FISCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT

FISCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of April 14, 2005, between NORTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY, a corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Issuer ”), and J.P. MORGAN TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Fiscal Agent (as defined in Section 2 hereof).

The Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of its 5.125% Senior Notes due May 1, 2015 (the “ Securities ”) of substantially the tenor and amount hereinafter set forth, and to provide therefor the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

All things necessary to make the Securities, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered hereunder and duly issued by the Issuer, the valid obligations of the Issuer, and to make this Agreement a valid agreement of the Issuer, in accordance with their and its terms, have been done.

1.       The Securities .

(a)       General . The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Agreement is limited to $100,000,000 except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or the Securities.

The Securities shall be known and designated as the “5.125% Senior Notes due 2015” of the Issuer. The Securities will be unsecured, direct, unconditional and general obligations of the Issuer and will rank pari   passu   with all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Issuer.

(b)       Form of Securities; Denominations of Securities . The Securities will be issued in registered form without coupons in substantially the form, and including the terms, provided for herein and on Exhibit A . The Securities shall be executed manually or in facsimile on behalf of the Issuer by its Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President and by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (the “ Authorized Officers ”), notwithstanding that such officers, or any one of them, shall have ceased, for any reason, to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities. The Securities may also have such additional provisions, omissions, variations or substitutions as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with the rules of any securities exchange or governmental agency or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Authorized Officers of the Issuer executing such Securities, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. All of the Securities shall be otherwise substantially identical except as to denominations of Securities and as provided herein.

a.    a written certificate from the U.S. Depository, together with copies of certificates from Euroclear and Clearstream, certifying that they have received certification of non-United States beneficial ownership of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities (except to the extent of any beneficial owners thereof who acquired an interest therein during the Restricted Period pursuant to another exemption from registration under the Act and who will take delivery of a beneficial ownership interest in a Rule 144A Global Security or a Restricted Definitive Security (as defined below), all as contemplated by Section 5(d) hereof); and

b.    a certificate signed by the Authorized Officers (“ Officers’ Certificate ”),

beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities will be exchanged for beneficial interests in a permanent global Security in the form provided for herein and on Exhibit A , issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities (the “ Regulation S Permanent Global Securities ”) pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Depository, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, in each case pertaining to beneficial interests in Global Securities (“ Applicable Procedures ”). Simultaneously with the authentication of the Regulation S Permanent Global Securities, the Fiscal Agent will cancel the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities. As used herein, “ Regulation S Global Securities ” means the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities or the Regulation S Permanent Global Securities, as applicable.

The aggregate principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities and the Regulation S Permanent Global Securities may be adjusted by endorsements to Schedule A on the reverse thereof in any situation where adjustment is permitted or required by this Agreement. As used herein, the term “ Restricted Period ,” with respect to Regulation S Securities, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (i) the date on which interests in such Securities are offered to Persons (as defined below) other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) and (ii) the original issue date of such Securities. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Regulation S Global Security shall be issued except as provided in this paragraph to evidence Securities offered and sold in reliance on Regulation S. Unless the Issuer determines otherwise in accordance with applicable law, the legend setting forth transfer restrictions shall be removed or deemed removed from a Regulation S Security in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1(d) hereof, and each such Security shall thereafter be held as an unrestricted Security. As used herein, “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

The provisions of the “Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System” and “Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear” and the “General Terms and Conditions of Clearstream Banking” and “Customer Handbook” of Clearstream will be applicable to transfers of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities and the Regulation S Permanent   Global Securities that are held by Agent Members (as defined in Section 1(e)) through Euroclear or Clearstream.

(c)       Temporary Securities . Until definitive Securities are prepared, the Issuer may execute, and there shall be authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 hereof (in lieu of definitive printed Securities), temporary Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in registered global form. Such temporary Securities shall be subject to the same limitations and conditions and entitled to the same rights and benefits as definitive Securities, except as provided herein or therein. Temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities, when such definitive Securities are available for delivery; and upon the surrender for exchange of such temporary Securities, the Issuer shall execute and there shall be authenticated and delivered, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 6 and 7 hereof, in exchange for such temporary Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of like tenor. The Issuer shall pay all charges, including (without limitation) stamp and other taxes and governmental charges, incident to any exchange of temporary Securities for definitive Securities. All temporary Securities shall be identified as such and shall describe the right of the holder thereof to effect an exchange for definitive Securities and the manner in which such an exchange may be effected.

