DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 1.1

PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

$5,000,000,000

Secured Medium-Term Notes Program
Principal^® Life CoreNotes^® Program
Secured Medium-Term Notes Retail Program

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

l, 2006

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                        Incorporated
Four World Financial Center, North Tower
New York, New York 10080

Each other institution named on Schedule A hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     1. Introductory. Each of (a) Principal Life Insurance Company, an Iowa insurance company (the “Company”), and (b) Principal Financial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor” and, together with the Company, the “Principal Entities”), in connection with the Company’s Secured Medium-Term Notes Program (the “Institutional Program”), the Principal^® Life CoreNotes^® Program (the “CoreNotes^® Retail Program”) and the Company’s Secured Medium-Term Notes Retail Program (the “Generic Retail Program” and, together with the CoreNotes^® Retail Program, the “Retail Programs”, and, together with the CoreNotes^® Retail Program and the Institutional Program, the “Programs”), confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and each other institution named on Schedule A hereto and any institution appointed as an agent pursuant to Section 20 hereof (each, an “Agent” and, collectively, the “Agents”) with respect to the secured medium-term notes due between nine months and thirty years from the date of issuance under the Programs (the “Notes”) to be offered by separate and distinct issuing entities in the form of special purpose common law trusts from time to time (each, a “Trust” and, collectively, the “Trusts”), each of which shall be formed in a jurisdiction located in the United States of America pursuant to a trust agreement, as amended or modified from time to time, which will adopt and incorporate the standard trust terms (each, a “Trust Agreement”), in each case between U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and GSS Holdings II, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as trust beneficial owner (the “Trust Beneficial Owner”).

     From time to time, upon the formation of a new Trust, in connection with the offer and sale of a particular series of Notes by such Trust, upon execution and delivery of the terms agreement substantially in the form set forth in Section D of the omnibus instrument (the “Terms

“Principal^â” is a registered service mark of Principal Financial Services, Inc. and is used under license.

“CoreNotes^â” is a registered service mark of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

Agreement”) by such Trust and the applicable Agent or Agents specified therein, among others (the “Omnibus Instrument”), such Trust shall become a party hereto in relation to such series of Notes (the time of such execution and delivery referred to herein as such Trust’s “Trust Effective Time”), with all the authority, rights, powers, duties and obligations of a Trust as if originally named as a Trust hereunder. Any agreement, covenant, acknowledgment, representation or warranty made by a Trust hereunder shall be deemed to have been made by each Trust at its Trust Effective Time and at the Applicable Time (as defined with respect to the offering of such Trust’s series of Notes in the applicable Terms Agreement) for such Trust, unless another time or times are specified herein, in which case such specified time or times shall instead apply.

     Each series of Notes is to be issued pursuant to an indenture, as amended or modified from time to time, which will adopt and incorporate the standard indenture terms (each, an “Indenture”), between the relevant Trust and Citibank, N.A., as indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”). Each Trust shall issue only one series of Notes. As of the date of this Agreement, the Trusts are authorized to issue collectively up to U.S. $5,000,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of Notes (or its equivalent as determined pursuant to Section 5(a)(xviii) hereof) through the Agents, as principal or agent, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. It is understood, however, that the Company (as depositor and sponsor of the Programs) may from time to time increase the aggregate amount of Notes and that such additional Notes may be sold through the Agents, as principal or agent, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, all as though the issuance of such Notes were authorized as of the date of this Agreement.

     Each Trust will use the net proceeds from the sale of its related series of Notes to purchase a funding agreement (each, a “Funding Agreement” and, collectively, the “Funding Agreements”) from the Company. The Guarantor will fully and unconditionally guarantee the payment obligations of the Company under the Funding Agreement relating to the applicable series of Notes pursuant to a guarantee agreement between the Guarantor and the relevant Trust (each, a “Guarantee” and, collectively, the “Guarantees”). The series of Notes issued by a Trust will be secured by the relevant Funding Agreement and the relevant Guarantee that will each be assigned by such Trust to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the relevant Indenture with respect to such series of Notes for the benefit of the holders of such series of Notes and any other person for whose benefit the Indenture Trustee is or will be holding the relevant Collateral (as defined in the relevant Indenture). In connection with the sale of a series of Notes, the Company and the relevant Trust will prepare a pricing supplement (the “Pricing Supplement”) including or incorporating by reference, among other things, a description of the terms of such series of Notes and the related Funding Agreement and the terms of the offering of such series of Notes.

     If any institution is appointed as an Agent only with respect to a particular series of Notes, such institution shall only be an Agent with respect to such series of Notes. This Agreement provides for the offer of Notes by one or more Trusts (x) to one or more Agents as principal for resale to investors and other purchasers and (y) directly to investors (as may from time to time be agreed to by the Company, such Trust and the relevant Agent), in which case the relevant Agent will act as an agent of such Trust in soliciting offers for the purchase of Notes.

