests, in each case, that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or that will be so traded when issued or exchanged in connection with the Additional Termination Event (these securities being referred to as “publicly traded securities”).

“Continuing Director” means a director who either was a member of Issuer’s board of directors on the Effective Date or who becomes a member of Issuer’s board of directors subsequent to that date and whose election, appointment or

⁽³⁾

For each of BofA and JPM, insert “the sum of (i) the product of the Number of Warrants and the Warrant Entitlement on such day, plus (ii) the product of the Number of Warrants and the Warrant Entitlement (as such terms are defined in the Issuer Warrant Transaction between Dealer and Issuer dated as of July 23, 2008, as amended)”.

For Barclays, insert “the product of the Number of Warrants and the Warrant Entitlement.”

nomination for election by Issuer’s stockholders, is duly approved by a majority of the continuing directors on Issuer’s board of directors at the time of such approval, either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by Issuer on behalf of its entire board of directors in which such individual is named as nominee for director.

(m) No Netting and Set-off. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set off obligations arising under the Agreement and the Transaction against other obligations between the parties, whether arising under any other agreement, applicable law or otherwise. The provisions of Section 2(c) of the Agreement shall not be applicable to the Transaction.

(n) Effectiveness. If, prior to the Effective Date, Dealer reasonably determines that it is advisable to cancel the Transaction because of concerns that Dealer’s related hedging activities could be viewed as not complying with applicable securities laws, rules or regulations, the Transaction shall be cancelled and shall not become effective, and neither party shall have any obligation to the other party in respect of the Transaction.

(o) [Regulatory Provisions and Role of Agent language to be included, in each case if applicable]

(p) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF ISSUER AND BUYER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF BUYER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing the copy of this Confirmation enclosed for that purpose and returning it to us.


Yours faithfully,

[DEALER]

By:
Name:
Title:


Agreed and Accepted By:

ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

By:
Name:		Edward J. Heffernan
Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer

Form of Forward Stock Purchase Transaction

Exhibit 10.4

EXECUTION VERSION

May 27, 2009

To:	Alliance Data Systems Corporation

17655 Waterview Parkway

Dallas, TX 75252

Telephone: (972) 348-5100

Facsimile: (972) 348-5326

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

From:

[Dealer]

[Address]

Re:

Forward Stock Purchase Transaction

(Transaction Reference Number: )

Dear Sir / Madam:

The purpose of this letter agreement (this “Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between [Dealer] (“Dealer”) and Alliance Data Systems Corporation (“Counterparty”) on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”). This Confirmation constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “Swap Definitions”) and the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions” and, together with the Swap Definitions, the “Definitions”) in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”), are incorporated into this Confirmation. In the event of any inconsistency between the Swap Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions shall govern and in the event of any inconsistency between the Definitions and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern.

1. This Confirmation evidences a complete binding agreement between you and us as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation (notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein) shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to, an agreement in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Master Agreement”) as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an agreement in such form (but without any Schedule except for elections set forth herein) on the Trade Date. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the Master Agreement and this Confirmation, this Confirmation will prevail for the purpose of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. The parties hereby agree that no Transaction other than the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates shall be governed by the Master Agreement.

2. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:


General Terms:

Trade Date:		May 27, 2009

Effective Date:		June 2, 2009, subject to cancellation of the Transaction as provided in Section 8(d) “Offering Contingency,” below.

Seller:		Dealer

Buyer:		Counterparty

Shares:		The shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, of Counterparty (Security Symbol: “ADS”).


Number of Shares:		[ ]¹, as reduced from time to time following settlement on each Settlement Date by the Daily Number of Shares for such Settlement Date.