(d)       Legends . Securities shall be stamped or otherwise be imprinted with the legends set forth on the face of the text of the Securities attached as Exhibit A , including any legend provided for pursuant to Section 1(e) hereof. The legends so provided on the face of the text of the Securities may be removed from any Security, upon written order signed in the name of the Issuer by the Authorized Officers and delivered to the Fiscal Agent (“ Order ”), (i) two years from the later of issuance of the Security or the date such Security (or any predecessor) was last acquired from an “affiliate” of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 144 (“ Rule 144 ”) under the Act or (ii) in connection with a sale made pursuant to the volume (and other restrictions) of Rule 144 following one year from such time, provided that, if the legend is removed and the Security is subsequently held by such an affiliate of the Issuer, the legend shall be reinstated. Any legends provided pursuant to Section 1(e) hereof may be removed in the event the applicable Global Securities cease to be Global Securities in accordance with Section 5 hereof.

(e)       Book-Entry Provisions . The Securities may be issued initially in the form of one or more registered global Securities (“ Global Securities ”) deposited with or on behalf of a depository located in the United States, which initially shall be The Depository Trust Company together with its nominee Cede & Co. (the “ U.S. Depository ”), that (i) shall be registered in the name of the U.S. Depository for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such U.S. Depository, (ii) shall be delivered by the Fiscal Agent to such U.S. Depository or pursuant to such U.S. Depository’s instruction and (iii) shall bear a legend substantially similar to the following:

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE FISCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF THE U.S. DEPOSITORY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE FISCAL AGENCY AGREEMENT, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE U.S. DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE U.S. DEPOSITORY TO THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR BY THE U.S. DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR U.S. DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR U.S. DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE U.S. DEPOSITORY TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE IS ISSUED IN THE NAME OR NAMES AS DIRECTED IN WRITING BY THE U.S. DEPOSITORY, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF, THE U.S. DEPOSITORY, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

Members of, or direct of indirect participants in, the U.S. Depository (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under this Agreement with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the U.S. Depository or under the Global Security, and such U.S. Depository may be treated by the Issuer, the Fiscal Agent, and any agent of the Issuer or the Fiscal Agent as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Fiscal Agent, or any agent of the Issuer or the Fiscal Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the U.S. Depository or impair, as between the U.S. Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of any Security.

So long as the U.S. Depository or its nominee is the registered holder of the Securities, the U.S. Depository or such nominee will for all purposes of the Securities and this Agreement be considered the sole owner or holder of such Securities. Until such time as definitive Securities may be issued, beneficial owners of Securities will not be entitled to have Securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Securities in definitive form, and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under this Agreement for any purpose.

The Issuer initially appoints the Fiscal Agent to serve as custodian for the Global Securities.

This Section 1(e) shall apply only to Global Securities deposited with or on behalf of the U.S. Depository.

2.       Fiscal Agent; Other Agents . The Issuer hereby appoints J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, acting through its corporate trust office in Chicago, Illinois (the “ Corporate Trust Office ”), as fiscal agent of the Issuer in respect of the Securities, upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association hereby accepts such appointment. J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association and any successor or successors as such fiscal agent qualified and appointed in accordance with Section 10 hereof, are herein called the “ Fiscal Agent .” The Fiscal Agent shall have the powers and authority granted to and conferred upon it in the Securities and hereby and such further powers and authority to act on behalf of the Issuer as may be mutually agreed upon by the Issuer and the Fiscal Agent. All of the terms and provisions with respect to such powers and authority contained in the Securities are subject to and governed by the terms and provisions hereof.

The Issuer may appoint one or more agents (a “ Paying Agent ” or “ Paying Agents ”) for the payment (subject to applicable laws and regulations) of the principal of and interest on the Securities, and one or more agents (a “ Transfer Agent ” or “ Transfer Agents ”) for the transfer and exchange of securities, at such place or places as the Issuer may determine; provided , however , the Issuer shall at all times maintain a Paying Agent or agent thereof and Transfer Agent or agent thereof in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York (which Paying Agent and Transfer Agent may be the Fiscal Agent or any of its affiliates). The Issuer initially appoints the Fiscal Agent, acting through its offices in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as Paying Agent and Transfer Agent. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Fiscal Agent of the name and address of each Paying Agent and Transfer Agent appointed, and will notify the Fiscal Agent of the resignation or termination of any Paying Agent or Transfer Agent. Subject to the provisions of Section 10(c) hereof, the Issuer may vary or terminate the appointment of any such Paying Agent or Transfer Agent at any time and from time to time upon giving not less than 90 days’ notice to such Paying Agent or Transfer Agent, as the case may be, and to the Fiscal Agent.