     Each of the Principal Entities has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) (A) a registration statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-129763 and 333-129763-01)

and pre-effective amendments nos. 1, 2 and 3 thereto for the registration of Funding Agreements, Notes to be issued through one or more Trusts and the Guarantees under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933 Act Regulations”), (B) the related prospectus dated •, 2006 covering the Notes to be offered under the Programs (the “Base Prospectus”), (C) the prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus dated •, 2006 covering the Notes offered under the Institutional Program (the “Institutional Prospectus Supplement” and, together with the Base Prospectus, the “Institutional Prospectus”), (D) the prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus dated •, 2006 covering the Notes offered under the CoreNotes^® Retail Program (the “CoreNotes^® Retail Prospectus Supplement” and, together with the Base Prospectus, the “CoreNotes^® Retail Prospectus”) and (E) the prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus dated •, 2006 covering the Notes offered under the Generic Retail Program (the “Generic Retail Prospectus Supplement” and, together with the Base Prospectus, the “Generic Retail Prospectus”). Such registration statement (as so amended) has been declared effective by the Commission and the form of Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “1939 Act”). Each of the Principal Entities has filed such post-effective amendments thereto as may be required prior to any acceptance by a Trust of an offer for the purchase of a series of Notes, and each such post-effective amendment has been declared effective by the Commission. Such registration statement, at any relevant time, including the amendments thereto to such time, the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act at such time and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by the 1933 Act Regulations at such time is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”. If the Principal Entities file a registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), or any further registration statement for the purpose of registering additional Notes and in connection with which this Agreement is included or incorporated by reference as an exhibit, then, after such filing, all references to the “Registration Statement” shall also be deemed to include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any such further registration statement or statements. With respect to the offering of a series of Notes under the Institutional Program, the Institutional Prospectus, with respect to the offering of a series of Notes under the CoreNotes^® Retail Program, the CoreNotes^® Retail Prospectus, and with respect to the offering of a series of Notes under the Generic Retail Program, the Generic Retail Prospectus, in each case including all applicable amendments or supplements thereto and the Pricing Supplement relating to the offering of such series of Notes, in the form first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (or in the form first made available to the applicable Agent(s) by the Principal Entities and the applicable Trust for use in confirming sales of such series of Notes), are referred to herein as the “Prospectus”. The term “preliminary prospectus” means any preliminary form of th e Prospectus, including any such preliminary form included in the Registration Statement. The term “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations. The term “Time of Sale Prospectus” means (1) with respect to the offer and sale of any series of Notes by the applicable Trust under the Institutional Program, the Institutional Prospectus, (2) with respect to the offer and sale of any series of Notes by the applicable Trust under the CoreNotes^® Retail Program, the CoreNotes^® Retail Prospectus, and (3) with respect to the offer and sale of any series of Notes by the applicable Trust under the Generic Retail Program, the Generic Retail Prospectus, in each case as amended or supplemented from time

to time prior to the Applicable Time and together with any preliminary prospectus relating to the offer and sale of such series of Notes prior to the Applicable Time, any Pricing Supplement relating to the offer and sale of such Series of Notes prior to the Applicable Time, any Final Term Sheet (as defined in Section 6(a) hereof) relating to the offer and sale of such series of Notes and each free writing prospectus attached as, or identified in, Exhibit G to the applicable Omnibus Instrument and any other information identified in Exhibit G to the applicable Omnibus Instrument in the form furnished to the applicable Agent(s) prior to the Applicable Time for use in confirming sales of such series of Notes. All references to the Registration Statement, the Institutional Prospectus, the CoreNotes^® Retail Prospectus, the Generic Retail Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, any Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus shall also be deemed to include all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or any free writing prospectus, or to any amendment or supplement thereto, shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).

     All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “disclosed”, “contained”, “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or any free writing prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, such Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, such preliminary prospectus or such free writing prospectus, as the case may be. The terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, a Time of Sale Prospectus, the Institutional Prospectus, the CoreNotes^® Retail Prospectus, the Generic Retail Prospectus, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or any free writing prospectus shall be deemed to include all documents subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), that are incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, such Time of Sale Prospectus, the Institutional Prospectus, the CoreNotes^® Retail Prospectus, the Generic Retail Prospectus, the Prospectus, such preliminary prospectus or such free writing prospectus, as the case may be.

     2. Appointment as Agent.

     (a) Appointment. Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, the Company and each Trust hereby agree that Notes will be sold to or through the Agents. Each of the Company and each Trust agrees that it will not appoint any other agents to act on the Trust’s behalf, or to assist the Trust, in the placement of the Notes; provided, however, that with respect to transactions in which the sales of Notes will be targeted to institutional purchasers under the Institutional Program or to retail purchasers under the Generic Retail Program, the Company, the Guarantor and a Trust may enter into arrangements with other agent(s) not a party to this Agreement provided that such agent(s) enter into an agreement with terms substantially identical to those contained herein. Each of the Company and each Trust agrees that it hereby appoints only Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (the “CoreNotes^® Retail Agent”) to act exclusively on such Trust’s behalf or to assist such Trust in connection with transactions in which the sale of Notes will be targeted to retail

purchasers under the CoreNotes^® Retail Program and sold in connection with the CoreNotes^® website (www.corenotes.ml.com). For purposes of this Agreement, all references to any Agent shall be deemed to include the CoreNotes^® Retail Agent, unless the context otherwise requires.

     (b) Sale of Notes. The Trusts shall not sell or approve the solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes in excess of the amount that shall be authorized by the Company from time to time or in excess of the aggregate initial offering price of Notes registered pursuant to the Registration Statement and any further registration statement filed for the purpose of registering additional Notes. The Agents shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the aggregate initial offering price of Notes sold, or of otherwise monitoring the availability of Notes for sale, under the Registration Statement or any such further registration statement.