Daily Number of Shares:		(a) For any Settlement Date occurring prior to the first day of the Settlement Period, the number of Shares specified by Dealer in the related Settlement Notice (as defined below under “Settlement Dates”) and (b) for each Settlement Date occurring on or after the first day of the Settlement Period, the Number of Shares as of the first day of the Settlement Period divided by 80, rounded down to the nearest whole number (with any reduction in the Daily Number of Shares due to rounding being allocated to the final Settlement Date); provided that (i) if a Market Disruption Event occurs on any Exchange Business Day in the Settlement Reference Period, the Calculation Agent may determine that such Exchange Business Day is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the Calculation Agent will reduce the Daily Number of Shares for the related Settlement Date and shall designate one or more Settlement Dates at the end of the Settlement Period as the Settlement Date(s) for the remaining Daily Number of Shares, (ii) Dealer may increase the Daily Number of Shares on any Settlement Date during the Settlement Period by delivery of a Settlement Notice specifying the additional Daily Number of Shares for such Settlement Date to Counterparty, in which case the Daily Number of Shares for each remaining Settlement Date shall be reduced on a pro rata basis and (iii) the aggregate of the Daily Number of Shares for all Settlement Dates shall equal the initial Number of Shares; and provided further that, if the final Settlement Date has not occurred pursuant to the preceding proviso as of the Final Disruption Date, then, subject to Section 8(f) hereof, the Final Disruption Date shall be considered the final Settlement Date. “Final Disruption Date” means December 16, 2014.

Forward Price:		$40.31

Prepayment:		Applicable

Prepayment Amount:		$[ ]² (The Forward Price multiplied by the initial Number of Shares).

Prepayment Date:		The Effective Date; provided that no cancellation of this Transaction has occurred as provided in Section 8(d) “Offering Contingency.”

Variable Obligation:		Not Applicable

Exchange:		The New York Stock Exchange

Related Exchange(s):		All Exchanges

Calculation Agent:		Dealer. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, the Calculation Agent will use

¹	For Merrill Lynch International (“*MLI”), insert 1,472,600. For Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays*”), insert 384,800.

²	For MLI, insert 59,360,506. For Barclays, insert 15,511,288.


		its reasonable best efforts to provide to Counterparty by e-mail promptly following such determination or calculation (but in any event no later than three Exchange Business Days after any request by Counterparty) a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data without disclosing Dealer’s proprietary models) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be.

Settlement Terms:

Physical Settlement:		Applicable. In lieu of Section 9.2(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, Dealer will deliver to Counterparty the Daily Number of Shares for the related Settlement Date on such Settlement Date. Section 9.11 of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by excluding any representations therein relating to restrictions, obligations, limitations or requirements under applicable securities laws arising as a result of the fact that Counterparty is the Issuer of the Shares.

Settlement Dates:		(a) Any Clearance System Business Day designated by Dealer as a Settlement Date following the Effective Date in a written notice (a “Settlement Notice”) that is delivered to Counterparty, specifying the Daily Number of Shares for such Settlement Date and (b) each Clearance System Business Day that is one Settlement Cycle following each Exchange Business Day in the Settlement Reference Period that is not a Disrupted Day in full (clause (b), the “Settlement Period”).

Settlement Reference Period:		The period beginning with, and including August 13, 2014 (or, if such date is not an Exchange Business Day, the next following Exchange Business Day) and ending with, and including the 79 Exchange Business Day thereafter; provided that the Settlement Reference Period shall be extended by one Exchange Business Day for each Exchange Business Day therein that is a Disrupted Day (in whole or in part).

Market Disruption Event:		Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be,” in clause (ii) thereof. Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

Dividends:

Dividend Payment:		In lieu of Section 9.2(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, Dealer will pay to Counterparty the relevant Dividend Amount on each Dividend Payment Date.

Dividend Amount:		(a) 100% of any cash dividend or distribution per Share declared by the Issuer to holders of record of a Share on any record date occurring during the period from, and including, the Effective Date to, but excluding, the final Settlement Date, multiplied by (b) the Number of Shares on such record date (after giving effect to any reduction on such record date, if such record date is a Settlement Date).


Dividend Payment Date:		Each date on which the relevant Dividend Amount is paid or distributed by the Issuer to shareholders of record.

Share Adjustments:

Method of Adjustment:		Calculation Agent Adjustment; provided that, for any dividend or distribution of the type described in Sections 11.2(e)(i) or 11.2(e)(ii)(A) of the Equity Definitions, the Calculation Agent shall make a proportional adjustment to the Number of Shares to reflect such dividend or distribution.