The Issuer shall cause notice of any resignation, termination or appointment of any Paying Agent or Transfer Agent or of the Fiscal Agent and of any change in the office through which any such Agent will act to be given to registered holders of the Securities.

3.       Authentication . The Fiscal Agent is authorized, upon receipt of Securities duly executed on behalf of the Issuer for the purposes of the original issuance of the Securities, (i) to authenticate said Securities in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $100,000,000 and to deliver said Securities in accordance with an Order or Orders and (ii) thereafter to authenticate and deliver said Securities in accordance with the provisions hereinafter set forth.

The Fiscal Agent may, with the consent of the Issuer, appoint by an instrument or instruments in writing one or more agents (which may include itself) for the authentication of Securities and, with such consent, vary or terminate any such appointment upon written notice and approve any change in the office through which any authenticating agent acts. The Issuer (by written notice to the Fiscal Agent and the authenticating agent whose appointment is to be terminated) may also terminate any such appointment at any time. The Fiscal Agent hereby agrees to solicit written acceptances from the entities concerned (in form and substance satisfactory to the Issuer) of such appointments. In its acceptance of such appointment, each such authenticating agent shall agree to act as an authenticating agent pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

4.       Payment and Cancellation .

(a)       Payment . Subject to the following provisions, the Issuer shall provide to the Fiscal Agent in funds available on or prior to each date on which a payment of principal of or any interest on the Securities shall become due, as set forth in the text of the Securities, such amount, in such coin or currency, as is necessary to make such payment, and the Issuer hereby authorizes and directs the Fiscal Agent from funds so provided to it to make or cause to be made payment of the principal of and interest on, as the case may be, the Securities set forth herein and in the text of the Securities. The Fiscal Agent shall arrange directly with any Paying Agent who may have been appointed pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 hereof for the payment from funds so paid by the Issuer of the principal of and interest on the Securities as set forth herein and in the text of the Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuer may provide directly to a Paying Agent funds for the payment of the principal thereof and premium and interest, if any, payable thereon under an agreement with respect to such funds containing substantially the same terms and conditions set forth in this Section 4(a) and in Section 9(b) hereof; and the Fiscal Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to any funds so provided by the Issuer to any such Paying Agent.

Any interest on the Securities shall be paid, unless otherwise provided in the text of the Securities, to the Persons in whose names such Securities are registered on the register maintained pursuant to Section 7 hereof at the close of business on the record dates designated in the text of the Securities (the “ registered holders ”). Payments of principal of Securities shall be payable against surrender thereof at the corporate trust office or office of an agent of the Fiscal Agent and at the offices of such other Paying Agents as shall have been appointed pursuant to Section 2 hereof. Payments of principal shall be made against surrender of Securities, and payments of interest on Securities shall be made, in accordance with the foregoing and subject to applicable laws and regulations, by check mailed on or before the due date for such payment to the Person entitled thereto at such Person’s address appearing on the register of the Securities maintained pursuant to Section 7 hereof, or, in the case of payments of principal, to such other address as the registered holder shall provide in writing at the time of such surrender; provided , however , that such payments may be made, in the case of a registered holder of greater than $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank if such registered holder so elects by giving notice to the Fiscal Agent, not less than 15 days (or such fewer days as the Fiscal Agent may accept at its discretion) prior to the date of the payments to be obtained, of such election and of the account to which payment is to be made.

  (b)       Cancellation . All Securities delivered to the Fiscal Agent (or any other Agent appointed pursuant to Section 2 hereof) for payment, registration of transfer or exchange as herein or in the Securities provided shall be forwarded to the Fiscal Agent by the Agent to which they are delivered. All such Securities shall be canceled and destroyed by the Fiscal Agent or such other Person as may be jointly designated by the Issuer and the Fiscal Agent, which shall thereupon furnish certificates of such destruction to the Issuer upon the Issuer’s request.