     (c) Purchases as Principal. The Agents shall not have any obligation to purchase Notes from any Trust as principal. However, absent an agreement between an Agent and the Company and the relevant Trust that such Agent shall be acting solely as an agent for such Trust, such Agent shall be deemed to be acting as principal in connection with any offering of Notes by such Trust through such Agent. Accordingly, the Agents, individually or in a syndicate, may agree from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to purchase Notes from a Trust as principal for resale to investors and other purchasers determined by such Agents. Any purchase of Notes from a Trust by an Agent as principal shall be made in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof.

     (d) Solicitations as Agent. If agreed upon between an Agent and the relevant Trust, such Agent, acting solely as an agent for such Trust and not as principal, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, will use its reasonable efforts to solicit offers for the purchase of Notes. Such Agent, acting solely as agent for the relevant Trust and not as principal, will communicate to the Company, orally, each offer for the purchase of Notes solicited by it on an agency basis other than those offers rejected by such Agent. Such Agent shall have the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any offer for the purchase of Notes, in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its agreement contained herein. The Company, on behalf of such Trust, may accept or reject any offer for the purchase of Notes, in whole or in part. Such Agent shall make reasonable efforts to assist the Company on behalf of such Trust in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer for the purchase of Notes has been solicited by it on an agency basis and accepted by the Company on behalf of such Trust. Unless agreed to in writing by the Company, on behalf of such Trust, and such Agent, such Agent shall not have any liability to the Company or such Trust in the event that any such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If such Trust shall default on its obligation to deliver Notes to a purchaser whose offer has been solicited by such Agent on an agency basis and accepted by the Company on behalf of such Trust, the Company and such Trust, jointly and severally, shall (i) hold such Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by such Trust and (ii) pay to such Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.

     (e) Reliance. The Principal Entities, each Trust and the Agents agree that (i) any series of Notes purchased from a Trust by one or more Agents as principal shall be purchased, and any series of Notes the placement of which an Agent arranges as an agent of such Trust shall be placed by such Agent, in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of such

Trust and the Principal Entities contained herein and in the applicable Terms Agreement and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein and therein, (ii) any Funding Agreement sold by the Company, and any Guarantee issued by the Guarantor in connection with the sale of such Funding Agreement, to such Trust in connection with the issuance of such Trust’s series of Notes will be sold in reliance on the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of such Trust and the Agent(s) (to or through whom such series of Notes is being sold), as applicable, contained herein and in the applicable Terms Agreement and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein and therein, and (iii) the series of Notes issued by such Trust to or through the applicable Agent(s) will be issued in reliance on the covenants and agreements of each such Agent contained herein and in the applicable Terms Agreement and on the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein and therein.

     (f) No Fiduciary Duty. Each of the Principal Entities and each Trust acknowledges and agrees that (i) the offer and sale of a series of Notes issued by each such Trust, including the determination of the offering price of such series of Notes and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between each such Trust and the Principal Entities, on the one hand, and each applicable Agent, on the other hand, (ii) each applicable Agent is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Principal Entities and each such Trust in connection with the offering of such series of Notes and the process leading to such transaction (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to the Principal Entities or any such Trust and (iii) no Agent has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of any such Trust or the Principal Entities with respect to the offering of such series of Notes or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Agent has advised or is currently advising the Principal Entities on other matters) and no Agent has any obligation to any such Trust or the Principal Entities with respect to the offering of such series of Notes issued by any such Trust except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement. Additionally, the Agents are not advising the Principal Entities, any Trust or any other person or entity as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction in connection with the offering of the Notes, the Funding Agreements or the Guarantees contemplated hereby. Each of the Principal Entities and each Trust shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Agents shall have no responsibility or liability to any of them with respect thereto. Any review by the Agents of the Principal Entities, any Trust, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Agents and shall not be on behalf of the Principal Entities or any Trust.

     3. Representations and Warranties; Additional Certifications.

     (a) Representations and Warranties of the Principal Entities. Each of the Principal Entities represents and warrants, jointly and severally, to each Agent as of the date of this Agreement, to the applicable Agent(s) as of the Applicable Time (whether to such Agent as principal or through such Agent as agent), to the applicable Agent(s) as of the date of each delivery of Notes (whether to such Agent as principal or through such Agent as agent) (the date of each such delivery to such Agent as principal is referred to herein as a “Settlement Date”), to the applicable Agent(s) as of any time that the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be

amended or supplemented and to each Agent as of any time that the Registration Statement shall be amended or supplemented (each of the times referenced above is referred to herein as a “Principal Entities Representation Date”), as follows:

     (i) Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. Each of the Principal Entities is eligible to use Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose or proceedings pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act against either of the Principal Entities or related to the offering of the Notes have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Principal Entities, are threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with. The form of Indenture has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act. No order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus has been issued by the Commission. At the latest date that the Registration Statement has become, or is deemed to have become, effective under the 1933 Act Regulations and at each Principal Entities Representation Date, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the “1934 Act Regulations”), the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Each preliminary prospectus, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus deemed to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 of the 1933 Act Regulations, complied at such time in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Any filing of the Prospectus and any supplements thereto required pursuant to Rule 424 of the 1933 Act Regulations will be made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424 of the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the applicable Agent(s) for use in connection with the offering of Notes are identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. At the date of this Agreement, at the date of the Base Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto and at each other Principal Entities Representation Date, neither the Base Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto included an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each Time of Sale Prospectus, at the Applicable Time and at the applicable Settlement Date, will not include 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. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the representations and warranties in this Section 3(a)(i) shall not apply to (A) statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Principal Entities in writing by the Agents expressly for use in

the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus, the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or (B) that part of the Registration Statement which constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the 1939 Act of the Indenture Trustee. At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company, any Trust or any other offering participant has made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of any series of Notes or any related Funding Agreement and at each Principal Entities Representation Date, the Company was not and is not an ineligible issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations).