Extraordinary Events:

Consequences of Merger Events:		If any portion of the Transaction shall be cancelled pursuant to Section 12.2(b) of the Equity Definitions (each such portion, a “Merger Cancelled Portion”) and Dealer would owe Counterparty a payment as a result thereof, such Merger Cancelled Portion shall be settled in accordance with Section 8(i) hereof.

Share-for-Share:		Alternative Obligation

Share-for-Other:		Cancellation and Payment on that portion of the Other Consideration that consists of cash; Alternative Obligation on the remainder of the Other Consideration.

Share-for-Combined:		Cancellation and Payment, unless at least 90% of the consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in such Merger Event consists of “publicly traded securities,” in which case Component Adjustment shall apply. “Publicly traded securities” means shares of common stock, depositary receipts or other certificates representing common equity interests, in each case, that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or that will be so traded when issued or exchanged in connection with the Merger Event.

Tender Offer:		Not Applicable

Nationalization or Insolvency:		Cancellation and Payment

Delisting:		Not Applicable

Determining Party for Merger Events and Nationalization or Insolvency:		Dealer

Additional Disruption Events:

Change in Law:		Applicable

Failure to Deliver:		Applicable if and only if Dealer has reasonable grounds to believe that the Shares to be delivered can either be borrowed or otherwise acquired when the delivery is due.


Hedging Disruption:		Not Applicable

Increased Cost of Hedging:		Not Applicable

Determining Party:		For all Additional Disruption Events, Dealer

Non-Reliance:		Applicable

Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:		Applicable

Additional Acknowledgments:		Applicable

3. Account Details:

(a)

Account for payments to Counterparty: To be provided by Counterparty.

Account for delivery of Shares to Counterparty: To be provided by Counterparty.

(b)

Account for payments to Dealer:

[ ]

Account for delivery of Shares from Dealer: [ ]

4. Offices:

The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party.

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is:


[Dealer]
[Address]
Attention:		[ ]
Facsimile:		[ ]
Telephone:		[ ]

5. Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

(a)

Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:


To:		Alliance Data Systems Corporation
		17655 Waterview Parkway
		Dallas, TX 75252
Attn:		Chief Financial Officer
Telephone:		(972) 348-5100
Facsimile:		(972) 348-5326

(b)

Address for notices or communications to Dealer:


To:		[Dealer]
		[Address]
Attention:		[ ]
Tel:		[ ]
Fax:		[ ]

6. Representations, Warranties and Agreements.

Counterparty represents and warrants to, and agrees with, Dealer, on the date hereof, that:

(a) Disclosure. Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, and all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(b) No Manipulation. Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares).

(c) Regulation M. Transactions in the Shares are not prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”) as a result of such transactions meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in Sections 101(b)(10) and 102(b)(7) of Regulation M, and Counterparty shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution as to which the exceptions set forth in sections 101(b)(10) and 102(b)(7) of Regulation M are available, until the Effective Date.

(d) Board Authorization. Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer a certified copy of the resolution of Counterparty’s board of directors (or a duly authorized committee thereof) authorizing the Transaction on or prior to the Trade Date.

(e) Solvency. As of the date hereof, Counterparty is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”) and Counterparty would be able to purchase the Number of Shares in compliance with the laws of Counterparty’s jurisdiction of incorporation.

(f) Required Filings. Counterparty has made, and will use its best efforts to make, all filings required to be made by it with the SEC, any securities exchange or any other regulatory body with respect to the Transaction contemplated hereby.

(g) Accounting. Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under FASB Statements 128, 133, 149 (each as amended) or 150, EITF Issue No. 00-19, 01-6, 03-6 or 07-5 (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(h) Investment Company Act. Counterparty is not and, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated in this Confirmation, will not be required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(i) Deposit Insurance; No Guarantee. Counterparty understands that no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any Affiliate of Dealer other than Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. or any governmental agency.

Each of Dealer and Counterparty represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the other party, on the date hereof, that it is an “eligible contract participant”, as such term is defined in Section 1a(12) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended.

7. Matters Relating to Agent.

[Insert Appropriate Agent Language.]

8. Other Provisions.

(a) Opinions. Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date and reasonably acceptable to Dealer in form and substance, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Master Agreement; provided that such opinion of counsel may contain customary exceptions and qualifications, including without limitation exceptions or qualifications relating to indemnification provisions.