5.       Transfer and Exchange of Securities .

(a)       Transfers of Global Securities as Such . Except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement or any amendment hereto, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities may not be transferred in global form, except as a whole (i) by the U.S. Depository to a nominee of such U.S. Depository, (ii) by a nominee of such U.S. Depository to such U.S. Depository or another nominee of such U.S. Depository or (iii) by such U.S. Depository or any such nominee to a successor U.S. Depository or a nominee of such successor U.S. Depository.

(b)       Exchanges of Global Securities for Definitive Securities . A Global Security shall be exchangeable, in whole but not in part, for definitive Securities if (a) the U.S. Depository notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue to hold book-entry interests in such Global Security or the U.S. Depository at any time ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered as such under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and, in either case, a successor is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days, (b) while a Global Security is a restricted Security the book-entry interests in such Global Security cease to be eligible for the U.S. Depository’s services because the Securities are neither (i) rated in one of the top four categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization nor (ii) included within a Self-Regulatory Organization system approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) for the reporting of quotation and trade information of securities eligible for transfer pursuant to Rule 144A, such as the PORTAL system, (c) the U.S. Depository for Securities notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as U.S. Depository with respect to such Global Security and no successor is appointed within 120 days or (d) the Issuer in its sole discretion executes and delivers to the Fiscal Agent an Officers’ Certificate providing that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable; provided , however , that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities be exchanged by the Issuer for definitive Securities prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Transfer Agent of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Act. Securities so issued in exchange for any such Global Security shall have the same interest rate, if any, and maturity and have the same terms as such Global Security, in authorized denominations and in the aggregate having the same principal amount as such Global Security and registered in such names as the U.S. Depository for such Global Security shall direct. Upon such exchange, the surrendered Global Security shall be cancelled by the Fiscal Agent.

A Global Security shall be exchangeable, in whole or in part, for definitive registered Securities if there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default (as set forth in paragraph 7 of the Securities) and the registered holder, in such circumstances, shall have requested in writing that all or a part of the Global Security be exchanged for one or more definitive Securities (an “ Optional Definitive Security Request ”), provided , however , that in no event shall the Regulation S Temporary Global Securities be exchanged by the Issuer for definitive registered Securities prior to (x) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (y) the receipt by the Transfer Agent of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Act. Upon any such surrender, (i) the Issuer shall execute and the Fiscal Agent shall authenticate and deliver without charge to each Person specified by the U.S. Depository, in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security, a new Security or Securities in definitive registered form having the same interest rate, if any, and maturity and having the same terms as such Global Security, in any authorized denomination requested by such Person and in an aggregate principal amount equal to such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security, and (ii) if the Global Security is being exchanged (x) as a whole, then the surrendered Global Security shall be cancelled by the Fiscal Agent, or (y) in part, then the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security shall be reduced by an endorsement on Schedule A thereto in the appropriate amount.

Unless otherwise provided by the Issuer, definitive Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section 5(b) shall be issued only in registered form and shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the U.S. Depository for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions of its Agent Members or otherwise, shall instruct the Fiscal Agent. The Fiscal Agent shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

(c)       Beneficial Interests.

Subject to the provisions herein, beneficial interests in a Global Security may be transferred in any manner consistent with the Applicable Procedures.

(d)      Special Provisions Regarding Transfer of Beneficial Interests in a Regulation S Global Security . The transfer of beneficial interests in a Regulation S Global Security shall be effected in a manner not inconsistent with the following provisions:

Delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security may not be taken in the form of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security if immediately prior to the contemplated transfer no Rule 144A Global Security is then Outstanding (as defined in Section 12(c) hereof).

(e)       Special Provisions Regarding Transfer of Beneficial Interests in a Rule 144A Global Security . The transfer of beneficial interests in a Rule 144A Global Security shall be effected in a manner not inconsistent with the following provisions:

Delivery of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security may not be taken in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security if immediately prior to the contemplated transfer no Regulation S Global Security is then Outstanding.