     (ii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Base Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) and each Time of Sale Prospectus, at the time filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     (iii) Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The accountants who opined on the financial statements and any supporting schedules thereto included in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Guarantor as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

     (iv) Ratings. As of the date of this Agreement, the Programs are rated Aa2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or its successor (“Moody’s”) and AA by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or its successor (“S&P” and, together with Moody’s, the “Rating Agencies”). As of the date of each acceptance of an offer by the relevant Trust for the purchase of Notes (whether to any Agent(s) as principal or through such Agent(s) as agent(s)), the Programs and the Notes to be issued by such Trust will be rated Aa2 by Moody’s and AA by S&P or such other rating set forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement and as to which the Principal Entities shall have most recently notified the Agents pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) hereof.

     (v) Due Organization, Good Standing and Due Qualification. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as an insurance company in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa with corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus. The Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated by the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus. Each of the Principal Entities is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is

required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise or on the power or ability of the Principal Entities to perform their respective obligations under the Principal Program Documents (as defined herein) to which either of the Principal Entities is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus (a “Guarantor Material Adverse Effect”). All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Principal Entities have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of either Principal Entity were issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Principal Entity.

     (vi) No Significant Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement, as of the date of filing of the Guarantor’s Form 10-K in respect of the Guarantor’s most recently completed fiscal year, the Company does not have any significant subsidiaries (within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the 1933 Act).

     (vii) Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor included in any report or filing under the 1934 Act incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, as well as those financial statements, schedules and notes of any other entity included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, or such other entity, as the case may be, at the dates indicated, to the extent required under the 1934 Act, and the consolidated statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, or such other entity, as the case may be, for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data, the summary financial information and the condensed consolidating financial information, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Any pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation

thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.

     (viii) No Material Changes. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no event or occurrence that would result in a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect.

     (ix) Authorization, etc. of this Agreement and the other Principal Program Documents. This Agreement has been, and each other Guarantor Program Document (as defined herein) when issued will be, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor and, assuming that each party to this Agreement and each other Guarantor Program Document, other than the Principal Entities, as applicable, has duly authorized, executed and delivered such agreement, then each is or will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except (A) as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (B) that no representation or warranty is made with respect to the enforceability of Section 10 hereof. This Agreement has been, and each other Company Program Document (as defined herein) when issued will be, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming that each party to this Agreement and each other Company Program Document, other than the Principal Entities, as applicable, has duly authorized, executed and delivered such agreement, then each is or will be a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (x) as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (y) that no representation or warranty is made with respect to the enforceability of Section 10 hereof.

     (x) Absence of Defaults. Neither the Guarantor nor the Company is in violation of the provisions of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Guarantor or the Company is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Guarantor or the Company is subject (collectively, the “Guarantor Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not result in a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, each Guarantee, each Funding Agreement and any other agreement or instrument entered into or issued or to be entered into or issued by the Guarantor in connection with the transactions contemplated by the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus (collectively, the “Guarantor Program Documents”) and the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus (collectively, the “Company Program Documents” and, together with the Guarantor Program Documents, the “Principal Program Documents”), the consummation of the

transactions contemplated by the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of a series of Notes by the applicable Trust and the use of proceeds therefrom as described in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus) and the compliance by the Principal Entities with their respective obligations thereunder do not constitute a breach, violation, default, event or condition that gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Guarantor or the Company under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any assets, properties or operations of the Guarantor or the Company pursuant to, any Guarantor Agreements and Instruments, except, in each case, to the extent such breach, violation, default, event, condition, lien, charge or encumbrance would not result in a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect, nor will such actions result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Guarantor or the Company or, except to the extent such violation would not result in a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect, any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Guarantor or the Company or any of its respective assets, properties or operations.

     (xi) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending, of which the Principal Entities have received written notice or service of process, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, or, to the knowledge of the Principal Entities, threatened, against or affecting the Guarantor or the Company that is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (other than as stated therein) or that would individually or in the aggregate result in a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect.

     (xii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. Each of the Guarantor and the Company possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except for any such jurisdiction in which the failure to be so licensed or authorized would not have a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Guarantor and the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus, neither the Guarantor nor the Company has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses that, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Guarantor Material Adverse Effect.

     (xiii) No Filings, Regulatory Approvals, etc. No filing with, or approval, authorization, consent, license, registration, qualification, if any as may be required, order or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the performance by each of the Principal Entities of its respective obligations under this Agreement and the other Principal Program Documents, except (A) as otherwise set forth in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus, (B) as have been obtained or rendered,

as the case may be, and (C) as may be necessary or required under state or foreign securities or blue sky laws or any rules or regulations of any securities exchange.