(b) Repurchase Notices. Counterparty shall, at least 10 Scheduled Trading Days prior to effecting any repurchase of Shares or consummating or otherwise executing or engaging in any transaction or event, other than a stock split or stock dividend (a “Adjustment Event”), that would lead to an increase in the Number of Shares, give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase or Adjustment Event (a “Repurchase Notice”) if, following such repurchase or Adjustment Event, the Notice Percentage as determined on the date of such Repurchase Notice is (i) greater than [ ]%³ and (ii) in the case of any Repurchase Notice other than the first Repurchase Notice, greater by 0.5% or more than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice. The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the sum of (x) the Number of Shares for the Transaction and (y) the Number of Shares for [ ]⁴, and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Counterparty fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(b) then Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act, relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Counterparty) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer.

(d) Offering Contingency. If the offering by Counterparty of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.75% convertible notes due 2014 does not close on or prior to June 2, 2009 (or such later date as Counterparty and Dealer shall have agreed which in no event shall be later than June 16, 2009), then the Transaction shall be terminated and cancelled with no payments (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any early termination payment) or performance being due by either party.

(e) Transfer or Assignment. Dealer may transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction only with the prior written consent of Counterparty; provided that Counterparty may not unreasonably withhold or delay such consent, it being understood that it is not unreasonable to withhold or delay such consent if, among other reasons, Dealer does not comply with the Transfer Requirements (as defined below). Counterparty may transfer its rights and obligations under the Transaction without the consent of Dealer so long as it complies with the Transfer Requirements.

“Transfer Requirements” means, with respect to the party transferring its rights or obligations under the Transaction (such party, the “Transferring Party” and the other party, the “Non-Transferring Party”), (i) the Transferring Party shall deliver opinions and documents reasonably satisfactory to Non-Transferring Party in connection with such assignment; (ii) such assignment shall be effected on terms reasonably satisfactory to the Non-Transferring Party with respect to any legal and regulatory requirements relevant to the Non-Transferring Party; (iii) the Non-Transferring Party shall not, as a result of such assignment, be required to pay the transferee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than the amount that the Non-Transferring Party would have been required to pay to the Transferring Party in the absence of such transfer and

³	For MLI, insert 17.7. For Barclays, insert 4.5.

⁴	For MLI, insert “each of the Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction between Counterparty and Bank of America, N.A. dated June 23, 2008 and the Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction between Counterparty and Bank of America, N.A. dated the date hereof”.

For Barclays, insert “the Convertible Bond Hedge Transaction between Counterparty and Dealer dated the date hereof”.

assignment; (iv) no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event shall occur as a result of such assignment; (v) without limiting the generality of clause (iii), the Transferring Party shall cause the transferee to make such Payee Tax Representations and to provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by the Non-Transferring Party to permit the Non-Transferring Party to determine that results described in clauses (iii) and (iv) will not occur upon or after such transfer and assignment; and (vi) the Transferring Party shall be responsible for the Non-Transferring Party’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including reasonable fees of counsel, incurred in connection with such transfer and assignment. The definition of Transfer Requirements shall also include the following requirements in the case of a transfer by Counterparty: (i) Alliance Data Systems Corporation (or any successor obligor) shall continue to be obligated with respect to “Repurchase Notices” above; (ii) such assignment shall be made to a U.S. person (as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) and (iii) if Dealer reasonably requests, the transferee shall agree not to hedge its exposure to the Transaction, or to hedge such exposure only pursuant to an effective registration of Alliance Data Systems Corporation (or any successor obligor) or otherwise in compliance with applicable securities laws in a manner that, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer, will not expose Dealer to material risks under applicable securities laws

(f) Right to Extend. Dealer may postpone any Settlement Date or extend the Settlement Reference Period, in which event the Calculation Agent shall make appropriate adjustments to the Number of Shares and the Daily Number of Shares with respect to any affected Settlement Date, if Dealer determines, in its commercially reasonable discretion, that such postponement or extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions or to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder, in each case in a manner that would, if Dealer were the Issuer or an affiliated purchaser of the Issuer (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act), be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer.