(f)       Special Provisions Regarding Transfer of Restricted Definitive Securities . Unless expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, whenever any Restricted Definitive Security is presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, such Restricted Definitive Security must be accompanied by a certificate in substantially the form set forth in or contemplated by Exhibit H (which may be attached to or set forth in the Restricted Definitive Security), appropriately completed, dated the date of such surrender and signed by the holder of such Restricted Definitive Security, as to compliance with such restrictions on transfer, unless the Issuer shall have notified the Fiscal Agent that there is an effective registration statement under the Act with respect to such Restricted Definitive Security. The Transfer Agent shall not be required to accept for such registration of transfer or exchange any Restricted Definitive Security not so accompanied by a properly completed certificate. The transfer of Restricted Definitive Securities shall be effected in a manner not inconsistent with the following provisions:

6.       Mutilated, Destroyed, Stolen or Lost Securities . The Fiscal Agent, or its agent duly authorized by the Fiscal Agent, is hereby authorized from time to time in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, Section l(e) , Section 5 and of this Section to authenticate and deliver:

The Securities shall be dated the date of their authentication by the Fiscal Agent. Each Security authenticated and delivered upon any transfer or exchange for or in lieu of the whole or any part of any Security shall carry all the rights if any, to interest accrued and unpaid and to accrue which were carried by the whole or such part of such Security. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, such new Security shall be so dated that neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from such transfer or exchange.

Any Transfer Agent appointed pursuant to Section 2 hereof shall provide to the Fiscal Agent such information as the Fiscal Agent may reasonably require in connection with the delivery by such Transfer Agent of Securities in exchange for other Securities.

Neither the Fiscal Agent nor any Transfer Agent shall be required to make registrations of transfer or exchange of Securities except as set forth in this Agreement.

Upon receipt by the Fiscal Agent of any written demand, request or notice with respect to any matter on which the holders of Securities are entitled to act under this Agreement, a record date shall be established for determining registered holders of Outstanding Securities entitled to join in such demand, request or notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Fiscal Agent receives such demand, request or notice. The holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such demand, request or notice, whether or not such holders remain holders after such record date; provided , however , unless the holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have joined in such demand, request or notice prior to the day which is ninety (90) days after such record date, such demand, request or notice shall automatically and without further action by any holder be cancelled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a holder, or a proxy of a holder, from giving, (i) after expiration of such 90-day period, a new demand, request or notice identical to a demand, request or notice which has been cancelled pursuant to the proviso in the preceding sentence or (ii) during any such 90-day period, a new demand, request or notice contrary to or different from such demand, request or notice, in either of which events a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph.

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to or approve any action or waive any term, provision or condition of any covenant of this Agreement. If a record date is fixed, the holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to or approve any such action or waive any such term, provision, condition or covenant, whether or not such holders remain holders after such record date; provided , however , that unless such consent, waiver or approval is obtained from the requisite principal amount of holders of Outstanding Securities, or their duly designated proxies, prior to the date which is ninety (90) days after such record date, any such consent, waiver or approval previously given shall automatically and without further action by any holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

8.       Delivery of Certain Information .

(a)       Non-Reporting Issuer . Subject to Section 8(b) , as long as the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, at any time, upon the request of a registered holder of a Security, the Issuer, or the Fiscal Agent upon request by and at the expense of the Issuer, will promptly furnish or cause to be furnished “Rule 144A Information” (as defined below) with respect to the Issuer to such holder or to a prospective purchaser of such Security designated by such holder in order to permit compliance by such holder with Rule 144A under the Act in connection with the resale of such Security by such holder. “ Rule 144A Information ” with respect to the Issuer shall be such information with respect to it as is specified pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4)(i) under the Act (or any successor provision thereto) which, at the date of this Agreement, consists of (x) a very brief statement of the nature of the business, products and services of the Issuer, as the case may be, (which statement shall be as of a date within 12 months prior to the date of the intended resale) and (y) the most recent financial statements of the Issuer and its financial statements for the two fiscal years preceding the period covered in the most recent financial statements. Such financial statements of the Issuer shall include its balance sheet (as of a date less than 16 months before the date of the intended resale) and its profit and loss and retained earnings statements (for the twelve month period preceding the date of such balance sheet and, if the balance sheet is not as of a date less than six months before the date of the intended resale, the most recent profit and loss and retained earnings statements shall be for the period from the date of such balance sheet to a date less than six months before the date of the intended resale) and shall be audited to the extent reasonably available.

(b)       Information After Two Years . Neither the Issuer nor the Fiscal Agent shall be required to furnish Rule 144A Information with respect to the Issuer as contemplated by Section 8(a) hereof, (x) to the holder or a prospective purchaser of a Security in connection with any request made on or after the date which is two years from the later of (i) the date such Security (or any predecessor Security) was acquired from the Issuer or (ii) the date such Security (or any predecessor Security) was last acquired from an “affiliate” of the Issuer within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Act or (y) at any time to a prospective purchaser located outside the United States who is not a U.S. person within the meaning of Regulation S under the Act.

(c)       Periodic Reports . So long as any Securities are Outstanding, the Issuer, or the Fiscal Agent upon request by and at the expense of the Issuer, will furnish or cause to be furnished to holders of Securities and to the Fiscal Agent, (i) at any time when the Issuer is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, copies of its annual and quarterly reports to stockholders and of each report or definitive proxy statement filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act, such reports or statements to be so furnished within 15 days after the due date for filing with the Commission, and (ii) at any time when the Issuer is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, (A) its annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied consistently (except as otherwise noted therein) with those of the prior years (together with notes thereto and a report thereon by an independent accounting firm of established national reputation), such report to be so furnished as soon as reasonably available and in any event within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered thereby, (B) its unaudited comparative financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters and the corresponding quarter of the prior year prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied consistently (except as otherwise noted therein) with those of the most recent annual financial statements (which unaudited statements and related notes may be condensed to the extent permitted by Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act or any successor form), such statements to be so furnished as soon as reasonably available and in any event within 60 days after the end of the fiscal quarter covered thereby, (C) any other interim reports or financial statements prepared generally for its nonaffiliated investors or lenders, such reports or statements to be so furnished concurrently with their distribution to such investors or lenders, and (D) at each time of delivery of the financial statements in (A), an Officers’ Certificate stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Issuer is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Securities or this Agreement and, if the Issuer shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

9.       Conditions of Fiscal Agent’s Obligations . The Fiscal Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the Issuer agrees and to all of which the rights of holders from time to time of Securities are subject:

(a)       Compensation and Indemnity . The Fiscal Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation as agreed with the Issuer for all services rendered by it, and the Issuer agrees promptly to pay such compensation and to reimburse the Fiscal Agent for the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by it or its agents in connection with its services hereunder. The Issuer also agrees to indemnify the Fiscal Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, including, without limitation, damages, fines, suits, actions, demands, penalties, costs, out-of-pocket or incidental expenses, legal fees and expenses, and the allocated costs and expenses of in-house counsel, incurred without negligence or willful misconduct, arising out of or in connection with its acting as Fiscal Agent or in any other capacity hereunder, as well as the reasonable costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 9(a) shall survive payment of all the Securities or the resignation or removal of the Fiscal Agent.

(b)       Agency . In acting under this Agreement and in connection with the Securities, the Fiscal Agent is acting solely as agent of the Issuer and does not assume any responsibility for the correctness of the recitals in the Securities (except for the correctness of the statement in its certificate of authentication on the Securities) or any obligation or relationship of agency or trust, for or with any of the owners or holders of the Securities, except that all funds held by the Fiscal Agent for the payment of principal of and any interest on the Securities shall be held in trust for such owners or holders, as the case may be, as set forth herein and in the Securities; provided , however , that monies held in respect of the Securities remaining unclaimed at the end of two years after any principal of or any interest on the Securities shall have become due and payable (whether at maturity or otherwise) and monies sufficient therefor shall have been duly made available for payment shall, together with any interest made available for payment thereon, be repaid to the Issuer upon Order. Upon such repayment, the aforesaid trust with respect to the Securities shall terminate and all liability of the Fiscal Agent and Paying Agents with respect to such funds shall thereupon cease. In the absence of an Order from the Issuer to return unclaimed funds to the Issuer, the Fiscal Agent shall from time to time deliver all unclaimed funds to or as directed by applicable escheat authorities, as determined by the Fiscal Agent in its sole discretion, in accordance with the customary practices and procedures of the Fiscal Agent.

(c)       Advice of Counsel . The Fiscal Agent and any Paying Agent or Transfer Agent appointed by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2 hereof may consult with their respective counsel or other counsel satisfactory to them, and the opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by them hereunder in good faith and without negligence and in accordance with such opinion.

(d)       Reliance . The Fiscal Agent and any Paying Agent or Transfer Agent appointed by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2 hereof each shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or thing suffered by it in reliance upon any Security, notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement, or other paper or document believed by it, in good faith and without negligence, to be genuine and to have been passed or signed by the proper party or parties.

(e)       Interest in Securities, etc . The Fiscal Agent, any authenticating agent, and any Paying Agent or Tra