     (xiv) Investment Company Act. Neither the Guarantor nor the Company is, or upon the issuance and sale of the Notes as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus will be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     (b) Representations and Warranties of the Trusts. Each Trust represents and warrants, only as to itself, to each applicable Agent as of its Trust Effective Time, as of its Applicable Time (whether to such Agent as principal or through such Agent as agent) and as of the date of each delivery of Notes (whether to such Agent as principal or through such Agent as agent), as follows:

     (i) Due Formation and Good Standing. Such Trust is a common law trust, duly formed in the United States of America under the laws of its jurisdiction pursuant to its relevant Trust Agreement, is validly existing and is in good standing as a common law trust under the laws of its jurisdiction.

     (ii) No Material Changes. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or the Trust Effective Time, whichever is later, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no event or occurrence that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of such Trust or on the power or ability of such Trust to perform its obligations under the Trust Program Documents (as defined herein) to which such Trust is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus (as to each Trust, a “Trust Material Adverse Effect”) and (B) there have been no transactions entered into by such Trust, other than those in the ordinary course of business, that are material with respect to such Trust.

     (iii) Authorization, etc. of this Agreement and the relevant Trust Program Documents. This Agreement and each relevant Trust Program Document (other than the Notes) have been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Trust and, assuming that each party to each relevant Trust Program Document (other than the Notes), other than such Trust, has duly authorized, executed and delivered such agreement, then each such relevant Trust Program Document will be a valid and legally binding agreement of such Trust, enforceable against such Trust in accordance with its terms, as applicable, except (A) as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (B) as enforcement thereof may be limited by requirements that a claim with respect to any Notes issued under the relevant Indenture that are payable in a foreign or composite currency (or a foreign or composite currency judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or by governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States and (C) that no

representation or warranty is made with respect to the enforceability of Section 10 hereof. The relevant Notes have been duly authorized by such Trust for offer, sale, issuance and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued, authenticated and delivered in the manner provided for in the relevant Indenture and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of such Trust in accordance with their terms, enforceable against such Trust in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Subject to the foregoing, the relevant Notes, when executed by such Trust and issued, authenticated and delivered in the manner provided for in the relevant Indenture and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor, will be entitled to the benefits of the relevant Indenture.

     (iv) Absence of Defaults. Such Trust is not (x) in violation of its Trust Agreement or (y) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which such Trust is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Trust is subject (collectively, as to each Trust, the “Trust Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not result in a Trust Material Adverse Effect. The (A) execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the relevant Indenture, the relevant Notes and any other agreement or instrument entered into or issued or to be entered into or issued by such Trust in connection with the transactions contemplated by the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus, (B) performance of the relevant Trust Agreement (all agreements and instruments referenced in Section 3(b)(iv)(A) hereof and this Section 3(b)(iv)(B) referred to herein, as to each Trust, as the “Trust Program Documents”), (C) consummation of the transactions contemplated in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the relevant Notes and the use of proceeds therefrom as described in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus) and (D) compliance by such Trust with its obligations under the Trust Program Documents do not constitute a breach, default or violation that gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by such Trust under, or, except as contemplated by the Trust Program Documents, result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any assets, properties or operations of such Trust pursuant to, any Trust Agreements and Instruments, nor will such actions result in any violation of the relevant Trust Agreement or, except to the extent that any such violation would not result in a Trust Material Adverse Effect, any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over such Trust or any of its assets, properties or operations.

     (v) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending, of which such Trust has received written notice or service of process, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, or, to the knowledge of such Trust, threatened, against or affecting such Trust that is required to

be disclosed in the Registration Statement, a Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (other than as stated therein), or that would individually or in the aggregate result in a Trust Material Adverse Effect.

     (vi) Notes Listed on any Stock Exchange. If specified in the relevant Pricing Supplement, such Trust’s series of Notes described in such Pricing Supplement shall be listed on the securities exchange designated in such Pricing Supplement.

     (vii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. Such Trust possesses such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by it, except for any such jurisdiction in which the failure to be so licensed or authorized would not have a Trust Material Adverse Effect. Such Trust is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Trust Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus, such Trust has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses that, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Trust Material Adverse Effect.

     (viii) No Filings, Regulatory Approvals, etc. No filing with, or approval, authorization, consent, license, registration, qualification, if any as may be required, order or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trust of the Trust Program Documents or for the performance by such Trust of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Trust Program Documents, except (A) as otherwise set forth in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus, (B) as have been obtained or rendered, as the case may be, and (C) as may be necessary or required under state or foreign securities or blue sky laws or any rules or regulations of any securities exchange.

     (ix) Investment Company Act. Such Trust is not, nor will it be upon the issuance and sale of its series of Notes as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

     (c) Additional Certifications. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Trustee, on behalf of a Trust, or the Principal Entities and delivered to one or more Agents or to counsel for the Agents in connection with an offering of Notes to one or more Agents as principal or through an Agent as agent shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Trust or the Principal Entities, as the case may be, to such Agent or Agents as to the matters covered thereby on the date of such certificate.

     4. Purchases as Principal; Solicitations as Agent; Other Sales.

     (a) Purchases as Principal. Notes purchased from a Trust by the Agents, individually or in a syndicate, as principal shall be made in accordance with terms agreed upon between such

Agent or Agents and the Company and such Trust (which terms, unless otherwise agreed, shall, to the extent applicable, include those terms specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement and shall be agreed upon orally, with written confirmation to be in the form of the applicable Terms Agreement). Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to “this Agreement” (or similar phrases) shall include the applicable Terms Agreement of one or more Agents to purchase Notes from a Trust as principal. Each purchase of Notes by the Agents under the Institutional Program, unless otherwise agreed in the applicable Terms Agreement, shall be at a discount from the principal amount of each such Note equivalent to the applicable commission set forth in Schedule B hereto. Each purchase of Notes by the Agents under the Retail Programs, unless otherwise agreed in the applicable Terms Agreement, shall be at a discount from the principal amount of each such Note equivalent to the applicable commission set forth in Schedule C hereto. The Agents may engage the services of any broker or dealer in connection with the resale of the Notes purchased by them as principal and may allow all or any portion of the discount received from a Trust in connection with such purchases to such brokers or dealers.

     If a Trust and two or more Agents enter into a Terms Agreement pursuant to which such Agents agree to purchase Notes from such Trust as principal and one or more of such Agents shall fail at the Settlement Date to purchase the Notes that it or they are obligated to purchase (the “Defaulted Notes”), then the non-defaulting Agents shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one of them or one or more other Agents or underwriters to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Notes in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; provided, however, that if such arrangements shall not have been completed within such 24-hour period, then:

     (i) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Notes does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be so purchased by all of such Agents on the applicable Settlement Date, the non-defaulting Agents shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective initial underwriting obligations bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Agents; or

     (ii) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Notes exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be so purchased by all of such Agents on the applicable Settlement Date, such Terms Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Agent.

No action taken pursuant to this paragraph shall relieve any defaulting Agent from liability in respect of its default. In the event of any such default that does not result in a termination of such agreement, either the non-defaulting Agents or the Company and such Trust shall have the right to postpone the Settlement Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.

     (b) Solicitations as Agent. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, when agreed by the Company and a Trust and an Agent, such Agent, as an agent of the Company and such Trust, will use its

reasonable efforts to solicit offers for the purchase of Notes upon the terms set forth in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus. Such Agent is authorized to appoint any sub-agent with respect to solicitations of offers to purchase Notes; provided, however, that any such appointment of a sub-agent shall be subject to the prior consent of such Trust and the Company. All Notes sold through an Agent as agent will be sold at 100% of their principal amount unless otherwise agreed upon between the Company and such Trust and such Agent.

     The Trust reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes through an Agent, as an agent of the Company and such Trust, commencing at any time for any period of time or permanently. As soon as practicable after receipt of written instructions to such effect from such Trust, such Agent will suspend solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes from the Company through such Trust until such time as the Company and such Trust have advised such Agent that such solicitation may be resumed.

     Each Trust agrees to pay each Agent, acting in its capacity as Agent under the Institutional Program, as consideration for soliciting offers to purchase Notes as an agent of the Company and such Trust, a commission, in the form of a discount, unless otherwise agreed in the applicable Terms Agreement, equal to the applicable percentage of the principal amount of each Note sold by such Trust as a result of any such solicitation made by such Agent, as set forth in Schedule B hereto.

     Each Trust agrees to pay each Agent, acting in its capacity as Agent under the Retail Programs, as consideration for soliciting offers to purchase Notes as an agent of the Company and such Trust, a commission, in the form of a discount, unless otherwise agreed in the applicable Terms Agreement, equal to the applicable percentage of the principal amount of each Note sold by such Trust as a result of any such solicitation made by such Agent, as set forth in Schedule C hereto.

     (c) Administrative Procedures. The purchase price, interest rate or formula, maturity date and other terms of the relevant Notes shall be agreed upon between the relevant Trust and the applicable Agent(s) and specified in a Pricing Supplement to be prepared by the Company in connection with each sale of Notes. Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Notes of each series will be issued in denominations of U.S. $1,000 or any larger amount that is an integral multiple of U.S. $1,000. Administrative procedures with respect to the issuance and sale of the relevant Notes (the “Procedures”) shall be agreed upon from time to time among the relevant Trust, the Principal Entities, the Agent(s) and the Indenture Trustee. The Agents and each Trust agree to perform, and each Trust agrees to cause the Indenture Trustee to perform, and the Principal Entities agree to perform, their respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by them in the Procedures.

     (d) Obligations Several. The Company and each Trust acknowledge that the obligations of the Agents under this Agreement are several and not joint.

     5. Covenants.

     (a) Covenants of the Principal Entities. Each of the Principal Entities covenants and agrees with each Agent as follows:

     (i) Notice of Certain Events. Each of the Principal Entities will notify the Agents immediately, and confirm such notice in writing, of (A) the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of any amendment, supplement or revision to any preliminary prospectus, any Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, (B) the receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, any Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (C) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, or for additional information, (D) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus, or of the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (E) any action whereby either of the Principal Entities becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act or any proceeding in connection with the offering of the Notes or (F) any change in the rating assigned by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization to the Programs or the Notes, or the public announcement by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of the Programs or the Notes, or the withdrawal by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization of its rating of the Programs or the Notes. Each of the Principal Entities will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations. With respect to the Registration Statement, each preliminary prospectus, each Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, each of the Principal Entities will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

     (ii) Filing or Use of Amendments and 1934 Act Documents. Each of the Principal Entities will give the relevant Agents advance notice of its intention to file or prepare any additional registration statement with respect to the registration of additional Notes, Funding Agreement(s) or Guarantee(s), as the case may be, any amendment to the Registration Statement, any amendment or supplement to the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus, any Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, in each case, pursuant to the 1933 Act, will provide immediate notice to each relevant Agent of any intention to prepare an amendment or supplement to any Time of Sale Prospectus and, if applicable, to file such amendment or supplement pursuant to the 1933 Act and will furnish to the applicable Agents copies of any such document a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the applicable Agents or counsel for the applicable Agents shall reasonably object in writing unless, in the judgment of the Principal Entities and their counsel, such amendment or supplement is necessary to comply with law.

     (iii) Revisions of Registration Statement. If at any time during the term of this Agreement any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Agents or counsel for the Principal Entities, to amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of either such counsel, to amend the Registration Statement in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Principal Entities shall give immediate notice, confirmed in writing, to the Agents to cease the solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes in their capacity as agents and to cease sales of any Notes they may then own as principal, and the Principal Entities will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(a)(ii) hereof, such amendment as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement comply with such requirements, the Principal Entities will use commercially reasonable efforts to have such amendment declared effective as soon as practicable and the Principal Entities will furnish to the Agents, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment as the Agents may reasonably request.

     (iv) Revisions of Time of Sale Prospectus. If any Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy any Notes of a series at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the applicable Agents or counsel for the Principal Entities, to amend or supplement such Time of Sale Prospectus in writing in order that such Time of Sale Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time such Time of Sale Prospectus is conveyed to a prospective purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of either such counsel, to amend or supplement such Time of Sale Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Principal Entities shall give immediate notice, confirmed in writing, to each of the applicable Agents, and the Principal Entities will promptly prepare and, if applicable, file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(a)(ii) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make such Time of Sale Prospectus comply with such requirements and the Principal Entities will furnish to the applicable Agents, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the applicable Agents may reasonably request.

     (v) Revisions of Prospectus. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5(a)(vii) hereof, if at any time when, in the opinion of counsel for the Agents or counsel for the Principal Entities, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the 1933 Act Regulations) is required to be delivered any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Agents or counsel for the Principal Entities, to amend or supplement such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus in order that such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the

circumstances existing at the time such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the 1933 Act Regulations) is conveyed to a prospective purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of either such counsel, to amend or supplement such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Principal Entities shall give immediate notice, confirmed in writing, to the Agents to cease the solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes in their capacity as agents and to cease sales of any Notes that they may then own as principal, and the Principal Entities will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 5(a)(ii) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and the Principal Entities will furnish to the Agents, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Agents may reasonably request. In addition, the Principal Entities will comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations, including, without limitation, Rule 424, Rule 430B and Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of each offering of Notes.

     (vi) Reporting Requirements. Each of the Guarantor, on its own behalf, and the Company (as depositor and sponsor of the Programs), on behalf of the Trusts, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods prescribed by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

     (vii) Suspension of Certain Obligations. The Principal Entities shall not be required to comply with the provisions of Section 5(a)(v) hereof during any period commencing from the time (A) the Agents shall have suspended solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes in their capacity as agents pursuant to a request from the Company and the relevant Trust pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof or (B) no Agent shall then hold any Notes purchased from a Trust as principal with a view to distribution, as the case may be, and ending at the time (x) the Company and the relevant Trust shall determine that solicitation of offers for the purchase of Notes should be resumed or (y) an Agent shall subsequently purchase Notes from a Trust as principal.

     (viii) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Principal Entities shall endeavor to qualify the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the relevant Agents shall reasonably request and to maintain such qualifications for as long as such Agents shall reasonably request; provided, however, that the Principal Entities shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service or to qualify as a foreign corporation or a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

     (ix) Authorization to Act on Behalf of the Principal Entities. Each of the Principal Entities will, from time to time, upon written request, deliver to the Agents a certificate as to the names and signatures of those persons authorized to act on behalf of the Principal Entities in relation to the Programs if such information has changed.

     (x) Delivery of the Registration Statement. The Principal Entities will furnish to each Agent and to counsel for the Agents, without charge, conformed copies of the Registration Statement and conformed copies of all consents and certificates of experts. The Registration Statement furnished to the Agents will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

     (xi) Delivery of Preliminary Prospectus and Time of Sale Prospectus. The Principal Entities will deliver to each applicable Agent, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Agent may reasonably request, and each of the Principal Entities hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Principal Entities will furnish to each applicable Agent, without charge, such number of copies of each Time of Sale Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Agent may reasonably request. Each such document furnished to the Agents will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

     (xii) Delivery of the Prospectus. The Principal Entities will furnish to each applicable Agent, without charge, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Agent may reasonably request to meet its obligations under the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. It is hereby acknowledged that the Company intends to rely on the provisions of Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations with respect to delivery of the Prospectus. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Agents will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

     (xiii) Preparation of Pricing Supplements. The Company will prepare, with respect to any Notes to be sold to or through one or more Agents pursuant to this Agreement, a Pricing Supplement with respect to such Notes in a form previously approved by the Agents. The Company will deliver such Pricing Supplement to such Agent or Agents no later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day following the Applicable Time for the relevant Trust and will file such Pricing Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations not later than may be required by Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations.

     (xiv) Listing. In order for the Notes to be deemed “covered securities” under Section 18 of the 1933 Act, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain approval for the listing of at least one series of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or another national securities organization as provided in Section 18(a) of the 1933 Act.

     (xv) Earning Statements. The Guarantor will timely file or furnish such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earning statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Agents the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

     (xvi) Restrictions on the Offer and Sale of Funding Agreement(s). Except in connection with the Retail Programs or as otherwise agreed, the Company shall not issue or agree to issue, during the period commencing on the date of the agreement of one or more Agents with a Trust to purchase a series of Notes as principal or solicit offers for the purchase of a series of Notes as agent and continuing to and including the Settlement Date with respect to such series of Notes (if the applicable Agent is acting as principal) or the date of delivery of such series of Notes (if the applicable Agent is acting as agent), any Funding Agreement or similar agreement for the purpose of supporting the issuance by a special purpose entity of securities denominated in the same currency and substantially similar to such series of Notes to the same potential investors (other than the Funding Agreement issued or to be issued to such Trust in connection with such series of Notes), in each case without the prior written consent of the applicable Agent(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be permitted to issue or agree to issue, during the aforementioned time period, Funding Agreement(s) or similar agreement(s) to Principal Financial Global Funding, LLC.

     (xvii) The Depository Trust Company. The Company shall endeavor to assist the Agents in arranging to cause the Notes to be eligible for settlement through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company.

     (xviii) Outstanding Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes. The Company will promptly, upon request by an Agent, notify such Agent of the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding and issued pursuant to the Registration Statement in their currency of denomination and (if so requested) expressed in U.S. dollars. For the purpose of determining the aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding and issued pursuant to the Registration Statement, (A) the principal amount of Notes issued pursuant to the Registration Statement, denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, shall be converted into U.S. dollars using the spot rate of exchange for the purchase of the relevant currency against payment of U.S. dollars being quoted by the Paying Agent or the Calculation Agent, as applicable, each as defined in the relevant Indenture, on the date on which such Notes issued pursuant to the Registration Statement were initially offered, (B) any Notes issued pursuant to the Registration Statement that provide for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon redemption following an Event of Default (as defined in the relevant Indenture) in respect of such Notes shall have a principal amount equal to their issue amount, (C) any zero coupon Notes shall have a principal amount equal to their issue price and (D) the currency in which any Notes issued pursuant to the Registration Statement are payable, if different from the currency of their denomination, shall be disregarded.

     (b) Covenants of the Trust. Each Trust covenants and agrees, only as to itself, with each Agent as follows:

     (i) Use of Proceeds. Such Trust will use the net proceeds received by it from the issuance and sale of the Notes in the manner specified in the applicable Time of Sale Prospectus.

     (ii) Settlement. Such Trust shall endeavor to assist the Agents in arranging to cause its Notes to be eligible for settlement through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company.

     (iii) Notice of Amendment to relevant Indenture or relevant Trust Agreement. Such Trust will give the Agents at least three business days’ prior notice in writing of any proposed amendment to the relevant Indenture or the relevant Trust Agreement and, except in accordance with the applicable provisions of such Indenture or such Trust Agreement, will not make or permit to become effective any amendment to such Indenture or such Trust Agreement that may adversely affect the interests of the Agents.

     (iv) Notice of Meeting. Such Trust will furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Agents, at the same time as it is dispatched, a copy of notice of any meeting of the holders of Notes that is called to consider any matter that is material in the context of such Trust.

     (v) Blue Sky Qualifications. Such Trust shall endeavor to qualify its Notes for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the relevant Agents shall reasonably request and to maintain such qualifications for as long as such Agents shall reasonably request; provided, however, that such Trust shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service or to qualify as a foreign corporation or a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

     (vi) Authorization to Act on Behalf of such Trust. Such Trust will, from time to time, upon written request, deliver to the relevant Agents a certificate as to the names and signatures of those persons authorized to act on behalf of such Trust in relation to the Programs if such information has changed.

     6. Free Writing Prospectuses.

     (a) Final Term Sheet. The Company covenants and agrees to review and (subject to such changes deemed appropriate by the Company and the applicable Agent(s)) approve, at the reasonable request of the applicable Agent(s) in connection with any offer and sale of a series of Notes under the Institutional Program, a final term sheet prepared by the applicable Agent(s) as so approved (the “Final Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the applicable series of Notes, and the Company shall file such Final Term Sheet pursuant to Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations.

     (b) Delivery and Use of Free Writing Prospectuses by Agents. In connection with any offer and sale of a series of Notes, each applicable Agent covenants and agrees that, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Terms Agreement, it will furnish the Company with a form of each proposed free writing prospectus, other than any Final Term Sheet (or similar free writing prospectus including only information set forth in the Final Term Sheet), that (i) is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) is or will be a part of the Time of Sale Prospectus relating to or to be used in connection with such offer and sale by virtue of its

identification in Exhibit G to the applicable Omnibus Instrument to be prepared by or on behalf of such Agent before its first use and will not use any such free writing prospectus to which the Company objects. It is understood that an Agent’s obligation to furnish any such form shall be deemed satisfied if another Agent has so furnished such form. Each Agent covenants and agrees that it will use a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Agent only if such free writing prospectus complies in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

     (c) Free Writing Prospectuses of Principal Entities and Trusts. In connection with any offer and sale of a series of Notes, each of the Company and each Trust represents, warrants, covenants and agrees that, without the prior consent of the applicable Agent(s), it has not made and will not make any offer relating to such Notes or the related Funding Agreement or Guarantee that would constitute a free writing prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations except for any Final Term Sheet or as identified in Exhibit G to the applicable Omnibus Instrument (it being understood that, in connection with any such offer that does not specifically involve a particular series of Notes, the applicable Agent(s) shall be deemed to be the CoreNotes^&r