(g) Payments on Early Termination. For the purpose of Section 6(e) of the Master Agreement, payments by Dealer in respect of this Transaction shall be limited to the delivery of the Number of Shares (determined as of the Early Termination Date); provided that, notwithstanding Section 6(d)(ii) of the Master Agreement, such share delivery by Dealer in respect of any Early Termination Date will occur as soon as reasonably practicable, as determined by Dealer in its good faith judgment, based on what Dealer determines is reasonably necessary or appropriate in order to preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions or to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were the Issuer or an affiliated purchaser of the Issuer (as defined in Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act), be in compliance with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures applicable to Dealer.

(h) Securities Contract, Swap Agreement. The parties hereto intend for: (a) the Transaction to be a “securities contract” and a “swap agreement” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code, and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 546(e), 546(g), 555 and 560 of the Bankruptcy Code; (b) a party’s right to liquidate the Transaction and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, Early Termination Event, Extraordinary Event or Additional Disruption Event under this Confirmation with respect to the other party to constitute a “contractual right” as described in the Bankruptcy Code; and (c) each payment and delivery of cash, securities or other property hereunder to constitute a “margin payment” or “settlement payment” and a “transfer” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code.

(i) Settlement of Merger Cancelled Portions. With respect to any Merger Cancelled Portion, if Dealer would owe any amount to Counterparty pursuant to Section 12.2(b) and 12.7(c) of the Equity Definitions (a “Payment Obligation”) in respect of such Merger Cancelled Portion, Dealer shall satisfy such Payment Obligation by the Merger Cancellation Alternative. The following provisions shall apply on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the relevant Merger Date:


Merger Cancellation Alternative:		Applicable and means that Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty the Merger Cancellation Delivery Property on the date on which the Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 of the Equity Definitions, or such later date as the Calculation Agent may reasonably determine, in satisfaction of the Payment Obligation.


Merger Cancellation Delivery Property:		A number of Merger Cancellation Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Merger Cancellation Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Merger Cancellation Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Merger Cancellation Unit Price.

Merger Cancellation Unit Price:		The value of property contained in one Merger Cancellation Delivery Unit, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Dealer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation.

Merger Cancellation Delivery Unit:		A unit consisting of the number or amount of each type of property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in the related Merger Event with respect to the Merger Cancelled Portion of the Transaction. If such Merger Event involves a choice of consideration to be received by holders, such holder shall be deemed to have elected to receive the maximum possible amount of cash.

Failure to Deliver:		Applicable

Other applicable provisions:		The provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9, 9.10, 9.11 (as modified in “Physical Settlement” above) and 9.12 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable as if “Physical Settlement” applied to the Merger Cancelled Portion, except that all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Merger Cancellation Delivery Units.”

(j) No Collateral, Netting or Setoff. Notwithstanding any provision of the Master Agreement, or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, no collateral is transferred in connection with this Transaction. Obligations under this Transaction shall not be netted, recouped or set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Master Agreement) against any other obligations of the parties, whether arising under the Master Agreement, this Confirmation, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and no other obligations of the parties shall be netted, recouped or set off (including pursuant to Section 6 of the Master Agreement) against obligations under this Transaction, whether arising under the Master Agreement, under this Confirmation, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff, netting or recoupment.

(k) Status of Claims in Bankruptcy. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to Dealer rights against Counterparty with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders of Counterparty in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to the Transaction; provided, further, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transactions other than the Transaction.

(l) Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH ALL MATTERS RELATING HERETO AND WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, AND ANY CLAIM OF INCONVENIENT FORUM WITH RESPECT TO, THESE COURTS.

(m) Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS TRANSACTION. EACH PARTY (I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF EITHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN

THE EVENT OF SUCH A SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTY HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS TRANSACTION, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS PROVIDED HEREIN.

(n) [ ]⁵

(o) Taxation: [ ]⁶

[Signatures to follow on separate page]

⁵	For MLI, insert: “Credit Support Document and Provider: The Guarantee of ML&Co. in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A shall be a Credit Support Document and ML&Co. shall be a Credit Support Provider, in each case with respect to Dealer.”

For Barclays, insert: “Regulatory Provisions. Dealer is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Dealer is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. The time of dealing for the Transaction will be confirmed by Dealer upon written request by Counterparty. The Agent will furnish to Counterparty upon written request a statement as to the source and amount of any remuneration received or to be received by the Agent in connection with the Transaction.”

⁶

For MLI, insert: “Dealer represents to Counterparty that (i) it is a resident of the United Kingdom within the meaning of the income tax treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom, (ii) that it is eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom, and (iii) upon reasonable request by Counterparty, Dealer will provide a validly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or relevant successor form) certifying that it is a resident of the United Kingdom and that it is eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom.”

For Barclays, insert: “Dealer represents that (i) with respect to payments made to Dealer which are not effectively connected to the US: it is fully eligible for the benefits of the “Business Profits” , the “Interest” provision or the “Other Income” provision (if any) of the Double Tax Treaty between the UK and the US with respect to any payment described in such provisions and received or to be received by it in connection with this Agreement and no such payment is attributable to a trade or business carried on by it through a permanent establishment in the US; and (ii) with respect to payments made to Dealer which are effectively connected to the US: each payment received or to be received by it in connection with this Agreement will be effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the US. Prior to Counterparty making any such payment to Dealer, Dealer will provide a validly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or relevant successor form) certifying that the payment to be received by it is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the US, and upon reasonable request by Counterparty, Dealer will provide a validly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or relevant successor form) certifying that it is a resident of the United Kingdom and that it is eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the United Kingdom. For the purpose of Section 3(f) of this Agreement, Dealer may elect to report each payment received or to be received by Dealer in respect of the Transaction, for purposes of information reporting under Section 1.1461-1(c)(2)(i)(J) of the United States Treasury Regulations, as effectively connected with Dealer’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States.”

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing the copy of this Confirmation enclosed for that purpose and returning it to us.


Yours sincerely,

[DEALER]

By:
Name:
Title:

Confirmed as of the date first

above written:


ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION

By:
Name:		Edward J. Heffernan
Title:		President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit A⁷

GUARANTEE OF MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (“ML & Co.”), hereby unconditionally guarantees to Alliance Data Systems Corporation (the “Company”), the due and punctual payment of any and all amounts payable by Merrill Lynch International, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales (“ML”), under the terms of the Confirmation of Forward Stock Purchase Transaction between the Company and ML (ML as Seller), dated May 27, 2009 (the “Confirmation”), including, in case of default, interest on any amount due, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether on the scheduled payment dates, at maturity, upon declaration of termination or otherwise, according to the terms thereof. In case of the failure of ML punctually to make any such payment, ML & Co. hereby agrees to make such payment, or cause such payment to be made, promptly upon demand made by the Company to ML & Co.; provided, however, that delay by the Company in giving such demand shall in no event affect ML & Co.’s obligations under this Guarantee. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect or shall be reinstated (as the case may be) if at any time any payment guaranteed hereunder, in whole or in part, is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by the Company upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of ML or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

ML & Co. hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Confirmation; the absence of any action to enforce the same; any waiver or consent by the Company concerning any provisions thereof; the rendering of any judgment against ML or any action to enforce the same; or any other circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or a defense of a guarantor. ML covenants that this guarantee will not be discharged except by complete payment of the amounts payable under the Confirmation. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective if ML merges or consolidates with or into another entity, loses its separate legal identity or ceases to exist.

ML & Co. hereby waives diligence; presentment; protest; notice of protest, acceleration, and dishonor; filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of ML; all demands whatsoever, except as noted in the first paragraph hereof; and any right to require a proceeding first against ML.

ML & Co. hereby certifies and warrants that this Guarantee constitutes the valid obligation of ML & Co. and complies with all applicable laws.

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

This Guarantee may be terminated at any time by notice by ML & Co. to the Company given in accordance with the notice provisions of the Confirmation, effective upon receipt of such notice by the Company or such later date as may be specified in such notice; provided, however, that this Guarantee shall continue in full force and effect with respect to any obligation of ML under the Confirmation.

This Guarantee becomes effective concurrent with the effectiveness of the Confirmation, according to its terms.

⁷	Insert Exhibit A for MLI.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ML & Co. has caused this Guarantee to be executed in its corporate name by its duly authorized representative.


MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.

By
Name:
Title:
Date: