S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 5, 2005

Registration No. 333-

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota	41-1276891
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Lillehei Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota 55117
(651) 483-2000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Kevin T. O’Malley
Vice President and General Counsel
St. Jude Medical, Inc.
One Lillehei Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota 55117
(651) 483-2000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Gary L. Tygesson, Esq.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
(612) 340-2600
Facsimile: (612) 340-2868 Michael Kaplan, Esq.
Davis Polk & Wardwell
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 450-4000
Facsimile: (212) 450-3800

        Approximate  date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: o

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: o

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earliest effective registration statement for the same offering: o

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of each class of securities to be registered	Amount to be registered	Proposed maximum offering price per unit	Proposed maximum aggregate offering price	Amount of Registration Fee
Convertible Senior Debentures	$660,000,000(1)	100%(2)	$660,000,000(1)	$70,620(3)
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share(4)	—(5)(6)	N/A	N/A	N/A(7)
Total	—	—	$660,000,000	$70,620

(1) Represents aggregate principal amount of the Debentures being registered.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.

(3) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(i) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

(4) Also relates to rights to purchase shares of the Registrant’s Series B Junior Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Rights”), which are attached to all common stock. Until the occurrence of certain prescribed events, the Rights are not exercisable, are evidenced by certificates for the common stock and will be transferable along with and only with the common stock. The value attributable to the Rights, if any, is reflected in the value of the common stock.

(5) An indeterminate number of shares may be issuable from time to time upon conversion of the Debentures.

(6) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminable number of additional shares of common stock which may be issued from time to time as a result of stock splits, stock dividends and similar events, and the adjustment provisions of the Debentures.

(7) No additional consideration will be received from the common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures and therefore no registration fee is required pursuant to Rule 457(i) under the Securities Act.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be amended. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not seeking an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 5, 2005

Prospectus

$600,000,000

% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035

St. Jude Medical, Inc. is offering its     % Convertible Senior Debentures due 2035 (the Debentures) in an aggregate principal amount of $600,000,000 by this prospectus. We will pay interest on the Debentures on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2006, at an annual rate of     %. In addition, we will pay contingent interest during any six-month period from June 15 to December 14 and from December 15 to June 14, commencing with the period beginning December 15, 2006, if the average market price of a Debenture for the five consecutive trading days immediately before the last trading day before the relevant six-month period equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of the Debentures.

The Debentures will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated debt but effectively junior to all our secured debt and all liabilities of our subsidiaries. We do not intend to list the Debentures on any national securities exchange or on The Nasdaq Stock Market (NASDAQ).

The Debentures will be convertible, at your option, into cash and shares of our common stock, par value $0.10 per share, if any, at a conversion rate of       shares per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $      per share), subject to adjustment as described in this prospectus, at any time before the stated maturity, from and after the date of the following events:

• during any fiscal quarter after the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2005, if the last reported sale price of our common stock for at least 20 trading days in the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the previous fiscal quarter exceeds 130% of the conversion price on that 30th trading day;

• subject to certain limitations, if the trading price of the Debentures falls below a specified threshold;

• if we have called the Debentures for redemption;

• on or after December 15, 2034; or

• on the occurrence of the specified corporate transactions described in this prospectus.

On conversion, we will deliver cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures to be converted and our total conversion obligation and shares of our common stock in respect of the remainder, if any, of our conversion obligation. If certain corporate transactions occur on or before December 15, 2006, we will increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of common stock or, in lieu thereof, we may in certain circumstances, elect to adjust the conversion rate and related conversion obligation so that the Debentures are convertible into shares of the acquiring or surviving company.

Shares of our common stock are quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol “STJ”. The last reported sale price of our common stock on December 2, 2005 was $48.27 per share.

We may redeem some or all of the Debentures for cash at any time on or after December 15, 2006. You may require us to repurchase all or a portion of your Debentures on December 15, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030 or, subject to specified conditions, upon a fundamental change (as described in this prospectus).

Under the terms of the indenture, we and each holder of the Debentures will agree, for United States federal income tax purposes, to treat the Debentures as indebtedness that is subject to the regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Investing in the Debentures involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5.

	Per Debenture	Total
Public offering price(1)		$
Underwriting Discounts		$
Offering proceeds to St. Jude Medical, Inc., before expenses		$

⁽¹⁾  Plus accrued interest, if any, from December   , 2005.

We have granted the underwriter an option to purchase up to an additional $60,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Debentures within a 13-day period beginning on the date of the original issuance of the Debentures to cover over-allotments, if any.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The Debentures will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company (DTC) on or about December    , 2005.

Sole Book-Running Manager

Banc of America Securities LLC

The date of this prospectus is December     , 2005.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
Where You Can Find More Information	i
Cautionary Statements	ii
Prospectus Summary	1
Risk Factors	6
Use of Proceeds	17
Price Range of Common Stock	17
Dividend Policy	17
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges	17
Capitalization	18
Description of the Debentures	19
Description of Capital Stock	40
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations	43
Underwriting	49
Validity of the Securities	53
Experts	53

        You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the cover page of this prospectus.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Our SEC filings are available to the public through the Internet at the SEC web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference facilities and their copy charges. You may also obtain copies of our SEC filings at the office of the NYSE. For further information on obtaining copies of our public filings at the NYSE, you should call 1-212-656-3000.

        We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 to register the Debentures offered hereby and the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures. This prospectus is part of the registration statement. As allowed by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information that is in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information regarding St. Jude Medical, Inc., investors should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules. The registration statement is available at the SEC web site at http://www.sec.gov. A copy of the registration statement may also be inspected, without charge, at the offices of the SEC at the address listed above.

        The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede more dated information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Section (a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and before the completion of the offering of all Debentures offered hereunder or the filing of a post-effective amendment that deregisters all Debentures then remaining unsold:

• our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004;

• our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2005, June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005;

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• our current reports on Form 8-K filed on January 14, 2005, February 15, 2005, March 2, 2005, March 4, 2005, April 7, 2005, April 25, 2005, May 12, 2005, August 8, 2005, October 7, 2005, October 12, 2005, October 17, 2005 (except as to Item 7.01 thereof), October 25, 2005 and November 21, 2005 (as amended by our current report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 5, 2005); and

• the description of our common stock and preferred stock purchase rights contained in our registration statements on Form 8-A filed on November 8, 1996 and August 6, 1997, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A filed on March 21, 2003, and in any other registration statement or report filed by us under the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

        We will provide, at no cost to you, upon your written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents) and any report, proxy statement or other communication distributed by us to our shareholders generally. Requests for such copies should be directed to St. Jude Medical, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, One Lillehei Plaza, St. Paul, Minnesota 55117, Telephone: (651) 483-2000.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

        This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of St. Jude Medical, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Statements preceded by, followed by or that include words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “project,” “believes” or similar expressions are intended to identify some of the forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are included, along with this statement, for purposes of complying with the safe harbor provisions of that Act. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to, among others, the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, including under the heading “Risk Factors,” and the various factors described below. Since it is not possible to foresee all such factors, you should not consider these factors to be a complete list of all risks or uncertainties. We believe the most significant factors that could affect our future operations and results are set forth in the list below.

• Legislative or administrative reforms to the U.S. Medicare or Medicaid systems or similar reforms of international reimbursement systems in a manner that significantly reduces reimbursement for procedures using our medical devices or denies coverage for such procedures, as well as adverse decisions relating to our products by administrators of such systems in coverage or reimbursement issues.

• Acquisition of key patents by others that have the effect of excluding us from market segments or require us to pay royalties.

• Economic factors, including inflation, changes in interest rates and changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

• Product introductions by competitors which have advanced technology, better features or lower pricing.

• Price increases by suppliers of key components, some of which are sole-sourced.

• A reduction in the number of procedures using our devices caused by cost-containment pressures or preferences for alternate therapies.

• Safety, performance or efficacy concerns about our marketed products, many of which are expected to be implanted for many years, leading to recalls and/or advisories with the attendant expenses and declining sales.

• Changes in laws, regulations or administrative practices affecting government regulation of our products, such as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laws and regulations, that increase pre-approval testing requirements for products or impose additional burdens on the manufacture and sale of medical devices.

• Regulatory actions arising from the concern over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), sometimes referred to as “mad cow disease,” that have the effect of limiting our ability to market products using collagen, such as Angio-Seal™, or that impose added costs on the procurement of collagen.

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• Difficulties obtaining, or the inability to obtain, appropriate levels of product liability insurance.

• The ability of our Silzone® product liability insurers, especially Kemper, to meet their obligations to us.

• A serious earthquake affecting our facilities in Sunnyvale or Sylmar, California, or a hurricane affecting our operations in Puerto Rico.

• Healthcare industry consolidation leading to demands for price concessions or the exclusion of some suppliers from significant market segments.

• Adverse developments in the investigation of business practices in the cardiac rhythm management industry by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston.

• Adverse developments in litigation including product liability litigation, patent litigation or other intellectual property litigation.

• Inability to successfully integrate the businesses that we have acquired in recent years, including Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. (ANS), and that we plan to acquire.

• Adverse developments arising out of the investigation by the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services into certain business practices of ANS.

• Failure to successfully complete clinical trials for new indications for our products and failure to successfully develop markets for such new indications.

        We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

        This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in the Debentures. You should read carefully the entire prospectus, including the more detailed information and financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision.

        Except as otherwise indicated or required by the context, references in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” “St. Jude Medical” or the “company” refer to the combined business of St. Jude Medical, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Business of St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Overview

        Our business is focused on the development, manufacturing and distribution of cardiovascular medical devices for the global cardiac rhythm management, cardiac surgery, cardiology and vascular access, atrial fibrillation therapy areas and neuromodulation. Our five operating segments are Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM), Cardiac Surgery (CS), Cardiology and Vascular Access (CD), Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Neuromodulation (Neuro). We acquired our Neuro segment in November 2005. Each operating segment focuses on the development and manufacturing of products for its respective therapy area.

Our principal CRM products are bradycardia pacemaker systems (pacemakers) and tachycardia implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems (ICDs). Our principal CS products are mechanical and tissue heart valves and heart valve repair products. The principal products of our CD segment are vascular closure devices, guidewires and hemostasis introducers. Our AF segment focuses on electrophysiology catheters, advanced cardiac mapping systems and ablation systems. Our Neuro segment specializes in implantable neuromodulation devices.

        Our products are sold in more than 120 countries around the world. Our largest geographic markets are the United States, Europe and Japan.

        St. Jude Medical, Inc. was incorporated in Minnesota in 1976. Our principal executive offices are located at One Lillehei Plaza, St. Paul, Minnesota 55117 and our telephone number is (651) 483-2000.

Recent Developments

        On November 29, 2005, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of ANS, a Texas corporation. ANS, which designs, develops, manufactures and markets implantable neuromodulation devices used primarily to manage chronic severe pain, is a technology leader in the estimated $1 billion neuromodulation market and also has a strong presence in the spinal cord stimulation segment. Neuromodulation devices include implantable neurostimulation devices, which deliver low levels of electric current directly to targeted nerve fibers or tissue, and implantable drug infusion systems, which deliver small, precisely-controlled doses of drugs directly to targeted sites within the body. The acquisition of ANS will permit us to expand our implantable microelectronics technology programs by providing us with immediate access to the neuromodulation segment of the medical device industry and to broaden our product portfolio to include, among other things, various types of spinal cord stimulation devices, as well as lead systems and device programmers targeted toward clinicians and patients which are currently offered by ANS. In addition, we expect that the acquisition will enhance our access to new indication opportunities, as we expect to invest in ANS’s existing growth areas through focused development of new potential indications such as Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor—diseases that represent potential new and underserved markets—as well as additional therapeutic areas which may provide future opportunities for revenue growth.

        We paid ANS shareholders and option holders a total of approximately $1.3 billion as consideration for the acquisition. To finance the acquisition, we used cash on hand and borrowings under our existing commercial paper program, which is supported by bank credit facilities. We intend to use the proceeds of this offering to repay commercial paper that we issued in connection with the ANS acquisition when such paper is due.

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THE OFFERING

        The summary below describes the principal terms of the Debentures. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The “Description of the Debentures” section of this prospectus contains a more detailed description of the terms and conditions of the Debentures.

Issuer	St. Jude Medical, Inc.
Securities Offered	$600 million aggregate principal amount of     % Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035. We have also granted the underwriter an option to purchase up to an additional $60 million aggregate principal amount of Debentures to cover over-allotments.
Issue Price	The Debentures will be issued at a price of $      per $1,000 principal amount, plus accrued interest if any, from December   , 2005.
Maturity Date	December 15, 2035
Ranking	The Debentures will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal in priority with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The Debentures will effectively rank junior to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and to all liabilities of our subsidiaries.
	At September 30, 2005, on a pro forma basis giving effect to our recent acquisition of ANS as if it had occurred on such date, we had approximately $784.5 million of debt and our subsidiaries had indebtedness and other liabilities of approximately $732.9 million.
Interest	We will pay interest on the Debentures on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2006, at an annual rate of     %. In addition, we may be required to pay contingent interest, as set forth below under “Contingent Interest.” Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprising twelve 30-day months.
Contingent Interest	We will also pay contingent interest to the holders of the Debentures during any six-month period from June 15 to December 14 and from December 15 to June 14 commencing with the period beginning December 15, 2006, if the average trading price (as defined under “Description of the Debentures—Contingent Interest”) of a Debenture for the five consecutive trading days immediately before the last trading day before the relevant six-month period equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of the Debentures.
	The amount of contingent cash interest payable per Debenture in respect of any six-month period will equal 0.25% per year of the average trading price of a Debenture for the five trading day period referred to above.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations	Under the indenture governing the Debentures, we and each holder of a Debenture will agree to treat the Debentures for U.S. federal income tax purposes as debt instruments that are subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments. Under these regulations, even if we do not pay any contingent interest on the Debentures, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, interest will accrue from the issue date of the Debentures at a constant rate of     % per year (subject to certain adjustments), compounded semi-annually, which represents the yield on our comparable nonconvertible, fixed-rate debt instruments with terms and conditions otherwise similar to the Debentures. U.S. Holders (as defined below under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders”) will be required to include interest in income as it accrues regardless of their method of tax accounting. The rate at which interest accrues for U.S. federal income tax purposes generally will exceed the cash payments of interest on the Debentures.

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U.S. Holders will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of a Debenture in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized, including the fair market value of any common stock received upon conversion, and their adjusted tax basis in that Debenture. Any gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of a Debenture generally will be ordinary interest income; any loss will be ordinary loss to the extent of the interest previously included in income and thereafter, capital loss. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Conversion Rights

You may convert your Debentures at any time before the stated maturity from and after the date of the following events:

• during any fiscal quarter after the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2005, if the last reported sale price of our common stock for at least 20 trading days in the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the previous fiscal quarter exceeds 130% of the conversion price on that 30th trading day;

• during the five business days immediately after any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price (as defined under “Description of the Debentures—Contingent Interest”) per $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures for each day of that period was less than 98% of the product of the closing price of our common stock and the conversion rate of the Debentures on each such day; provided however, that a holder may not convert the Debentures in reliance on this provision after December 15, 2030, if on any trading day during such five consecutive trading-day period the closing price of our common stock was between 100% and 130% of the conversion price of the Debentures;

• if we have called the Debentures for redemption;

• on or after December 15, 2034; or

• on the occurrence of the specified corporate transactions, described under “Description of the Debentures—Conversion Rights—Conversion upon Specified Corporate Transactions.”

For each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures surrendered for conversion, you initially will receive cash and shares of our common stock, if any, at a conversion rate of       shares. This represents an initial conversion price of approximately $          per share of common stock. The conversion rate may be adjusted for certain reasons, but will not be adjusted for accrued interest or contingent interest, if any. On conversion, you will generally not receive any cash payment representing accrued interest or contingent interest, if any. Instead, accrued interest and contingent interest will be deemed paid by cash and shares of the common stock, if any, received by you on conversion. Debentures called for redemption may be surrendered for conversion until the close of business on the business day before the redemption date.

On a surrender of your Debentures, we will deliver cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be converted and our total conversion obligation. We will deliver shares of our common stock in respect of the remainder, if any, of our conversion obligation as described under “Description of the Debentures—Conversion Rights—Payment Upon Conversion.”

If you elect to convert your Debentures in connection with certain corporate transactions that occur on or prior to December 15, 2006, we will increase the conversion rate by a number of additional shares of common stock upon conversion as described under “Description of the Debentures—Conversion Rights—Conversion Rate Adjustments—Make-Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control” or, in lieu thereof, we may in certain circumstances elect to

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	adjust the conversion rate and related conversion obligation so that the Debentures are convertible into shares of the acquiring or surviving company.
Payment at Maturity	Each holder of $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures shall be entitled to receive $1,000 at maturity, plus accrued interest, including contingent interest, if any.
Sinking Fund	None.
Optional Redemption	We may not redeem the Debentures before December 15, 2006. We may redeem some or all of the Debentures for cash on or after December 15, 2006, on at least 30 days’ but not more than 60 days’ notice by mail to holders of Debentures at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, to the redemption date.
Repurchase Right of Holders	You may require us to repurchase all or a portion of your Debentures on December 15, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030 at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, to the repurchase date.
Fundamental Change Put	On a fundamental change (as defined under “Description of the Debentures—Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change”), you may require us, subject to certain conditions, to repurchase all or a portion of your Debentures at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, to the repurchase date.
Events of Default	If there is an event of default under the Debentures, the principal amount of the Debentures, plus accrued interest, including contingent interest, if any, may be declared due and payable. These amounts automatically become due and payable if an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs.
Use of Proceeds	We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures (approximately $597.2 million assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option) to repay commercial paper that we issued in connection with the acquisition of ANS as described under “—Recent Developments.” See “Use of Proceeds.”
Absence of a Public Market for the Debentures	The Debentures are new securities for which there is currently no public market. We cannot assure you that any active or liquid market will develop for the Debentures. See “Underwriting.” We do not intend to list the Debentures on any national securities exchange or on NASDAQ.
NYSE Symbol for our Common Stock	Our common stock is quoted on the NYSE under the symbol “STJ”.
Risk Factors	An investment in the Debentures involves risks. You should carefully consider the information set forth in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” as well as other information included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus before deciding whether to invest in the Debentures.

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RISK FACTORS

        An investment in the Debentures involves risks. Before deciding whether to purchase the Debentures, you should consider the risks discussed below or elsewhere in this prospectus, including those set forth under the heading “Cautionary Statements”, and in our filings with the SEC that we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

        Any of the risks discussed below or elsewhere in this prospectus or in our SEC filings, and other risks we have not anticipated or discussed, could have a material impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, our ability to pay interest on the Debentures when due, to repay the Debentures at maturity or to pay the cash due upon repurchase or conversion of the Debentures could be adversely affected, and the trading price of the Debentures and our common stock could decline substantially.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We face intense competition and may not be able to keep pace with the rapid technological changes in the medical devices industry.

        The medical device market is intensely competitive and is characterized by extensive research and development and rapid technological change. Our customers consider many factors when choosing suppliers, including product reliability, clinical outcomes, product availability, inventory consignment, price and product services provided by the manufacturer, and market share can shift as a result of technological innovation, product recalls and safety alerts and other business factors. Our competitors range from small start-up companies to larger companies which have significantly greater resources and broader product offerings than us, and we anticipate that in the coming years, other large companies will enter certain markets in which we currently hold a strong position. For example, Johnson & Johnson is in the process of acquiring one of our principal competitors, Guidant Corporation (Guidant). In addition, we expect that competition will continue to intensify with the increased use of strategies such as consigned inventory and reduced pricing. Our sales in the second half of 2005 have benefited from product recalls by certain of our competitors and may decrease once these competitors overcome these issues. Product introductions or enhancements by competitors which have advanced technology, better features or lower pricing may make our products or proposed products obsolete or less competitive. For example, several of our products have faced reduced sales due to technological shifts, including our traditional pacemakers and mechanical heart valves. As a result, we will be required to devote continued efforts and financial resources to bring our products under development to market, enhance our existing products and develop new products for the medical marketplace. If we fail to develop new products, enhance existing products or compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.

We are subject to stringent domestic and foreign medical device regulation which may impede the approval process for our products, hinder our development activities and manufacturing processes and, in some cases, result in the recall or seizure of previously approved products.

        Our products, development activities and manufacturing processes are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by the FDA pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), by comparable agencies in foreign countries and by other regulatory agencies and governing bodies. Under the FDCA and associated regulations, manufacturers of medical devices must comply with certain regulations that cover the composition, labeling, testing, clinical study, manufacturing, packaging and distribution of medical devices. In addition, medical devices must receive FDA clearance or approval before they can be commercially marketed in the United States, and the FDA may require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the effects of approved products that have been commercialized and can prevent or limit further marketing of a product based on the results of these post-marketing programs. Furthermore, most major markets for medical devices outside the United States require clearance, approval or compliance with certain standards before a product can be commercially marketed. The process of obtaining marketing clearance from the FDA and foreign regulatory agencies for new products or with respect to enhancements or modifications to existing products could take a significant period of time, require the expenditure of substantial resources, involve rigorous pre-clinical and clinical testing, require changes to the products and result in limitations on the indicated uses of the product. We cannot assure you that we will receive the required clearance from the FDA and foreign regulatory agencies for

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new products or modifications to existing products on a timely basis. The failure to receive a clearance on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        At any time after approval of a product, the FDA may conduct periodic inspections to determine compliance with both the FDA’s Quality System Regulation (QSR) requirements and/or current medical device reporting regulations. Product approvals by the FDA can be withdrawn due to failure to comply with regulatory standards or the occurrence of unforeseen problems following initial approval. The failure to comply with regulatory standards or the discovery of previously unknown problems with a product or manufacturer could result in fines, delays or suspensions of regulatory clearances, seizures or recalls of products (with the attendant expenses), the banning of a particular device, an order to replace or refund the cost of any device previously manufactured or distributed, operating restrictions and criminal prosecution, as well as decreased sales as a result of negative publicity and product liability claims, and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We may not be able to meet regulatory quality standards applicable to our manufacturing process.

        We are required to register with the FDA as a device manufacturer and as a result, we are subject to periodic inspection by the FDA for compliance with the FDA’s QSR requirements, which require manufacturers of medical devices to adhere to certain regulations, including testing, quality control and documentation procedures. In addition, the federal Medical Device Reporting regulations require us to provide information to the FDA whenever there is evidence that reasonably suggests that a device may have caused or contributed to a death or serious injury or, if a malfunction were to occur, could cause or contribute to a death or serious injury. Compliance with applicable regulatory requirements is subject to continual review and is rigorously monitored through periodic inspections by the FDA. In the European Community, we are required to maintain certain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications in order to sell products and we undergo periodic inspections by notified bodies to obtain and maintain these certifications. If we or our manufacturers fail to adhere to QSR or ISO requirements, this could delay production of our products and lead to fines, difficulties in obtaining regulatory clearances, recalls or other consequences, which could in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property effectively, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

        Patents and other proprietary rights are essential to our business and our ability to compete effectively with other companies is dependent upon the proprietary nature of our technologies. We also rely upon trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological innovations and licensing opportunities to develop, maintain and strengthen our competitive position. We seek to protect these, in part, through confidentiality agreements with certain employees, consultants and other parties. We pursue a policy of generally obtaining patent protection in both the United States and in key foreign countries for patentable subject matter in our proprietary devices and also attempt to review third-party patents and patent applications to the extent publicly available to develop an effective patent strategy, avoid infringement of third-party patents, identify licensing opportunities and monitor the patent claims of others. We currently own numerous United States and foreign patents and have numerous patent applications pending. We are also a party to various license agreements pursuant to which patent rights have been obtained or granted in consideration for cash, cross-licensing rights or royalty payments. We cannot assure you that any pending or future patent applications will result in issued patents, that any current or future patents issued to or licensed by us will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented or that the rights granted thereunder will provide a competitive advantage to us or prevent competitors from entering markets which we currently serve. Any required license may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. In addition, some licenses may be non-exclusive, and therefore our competitors may have access to the same technologies as us. In addition, we may have to take legal action in the future to protect our trade secrets or know-how or to defend them against claimed infringement of the rights of others. Any legal action of that type could be costly and time consuming to us and we cannot assure you that any lawsuit will be successful. The invalidation of key patents or proprietary rights which we own or an unsuccessful outcome in lawsuits to protect our intellectual property could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.

Pending and future patent litigation could be costly and disruptive to us and may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        We operate in an industry that is susceptible to significant patent litigation and, in recent years, it has been common for companies in the medical device field to aggressively challenge the rights of other companies to

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prevent the marketing of new devices. Companies that obtain patents for products or processes that are necessary for or useful to the development of our products may bring legal actions against us claiming infringement and at any given time, we generally are involved as both a plaintiff and a defendant in a number of patent infringement and other intellectual property-related actions. Among other matters, we are currently defending three significant ongoing patent infringement actions brought against us by one of our principal competitors, Guidant.

        Intellectual property litigation is expensive and complex and its outcome is difficult to predict. Any pending or future patent litigation may result in significant royalty or other payments or injunctions that can prevent the sale of products and may cause a significant diversion of the efforts of our technical and management personnel. While we intend to defend any such lawsuits vigorously, we cannot assure you that we will be successful. In the event that our right to market any of our products is successfully challenged or if we fail to obtain a required license or are unable to design around a patent, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Pending and future product liability claims and litigation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

        The design, manufacture and marketing of medical devices of the types we produce entail an inherent risk of product liability claims. Our products are often used in intensive care settings with seriously ill patients, and many of the medical devices we manufacture and sell are designed to be implanted in the human body for long periods of time or indefinitely. There are a number of factors that could result in an unsafe condition or injury to, or death of, a patient with respect to these or other products which we manufacture or sell, including component failures, manufacturing flaws, design defects or inadequate disclosure of product-related risks or product-related information. Product liability claims may be brought by individuals or by groups seeking to represent a class.

        We are currently the subject of various product liability claims, including several lawsuits which may be allowed to proceed as class actions in the United States and Canada. The outcome of litigation, particularly class action lawsuits, is difficult to assess or quantify. Plaintiffs in these types of lawsuits often seek recovery of very large or indeterminate amounts, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. For example, in January 2000, we voluntarily recalled all field inventory of products incorporating Silzone coating, which was used in our mechanical heart valves and heart valve repair products. Subsequent to our voluntary recall, we have been sued in various jurisdictions and now have cases pending in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France which have been brought by some patients alleging complications and past or future costs arising either from the surgical removal or alternatively, from the continued implantation and maintenance of products incorporating Silzone coating. Some of the cases involving Silzone products have been settled, others have been dismissed and still others are ongoing. The complaints in the ongoing individual cases in the United States request damages ranging from $10,000 to $120.5 million and in some cases, seek an unspecified amount, and the complaints in the Canadian class actions request damages ranging from the equivalent of $1.3 million to $425 million. We believe that the final resolution of the Silzone product cases will take several years and we cannot reasonably estimate the time frame in which any potential settlements or judgments would be paid out or the amounts of any such settlements or judgments. In addition, the cost to defend any future litigation, whether Silzone-related or not, may be significant. While we believe that many settlements and judgments relating to the Silzone litigation and our other litigation may be covered in whole or in part under our product liability insurance policies and existing reserves, any costs not so covered could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We may be unable to obtain appropriate levels of product liability insurance.

        Problems with our products can result in product liability claims or a recall, safety alert or advisory notice relating to the product. As a result of the enormous losses sustained by property and casualty insurers following the events of September 11, 2001, our product liability insurance premiums since 2001 have increased over 450% and the total coverage has been reduced. Our current product liability policy provides $400 million of insurance coverage, with a $100 million deductible per occurrence. In light of the significant self-insured retention, our product liability insurance coverage is designed to help protect us against a catastrophic claim. We cannot assure you that such insurance will be available or adequate to satisfy future claims or that our insurers will be able to pay claims on insurance policies which they have issued to us. If we are unable to secure appropriate levels of product liability insurance coverage, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

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Our product liability insurers may not be able to meet their current or future payment obligations to us.

        Our present layer of product liability insurance for Silzone claims (which consists of a number of layers, each of which is covered by one or more insurance companies) is covered by a unit of the Kemper Insurance Companies (Kemper), which is currently in “run off” and not issuing new policies or generating any new revenue that could be used to cover claims made under previously-issued policies such as ours. In the event that Kemper is unable to pay part or all of the claims directed to it, we believe that the other insurance carriers in Kemper’s program will take the position that we will be directly liable for any claims and costs that Kemper is unable to pay and that insurance carriers at policy layers following Kemper’s will not provide coverage for Kemper’s layer. If Kemper or any other insurance companies are unable to meet their respective obligations to us, we could incur substantial losses which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our operations are subject to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations that could require us to incur material costs.

        Our operations are subject to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations concerning, among other things, the generation, handling, transportation and disposal of hazardous substances or wastes, particularly ethylene oxide, the cleanup of hazardous substance releases, and emissions or discharges into the air or water. We have incurred and expect to incur expenditures in the future in connection with compliance with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. New laws and regulations, violations of these laws or regulations, stricter enforcement of existing requirements, or the discovery of previously unknown contamination, could require us to incur costs or become the basis for new or increased liabilities that could be material.

The loss of any of our sole-source suppliers or an increase in the price of inventory supplied to us could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        We purchase certain supplies used in our manufacturing processes from single sources due to quality considerations, costs or constraints resulting from regulatory requirements. Our manufacturing requirements comply with the rules and regulations of the FDA, which mandates validation of materials prior to use in our products. Agreements with certain suppliers are terminable by either party upon short notice and we have been advised periodically by some suppliers that in an effort to reduce their potential product liability exposure, they may terminate sales of products to customers that manufacture implantable medical devices. While some of these suppliers have modified their positions and have indicated a willingness to continue to provide a product temporarily until an alternative vendor or product can be qualified (or even to reconsider the supply relationship), where a particular single-source supply relationship is terminated, we may not be able to establish additional or replacement suppliers for certain components or materials quickly. This is largely due to the FDA approval system and the complex nature of manufacturing processes employed by many suppliers. In addition, we may lose a sole-source supplier owing to, among other things, the acquisition of such a supplier by a competitor (which may cause the supplier to stop selling its products to us) or the bankruptcy of such a supplier, which may cause the supplier to cease operations. A reduction or interruption by a sole-source supplier of the supply of materials or key components used in the manufacturing of our products or an increase in the price of those materials or components could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Cost containment pressures and domestic and foreign legislative or administrative reforms resulting in restrictive reimbursement practices of third-party payors or preferences for alternate therapies could decrease the demand for products purchased by our customers, the prices which they are willing to pay for those products and the number of procedures using our devices.

        Our products are purchased principally by hospitals or physicians which typically bill various third-party payors, such as governmental programs (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid), private insurance plans and managed care plans, for the healthcare services provided to their patients. The ability of customers to obtain appropriate reimbursement for their products and services from government and third-party payors is critical to the success of medical technology companies. The availability of reimbursement affects which products customers purchase and the prices they are willing to pay. Reimbursement varies from country to country and can significantly impact the acceptance of new technology. After we develop a promising new product, we may find limited demand for the product unless reimbursement approval is obtained from private and governmental third-party payors.

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        Major third-party payors for hospital services in the United States and abroad continue to work to contain healthcare costs and the introduction of cost containment incentives, combined with closer scrutiny of healthcare expenditures by both private health insurers and employers, has resulted in increased discounts and contractual adjustments to hospital charges for services performed and in the shifting of services between inpatient and outpatient settings. Initiatives to limit the growth of healthcare costs, including price regulation, are also underway in several countries in which we do business. Implementation of healthcare reforms in the United States and in significant overseas markets such as Germany, Japan and other countries may limit the price of or the level at which reimbursement is provided for our products and adversely affect both our pricing flexibility and the demand for our products. Hospitals or physicians may respond to such cost-containment pressures by substituting lower cost products or other therapies for our products.

        Further legislative or administrative reforms to the U.S. or international reimbursement systems in a manner that significantly reduces reimbursement for procedures using our medical devices or denies coverage for such procedures, or adverse decisions relating to our products by administrators of such systems in coverage or reimbursement issues, would have an adverse impact on the products, including clinical products, purchased by our customers and the prices which our customers are willing to pay for them. This in turn would have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Consolidation in the healthcare industry could lead to demands for price concessions or to the exclusion of some suppliers from certain of our significant market segments.

        The cost of healthcare has risen significantly over the past decade and numerous initiatives and reforms initiated by legislators, regulators and third-party payors to curb these costs have resulted in a consolidation trend in the medical device industry as well as among our customers, including hospitals. This in turn has resulted in greater pricing pressures and the exclusion of certain suppliers from important market segments as group purchasing organizations, independent delivery networks and large single accounts, such as the Veterans Administration in the United States, continue to consolidate purchasing decisions for some of our hospital customers. We expect that market demand, government regulation, third-party reimbursement policies and societal pressures will continue to change the worldwide healthcare industry, resulting in further business consolidations and alliances which may reduce competition, exert further downward pressure on the prices of our products and adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Failure to integrate acquired businesses into our operations successfully could adversely affect our business.

        As part of our strategy to develop and identify new products and technologies, we have made several acquisitions in recent years, including our acquisition of ANS in November 2005, and we may make additional acquisitions in the future. Our integration of the operations of acquired businesses requires significant efforts, including the coordination of information technologies, research and development, sales and marketing, operations, manufacturing and finance. These efforts result in additional expenses and involve significant amounts of management’s time that cannot then be dedicated to other projects. Our failure to manage successfully and coordinate the growth of the combined company could also have an adverse impact on our business. In addition, we cannot assure you that some of the businesses we acquire will become profitable or remain so. If our acquisitions are not successful, we may record unexpected impairment charges. Factors that will affect the success of our acquisitions include:

• the presence or absence of adequate internal controls and/or significant fraud in the financial systems of acquired companies;

• adverse developments arising out of investigations by governmental entities of the business practices of acquired companies, such as the current investigation into certain sales and marketing, reimbursement, Medicare and Medicaid billing and certain other business practices of ANS by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services;

• any decrease in customer loyalty and product orders caused by dissatisfaction with the combined companies’ product lines and sales and marketing practices, including price increases;

• our ability to retain key employees; and

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• the ability of the combined company to achieve synergies among its constituent companies, such as increasing sales of the combined company’s products, achieving cost savings and effectively combining technologies to develop new products.

Instability in international markets or foreign currency fluctuations could adversely affect our results.

        Our products are currently marketed in more than 120 countries around the world, with our largest geographic markets outside of the United States being Europe and Japan. As a result, we face currency and other risks associated with our international sales. We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations due to transactions denominated primarily in euros, Japanese yen, Canadian dollars, Brazilian reals, British pounds and Swedish kronor, which may potentially reduce the U.S. dollars we receive for sales denominated in any of these foreign currencies and/or increase the U.S. dollars we report as expenses in these currencies, thereby affecting our reported consolidated revenues and net earnings. We do not currently hedge our foreign currency exposure. Consequently, fluctuations between the currencies in which we do business have caused and will continue to cause foreign currency transaction gains and losses. We cannot predict the effects of currency exchange rate fluctuations upon our future operating results because of the number of currencies involved, the variability of currency exposures and the volatility of currency exchange rates. In addition to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, there are a number of additional risks associated with our international operations, including those related to:

• the imposition of or increase in import or export duties, surtaxes, tariffs or customs duties;

• the imposition of import or export quotas or other trade restrictions;

• foreign tax laws and potential increased costs associated with overlapping tax structures;

• longer accounts receivable cycles in certain foreign countries, whether due to cultural, exchange rate or other factors;

• changes in regulatory requirements in international markets in which we operate;

• inquiries into possible improprieties in our international operations, such as our inclusion in the report of the Independent Inquiry Committee into the United Nations Oil-For-Food Programme as allegedly having made payments to the Iraqi government in connection with certain product sales which we made to Iraq under this program from 2000 to 2003; and

• economic and political instability in foreign countries.

The medical devices industry is the subject of a governmental investigation into marketing and other business practices which could divert the attention of our management, be costly to us and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

        In October 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice, acting through the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston, commenced an industry-wide investigation under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 into whether makers of implantable heart devices had offered improper payments or other inducements to doctors or other persons as a means of promoting the use of these makers’ products. As part of this investigation, we received a civil subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston requesting documents on our practices related to pacemakers, ICDs, lead systems and related products marketed by our CRM business covering the period from January 2000 to date. We understand that our principal competitors in the CRM therapy areas received similar civil subpoenas. While we intend to cooperate fully with this investigation and are responding to this request, we cannot predict when this investigation will be resolved, the outcome of this investigation or its impact on the company. If this investigation continues over a long period of time, it could divert the attention of management resources from the day-to-day operations of our business, impose significant administrative burdens on us and result in additional compliance or other costs. These potential consequences, as well as any adverse outcome from the investigation, could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Regulatory actions arising from the concern over Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy may limit our ability to market products containing bovine material.

        Our Angio-Seal vascular closure device, which is designed to seal and close femoral artery punctures made during diagnostic and therapeutic cardiovascular catheterizations, as well as our vascular graft products, contain

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bovine collagen. In addition, some of the tissue heart valves which we market incorporate bovine pericardial material. Certain medical device regulatory agencies have begun to consider whether to continue to permit the sale of medical devices that incorporate any bovine material because of concerns over BSE, sometimes referred to as “mad cow disease,” a disease which has sometimes been transmitted to humans through the consumption of beef. While we are not aware of any reported cases of transmission of BSE through medical products and while we are cooperating with regulatory agencies considering these issues, the suspension or revocation of authority to manufacture, market or distribute products containing bovine material, or the imposition of a regulatory requirement that we procure material for these products from alternate sources, could result in lost market opportunities, harm the continued commercialization and distribution of such products and impose additional costs on us. Any of these consequences could in turn have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We are not insured against all potential losses and could be seriously harmed by natural disasters or other catastrophes.

        Our facilities could be materially damaged by hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters or catastrophic circumstances. For example, we have significant CRM manufacturing facilities located in Sylmar and Sunnyvale, California. California earthquake insurance is currently difficult to obtain, extremely costly and restrictive with respect to scope of coverage. Our earthquake and related business interruption insurance for these California facilities provides $30 million of insurance coverage in the aggregate, with a deductible equal to 5% of the total value of the facility and contents involved in the claim. Consequently, despite this insurance coverage, we could incur uninsured losses and liabilities arising from an earthquake near one or both of our California manufacturing facilities as a result of various factors, including the severity and location of the earthquake, the extent of any damage to our manufacturing facilities, the impact of an earthquake on our California workforce and on the infrastructure of the surrounding communities and the extent of damage to our inventory and work in process. While we believe that our exposure to significant losses from a California earthquake could be partially mitigated by our ability to manufacture some of our CRM products at our Swedish manufacturing facility, the losses could have a material adverse effect on our business for an indeterminate period of time before this manufacturing transition is complete and operates without significant problem. Furthermore, our manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico may suffer damage as a result of hurricanes which are frequent in the Caribbean and which could result in lost production and additional expenses to us to the extent any such damage is not fully covered by our hurricane and business interruption insurance.

        Even with insurance coverage, natural disasters or other catastrophic events could cause us to suffer substantial losses in our operational capacity and could also lead to a loss of opportunity and to a potential adverse impact on our relations with our existing customers resulting from our inability to produce products for them, for which we would not be compensated by existing insurance. This in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to the Debentures

The Debentures are effectively subordinated to the debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

        The Debentures are obligations exclusively of our company and not guaranteed by our subsidiaries. Therefore, the Debentures are effectively subordinated to the current and future liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are not prohibited from incurring additional debt or other liabilities, including senior indebtedness. If our subsidiaries were to incur additional debt or liabilities, our ability to pay our obligations on the Debentures, including cash payments upon conversion or repurchase, could be adversely affected. At September 30, 2005, on a pro forma basis giving effect to our recent acquisition of ANS as if it had occurred on such date, we had approximately $784.5 million of debt and our subsidiaries had indebtedness and other liabilities of approximately $732.9 million. The Debentures are also effectively subordinated to any current and future secured obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations.

We may incur additional indebtedness.

        The indenture governing the Debentures will not prohibit us from incurring substantial additional indebtedness in the future. We are also permitted to incur additional secured indebtedness that would be

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effectively senior to the Debentures. The indenture governing the Debentures will also permit unlimited additional borrowings by our subsidiaries that could be effectively senior to the Debentures. In addition, the indenture will not contain any restrictive covenants limiting our ability to pay dividends, make any payments on junior or other indebtedness or otherwise limit our financial condition.

We may not have sufficient cash to repurchase the Debentures at the option of the holder or on a fundamental change or to pay the cash payable on a conversion, which may increase your credit risk, and your right to require us to repurchase your Debentures upon a fundamental change may not protect you upon the occurrence of certain events that might adversely affect our financial condition or business operations.

        On December 15, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030, holders of the Debentures have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Debentures at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, up to but not including the repurchase date. On a fundamental change (as defined under “Description of the Debentures—Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change”), subject to certain conditions, holders of the Debentures will have the right to require us to repurchase for cash all outstanding Debentures at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, up to but not including the repurchase date. The Debentures will be convertible, at your option, into cash and shares of our common stock, if any, at any time before the stated maturity, from and after the date of certain events described under “Description of the Debentures—Conversion Rights.” However, we may not have enough available cash or be able to obtain financing at the time we are required to make repurchases of tendered Debentures or settlement of converted Debentures. Any credit facility in place at the time of a repurchase or conversion of the Debentures may also limit our ability to use borrowings to pay any cash payable on a repurchase or conversion of the Debentures and may prohibit us from making any cash payments on the repurchase or conversion of the Debentures if a default or event of default has occurred under that facility without the consent of the lenders under that facility. Our failure to repurchase tendered Debentures at a time when the repurchase is required by the indenture or to pay any cash payable on a conversion of the Debentures would constitute a default under the indenture. A default under the indenture or a fundamental change could lead to a default under our credit facilities or other existing and future agreements governing our indebtedness. If the repayment of the related indebtedness were to be accelerated after any applicable notice or grace periods, we may not have sufficient funds to repay the indebtedness and repurchase the Debentures.

        In addition, the term “fundamental change” is limited to certain specified transactions and does not include other events that might adversely affect our financial condition or business operations. The provisions of the indenture which require us to repurchase Debentures tendered to us by holders of the Debentures upon the occurrence of such a fundamental change as described above would not necessarily protect holders of the Debentures if highly leveraged or other transactions involving us occur that may affect holders adversely. We could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including certain recapitalizations, that would not constitute a fundamental change with respect to the fundamental change repurchase feature of the Debentures but that would increase the amount of our (or our subsidiaries’) outstanding indebtedness.

The additional shares of common stock payable on any Debentures converted in connection with specified corporate transactions may not adequately compensate you for any loss you may experience as a result of such specified corporate transactions.

        If certain specified corporate transactions occur on or before December 15, 2006, we will under certain circumstances increase the conversion rate on Debentures converted in connection with the specified corporate transaction by a number of additional shares of common stock. The number of additional shares of common stock will be determined based on the date on which the specified corporate transaction becomes effective and the price paid per share of our common stock in the specified corporate transaction as described under “Description of the Debentures—Conversion Procedures—Make-Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control.” The additional shares of common stock issuable on conversion of the Debentures in connection with a specified corporate transaction may not adequately compensate you for any loss you may experience as a result of such specified corporate transaction. If the specified corporate transaction occurs after December 15, 2006 or if the price paid per share of our common stock in the specified corporate transaction is less than the common stock price at the date of issuance of the Debentures or above a specified price, there will be no increase in the conversion rate. In addition, in certain

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circumstances on a fundamental change arising from our acquisition by a public company, we may elect to adjust the conversion rate as described under “Description of the Debentures—Conversion Procedures—Conversion Rate Adjustments” and, if we so elect, holders of Debentures will not be entitled to the increase in the conversion rate determined as described above.

        Our obligation to adjust the conversion rate in connection with specified corporate transactions could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.

The conversion rate of the Debentures may not be adjusted for all dilutive events.

        The conversion rate of the Debentures is subject to adjustment for certain events, including but not limited to the payment of stock dividends on our common stock; subdivisions, splits and combinations of our common stock; the issuance of rights or warrants; distributions of capital stock, indebtedness or assets; certain cash dividends and certain tender or exchange offers as described under “Description of the Debentures—Conversion Procedures—Conversion Rate Adjustments.” The conversion rate will not be adjusted for other events, such as an issuance of common stock for cash, that may adversely affect the trading price of the Debentures or the common stock. There can be no assurance that an event that adversely affects the value of the Debentures, but does not result in an adjustment to the conversion rate, will not occur.

You should consider the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning the Debentures.

        Under the indenture governing the Debentures, we and each holder of a Debenture will agree to treat the Debentures for U.S. federal income tax purposes as indebtedness that is subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments.

        Consequently, despite some uncertainty as to the proper application of such regulations, even if we do not pay any contingent interest on the Debentures, you will generally be required to accrue interest income at a constant rate of     % per year (subject to certain adjustments), compounded semi-annually, which represents the estimated yield on our comparable nonconvertible, fixed-rate debt instruments with terms and conditions otherwise similar to the Debentures. The amount of interest which you will be required to include in income for each year generally will be in excess of the stated interest payments on the Debentures for that year.

        You will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of a Debenture in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized, including the fair market value of any of our common stock received, and your adjusted tax basis in the Debenture. Any gain recognized by you on the sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of a Debenture will be treated as ordinary interest income; any loss will be ordinary loss to the extent of interest previously included in income and thereafter, will be treated as capital loss.

        You may in certain situations be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a dividend in the event of a taxable dividend distribution to holders of common stock (if this distribution results in a conversion rate adjustment) or in certain other situations requiring a conversion rate adjustment. For Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders”), this deemed distribution may be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax requirements.

There is no established trading market for the Debentures.

        The Debentures are a new issue of securities for which there is no established trading market. As a result, an active trading market for the Debentures may not develop. If an active trading market does not develop or is not maintained, the market price and liquidity of the Debentures may be adversely affected. In that case, you may not be able to sell your Debentures at a particular time or you may not be able to sell your Debentures at a favorable price. Future trading prices of the Debentures will depend on many factors, including:

• our operating performance and financial condition;

• the interest of securities dealers in making a market; and

• the market for similar securities.

        Historically, the markets for convertible debt securities have been subject to disruptions that have caused volatility in prices. It is possible that the markets for the Debentures will be subject to disruptions. Any such

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disruptions may have a negative effect on a holder of the Debentures, regardless of our prospects and financial performance. The underwriter is not under any obligation to make a market in the Debentures and it may discontinue any market making activities at any time, in its sole discretion, which could further negatively impact your ability to sell the Debentures or the prevailing market price at the time you choose to sell.

Any adverse rating of the Debentures may cause their trading price to fall.

        If Moody’s Investor Service, Standard & Poor’s or another rating service rates the Debentures and if any of such rating services lowers its rating on the Debentures below the rating initially assigned to the Debentures, announces its intention to put the Debentures on credit watch or withdraws its rating of the Debentures, the trading price of the Debentures could decline.

The conditional conversion feature of the Debentures could result in you not receiving the value of the common stock into which the Debentures are convertible.

        The Debentures are convertible into cash and shares of common stock, if any, only if specific conditions are met. If the specific conditions for conversion are not met, you may not be able to receive the value of the common stock into which your Debentures would otherwise be convertible.

On conversion of the Debentures, you may receive less proceeds than expected because the value of our common stock may decline after you exercise your conversion right.

        The conversion value that you will receive on conversion of your Debentures is in part determined by the average of the last reported sale prices of our common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on the second trading day immediately following the day the Debentures are tendered for conversion. Accordingly, if the price of our common stock decreases after you tender your Debentures for conversion, the conversion value you will receive may be adversely affected, and if the price at the end of such period is below the average, the value of any shares delivered may be less than the conversion value.

Future sales of our common stock in the public market could lower the market price for our common stock and adversely impact the trading price of the Debentures.

        In the future, we may sell additional shares of our common stock to raise capital. In addition, shares of our common stock are reserved for issuance on the exercise of stock options and on conversion of the Debentures. We cannot predict the size of future issuances or the effect, if any, that they may have on the market price for our common stock. The issuance and sales of substantial amounts of common stock, or the perception that such issuances and sales may occur, could adversely affect the trading price of the Debentures and the market price of our common stock.

The trading prices for the Debentures will be directly affected by the trading prices for our common stock, which are impossible to predict. Volatility in the market price of our common stock could result in a lower trading price than your conversion or purchase price and could adversely impact the trading price of the Debentures.

        The stock market in recent years has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated to the operating performance of companies. The market price of our common stock may be affected adversely by factors such as actual or anticipated changes in our operating results, acquisition activity, the impact of international markets, changes in financial estimates by securities analysts, general market conditions, rumors and other factors. The decrease in the market price of our common stock would likely adversely impact the trading price of the Debentures.

        The price of our common stock could be affected by possible sales of our common stock by investors who view the Debentures as a more attractive means of equity participation in us and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity that may develop involving our common stock. The hedging or arbitrage could, in turn, affect the trading prices of the Debentures.

Absence of dividends could reduce our attractiveness to investors, which could depress the price of the common stock into which the Debentures are convertible.

        We have not declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock since inception and do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain earnings, if any, for the future operations and growth of our business. As a result, our common stock may be less attractive to certain investors than the stock of dividend-paying companies.

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Our charter documents, our shareholder rights plan and Minnesota law contain provisions that could delay or prevent an acquisition of our company, which could inhibit your ability to receive a premium on your investment from a possible sale of our company.

        Our charter documents contain provisions that may discourage third parties from seeking to acquire our company. In addition, our board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan which enables our board of directors to issue preferred stock purchase rights that would be triggered by certain prescribed events. These provisions and specific provisions of Minnesota law relating to business combinations with interested shareholders may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a merger or change in control of our company. Some of these provisions may discourage a future acquisition of our company even if shareholders would receive an attractive value for their shares or if a significant number of our shareholders believed such a proposed transaction to be in their best interests. As a result, shareholders who desire to participate in such a transaction may not have the opportunity to do so.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We intend to use the net proceeds from the issuance of the Debentures (estimated to be $597.2 million, or $656.9 million assuming exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option in full) to repay commercial paper that we issued in connection with the acquisition of ANS when such paper is due. As of December 2, 2005, our commercial paper had a weighted average interest rate of approximately 4.2% and a weighted average remaining maturity of approximately 63 days.

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

        Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “STJ”. The following table sets forth, for the periods presented, the high and low closing sales prices per share of our common stock as reported on the NYSE.

	High		Low
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003
First Quarter	$	24.56	$	19.34
Second Quarter		31.68		24.25
Third Quarter		29.00		24.44
Fourth Quarter		31.67		26.44
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004
First Quarter	$	38.78	$	29.94
Second Quarter		39.18		35.57
Third Quarter		37.75		31.48
Fourth Quarter		38.97		38.14
Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2005
First Quarter	$	41.04	$	36.00
Second Quarter		44.15		35.06
Third Quarter		47.82		42.90
Fourth Quarter (through December 2, 2005)		50.91		44.25

        On December 2, 2005, the last reported sale price for our common stock on the NYSE was $48.27 per share.

DIVIDEND POLICY

        We have not declared or paid any cash dividends since 1994. We presently intend to retain earnings for use in the operations and expansion of our business and therefore do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

        Our consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated are as follows:

Year Ended December 31,					Nine Months Ended September 30,
2004	2003	2002	2001	2000		2005	2004
51.7	50.2	73.4	15.7	6.7		61.1	48.4

        For purposes of computing the ratios, earnings consist of consolidated earnings before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of gross interest expense and the portion of interest expense on operating leases we believe to be representative of the interest factor.

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CAPITALIZATION

        The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and capitalization (including short-term debt) as of September 30, 2005 and as adjusted (i) to reflect the acquisition of ANS on November 29, 2005 and (ii) to give effect to the offering of the Debentures (assuming no exercise of the underwriter’s over-allotment option) and the repayment of commercial paper with the net proceeds of this offering as described under “Use of Proceeds.” This table should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

	As of September 30, 2005
	(in thousands)
	Actual			As Adjusted for ANS Acquisition			As Adjusted for the Offering of the Debentures
Cash and cash equivalents	$	712,451		$	118,637		$	115,822
Debt:
Debentures offered hereby	$	—			—			600,000
Commercial paper borrowings	$	—		$	600,000		$	—
1.02% Yen-denominated notes, due 2010		184,461			184,461			184,461
Other long-term debt		41			41			41
Total debt		184,502			784,502			784,502
Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred stock		—			—			—
Common stock		36,556			36,556			36,556
Additional paid-in capital		435,589			466,079			466,079
Retained earnings		2,340,440			2,233,040			2,233,040
Deferred stock-based compensation		—			(30,490	)		(30,490	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Cumulative translation adjustment		(11,237	)		(11,237	)		(11,237	)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities		16,550			16,550			16,550
Total shareholders’ equity		2,817,898			2,710,498			2,710,498
Total debt and shareholders’ equity	$	3,002,400		$	3,495,000		$	3,495,000

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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBENTURES

        We will issue the Debentures under an indenture, to be dated as of December   , 2005 between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.

        The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Debentures and the indenture and does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the Debentures and the indenture including the definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. Wherever particular provisions or defined terms of the indenture or the Debentures are referred to, these provisions or defined terms are incorporated in this prospectus by reference. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, define each holder’s rights as a holder of the Debentures. A copy of the indenture has been filed with the SEC.

        As used in this “Description of the Debentures” section, references to “St. Jude Medical,” the “company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer only to St. Jude Medical, Inc., and do not include its subsidiaries.

General

        The Debentures will mature on December 15, 2035 unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. Each holder has the option, subject to certain qualifications and the satisfaction of certain conditions and during the periods described below, to convert its Debentures into cash and shares, if any, of our common stock at an initial conversion rate of        shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures. This is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $     per share of common stock. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment if certain events occur as described below under “— Conversion Procedures — Conversion Rate Adjustments.” On a surrender of a holder’s Debentures for conversion, we will deliver cash equal to the lesser of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures to be converted and our total conversion obligation. We will deliver shares of our common stock in respect of the remainder, if any, of our conversion obligation, as described below under “— Conversion Procedures — Payment upon Conversion.” If we deliver shares of common stock upon conversion of a Debenture, a holder will not receive fractional shares but a cash payment to account for any such fractional share as described below. Except as described under “— Interest,” a holder will not receive any cash payment for interest (or contingent interest, if any) accrued and unpaid to the conversion date.

        We may redeem the Debentures at our option in whole or in part beginning on December 15, 2006 upon the terms set forth under “— Optional Redemption by St. Jude Medical.”

        The Debentures will be subject to repurchase by us at your option on December 15, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025 and 2030 or upon a fundamental change in us, on the terms and at the repurchase prices set forth below under “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder” and “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change,” respectively.

        If any interest payment date, maturity date, redemption date, repurchase date or settlement date (including upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, as described below) falls on a day that is not a business day, then the required payment will be made on the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as if made on the date that the payment was due, and no additional interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after the interest payment date, maturity date, redemption date, repurchase date or settlement date (including upon the occurrence of a fundamental change, as described below), as the case may be, to that next succeeding business day.

        No sinking fund is provided for the Debentures and the Debentures are not subject to defeasance.

        The Debentures will be issued only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples thereof. References to “a Debenture” or “each Debenture” in this prospectus refer to $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures. The Debentures will be limited to $600 million aggregate principal amount, or $660 million aggregate principal amount if the underwriter’s over–allotment option is fully exercised.

        As used in this prospectus, “business day” means any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York.

        Any reference to “common stock” means our common stock, par value $0.10 per share.

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Ranking

        The Debentures will be our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The Debentures will rank equal in priority with all of our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The Debentures will effectively rank junior to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In addition, because the Debentures are only our obligation and are not guaranteed by our subsidiaries, creditors of each of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, generally will have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of the subsidiary over the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Debentures. The Debentures, therefore, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of creditors, including trade creditors, of our subsidiaries. At September 30, 2005, on a pro forma basis giving effect to our recent acquisition of ANS as if it had occurred on such date, we had approximately $784.5 million of debt and our subsidiaries had indebtedness and other liabilities of approximately $732.9 million.

Interest

        The Debentures will bear interest at a rate of     % per year. We will also pay contingent interest on the Debentures in the circumstances described under “— Contingent Interest.” Interest, including contingent interest, if any, shall be payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2006. Interest on a Debenture, including contingent interest, if any, will be paid to the person in whose name the Debenture is registered at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1, as the case may be (each, a “record date”), immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date (whether or not such day is a business day); provided, however, that accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, payable upon redemption or repurchase by us will be paid to the person to whom principal is payable, unless the redemption date or repurchase date, as the case may be, is after a record date and on or prior to the interest payment date to which that record date relates. Interest will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months and will accrue from December   , 2005 or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.

        Upon conversion of a Debenture, a holder will not receive any cash payment of interest (including contingent interest, if any) unless, as described below, such conversion date occurs between a record date and the interest payment date to which that record date relates. If we deliver shares of common stock upon surrender of a Debenture for conversion, we will not issue fractional shares of common stock. Instead, we will pay cash in lieu of fractional shares based on the last reported sale price of the common stock on the trading day immediately prior to the conversion date. Our delivery to a holder of the full amount of cash and shares of common stock, if any, as described below under “— Conversion Procedures — Payment upon Conversion,” together with any cash payment for any fractional share, will be deemed to satisfy our obligation to pay:

• the principal amount of the Debenture, and

• accrued but unpaid interest (including contingent interest, if any) to but excluding the conversion date.

        As a result, accrued but unpaid interest (including contingent interest, if any) up to but excluding the conversion date will be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. For a general discussion of the U.S. federal income tax treatment upon receipt of our common stock upon conversion, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

        Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if Debentures are converted after the close of business on a record date but prior to the opening of business on the interest payment date to which that record date relates, holders of such Debentures at the close of business on the record date will receive the interest, including contingent interest, if any, payable on the Debentures on the corresponding interest payment date notwithstanding the conversion. Such Debentures, upon surrender for conversion, must be accompanied by funds equal to the amount of interest (including contingent interest, if any) payable on the Debentures so converted on the next succeeding interest payment date; provided that no such payment need be made (1) if we have specified a redemption date or a repurchase date relating to a fundamental change that is after a record date and on or prior to the interest payment date to which that record date relates or (2) to the extent of any overdue interest (and any contingent interest) if any such interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Debenture.

Contingent Interest

        During any six-month period from June 15 to December 14 and from December 15 to June 14, beginning with the period commencing on December 15, 2006 and ending on June 14, 2007, we will pay contingent

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interest on the interest payment date for the applicable interest period if the average trading price (as defined below) of the Debentures during the five consecutive trading days (as defined below) immediately before the last trading day before the applicable interest period (each such trading day during the five trading day period called a “determination date”) equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of the Debentures.

        On any interest payment date when contingent interest is payable, the contingent interest payable per Debenture will equal 0.25% per year of the average trading price of such Debenture during the applicable five trading-day reference period.

        We will notify the holders of the Debentures on making the determination that they will be entitled to receive contingent interest with respect to any six-month interest period.

        For purposes of this section, the “trading price” of the Debentures on any determination date means the average of the secondary market bid quotations per Debenture obtained by the bid solicitation agent for $5.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers we select, provided that if:

• three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the bid solicitation agent, but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall be used, and

• only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the bid solicitation agent, that one bid shall be used;

provided further if no bids are received or, in our reasonable judgment, the bid quotations are not indicative of the secondary market value of the Debentures, then

• for purposes of any determination of whether contingent interest is payable or of the amount of any contingent interest, the trading price of the Debentures on any date of determination will equal (1) the applicable conversion rate of the Debentures as of the determination date multiplied by (2) the average last reported sale price (as defined below under “— Conversion Rights — Conversion upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition”) of our common stock on the five trading days ending on the determination date; and

• for purposes of any determination of whether the condition to conversion of Debentures described under “— Conversion Rights — Conversion upon Satisfaction of Trading Price Condition” is satisfied, the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures will be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the closing price of our common stock and the applicable conversion rate.

        The bid solicitation agent will initially be the trustee. We may change the bid solicitation agent, but the bid solicitation agent may not be an affiliate of ours.

        “Trading day” means a day during which trading in securities generally occurs on the NYSE or, if our common stock is not quoted on the NYSE, then a day during which trading in securities generally occurs on the principal U.S. securities exchange on which our common stock is listed or, if our common stock is not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, then on the principal other market on which our common stock is then traded or quoted.

Optional Redemption by St. Jude Medical

        Before December 15, 2006, the Debentures will not be redeemable at our option. On or after December 15, 2006, we may redeem the Debentures for cash in whole or in part at any time for a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures to be redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest (including contingent interest, if any) up to but excluding the redemption date.

        If the redemption date occurs after a record date and on or prior to the interest payment date to which that record date relates, accrued and unpaid interest (including contingent interest, if any) shall be paid on such interest payment date to the record holder on the relevant record date.

        We will provide not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice of redemption by mail to each registered holder of Debentures to be redeemed. If the redemption notice is given and funds are deposited as required, then interest will cease to accrue on and after the redemption date on those Debentures or portions of Debentures called for redemption.

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        Once we have called the Debentures for redemption, Debentures or portions of Debentures will be convertible by the holder until the close of business on the business day before the redemption date.

        If we decide to redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Debentures, the trustee will select the Debentures to be redeemed (in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof) by lot, on a pro rata basis or by another method the trustee considers fair and appropriate. If the trustee selects a portion of a holder’s Debentures for partial redemption and the holder converts a portion of its Debentures, the converted portion will be deemed to be from the portion selected for redemption.

        We may not redeem the Debentures if we have failed to pay any interest, including contingent interest, on the Debentures when due and such failure to pay is continuing.

Conversion Rights

General

        Subject to the qualifications and the satisfaction of the conditions and during the periods described below, a holder may convert each of its Debentures prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding stated maturity into cash and shares of our common stock, if any, initially at a conversion rate of        shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately        per share of common stock based on the issue price per Debenture). The conversion rate and the equivalent conversion price in effect at any given time are referred to as the “applicable conversion rate” and the “applicable conversion price,” respectively, and will be subject to adjustment as described below. A holder may convert fewer than all of its Debentures so long as the Debentures converted are an integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount. Upon surrender of a Debenture for conversion, we will deliver cash and shares of our common stock, if any, as described below under “— Conversion Procedures — Payment upon Conversion.”

        A holder may convert its Debentures in whole or in part only in the following circumstances, which are described in more detail below:

• upon satisfaction of the common stock sale price condition;

• if the trading price of the Debentures falls below a certain level;

• once we have called the Debentures for redemption;

• on or after December 15, 2034; or

• upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions.

        We will notify holders by press release and by written notice once the Debentures have become convertible upon any of the foregoing circumstances.

        If we call a holder’s Debentures for redemption, the holder may convert the Debentures only until the close of business on the business day prior to the redemption date unless we fail to pay the redemption price. If a holder has already delivered a repurchase election with respect to a Debenture as described under either “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder” or “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change,” it may not surrender that Debenture for conversion until it has withdrawn the repurchase election in accordance with the indenture.

        If a holder converts Debentures, we will pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue of shares of our common stock upon the conversion, unless the tax is due because a holder requests the shares to be issued or delivered to another person, in which case that holder will pay that tax.

Conversion upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition

        A holder may surrender its Debentures for conversion during any fiscal quarter of St. Jude Medical after the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2005 (and only during such quarter) if the last reported sale price per share of our common stock for at least 20 trading days during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the previous fiscal quarter is more than 130% of the applicable conversion price per share of our common stock on such last trading day.

        The “last reported sale price” of our common stock on any date means the closing sale price per share (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and asked prices or, if more than one in either case, the

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average of the average bid and the average asked prices) on such date as reported by the NYSE or, if our common stock is not reported by the NYSE, in composite transactions for the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which our common stock is traded or on NASDAQ. If our common stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange and not reported by NASDAQ on the relevant date, the “last reported sale price” will be the last quoted bid price for our common stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated or similar organization. If our common stock is not so quoted, the “last reported sale price” will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and asked prices for our common stock on the relevant date from each of at least three independent nationally recognized investment banking firms selected by us for this purpose.

Conversion upon Satisfaction of Trading Price Condition

        A holder may surrender any of its Debentures for conversion into our common stock prior to the stated maturity during the five business days immediately following any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures (as determined following a request by a holder of the Debentures in accordance with the procedures described above under “— Contingent Interest”) for each day of that period was less than 98% of the product of the closing price of our common stock and the applicable conversion rate of the Debentures on each such day; provided, however, that a holder may not convert Debentures in reliance on this provision after December 15, 2030, if on any trading day during such five consecutive trading-day period the closing price of our common stock was between the applicable conversion price of the Debentures and 130% of the applicable conversion price of the Debentures.

        In connection with any conversion upon satisfaction of the above trading price condition, the conversion agent shall have no obligation to determine the trading price of the Debentures unless we have requested such determination; and we shall have no obligation to make such request unless a holder provides us with reasonable evidence that the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures would be less than 98% of the product of the closing price of our common stock and the applicable conversion rate of the Debentures. At such time, we shall instruct the trustee to determine the trading price of the Debentures beginning on the next trading day and on each successive trading day until the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the closing price of our common stock and the applicable conversion rate of the Debentures.

Conversion upon Notice of Redemption

        If we call any or all of the Debentures for redemption, a holder may convert any of its Debentures at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately prior to the redemption date.

Conversion on or After December 15, 2034

        On or after December 15, 2034, a holder may convert any of its Debentures at any time prior to the maturity date.

Conversion upon Specified Corporate Transactions

Certain Distributions

        If we elect to:

• distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock certain rights or warrants entitling them to purchase, for a period expiring within 60 days after the date of the distribution, shares of our common stock at less than the last reported sale price of a share of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the announcement date of the distribution; or

• distribute to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, assets (including cash), debt securities or rights or warrants to purchase our securities, which distribution has a per share value as determined by our board of directors exceeding 10% of the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the announcement date for such distribution,

we must notify holders of the Debentures at least 20 business days prior to the ex-dividend date for such distribution. Once we have given such notice, holders may surrender their Debentures for conversion at any time until the earlier of the close of business on the business day immediately prior to the ex-dividend date or any

22

announcement that such distribution will not take place. No holder may exercise this right to convert if the holder otherwise could participate in the distribution without conversion. The “ex-dividend” date is the first date upon which a sale of the common stock does not automatically transfer the right to receive the relevant distribution from the seller of the common stock to its buyer.

Certain Corporate Transactions

        If:

• a “change of control” occurs pursuant to clause (1) of the definition thereof set forth under “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change” below, or

• a “change of control” occurs pursuant to clause (3) of the definition thereof set forth under “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change” below pursuant to which our common stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property,

in either case, regardless of whether a holder has the right to put the Debentures as described under “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change,” a holder may surrender Debentures for conversion at any time from and after the date which is 15 days prior to the anticipated effective date of the transaction until and including the date which is 15 days after the actual effective date of such transaction (or, if such transaction also results in holders having a right to require us to repurchase their Debentures, until the fundamental change repurchase date). We will notify holders and the trustee at the same time we publicly announce such transaction (but in no event less than 15 days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction).

        If a holder elects to convert its Debentures during the period specified above and on or prior to December 15, 2006 and 10% or more of the consideration for the common stock in the corporate transaction consists of consideration other than common stock that is traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on a U.S. national securities exchange or NASDAQ, we will increase the conversion rate by the additional shares as described below under “— Conversion Procedures — Make Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control” or, in lieu thereof, we may in certain circumstances elect to adjust the conversion rate and related conversion obligation so that the Debentures are convertible into shares of the acquiring or surviving entity.

        If a transaction described above occurs, a holder can, subject to certain conditions, require us to repurchase all or a portion of its Debentures as described under “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change.”

Conversion Procedures

        To convert a Debenture, a holder must do each of the following:

• complete and manually sign the conversion notice on the back of the Debenture, or a facsimile of the conversion notice, and deliver this irrevocable notice to the conversion agent;

• surrender the Debenture to the conversion agent;

• if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents;

• if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes; and

• if required, pay funds equal to interest, including contingent interest, if any, payable on the next interest payment date.

        If a holder’s interest is a beneficial interest in a global Debenture, to convert a holder must comply with the last three requirements listed above and comply with the depositary’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a global Debenture.

        The date a holder complies with these requirements is the “conversion date” under the indenture. Settlement of our obligation to deliver cash and shares of common stock (if any) with respect to a conversion will occur in the manner and on the dates described under “— Payment upon Conversion” below.

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        The conversion agent will initially be the trustee. The conversion agent will, on a holder’s behalf, convert the Debentures into cash and shares of common stock, if any. A holder may obtain copies of the required form of the conversion notice from the conversion agent. Payments of cash and, if shares of common stock are to be delivered, a stock certificate or certificates will be delivered to the holder, or a book-entry transfer through DTC will be made, by the conversion agent for the amount of cash and number of shares of common stock as set forth below under “— Payment upon Conversion.”

Payment upon Conversion

        In connection with any conversion, we will satisfy our obligation to convert the Debentures (the conversion obligation) by delivering to holders in respect of each $1,000 aggregate principal amount of Debentures being converted a “settlement amount” consisting of:

(1)	cash equal to the lesser of $1,000 and the conversion value, and
(2)	if the conversion value exceeds $1,000, a number of shares of common stock (the net shares) equal to (A) the difference between (x) the conversion value and (y) $1,000, divided by (B) the twenty day average closing stock price (as defined below).

        We will not issue fractional shares of common stock on conversion of the Debentures. Instead, we will pay the cash value of such fractional shares based on the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day immediately before the conversion date. On conversion of a Debenture, a holder will not receive any cash payment of interest (including contingent interest, if any) unless such conversion date occurs between a record date and the interest payment date to which that record date relates. We will deliver the settlement amount on the third business day following the date the settlement amount is determined.

        The “conversion value” means the product of (1) the conversion rate in effect (plus any additional shares as described under “— Conversion Rights — Make Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control”), and (2) the average of the last reported sale prices (as defined above under “— Conversion upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition”) of our common stock for the trading days during the cash settlement period (the twenty day average closing stock price).

        The “cash settlement period” with respect to any Debentures means the 20 consecutive trading days beginning on the second trading day after the conversion date for those Debentures.

        If a holder tenders Debentures for conversion and the conversion value is being determined at a time when the Debentures are convertible into other property in addition to or in lieu of our common stock, the conversion value of each Debenture will be determined based on the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of our common stock equal to the conversion rate would have owned or been entitled to receive in such transaction and the value thereof during the cash settlement period. Settlement of Debentures tendered for conversion after the effective date of any transaction giving rise to such change in conversion consideration will be as set forth above.

Conversion Rate Adjustments

        The applicable conversion rate will be subject to adjustment, without duplication, upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

        (1)  the payment to all or substantially all holders of common stock of dividends or other distributions payable in shares of our common stock;

        (2)  subdivisions, splits and combinations of our common stock, in which event the conversion rate shall be proportionately increased or decreased;

        (3)  the issuance to all or substantially all holders of our common stock of rights, warrants or options (other than pursuant to any dividend reinvestment or share purchase plans) entitling them, for a period of up to 60 days from the date of issuance of the rights, warrants or options, to subscribe for or purchase common stock at less than the current market price thereof; provided that the applicable conversion rate will be readjusted to the extent that such rights, warrants or options are not exercised prior to their expiration; or

        (4)  distributions to all or substantially all holders of our common stock, of shares of capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, including securities (but excluding rights or warrants listed in (3) above,

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dividends or distributions listed in (1) above and distributions consisting exclusively of cash), in which event the conversion rate will be increased by multiplying it by a fraction,

• the numerator of which will be the current market price of our common stock on the record date fixed for the distribution; and

• the denominator of which will be the current market price of our common stock on the record date fixed for the distribution minus the fair market value, as determined by our board of directors, of the portion of those assets, debt securities, shares of capital stock or rights or warrants so distributed applicable to one share of common stock.

If we distribute to holders of our common stock capital stock of, or similar equity interests in, a subsidiary or other business unit of ours, then the conversion rate will be adjusted based on the market value of the securities so distributed relative to the market value of our common stock, in each case based on the average of the last reported sale price of those securities (where such last reported sale prices are available) for the 10 trading days commencing on and including the fifth trading day after the “ex-dividend date” for such distribution on the NYSE or such other national or regional exchange or market on which the securities are then listed or quoted.

        (5)  distributions of cash to all or substantially all holders of our common stock (excluding any dividend or distribution in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up), in which event the conversion rate will be increased by multiplying it by a fraction,

• the numerator of which will be the current market price of our common stock on the record date fixed for the distribution; and

• the denominator of which will be (i) the current market price of our common stock on the record date fixed for the distribution minus (ii) the amount per share of such dividend or distribution.

        (6)  we or one of our subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for our common stock to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of our common stock exceeds the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day following the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, in which event the conversion rate will be increased by multiplying it by a fraction,

• the numerator of which will be the sum of (i) the fair market value, as determined by our board of directors, of the aggregate consideration payable for all shares of our common stock we purchase in such tender or exchange offer and (ii) the product of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding less any such purchased shares and the closing price of our common stock on the trading day next succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange offer; and

• the denominator of which will be the product of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding, including any such purchased shares, and the closing price of our common stock on the trading day next succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange offer.

        (7)  someone other than us or one of our subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer in which, as of the closing date of the offer, our board of directors is not recommending rejection of the offer, in which event the applicable conversion rate will be increased by multiplying such conversion rate by a fraction,

• the numerator of which will be the sum of (i) the fair market value, as determined by our board of directors, of the aggregate consideration payable to our stockholders based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the tender or exchange offer) of all shares validly tendered or exchange and not withdrawn as of the expiration of the offer and (ii) the product of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding less any such purchased shares and the closing price of our common stock on the trading day next succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange offer; and

• the denominator of which will be the product of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding, including any such purchased shares, and the closing price of our common stock on the trading day following the expiration of the tender or exchange offer.

        The adjustment referred to in this clause (7) will be made only if:

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• the tender offer or exchange offer is for an amount that increases the offeror’s ownership of common stock to more than 25% of the total shares of common stock outstanding; and

• the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of common stock exceeds the last reported sale price of our common stock on the trading day following the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to the tender or exchange offer.

• However, the adjustment referred to in this clause (7) will not be made if, as of the closing of the offer, the offering documents disclose a plan or an intention to cause us to engage in a consolidation or merger or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

        In addition to these adjustments, we may in our sole discretion increase the conversion rate as our board of directors deems advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of our common stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of capital stock (or rights to acquire capital stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes. We may also, from time to time, to the extent permitted by applicable law and NYSE listing requirements, increase the conversion rate by any amount for any period of at least 20 days if our board of directors has determined that such increase would be in our best interests. If our board of directors makes that determination, it will be conclusive. We will give holders of Debentures at least 15 days’ prior notice of such an increase in the conversion rate. For a general discussion of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an adjustment to the conversion rate of the Debentures, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders — Constructive Dividends.”

        “Current market price” of our common stock on any day means the average of the last reported sale price of our common stock (as defined above under “— Conversion Rights — Conversion upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition”) for each of the 10 consecutive trading days ending on the earlier of the day in question and the day before the “ex-dividend date” with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation, subject to adjustment by our board of directors if the related transaction occurs during such 10-day period.

        To the extent that we have a rights plan in effect upon any conversion of the Debentures into common stock, a holder will receive, in addition to the common stock, the rights under the rights plan, unless, prior to any conversion, the rights have separated from the common stock, in which case the conversion rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as described in clause (4) above. A further adjustment will occur as described in clause (4) above, if such rights become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or assets, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

        In the event of:

• any reclassification of our common stock;

• a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange or combination involving us; or

• a sale or conveyance to another person or entity of all or substantially all of our property or assets;

in each case, in which holders of common stock would be entitled to receive stock, other securities, other property, assets or cash for their common stock, upon conversion by a holder of its Debentures it will be entitled to receive the same type of consideration that it would have been entitled to receive had it owned a number of shares of our common stock equal to the conversion rate immediately prior to any of these events multiplied by the principal amount of the Debentures converted. The amounts received in settlement of our conversion obligation will be computed as set forth under “— Payment upon Conversion” above and will be determined based on the kind and amount of shares of stock, securities or other property (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of our common stock equal to the conversion rate would have owned or been entitled to receive in such transaction, which we refer to as the “exchange property”. For purposes of the foregoing, in the event holders of our common stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in any such transaction, we will make adequate provision whereby the holders of the Debentures shall have a reasonable opportunity to determine the form of consideration into which all of the Debentures, treated as a single class, shall be convertible from and after the effective date of such transaction (subject to our ability to settle the conversion obligation in cash, as set forth under “— Payment upon Conversion”). Any such determination shall be subject to any limitations to which all of the holders of the common stock are subject, such as pro-rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration to be paid. We will agree in the indenture not to become a party to any such transaction unless its terms are consistent with the foregoing.

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However, if the transaction described above also constitutes a public acquirer change of control (as defined below), then we may in certain circumstances elect to change the conversion right in the manner described under “— Make-Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control” in lieu of changing the conversion right in the manner described in this paragraph.

        The applicable conversion rate will not be adjusted:

• upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on our securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of our common stock under any plan;

• upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by us or any of our subsidiaries;

• upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in the preceding bullet and outstanding as of the date the Debentures were first issued;

• for a change in the par value of the common stock; or

• for accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any.

        Adjustments to the applicable conversion rate will be calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share.

Make-Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control

        If the effective date or anticipated effective date of certain corporate transactions as described under “— Conversion upon Specified Corporate Transactions — Certain Corporate Transactions” occurs on or prior to December 15, 2006 and 10% or more of the consideration for our common stock in the corporate transaction consists of consideration other than common stock that is traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on a U.S. national securities exchange or NASDAQ, we will increase the conversion rate for the Debentures surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares (the additional shares) as described below. We will notify holders at least 15 days before the anticipated effective date of such corporate transaction and whether we elect to increase the conversion rate as described below or to modify the conversion obligation as described below.

        The number of additional shares will be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the corporate transaction becomes effective (the effective date) and the price (the stock price) paid per share of our common stock in the corporate transaction. If holders of our common stock receive only cash in the corporate transaction, the stock price will be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the stock price will be the average of the last reported sale prices (as defined under “— Conversion Rights — Conversion upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition” above) of our common stock on the five trading days immediately prior to but not including the effective date of the corporate transaction.

        The additional shares will be delivered to holders who elect to convert their Debentures on the later of (1) the fifth business day following the effective date and (2) the third business day following the final day of the cash settlement averaging period.

        The stock prices set forth in the first row of the table below (i.e., column headers) will be adjusted as of any date on which the conversion rate of the Debentures is adjusted, as described above under “— Conversion Rate Adjustments.” The adjusted stock prices will equal the stock prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the conversion rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the stock price adjustment and the denominator of which is the conversion rate as so adjusted. The number of additional shares will be adjusted in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under “— Conversion Rate Adjustments.”

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        The following table sets forth the stock price, effective date and number of additional shares per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures to be determined by reference to the stock price and effective date of the transaction:

Stock Price

Effective Date

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the total number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion exceed            per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures subject to adjustments in the same manner as the conversion rate as set forth under “—Conversion Rate Adjustments.”

        The exact stock prices and effective dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

• If the stock price is between two stock price amounts in the table or the effective date is between two effective dates in the table, the number of additional shares will be determined by straight-line interpolation between the number of additional shares set forth for the higher and lower stock price amounts and the two dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year.

• If the stock price is in excess of $       per share (subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate.

• If the stock price is less than $       per share (subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be added to the conversion rate.

        Our obligation to adjust the conversion rate in connection with specified corporate transactions could be considered a penalty, in which case the enforceability thereof would be subject to general principles of reasonableness and equitable remedies.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a holder converts its Debentures in connection with a corporate transaction for which the conversion rate would be increased by a number of additional shares as described above, in the case of a public acquirer change of control (as defined below), we may, at our option and in lieu of increasing the conversion rate by such number of additional shares, adjust the conversion rate and the related conversion obligation such that from and after the effective date of such public acquirer change of control, holders of the Debentures will be entitled to convert their Debentures (subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to conversion described under “— Conversion Rights” above and the settlement procedures described under “— Conversion Procedures — Payment upon Conversion”) into a number of shares of public acquirer common stock (as defined below).

        The conversion rate following the effective date of such transaction will be a number of shares of such public acquirer common stock equal to the product of:

• the conversion rate in effect immediately prior to the effective date of such transaction, times

• the average of the quotients obtained, for each trading day in the 10 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately preceding the effective date of such public acquirer change of control (the valuation period), of:

        (i)  the “acquisition value” (as defined below) of our common stock on each such trading day in the valuation period, divided by

        (ii)  the last reported sale price (as defined under “— Conversion Rights — Conversion upon Satisfaction of Sale Price Condition”) of the public acquirer common stock on each such trading day in the valuation period.

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        The “acquisition value” of our common stock means, for each trading day in the valuation period, the value of the consideration paid per share of our common stock in connection with such public acquirer change of control, as follows:

• for any cash, 100% of the face amount of such cash;

• for any public acquirer common stock, 100% of the last reported sale price of such common stock on such trading day; and

• for any other securities, assets or property, 102% of the fair market value of such security, asset or property on such trading day, as determined by three independent nationally recognized investment banks selected by us for this purpose.

        A “public acquirer change of control” means any event constituting a corporate transaction as described under “— Conversion Rights — Conversion upon Specified Corporate Transactions — Certain Corporate Transactions” that would otherwise obligate us to increase the conversion rate as described above under “— Make-Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control” and the acquirer, the person formed by or surviving the merger or consolidation or any entity that is a direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of such acquirer’s or person’s capital stock that are entitled to vote generally in the election of directors has a class of common stock traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or quoted on NASDAQ or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction; provided that if there is more than one of such entity, the relevant entity will be such entity with the most direct beneficial ownership to such acquirer’s or person’s capital stock. We refer to such acquirer’s, person’s or other entity’s class of common stock traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or quoted on NASDAQ or which will be so traded or quoted when issued or exchange in connection with such transaction as the “public acquirer common stock.”

        On a public acquirer change of control, if we so elect, holders may convert their Debentures (subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to conversion described under “— Conversion Rights” above) at the adjusted conversion rate described in the third preceding paragraph but will not be entitled to the increased conversion rate described under “— Make-Whole Amount and Adjustments for Conversion After a Public Acquirer Change of Control” above. We are required to notify holders of our election in our notice to holders of such transaction. As described under “— Conversion Rights — Conversion upon Specified Corporate Transactions,” holders may convert their Debentures upon a public acquirer change of control during the period specified therein. In addition, a holder can also, subject to certain conditions, require us to repurchase all or a portion of its Debentures as described under “— Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change.”

        We may only make such election if such public acquirer is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and if we and such public acquirer execute a supplemental indenture whereby the public acquirer agrees to comply with our obligations under the Debentures with respect to such public acquirer and any securities of such public acquirer that may be issuable upon conversion of the Debentures.

Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder

        On December 15, 2006, December 15, 2008, December 15, 2010, December 15, 2015, December 15, 2020, December 15, 2025 and December 15, 2030 (each, a “repurchase date”), any holder may require us to repurchase for cash any outstanding Debentures for which that holder has properly delivered and not withdrawn a written repurchase notice. The repurchase price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, to, but not including, the repurchase date. If the repurchase date is on a date that is after a record date and on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, we will pay such interest to the holder of record on the corresponding record date, which may or may not be the same person to whom we will pay the repurchase price.

        Within 20 business days before any repurchase date, we are required to give notice to each holder and the trustee of the repurchase date and of each holder’s repurchase rights and the procedures that each holder must follow in order to require us to repurchase its Debentures as described below.

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        A holder may submit a repurchase notice to the paying agent (which will initially be the trustee) at any time from the opening of business on the date that is 20 business days prior to the repurchase date until the close of business on the repurchase date.

        Any repurchase notice given by a holder electing to require us to repurchase Debentures shall be given so as to be received by the paying agent no later than the close of business on the repurchase date and must state:

• if definitive Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers of the holders’ Debentures to be delivered for repurchase (or, if the Debentures are not issued in definitive form, the notice of repurchase must comply with appropriate DTC procedures);

• the portion of the principal amount of Debentures to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

• that the Debentures are to be repurchased by us pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Debentures and the indenture.

        A holder may withdraw its repurchase notice by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the paying agent prior to the close of business on the repurchase date. The notice of withdrawal shall state:

• the principal amount of Debentures being withdrawn;

• if definitive Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers of the Debentures being withdrawn (or, if the Debentures are not issued in definitive form, the notice of withdrawal must comply with appropriate DTC procedures); and

• the principal amount of the Debentures, if any, that remain subject to the repurchase notice.

        In connection with any repurchase, we will, to the extent applicable:

• comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act, which may then be applicable; and

• file Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange Act.

        Our obligation to pay the repurchase price for Debentures for which a repurchase notice has been delivered and not validly withdrawn is conditioned upon the holder effecting book-entry transfer of the Debentures or delivering definitive Debentures, together with necessary endorsements, to the paying agent at any time after delivery of the repurchase notice. We will cause the repurchase price for the Debentures to be paid promptly following the later of the business day following the repurchase date and the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of definitive Debentures, together with such endorsements.

        If the paying agent holds money sufficient to pay the repurchase price of the Debentures for which a repurchase notice has been delivered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the indenture, then, immediately after the repurchase date, the Debentures will cease to be outstanding and interest on the Debentures will cease to accrue, whether or not the Debentures are transferred by book entry or delivered to the paying agent. Thereafter, all of the holder’s other rights shall terminate, other than the right to receive the repurchase price upon book-entry transfer of the Debentures or delivery of the Debentures. Our ability to repurchase Debentures for cash may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain funds for such repurchase through dividends from our subsidiaries, through the terms of our then existing borrowing arrangements or otherwise.

Repurchase of Debentures by St. Jude Medical at Option of Holder upon a Fundamental Change

        If a fundamental change, as defined below, occurs, each holder will have the right on the fundamental change repurchase date to require us to repurchase for cash all of its Debentures not previously called for redemption, or any portion of those Debentures that is equal to $1,000 in principal amount or integral multiples thereof, at a fundamental change repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures plus any accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, on the Debentures to but not including the fundamental change repurchase date. If the fundamental change repurchase date is on a date that is after a record date and on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, we will pay such interest to the holder of record on the corresponding record date, which may or may not be the same person to whom we will pay the repurchase price.

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        Within 15 days after the occurrence of a fundamental change, we are required to give notice to each holder and the trustee of such occurrence and of each holder’s resulting repurchase right and the procedures that each holder must follow to require us to repurchase its Debentures as described below. The fundamental change repurchase date specified by us will be 20 business days after the date on which we give this notice.

        The fundamental change repurchase notice given by a holder electing to require us to repurchase its Debentures shall be given so as to be received by the paying agent no later than the close of business on the fundamental change repurchase date and must state:

• if certificated Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers of the holder’s Debentures to be delivered for repurchase (or, if the Debentures are not issued in certificated form, the fundamental change repurchase notice must comply with appropriate DTC procedures);

• the portion of the principal amount of Debentures to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and

• that the Debentures are to be repurchased by us pursuant to the applicable provisions of the indenture.

A holder may withdraw its fundamental change repurchase notice by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the paying agent prior to the close of business on the fundamental change repurchase date. The notice of withdrawal shall state:

• the principal amount at maturity of Debentures being withdrawn;

• if certificated Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers of the Debentures being withdrawn (or, if the Debentures are not issued in certificated form, the notice of withdrawal must comply with appropriate DTC procedures); and

• the principal amount of the Debentures, if any, that remain subject to the fundamental change repurchase notice.

        A “fundamental change” will be deemed to have occurred upon a change of control of St. Jude Medical or a termination of trading of our common stock.

        A “change of control” will be deemed to have occurred at such time after the original issuance of the Debentures when any of the following has occurred:

        (1)  a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act files a Schedule 13D or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of shares of our common stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of our common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

        (2)  the first day on which a majority of the members of our board of directors does not consist of continuing directors; or

        (3)  a consolidation, merger or binding share exchange, or any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties and assets to another person, other than:

•	any transaction:
	(i)  that does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of our capital stock; and
	(ii)  pursuant to which holders of our capital stock immediately prior to the transaction have the entitlement to exercise, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total voting power of all shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors of the continuing or surviving or successor person immediately after giving effect to such issuance; or
•	any merger, share exchange, transfer of assets or similar transaction solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of incorporation and resulting in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of common stock, if at all, solely into shares of common stock, ordinary shares or American Depositary Shares of the surviving entity or a direct or indirect parent of the surviving corporation; or

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• any consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition with or into any of our subsidiaries, so long as such merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition is not part of a plan or a series of transactions designed to or having the effect of merging or consolidating with, or conveying, transferring, selling, leasing or disposing all or substantially all our properties and assets to, any other person.

        A “continuing director” means a director who either was a member of our board of directors on the date the Debentures are first issued or who becomes a member of our board of directors subsequent to that date and whose appointment, election or nomination for election by our shareholders is duly approved by a majority of the continuing directors on our board of directors at the time of such approval, either by specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by us on behalf of the board of directors in which such individual is named as nominee for director.

        The term “person” includes any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

        The definition of change of control includes a phrase relating to the conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our properties and assets. There is no precise, established definition of the phrase “substantially all” under applicable law. Accordingly, a holder’s ability to require us to repurchase its Debentures as a result of a conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of less than all our properties and assets may be uncertain.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder will not have the right to require us to repurchase its Debentures on a change of control describe in clause (3) above if more than 90% of the consideration in the transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock traded or to be traded immediately following a change of control on a U.S. national securities exchange or NASDAQ, and, as a result of the transaction or transactions, the Debentures become convertible into that common stock (and any rights attached thereto).

        A “termination of trading” will be deemed to have occurred if our common stock (or other common stock into which the Debentures are then convertible) is neither listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange nor approved for trading on NASDAQ.

        Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act requires the dissemination of certain information to security holders if an issuer tender offer occurs and may apply if the repurchase option becomes available to holders of the Debentures. We will comply with this rule and file Schedule TO (or any similar schedule) under the Exchange Act to the extent required at that time.

        If the paying agent holds money sufficient to pay the fundamental change repurchase price of the Debentures which holders have elected to require us to repurchase on the business day following the fundamental change repurchase date in accordance with the terms of the indenture, then, immediately after the fundamental change repurchase date, those Debentures will cease to be outstanding and interest, including contingent interest, if any, on the Debentures will cease to accrue, whether or not the Debentures are transferred by book entry or delivered to the paying agent. Thereafter, all other rights of the holders shall terminate, other than the right to receive the fundamental change repurchase price upon book-entry transfer of the Debentures or delivery of the Debentures.

        The term “fundamental change” is limited to specified transactions and does not include other events that might adversely affect our financial condition or business operations. The foregoing provisions would not necessarily protect holders of the Debentures if highly leveraged or other transactions involving us occur that may affect holders adversely. We could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including certain recapitalizations, that would not constitute a fundamental change with respect to the fundamental change repurchase feature of the Debentures but that would increase the amount of our (or our subsidiaries’) outstanding indebtedness.

        Our ability to repurchase Debentures for cash on the occurrence of a fundamental change is subject to important limitations. Our ability to repurchase the Debentures for cash may be limited by restrictions on our ability to obtain funds for such repurchase through dividends from our subsidiaries, the terms of our then existing borrowing arrangements or otherwise.

        The fundamental change purchase feature of the Debentures may in certain circumstances make it more difficult or discourage a takeover of our company. The fundamental change purchase feature, however, is not the result of our knowledge of any specific effort:

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• to accumulate shares of our common stock;

• to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer solicitation or otherwise; or

• by our management to adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions.

        Instead, the fundamental change repurchase feature is a term frequently contained in securities similar to the Debentures.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

        The indenture provides that we may not consolidate with or merge with or into any person, or convey, transfer, or lease all or substantially all of our assets, unless the following conditions have been satisfied:

        (a)  Either

        (i)  we are the continuing person in the case of a merger, or

        (ii)  the successor corporation will be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any State, or the District of Columbia and the successor corporation (if not us) shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, all of our obligations under the Debentures and the indenture;

        (b)  Immediately after giving effect to the transaction (and treating any indebtedness that becomes an obligation of the successor corporation or any of our subsidiaries as a result of the transaction as having been incurred by the successor corporation or a subsidiary at the time of the transaction), no default or event of default would occur or be continuing; and

        (c)  We have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the consolidation, merger or transfer and any such supplemental indenture comply with the indenture.

Events of Default; Notice and Waiver

        The following will constitute defaults under the indenture, subject to any additional limitations and qualifications included in the indenture:

• a default in the payment of principal of the Debentures when due at maturity, upon redemption, upon repurchase or otherwise;

• a default in the payment of any interest, including contingent interest, if any, on the Debentures when due and such failure continues for a period of 30 days past the applicable due date;

• we fail to provide notice of the occurrence of a fundamental change as required by the indenture;

• a default in our obligation to deliver the settlement amount upon conversion of the Debentures, together with cash in respect of any fractional shares, upon conversion of any Debentures and such default continues for a period of 5 days or more;

• we fail to comply with our obligation to repurchase the Debentures at the option of a holder upon a fundamental change as required by the indenture or on any other repurchase date;

• a default in our obligation to redeem the Debentures after we have exercised our option to redeem;

• we fail to perform or observe any of our other covenants or warranties in the indenture or in the Debentures for 60 days after written notice to us from the trustee or to us and the trustee from the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures has been received by us; and

• certain events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization by us or one of our significant subsidiaries (as defined in Regulation S-X 1.02(w)(1) or (2)).

        The foregoing will constitute events of default whatever the reason for any such event of default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

        If a default under the indenture occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must, except as set out below, mail to each holder of the Debentures notice of the default within 90 days of the occurrence of

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the default, or, if later, within 15 days after it is known to the trustee. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the Debentures of a default, except defaults in non-payment of principal or interest (including contingent interest, if any) on the Debentures. However, the trustee must consider it to be in the interest of the holders of the Debentures to withhold this notice.

        If an event of default (other than an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us) occurs and continues, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures may declare the principal and accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, on the outstanding Debentures to be immediately due and payable. In case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving us, the principal and accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, on the Debentures will automatically become immediately due and payable. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures may rescind such acceleration with respect to the Debentures and, as is discussed below, waive these past defaults.

        The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Debentures will have the right to direct the time, method and place of any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, subject to limitations specified in the indenture. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder of the Debentures or that would involve the trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the indenture, the trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

        The holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Debentures may waive any past defaults under the indenture, except a default due to the non-payment of principal or interest, including contingent interest, if any, a failure to provide notice of a fundamental change to the trustee and each holder when required pursuant to the indenture, a failure to convert any Debentures when required pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, a default arising from our failure to redeem or repurchase any Debentures when required pursuant to the terms of the indenture or a default in respect of any covenant that cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected.

        No holder of the Debentures may pursue any remedy under the indenture, except in the case of a default due to the non-payment of principal or interest, including contingent interest, if any, on the Debentures, unless:

• the holder has given the trustee written notice of a default;

• the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of outstanding Debentures make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy;

• the trustee does not receive an inconsistent direction from the holders of a majority in principal amount of outstanding Debentures; and

• the trustee fails to comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and offer of indemnity.

        The indenture requires us (i) every year to deliver to the trustee a statement as to performance of our obligations under the indenture and as to any default, and (ii) to deliver to the trustee prompt notice of any default.

        A default in the payment of the Debentures, or a default with respect to the Debentures that causes them to be accelerated, may give rise to a cross-default under our existing and future borrowing arrangements.

Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

        The Debentures will not be subject to any defeasance provisions under the indenture.

Amendment and Modification

        The consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures is required to modify or amend the indenture. However, a modification or amendment requires the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture affected by such modification or amendment if it would:

• reduce the principal amount of or change the stated maturity of any Debenture;

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• alter the manner of calculation of, reduce the rate of accrual for, or extend the time for payment of interest, including contingent interest, if any, on any Debenture;

• reduce any amount payable upon redemption or repurchase of any Debenture (including upon the occurrence of a fundamental change) or change the time at which or circumstances under which the Debentures may or shall be redeemed or repurchased;

• impair the right of a holder to institute suit for payment on or conversion of any Debenture;

• change the currency in which any Debenture is payable;

• impair the right of a holder to convert any Debenture or reduce the settlement amount receivable upon conversion;

• modify the redemption provisions of the indenture in a manner adverse to the holders;

• change our obligation to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in the indenture;

• subject to specified exceptions, amend or modify certain of the provisions of the indenture relating to amendment or modification or waiver of provisions of the indenture or reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Debentures necessary to amend, modify or supplement the indenture or the Debentures or waive an event of default; or

• reduce the percentage of Debentures required for consent to any amendment or modification of the indenture.

        We and the trustee may modify certain provisions of the indenture without the consent of the holders of the Debentures, including to:

• add guarantees with respect to the Debentures or secure the Debentures;

• remove guarantees as provided in the indenture;

• evidence the assumption of our obligations by a successor person (and the public acquirer, as applicable) under the provisions of the indenture relating to consolidations, mergers and sales of assets;

• surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture;

• add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of Debentures;

• cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the indenture, so long as such action will not materially adversely affect the interests of holders;

• modify or amend the indenture to permit the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as then in effect;

• establish the forms or terms of the Debentures;

• evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee;

• provide for uncertificated Debentures in addition to or in place of certificated Debentures; provided, however, that the uncertificated Debentures are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Debentures are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

• conform, as necessary, the indenture and the form or terms of the Debentures, to the “Description of the Debentures” as set forth in this prospectus; and

• make other changes to the indenture or forms or terms of the Debentures, provided no such change individually or in the aggregate with all other such changes has or will have a material adverse effect on the interests of the holders of the Debentures.

Calculations in Respect of Debentures

        We will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Debentures, unless otherwise set forth above. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the market prices of our common

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stock, the amount of accrued interest (including contingent interest, if any) payable on the Debentures and the conversion rate of the Debentures. We will make all these calculations in good faith, and, absent manifest error, our calculations will be final and binding on holders of Debentures. We will provide a schedule of our calculations to each of the trustee and the conversion agent, and each of the trustee and the conversion agent is entitled to rely upon the accuracy of our calculations without independent verification. The trustee will forward our calculations to any holder of Debentures upon the request of that holder.

Trustee, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent

        We have appointed U.S. Bank National Association as the trustee under the indenture, as paying agent, conversion agent, Debenture registrar and custodian for the Debentures. The trustee or its affiliates may also provide banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of their business.

Notices

        Except as otherwise described herein, notices to registered holders of the Debentures will be given by mail to the addresses as they appear in the security register. Notices will be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing.

Governing Law

        The Debentures and the indenture shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Form, Denomination, Exchange, Registration and Transfer

        The Debentures will be issued:

• in fully registered form;

• without interest coupons; and

• in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. Holders may present Debentures for conversion, registration of transfer and exchange at the office maintained by us for such purpose, which will initially be the corporate trust office of the trustee in The City of New York.

Payment and Paying Agent

        We will maintain an office or agent where we will pay the principal on the Debentures and a holder may present the Debentures for conversion, registration of transfer or exchange for other denominations, which shall initially be an office or agency of the trustee. We may pay interest on any Debentures represented by the registered certificated securities referred to below by check mailed to a holder’s address as it appears in the Debenture register, provided that if a holder has an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2.0 million, it will be paid, at such holder’s written election, by wire transfer in immediately available funds.

        Payments on the Debentures represented by the global Debenture referred to below will be made to The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, which is referred to herein as DTC, or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner thereof, in immediately available funds.

Book-Entry Delivery and Settlement

        DTC will act as securities depository for the Debentures. The Debentures will be represented by one or more registered global Debentures in book-entry form (referred to as the registered global Debenture) registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the nominee of DTC), or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. Accordingly, beneficial interests in the Debentures will be shown on, and transfers of the Debentures will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. Except in the limited circumstances described in the indenture, owners of beneficial interests in the registered global Debenture representing the Debentures will not be entitled to receive Debentures in definitive form and will not be considered holders of Debentures under the indenture.

        DTC has advised us and the underwriter as follows:

• DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve

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	System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
•	DTC holds securities that its participants (referred to as direct participants) deposit with DTC and facilitates the settlement among direct participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
•	Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.
•	DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC in turn is owned by a number of direct participants of DTC and Members of the National Securities Clearing Corporation, Fixed Income Clearing Corporation and Emerging Markets Clearing Corporation (NSCC, FICC and EMCC, also subsidiaries of DTCC), as well as by the NYSE, the American Stock Exchange LLC and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
•	Access to the DTC system is also available to others, such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly (referred to as indirect participants).
•	The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

        Purchases of Debentures under DTC’s system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for such Debentures on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of Debentures represented by the registered global Debenture (referred to as the beneficial owner) is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which such beneficial owners entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the registered global Debenture representing the Debentures are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive Debentures in definitive form, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for such Debentures is discontinued or upon the occurrence of certain other events described in this prospectus.

        To facilitate subsequent transfers, the registered global Debenture representing Debentures that are deposited by direct participants are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the registered global Debenture with DTC and its registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the registered global Debenture representing the Debentures; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such Debentures are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct or indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

        The laws of some jurisdictions require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the Debentures represented by the registered global Debenture to those persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its direct participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through direct participants, the ability of a person having an interest in Debentures represented by the registered global Debenture to pledge or transfer those interests to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest.

        Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

        Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the registered global Debenture representing the Debentures unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with

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DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy (referred to as an omnibus proxy) to us as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the Debentures are credited on the applicable record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

        Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the registered global Debenture representing the Debentures will be made to Cede & Co., or such nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the trustee on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those direct and indirect participants and not of DTC, the trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee) is the responsibility of St. Jude Medical or the trustee, disbursement of those payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of those payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of the direct and indirect participants. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the disbursements of payments in respect of ownership interests in the Debentures by DTC or the direct or indirect participants or for maintaining or reviewing any records of DTC or the direct or indirect participants relating to ownership interests in the Debentures or the disbursement of payments in respect of the Debentures.

        Debentures represented by the registered global Debenture will be exchangeable for Debentures in definitive form with the same terms only if: (1) DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; (2) we decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfer through DTC (or any successor depositary); or (3) a default under the indenture occurs and is continuing.

        The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Same-Day Funds Settlement System and Payment

        We will make all payments of principal and interest in immediately available funds.

        Secondary trading in long-term notes of corporate issuers is generally settled in clearinghouse or next-day funds. In contrast, the Debentures will trade in DTC’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the Debentures will therefore be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the Debentures.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

        This section summarizes the general terms of our capital stock. The following description is only a summary and does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to our restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws. Our restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws have been incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies.

Authorized Capital Stock

        Our authorized capital stock consists of 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of November 30, 2005, there were approximately 366,532,000 shares of our common stock outstanding, approximately 42,573,000 shares of our common stock reserved to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options and no shares of our preferred stock outstanding. However, 1,100,000 shares of our preferred stock have been designated as Series B Junior Preferred Stock (Series B Preferred Stock), which are issuable upon the exercise of the preferred stock purchase rights described below under “—Shareholder Rights Plan.”

Common Stock

        The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Our board of directors is classified into three classes of approximately equal size, one of which is elected each year. Accordingly, holders of a majority of our common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. The holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets which are legally available for distribution, after payment of all debts and other liabilities, and subject to the prior rights, if any, of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The outstanding shares of our common stock are, and any shares of our common stock issued upon conversion of the Debentures will be, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which we may issue. We currently do not pay cash dividends on our common stock. We presently intend to retain earnings for use in the operations and expansion of our business and therefore do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is EquiServe Trust Company, N.A.

Preferred Stock

        Preferred Stock may be issued by our board of directors from time to time in one or more series, and our board of directors, without further approval of the shareholders, is authorized to fix the dividend rights and terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences, sinking funds and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each such series of preferred stock. The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to determine such rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a shareholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock and, under certain circumstances, make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of St. Jude Medical because the issuance of new shares could be used to dilute the stock ownership of such third party. See “—Shareholder Rights Plan.”

Certain Provisions of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

        Our restated articles of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws currently contain provisions that could make the acquisition of control of our company or the removal of our existing management more difficult, including the following:

• we do not provide for cumulative voting for our directors;

• we have a classified board of directors with each class serving a staggered three-year term;

• a vote of 80% of the outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, is required to remove directors, and such directors may only be removed for cause;

• the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of the outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, is required to amend provisions of our restated articles of incorporation relating to the staggered terms and the removal of directors;

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• our board of directors fixes the size of the board of directors within certain limits, may create new directorships and may appoint new directors to serve for the full term of the class of directors in which the new directorship was created. The board of directors (or its remaining members, even though less than a quorum) also may fill vacancies on the board of directors occurring for any reason for the remainder of the term of the class of director in which the vacancy occurred;

• our board of directors retains the power to designate series of preferred stock and to determine the powers, rights, preferences, qualifications and limitations of each series;

• all shareholder actions must be taken at a regular or special meeting of the shareholders and cannot be taken by written consent without a meeting; and

• our restated articles of incorporation contain “fair price” provisions which require the affirmative vote of 75% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, to approve certain business combinations involving St. Jude Medical and a related shareholder (including mergers, consolidations and sales of a substantial part of our assets) unless specified price criteria and procedural requirements are met or unless the transaction is approved by a majority of the continuing directors as provided therein. The affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of the outstanding shares of voting stock, voting together as a single class, is required to amend provisions of our restated articles of incorporation relating to the “fair price” provisions.

Business Combinations and Control Share Acquisitions

        We are governed by the provisions of Sections 671, 673 and 675 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act. These provisions may have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing an unsolicited takeover of St. Jude Medical and deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the market price. The following description of certain provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act is only a summary and does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Minnesota Business Corporation Act.

        In general, Section 671 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act provides that a corporation’s shares acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights unless voting rights are approved in a prescribed manner. A “control share acquisition” is a direct or indirect acquisition of beneficial ownership of shares that would, when added to all other shares beneficially owned by the acquiring person, entitle the acquiring person to have voting power of 20% or more in the election of directors.

        In general, Section 673 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act prohibits a public Minnesota corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of four years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless either the business combination or the acquisition by which such person becomes an interested shareholder is approved in a prescribed manner before the person became an interested shareholder. The term “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” is a person who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock, or who is an affiliate or associate of the corporation, and who, at any time within four years before the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock. Section 673 does not apply if a committee of our board of directors consisting of all of our disinterested directors (excluding our current and former officers and employees) approves the proposed transaction or the interested shareholder’s acquisition of shares before the share acquisition date or on the share acquisition date but before the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder.

        If a takeover offer is made for our stock, Section 675 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act precludes the offeror from acquiring additional shares of stock (including in acquisitions pursuant to mergers, consolidations or statutory share exchanges) within two years following the completion of the takeover offer, unless shareholders selling their shares in the later acquisition are given the opportunity to sell their shares on terms that are substantially the same as those contained in the earlier takeover offer. A “takeover offer” is a tender offer which results in an offeror who owned ten percent or less of a class of our shares acquiring more than ten percent of that class, or which results in the offeror increasing its beneficial ownership of a class of our shares by more than ten percent of the class, if the offeror owned ten percent or more of the class before the takeover offer. Section 675 does not apply if a committee of our board of directors approves the proposed

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acquisition before any shares are acquired pursuant to the earlier tender offer. The committee must consist solely of directors who were directors or nominees for our board of directors at the time of the first public announcement of the takeover offer, and who are not our current or former officers and employees, offerors, affiliates or associates of the offeror or nominees for our board of directors by the offeror or an affiliate or associate of the offeror.

Shareholder Rights Plan

        Under a shareholder rights plan adopted by our board of directors on July 16, 1997, all shareholders receive along with each share of common stock owned a preferred stock purchase right (the rights) entitling them to purchase from St. Jude Medical one one-hundredth of a share of Series B Junior Preferred Stock (the Series B Preferred Stock) at an exercise price of $200 per 1/100 of a share, subject to certain adjustments, once these rights become exercisable. The description and terms of the rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement between St. Jude Medical and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent, dated as of July 16, 1997, and amended as of December 20, 2002 (as amended, the Rights Agreement).

        The rights are not exercisable or transferable apart from our common stock until the earlier of (i) the tenth day following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an Acquiring Person) has acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock and (ii) the tenth business day after the date of the commencement or announcement of a person’s or group’s intention to commence a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the ownership of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, even if no shares are purchased pursuant to such offer. The definition of “Acquiring Person” under the Rights Agreement is subject to certain exceptions, including, among others, that FMR Corp., together with its affiliates, will not be considered an Acquiring Person so long as FMR Corp., together with its affiliates, is the beneficial owner of less than 20% of our voting stock then outstanding.

        The Series B Preferred Stock is non-redeemable and, unless otherwise provided in connection with the creation of a subsequent series of preferred stock, is subordinate to any other series of our preferred stock. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which common stock is exchanged, each share of Series B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of common stock.

        In the event that, after the time that a person becomes an Acquiring Person, we are acquired in a merger or other business combination (in which any shares of our common stock are changed into or exchanged for other securities or assets) or more than 50% of the assets or earning power of St. Jude Medical and its subsidiaries are sold or transferred in one or a series of related transactions, each exercisable right entitles the holder to receive common stock of the acquiring company having a market value of two times the exercise price of that right. In addition, subject to certain exceptions, if a person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more (20% or more in the case of FMR Corp.) of our voting stock, each holder of a right other than the Acquiring Person will be entitled to receive Series B Preferred Stock having a market value equal to two times the exercise price of that right. The Rights Agreement also grants our board of directors the option, after any person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more (20% or more in the case of FMR Corp.) of the voting stock but before there has been an acquisition at the 50% level, to exchange one share of common stock for each right.

        We may redeem the rights for $0.01 per right at any time on or prior to the tenth day after the time that a person has become an Acquiring Person. If we redeem any of the rights, we must redeem all of the rights. For as long as the rights are redeemable, we may, except with respect to the redemption price or date of expiration of the rights, amend the rights in any manner, including an amendment to extend the time period in which the rights may be redeemed. The rights will expire on July 15, 2007 unless earlier redeemed.

        The above description of the rights is only a summary and does not purport to be complete. You must look at the Rights Agreement for a full understanding of all of the terms of the rights. The Rights Agreement has been incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies.

        The rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us pursuant to an offer that is not approved by our board of directors, unless the rights have been redeemed. However, the rights should not interfere with any tender offer or merger approved by our board of directors because the board may redeem the rights or approve an offer at any time prior to the close of business on the tenth day after any person or group becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock.

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        In the opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, the following are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Debentures and our common stock into which the Debentures may be converted. This discussion only applies to holders who purchase Debentures upon their initial issuance at their “issue price” (as defined below) and who hold the Debentures as capital assets.

        This discussion does not describe all of the U.S. federal tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of its particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as:

• certain financial institutions;

• insurance companies;

• dealers or certain traders in securities;

• persons holding Debentures as part of a hedge or other integrated transaction;

• U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

• partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

• persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

• certain former citizens and residents of the United States; and

• Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) that own, or are deemed to own, more than 5% of our common stock or that beneficially own more than 5% of the fair market value of the Debentures.

        This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code), as amended to the date hereof, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein. We have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with respect to the tax consequences described in this summary, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not take contrary positions. Persons considering the purchase of Debentures are urged to consult their tax advisors with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction.

Classification of the Debentures

        Under the indenture governing the Debentures, we and each holder of a Debenture will agree (in the absence of an administrative pronouncement or judicial ruling to the contrary), for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to treat the Debentures as debt instruments that are subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments (contingent debt regulations), as described below.

        Although we intend to treat the Debentures as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes, certain aspects of the application of the contingent debt regulations are uncertain and holders should be aware that a different treatment from that described below could affect the amount, timing, source and character of income, gain or loss with respect to an investment in the Debentures. For example, pursuant to a different treatment, a holder may be required to accrue interest income at a higher or lower rate, may not recognize income, gain or loss upon conversion of a Debenture into common stock, and may recognize capital gain or loss upon a taxable disposition of a Debenture.

        The remainder of this discussion assumes the treatment set forth above.

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

        As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Debenture that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

• a citizen or resident of the United States;

• a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof; or

• an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

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        Interest Accruals on the Debentures

        Pursuant to the contingent debt regulations, U.S. Holders of the Debentures will be required to accrue interest income on the Debentures on a constant-yield basis, based on a comparable yield to maturity as described below, regardless of whether such U.S. Holders use the cash or accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, U.S. Holders generally will be required to include interest in income each year in excess of any stated interest payments actually received in that year.

        The contingent debt regulations provide that a U.S. Holder must accrue an amount of ordinary interest income, as original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for each accrual period prior to and including the maturity date of the Debentures that equals:

• the product of (a) the adjusted issue price (as defined below) of the Debentures as of the beginning of the accrual period and (b) the comparable yield to maturity (as defined below) of the Debentures, adjusted for the length of the accrual period;

• divided by the number of days in the accrual period; and

• multiplied by the number of days during the accrual period that the U.S. Holder held the Debentures.

        The “issue price” of the Debentures is the first price at which a substantial amount of the Debentures is sold for money to the public, excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers. The “adjusted issue price” of a Debenture is its issue price increased by any interest income previously accrued, determined without regard to any adjustments to interest accruals described below, and decreased by the projected amount of any payments (in accordance with the projected payment schedule described below) previously made with respect to the Debentures.

        The term “comparable yield” as used in the contingent debt regulations means the annual yield we would pay, as of the issue date, on a fixed-rate, nonconvertible debt instrument with no contingent payments, but with terms and conditions otherwise comparable to those of the Debentures. We have determined that the comparable yield for the Debentures is     %, compounded semi-annually. The precise manner of calculating the comparable yield is not entirely clear. If our determination of the comparable yield were successfully challenged by the IRS, the redetermined yield could be materially greater or less than the comparable yield determined by us.

        The contingent debt regulations require that we provide to U.S. Holders, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a schedule of the projected amounts of payments (the projected payment schedule) on the Debentures. This schedule must produce a yield to maturity that equals the comparable yield to maturity. The projected payment schedule includes an estimate for a payment at maturity taking into account the conversion feature. In this regard, the fair market value of any common stock (and the amount of any cash) received by a U.S. Holder upon conversion will be treated as a contingent payment. U.S. Holders may obtain the projected payment schedule by submitting a written request for such information to us at: St. Jude Medical, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, One Lillehei Plaza, St. Paul, Minnesota 55117.

        For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder must use the comparable yield and projected payment schedule in determining its interest accruals and the adjustments thereto in respect of the Debentures, unless such U.S. Holder timely discloses and justifies the use of other estimates to the IRS. If a U.S. Holder determines its own comparable yield or projected payment schedule, such U.S. Holder must also establish that our comparable yield or projected payment schedule is unreasonable.

        The comparable yield and the projected payment schedule are not used for any purpose other than to determine a U.S. Holder’s interest accruals and adjustments to interest accruals with respect of the Debentures for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The comparable yield and projected payment schedule do not constitute a projection or representation by us regarding the actual amounts that will be paid on the Debentures, or the value at any time of the common stock into which the Debentures may be converted.

        Adjustments to Interest Accruals on the Debentures

        If, during any taxable year, a U.S. Holder of Debentures receives actual payments with respect to the Debentures that, in the aggregate, exceed the total amount of projected payments for that taxable year, the U.S. Holder will incur a “net positive adjustment” under the contingent debt regulations equal to the

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amount of such excess. The U.S. Holder will treat a net positive adjustment as additional interest income in that taxable year. For these purposes, the payments in a taxable year include the fair market value of property received in that year.

        If a U.S. Holder receives in a taxable year actual payments with respect to the Debentures that, in the aggregate, are less than the amount of projected payments for that taxable year, the U.S. Holder will incur a “net negative adjustment” under the contingent debt regulations equal to the amount of such deficit. This net negative adjustment will (a) reduce the U.S. Holder’s interest income on the Debentures for that taxable year, and (b) to the extent of any excess after the application of (a), give rise to an ordinary loss to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s total interest income on the Debentures during prior taxable years, reduced to the extent such interest was offset by prior net negative adjustments. Any net negative adjustment in excess of the amounts described in (a) and (b) will be carried forward as a negative adjustment to offset future interest income with respect to the Debentures or to reduce the amount realized on a sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of the Debentures. A net negative adjustment is not subject to the 2% floor limitation on miscellaneous itemized deductions.

        Sale, Exchange, Conversion, Redemption or Repurchase of Debentures

        Generally the sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of a Debenture will result in taxable gain or loss to a U.S. Holder. As described above, our calculation of the comparable yield and the projected payment schedule for the Debentures includes the receipt of stock upon conversion as a contingent payment with respect to the Debentures. Accordingly, we intend to treat the receipt of our common stock upon conversion of a Debenture as a contingent payment.

        The amount of gain or loss on a sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of a Debenture will be equal to the difference between:

• the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any other property received by the U.S. Holder, including the fair market value of any common stock received; and

• the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Debenture. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a Debenture generally will be equal to the U.S. Holder’s original purchase price for the Debenture, increased by any interest income previously accrued by the U.S. Holder (determined without regard to any adjustments to interest accruals described above) and decreased by the amount of any projected payments that previously have been scheduled to be made in respect of the Debentures (without regard to the actual amount paid).

        Gain recognized by a U.S. Holder upon a sale, exchange, conversion, redemption or repurchase of a Debenture generally will be treated as ordinary interest income. Any loss will be ordinary loss to the extent of the excess of previous interest inclusions over the total net negative adjustments previously taken into account as ordinary losses in respect of the Debenture, and thereafter capital loss (which will be long-term if the Debenture has been held for more than one year). The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. A U.S. Holder who sells the Debentures at a loss that meets certain thresholds may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS.

        A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in common stock received upon conversion of a Debenture will equal the then current fair market value of such common stock. The U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common stock received will commence on the day immediately following the date of conversion.

        Constructive Dividends

        If at any time we make a distribution of cash or property to our shareholders that would be taxable to the shareholders as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, in accordance with the anti-dilution provisions of the Debentures, the conversion rate of the Debentures is increased, such increase may be deemed to be the payment of a taxable dividend to a U.S. Holder of a Debenture to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), notwithstanding the fact that the U.S Holder does not receive a cash payment.

        An increase in the conversion rate at our discretion or in certain other circumstances may be deemed to be the payment of a taxable dividend to U.S. Holders, but, generally, a reasonable increase in the conversion rate in the event of stock dividends or distributions of rights to subscribe for our common stock will not. In certain circumstances, the failure to make an adjustment of the conversion rate under the indenture may result in a taxable constructive distribution to U.S. Holders of our common stock.

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        Any constructive distribution will be taxable as a dividend, return of capital or capital gain in accordance with the tax rules generally applicable to corporate distributions. It is unclear whether a constructive dividend would be eligible for the reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax applicable to certain dividends received by noncorporate U.S. Holders. Similarly, it is also unclear whether a corporate U.S. Holder would be entitled to claim the dividends-received deduction with respect to a constructive dividend. U.S. Holders should carefully review the conversion rate adjustment provisions and consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of any such adjustment.

        Common Stock

        Distributions, if any, paid on our common stock will be taxable as ordinary income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) as they are paid, subject to a possible dividends-received deduction in the case of corporate holders and a 15% tax rate for individuals through 2008. Distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits will first be applied against and reduce a U.S. Holder’s basis in the common stock and any excess will be treated as capital gain.

        Gain or loss realized on the sale or exchange of our common stock will equal the difference between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock. This gain or loss will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held or is deemed to have held the common stock for more than a year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. A U.S. Holder that sells common stock at a loss that meets certain thresholds may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS.

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

        As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Debenture that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

• a nonresident alien for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

• a foreign corporation; or

• a foreign estate or trust.

        “Non-U.S. Holder” does not include a holder who is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition of the Debentures or common stock and who is not otherwise a resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such a holder is urged to consult his or her own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Debentures or common stock.

        Payments on the Debentures

        Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, payments of principal and interest (including original issue discount) on the Debentures to a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that, in the case of interest:

• the Non-U.S Holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote and is not a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership; and

• certain certification requirements have been fulfilled with respect to such Non-U.S. Holder. These requirements generally will be fulfilled if the beneficial owner of a Debenture certifies on IRS Form W-8BEN, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person.

        If a Non-U.S. Holder of a Debenture is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if interest (including original issue discount) on the Debenture is effectively connected with the conduct of this trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the withholding tax discussed in the preceding paragraph, provided that the Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI to us or our paying agent. Such Non-U.S. Holders will generally be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. Holder (see “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders” above), subject to an applicable income tax treaty providing otherwise. These holders should

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consult their own tax advisors with respect to other U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of Debentures including, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation, the possible imposition of a 30% branch profits tax.

        Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Debentures or Shares of Common Stock

        Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on a sale or other disposition of Debentures or common stock, unless:

• the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States, subject to an applicable income tax treaty providing otherwise; or

• we are or have been a U.S. real property holding corporation, as defined in the Code, at any time within the five-year period preceding the disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever period is shorter, and our common stock has ceased to be traded on an established securities market prior to the beginning of the calendar year in which the sale or disposition occurs.

        We do not believe that we are currently a U.S. real property holding corporation or that we will become one in the future.

        Conversion of Debentures

        A Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon conversion of a Debenture solely into our common stock. To the extent a Non-U.S. Holder receives cash upon conversion of a Debenture, such Non-U.S. Holder will be taxed as described above under “— Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Debentures or Shares of Common Stock.”

        Dividends and Constructive Dividends

        Dividends (including deemed dividends on the Debentures described above under “— Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—Constructive Dividends”) paid to a Non-U.S. Holder of common stock generally will be subject to withholding tax at a 30% rate or a reduced rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty. In order to obtain a reduced rate of withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder will be required to provide an IRS Form W-8BEN to us or our paying agent certifying its entitlement to benefits under a treaty. In the case of any constructive dividend, it is possible that the U.S. federal income tax on this constructive dividend would be withheld from other amounts held or paid through the applicable withholding agent, such as interest paid on a Debenture, shares of common stock a Non-U.S. Holder would be entitled to receive upon conversion of a Debenture, or sales proceeds from the sale of a Debenture or common stock subsequently paid or credited to a Non-U.S. Holder.

        If a Non-U.S. Holder of common stock is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if dividends on the stock are effectively connected with the conduct of this trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the withholding tax discussed in the preceding paragraph, provided that the Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI to us or our paying agent. Such Non-U.S. Holders will generally be taxed in the same manner as U.S. Holders (see “—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders” above), subject to an applicable income tax treaty providing otherwise. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation and receives effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

        Payments of interest and dividends to individual U.S. Holders of Debentures or common stock will generally be subject to information reporting to the IRS, and will be subject to backup withholding unless the U.S. Holder provides us or our paying agent with a correct taxpayer identification number and complies with certain certification procedures or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.

        The backup withholding rules do not apply to payments that are subject to the 30% withholding tax on dividends paid to Non-U.S. Holders, or to payments that are exempt from that tax by application of a tax treaty or special exception, although such payments are subject to certain information reporting. To avoid backup withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder must certify its foreign status, as described above under “— Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders — Payments on the Debentures.”

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        Payments made to U.S. Holders by a broker upon a sale of Debentures or common stock will generally be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. Payments made to Non-U.S. Holders by a broker upon a sale of Debentures or common stock will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding provided the Non-U.S. Holder certifies its foreign status, as described above under “— Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders — Payments on the Debentures.”

        Any amounts withheld from a payment to a holder of Debentures or common stock under the backup withholding rules can be credited against any U.S. federal income tax liability of the holder and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

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UNDERWRITING

        We intend to offer the Debentures through Banc of America Securities LLC, as underwriter. We have entered into a firm commitment underwriting agreement with Banc of America Securities LLC. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriter, and the underwriter has agreed to purchase, all of the principal amount of the Debentures.

        The underwriting agreement is subject to a number of terms and conditions and provides that the underwriter must buy all of the Debentures (other than those subject to the over-allotment option) if it buys any of them. The underwriter will sell the Debentures to the public when and if the underwriter buys the Debentures from us.

        The underwriter initially will offer the Debentures to the public at the public offering price specified on the cover page of this prospectus. The underwriter may allow a concession of not more than     % of the principal amount of the Debentures to selected dealers. The underwriter may also allow, and those dealers may re-allow, a concession of not more than     % of the principal amount of the Debentures to some other dealers. If all the Debentures are not sold at the public offering price, the underwriter may change the initial public offering price and the other selling terms. The Debentures are offered subject to a number of conditions, including:

• receipt and acceptance of the Debentures by the underwriter; and

• the underwriter’s right to reject orders in whole or in part.

        Over-Allotment Option.   We have granted the underwriter an over-allotment option to buy up to an additional $60 million principal amount of the Debentures, at the same price per Debenture as they are paying for the Debentures shown in the table above. These additional Debentures would cover sales of Debentures by the underwriter which exceed the total number of Debentures shown in the table above. The underwriter may exercise this option at any time within the 13-day period beginning on the date of the original issuance of the Debentures. If purchased, the additional Debentures will be sold by the underwriter on the same terms as those on which the other Debentures are sold.

        Discounts and Commissions.   The following table shows the per Debenture and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriter by us. These amounts are shown assuming no exercise and full exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional Debentures.

	Paid by Us
	No Exercise	Full Exercise
Per Debenture	$	$
Total	$	$

        We estimate that the expenses of the offering to be paid by us, not including underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $415,620.

        New Issue of Debentures.   The Debentures are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the Debentures on any national securities exchange or for inclusion of the Debentures on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriter that it presently intends to make a market in the Debentures after completion of the offering. However, it is under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without any notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the Debentures or that an active public market for the Debentures will develop. If an active public trading market for the Debentures does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Debentures may be adversely affected.

        Stabilization.   In connection with this offering, the underwriter may engage in activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Debentures, including:

• stabilizing transactions;

• short sales;

• syndicate covering transactions;

• imposition of penalty bids; and

• purchases to cover positions created by short sales.

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        Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Debentures while this offering is in progress. Stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of the Debentures, which involves the sale by the underwriter of a greater number of Debentures than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing Debentures from us or in the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriter’s over-allotment option referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of Debentures in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.

        The underwriter may close out any covered short position either by exercising its over-allotment option, in whole or in part, or by purchasing Debentures in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of Debentures available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriter may purchase Debentures through the over-allotment option.

        A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriter is concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the Debentures in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchased Debentures in this offering. To the extent that the underwriter creates a naked short position, it will purchase Debentures in the open market to cover the position.

        The representative also may impose a penalty bid on dealers participating in the offering. This means that the representative may reclaim from any syndicate member or other dealers participating in the offering the commissions and selling concessions on Debentures sold by them and purchased by the representative in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

        These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the Debentures or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Debentures. As a result of these activities, the price of the Debentures may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriter commences these activities, it may discontinue them at any time. The underwriter may carry out these transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

        Lock-up Agreements.   We and our directors and executive officers have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriter. Under these agreements we may not, without the prior written consent of Banc of America Securities LLC (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of Banc of America Securities LLC), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” or liquidate or decrease a “call equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of, transfer or hedge (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of), or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement (other than a registration statement relating to our employee stock plans) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), in respect of or, in the case of our directors and executive officers, make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, any shares of common stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of common stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of common stock for a period of 90 days from the date of this prospectus in the case of us, or for the period ending January 31, 2006, in the case of our directors and executive officers. The lock-up agreements are subject to certain exceptions, including an exception that permits us to issue options under our existing stock option plans and shares upon exercise of outstanding options and exceptions that permit our executive officers and directors to make certain gifts, make certain transfers to trusts, exercise outstanding stock options (but not sell any underlying stock) and make sales pursuant to existing Rule 10b5-1 plans (including sales of stock upon exercise of any options).

        Indemnification.   We have agreed to indemnify the underwriter against some liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. If we are unable to provide this indemnification, we have agreed that we will contribute to payments the underwriter may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

        Online Offering.   A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by the underwriter. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any such web site, or accessible through any such web site, is not part of the prospectus. The representative may agree to allocate a number of Debentures for sale to online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the

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underwriter on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, Debentures may be sold by the underwriter to securities dealers who resell Debentures to online brokerage account holders.

        Conflicts/Affiliates.   The underwriter and its affiliates have provided and may in the future provide, various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services to us for which services they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees. Banc of America Securities LLC acted as our advisor and dealer-manager in connection with our acquisition of ANS and received customary fees in connection therewith. In addition, an affiliate of Banc of America is an agent and lender under certain of our credit facilities and receives customary fees in connection therewith. Banc of America Securities LLC also acts as a dealer under our commercial paper program.

        Selling Restrictions.   The underwriter intends to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in each jurisdiction in which it acquires, offers, sells or delivers Debentures or has in its possession or distributes the prospectus.

        In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a “Relevant Member State”), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”) an offer of the Debentures to the public may not be made in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Debentures which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of Debentures to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:

        (a) to legal entities which are authorised or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorised or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;

        (b) to any legal entity which has two or more of (1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or

        (c) in any other circumstances which do not require the publication by the company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of Debentures to the public” in relation to any Debentures in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Debentures to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the Debentures, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.

        No prospectus (including any amendment, supplement or replacement thereto) has been prepared in connection with the offering of the Securities that has been approved by the Autorité des marchés financiers or by the competent authority of another State that is a contracting party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des marchés financiers; no Securities have been offered or sold and will be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France except to permitted investors (“Permitted Investors”) consisting of persons licensed to provide the investment service of portfolio management for the account of third parties, qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) acting for their own account and/or investors belonging to a limited circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs) acting for their own account, with “qualified investors” and “limited circle of investors” having the meaning ascribed to them in Aritcles L. 411-2, D. 411-1, D. 411-2, D. 734-1, D. 744-1, D. 754-1 and D. 764 of the French Code Monétaire et Financier, none of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other materials related to the offering or information contained therein relating to the Securities has been released, issued or distributed to the public in France except to Permitted Investors, and direct or indirect resale to the public in France of any Securities acquired by any Permitted Investors may be made only as provided by Articles L. 411-1, L. 411-2L. 412-1 and L. 621-8 to L. 621-8-3 of the French Code Monétaire et Financier and applicable regulations thereunder.

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        The underwriter acknowledges and agrees that:

        (i) it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the Debentures other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the Debentures would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) by the company;

        (ii) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Debentures in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the company; and

        (iii) it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Debentures in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

        This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (iii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). The Debentures are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such Debentures will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

        The offering of the Debentures has not been cleared by the Italian Securities Exchange Commission (Commissione Nazionale per le Societá e la Borsa, the “CONSOB”) pursuant to Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, acknowledges and agrees that the Debentures may not and will not be offered, sold or delivered, nor may or will copies of the prospectus or any other documents relating to the Debentures or the prospectus be distributed in Italy other than to professional investors (investitori professionali), as defined in Article 31, paragraph 2 of CONSOB Regulation No. 11522 of July 1, 1998, as amended (“Regulation No. 11522”) or pursuant to another exemption from the requirements of Articles 94 and seq. of Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998 (the “Italian Finance Law”) and CONSOB Regulation No. 11971 of May 14, 1999 (“Regulation No. 11971”).

        Any offer, sale or delivery of the Debentures or distribution of copies of the prospectus or any other document relating to the Debentures or the prospectus in Italy may and will be effected in accordance with all Italian securities, tax, exchange control and other applicable laws and regulations, and, in particular, will be:

• made by an investment firm, bank or financial intermediary permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with the Legislative Decree No. 385 of September 1, 1993, as amended (the “Italian Banking Law”), Legislative Decree No. 58 of February 24, 1998, as amended, CONSOB Regulation No. 11522 of July 1, 1998, and any other applicable laws and regulations;

• in compliance with Article 129 of the Italian Banking Law and the implementing guidelines of the Bank of Italy; and

• in compliance with any other applicable notification requirement or limitation which may be imposed upon the offer of Debentures by CONSOB or the Bank of Italy.

        Any investor purchasing the Debentures in the public offering is solely responsible for ensuring that any offer or resale of the Debentures it purchases occurs in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. This prospectus and the information contained herein are intended only for the use of its recipient and are not to be distributed to any third party resident or located in Italy for any reason. No person resident or located in Italy other than the original recipients of this document may rely on it or its content.

        In addition to the above (which shall continue to apply to the extent not inconsistent with the implementing measures of the Prospectus Directive in Italy), after the implementation of the Prospectus Directive in Italy, the restrictions, acknowledgments and agreements in the paragraph relating to the European Economic Area set forth above shall apply to Italy.

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VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

        The validity of the Debentures and of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures will be passed upon for St. Jude Medical by Dorsey & Whitney LLP. Certain matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell.

EXPERTS

        Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and schedule included or incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. These financial statements and schedules are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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$600,000,000

   % Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035

PROSPECTUS
December     , 2005

Banc of America Securities LLC

No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities it describes, and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.
 

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

SEC Registration Fee	$	70,620
Accounting Fees and Expenses		100,000
Legal Fees and Expenses		175,000
Printing and Engraving Fees		40,000
Fees and Expenses of Trustee and Counsel		20,000
Miscellaneous		10,000
Total	$	415,620

        All fees and expenses other than the SEC registration fee are estimated. We will pay all the expenses listed above.

Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors

        Section 521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act provides that a company shall, subject to certain limitations, indemnify officers and directors made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of that officer or director’s former or present official capacity with the company. As required, we will indemnify that person against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses if the officer or director:

• has not been indemnified by another organization;
  
  
• acted in good faith;
  
  
• has not received an improper personal benefit and Section 255 regarding director conflicts of interests, if applicable, has been satisfied;
  
  
• assuming the case is a criminal proceeding, the person had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and
  
  
• reasonably believed that the conduct was in the best interests of the company or, in the case of an officer or director who is or was serving at the request of the company as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another organization or employee benefit plan, reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of the company.

        Article XIV of our Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, provides that, to the fullest extent permissible under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, our directors shall not be liable to St. Jude Medical or our shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

        Article VII of our Bylaws, as amended and restated, provides that we shall indemnify our officers and directors under such circumstances and to the extent permitted by Section 521of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act described above.

        We enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. The indemnification agreements provide that we shall, subject to certain limitations, indemnify our directors and officers who are made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of that director’s or officer’s former or present official capacity with St. Jude Medical. The circumstances under which we will indemnify our directors or officers against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses pursuant to these indemnification agreements are the same as those provided in Section 521 of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act described above.

        We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance which covers certain liabilities and expenses of our directors and officers and covers St. Jude Medical for reimbursement of payments to our directors and officers in respect of such liabilities and expenses.

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Item 16. Exhibits

Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit

1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Banc of America Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters.

4.1 Articles of Incorporation, as restated as of February 25, 2005 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004).

4.2 Bylaws, as amended and restated as of February 25, 2005 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on March 2, 2005).

4.3 Rights Agreement dated as of June 16, 1997, between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent, including the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series B Junior Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on August 6, 1997).

4.4 Amendment, dated as of December 20, 2002, to Rights Agreement, dated as of June 16, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on March 21, 2003).

4.5 Form of Indenture between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including form of Convertible Senior Debenture due 2035).

5.1 Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

8.1 Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to certain U.S. federal income tax considerations (included in Exhibit 5.1).

12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

23.1 Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.3 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

24.1 Powers of Attorney.

25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture.

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act);

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

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(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

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(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions described above under Item 15, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on December 5, 2005.

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
By:	/s/ Daniel J. Starks
	Daniel J. Starks
	President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 5, 2005.

Signature	Title
/s/ Daniel J. Starks	President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Daniel J. Starks	(principal executive officer)
/s/ John C. Heinmiller	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
John C. Heinmiller	(principal financial and accounting officer)
*	Director
John W. Brown
*	Director
Richard R. Devenuti
*	Director
Stuart M. Essig
*	Director
Thomas H. Garrett III
*	Director
Michael A. Rocca
*	Director
David A. Thompson
*	Director
Stefan K. Widensohler
*	Director
Wendy L. Yarno
*	Director
Frank C-P Yin

*By:	/s/ Kevin T. O’Malley
	Kevin T. O’Malley Attorney-in-Fact

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit

1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement between the Registrant and Banc of America Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters.

4.1 Articles of Incorporation, as restated as of February 25, 2005 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004).

4.2 Bylaws, as amended and restated as of February 25, 2005 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on March 2, 2005).

4.3 Rights Agreement dated as of June 16, 1997, between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent, including the Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series B Junior Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on August 6, 1997).

4.4 Amendment, dated as of December 20, 2002, to Rights Agreement, dated as of June 16, 1997 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on March 21, 2003).

4.5 Form of Indenture between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including form of Convertible Senior Debenture due 2035).

5.1 Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

8.1 Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to certain U.S. federal income tax considerations (included in Exhibit 5.1).

12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

23.1 Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.2 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.3 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

24.1 Powers of Attorney.

25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee under the Indenture.

EX-1.1

EXHIBIT 1.1

DRAFT

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

$600 MILLION AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT

[___]% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR DEBENTURES

DUE 2035

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

dated December [  ], 2005

Banc of America Securities LLC

Underwriting Agreement

December [  ], 2005

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
9 West 57^th Street
New York, NY 10019
    As Representative of the several Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Introductory.   St. Jude Medical, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”) $600 million in aggregate principal amount of its [ ]% Convertible Senior Debentures due 2035 (the “Firm Debentures”). In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $60 million in aggregate principal amount of its [ ]% Convertible Senior Debentures due 2035 (the “Optional Debentures”), as provided in Section 2. The Firm Debentures and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Optional Debentures are collectively called the “Debentures”. Banc of America Securities LLC (“BAS”) has agreed to act as Representative of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representative”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Debentures.

        To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule A other than you, the terms “Representative” and “Underwriters” as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriter. The term “Underwriters” shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

        The Debentures will be convertible on the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in the Indenture (as defined below) into cash and shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), if any. As used herein, “Conversion Shares” means the Common Stock to be received by the holders of the Debentures upon conversion of the Debentures pursuant to the terms of the Debentures and certain preferred stock purchase rights attached to such Common Stock.

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

        SECTION 1.   Representations and Warranties of the Company.

        The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:

        (a)   The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-[___]), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Debentures. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and

schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or, if applicable, Rule 430C under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), is called the “Registration Statement”. Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”, and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act is hereinafter called a “preliminary prospectus.” The term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus relating to the Debentures that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Effective Date”) or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is required, shall mean the form of final prospectus relating to the Debentures included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date. The term “Statutory Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented, relating to the Debentures that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Initial Sale Time (as defined herein), including any document incorporated by reference therein. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or as of the date of such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in such preliminary prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

        (b)   Compliance with Registration Requirements.   The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are threatened by the Commission.

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        Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except for format and other variations as may be permitted or required by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Debentures. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at the date hereof, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the date hereof, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date (as defined herein) and at any Subsequent Closing Date (as defined herein), did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (“Form T-1”) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representative consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof. There is no contract or other document required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which has not been described or filed as required.

        (c)   Incorporated Documents.   The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and 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.

        (d)   Disclosure Package.   The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Statutory Prospectus, if any, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto (together with any other issuer free writing prospectus used in connection with the offering, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), and (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree to treat as part of the Disclosure Package. As of ___:00 [a/p]m (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement (the “Initial Sale Time”), the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not

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misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Disclosure Package available at the Initial Sale Time and no statement of material fact included in the Disclosure Package available at the Initial Sale Time that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

        (e)   Company Not Ineligible Issuer.   The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Securities Act, in each case at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Debentures.

        (f)   Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.   Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Debentures or until any earlier date of which the Company notified or notifies the Representative as described in Section 3(d) did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.

        (g)   Accuracy of Statements in Prospectus.   The statements in each of the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus under the headings “Description of Capital Stock” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, in the Forms 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2005 under the caption “Item 1: Legal Proceedings,” and in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 under the caption “Item 3: Legal Proceedings,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

        (h)   Distribution of Offering Material By the Company.   The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the last Subsequent Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Debentures, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Debentures other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representative or the Registration Statement.

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

        (j)   Authorization of the Indenture.   The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, was qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; on the Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly executed and

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delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, will constitute a legally valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles; and the Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

        (k)   Authorization of the Debentures.   The Debentures have been duly authorized by the Company; when the Debentures are executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be (assuming due authentication of the Debentures by the Trustee), such Debentures will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles; and the Debentures will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

        (l)   Authorization of the Conversion Shares.   The shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Debentures have been duly authorized and reserved and, when issued upon conversion of the Debentures in accordance with the terms of the Debentures, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the issuance of such shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

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

        (n)   No Material Adverse Change.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, properties, operations or, to the knowledge of the Company, in the business prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have entered into any transactions or agreements, other than in the ordinary course of business or as are disclosed in the Registration Statement, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one entity; and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.

        (o)   Independent Accountants.   Ernst & Young LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the

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related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company and Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. (“ANS”) as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

        (p)   Preparation of the Financial Statements.   The financial statements of the Company filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting schedules of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules of the Company are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. To the knowledge of the Company, the financial statements of ANS filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of ANS and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. To the knowledge of the Company, the supporting schedules of ANS included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. To the knowledge of the Company, such financial statements and supporting schedules of ANS comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules of ANS are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The financial data set forth in each of the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement. The pro forma combined financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto incorporated by reference in each of the Statutory Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on the basis 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.

        (q)   Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio.   The Company’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in each of the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Ratio of

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Earnings to Fixed Charges” and in Exhibit 12.1 to the Registration Statement have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

        (r)   Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.   The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in documents furnished to you by the Company and ANS and its subsidiaries. The subsidiaries listed in Schedule C hereto are the only significant subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X, as promulgated by the Commission) of the Company (the “Significant Subsidiaries”). Each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing (as applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the financial condition or earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (a “Material Adverse Effect”). All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim.

        (s)   Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters.   The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans or in connection with the acquisition of ANS as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The Common Stock (including the Conversion Shares) conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries other than those described in the Disclosure Package and stock options assumed or issued in connection with the acquisition of ANS. The description of the Company’s (for the avoidance of doubt, not including ANS’s) stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth or incorporated by reference in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus constitutes, in all material respects, a fair summary of the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

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        (t)   Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required.   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under its charter or by-laws, (ii) in Default under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, deed of trust, note, contract, franchise, lease or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or such subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound (including, without limitation, the Company’s 1.02% Yen-denominated notes due 2010 or the related indenture, the Company’s Multi-Year $400 million Credit Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2004, with a consortium of lenders and the Company’s Multi-Year $350 million Credit Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2003, with a consortium of lenders), or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), or (iii) in violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

        The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any Default under the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument and (iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph only, such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges, encumbrances, consents or violations that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

        No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package, and by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, the Trust Indenture Act, applicable state securities laws or blue sky laws.

        (u)   No Material Actions or Proceedings.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which if determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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        (v)   Labor Matters.   No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (w)   Intellectual Property Rights.   Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on reasonable terms, all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect (a) no party has been granted an exclusive license to use any portion of such Intellectual Property owned by the Company; (b) there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company; (c) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any Intellectual Property; (d) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; and (e) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company’s business as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others.

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

        (y)   Title to Properties.   The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(p) above (or elsewhere in the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as are described in the Disclosure Package or such as do not and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, except such as are described in the Disclosure Package or such as do not and would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (z)   Tax Law Compliance.   The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed by them in a timely manner and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, except for any taxes, assessments, fines or penalties as may be being contested in good faith and by

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appropriate proceedings, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(p) above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined.

        (aa)   Company Not an “Investment Company”.   The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Debentures and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

        (bb)   Insurance.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are deemed by the Company to be adequate for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. All such policies are in full force and effect. The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects. Other than in the ordinary course of business or as set forth in the Disclosure Package, and except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there are no claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause, and (ii) neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted.

        (cc)   No Restrictions on Dividends.   No subsidiary or joint venture of the Company (other than any joint venture listed in documents furnished to you by the Company) is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Disclosure Package.

        (dd)   No Price Stabilization or Manipulation.   The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Debentures or the Conversion Shares to facilitate the sale or resale of the Debentures; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not apply to any stabilization activities conducted by the Underwriters, who shall remain solely responsible for such activities.

        (ee)   Related Party Transactions.   There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other person required by the

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Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be described in the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.

        (ff)   Internal Controls and Procedures.   The Company maintains (i) effective internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (ii) a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

        (gg)   No Material Weakness in Internal Controls.   Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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

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

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

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

        (kk)   Compliance with Environmental Laws.   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, order, permit or other requirement relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys’ fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, there are no past, present or anticipated future actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditures to be incurred pursuant to Environmental Law, or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iv) neither the

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Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any pending or threatened proceeding under Environmental Law to which a governmental authority is a party and which is reasonably likely to result in monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more.

        (ll)   ERISA Compliance.   None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any member of the Company that could have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company; (iii) any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by any member of the Company that could have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (i) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (ii) a material increase in the Company’s “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (iii) any event or condition giving rise to a liability under Title IV of ERISA that could have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company related to their employment that could have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which any member of the Company may have any liability.

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

        (nn)   No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness.   There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company, except as disclosed in the Prospectus.

        (oo)   Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance.   The Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its directors and officers are, and have been, in material compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).

        (pp)   Statistical and Market Related Data.   Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources which the Company believes are reliable and accurate in all material respects, it being understood, however, that the Company has not conducted any independent investigation of the accuracy thereof.

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

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

        (a)   The Firm Debentures.   The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters the Firm Debentures upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Debentures set forth opposite their names on Schedule A at a purchase price of ___% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

        (b)   The Closing Date.   Delivery of the Firm Debentures to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY, 10017(or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representative) at 9:00 a.m. New York time, on December [ ], 2005, or such other time and date as may be agreed by the Company and the Representative (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).

        (c)   The Optional Debentures; the Subsequent Closing Date.   In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to $60 million aggregate principal amount of Optional Debentures from the Company at the same price as the purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Debentures. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time and from time to time upon notice by the Representative to the Company, which notice may be given at any time within 13 days from the Closing Date. Such notice shall set forth (i) the amount (which shall be an integral multiple of $1,000 in aggregate principal amount) of Optional Debentures as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the Optional Debentures are to be registered and (iii) the time, date and place at which such Debentures will be delivered (which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in such case the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of certificates for the Firm Debentures and the Optional Debentures). Each time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the Closing Date, is called a “Subsequent Closing Date” and shall be determined by the Representative and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Optional Debentures are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Debentures (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional Debentures as the Representative may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total principal amount of Optional Debentures to be purchased as the principal amount of Firm Debentures set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total principal amount of Firm Debentures.

        (d)   Public Offering of the Debentures.   The Representative hereby advises the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Debentures as soon after the Registration Statement becomes effective

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and this Agreement has been executed as the Representative, in its sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.

        (e)   Payment for the Debentures.   Payment for the Debentures shall be made at the Closing Date (and, if applicable, at any Subsequent Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.

        It is understood that the Representative has been authorized, for its own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Debentures and any Optional Debentures the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. BAS, individually and not as the Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Debentures to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representative by the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

        (f)   Delivery of the Debentures.   The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representative for the accounts of the several Underwriters the Firm Debentures at the Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representative for the accounts of the several Underwriters, the Optional Debentures the Underwriters have agreed to purchase at the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. Delivery of the Debentures shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.

        (g)   Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters.   Not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day following the date the Debentures are first released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Representative shall request.

        SECTION 3.   Covenants of the Company.

        The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

        (a)   Representative’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements.   During such period beginning on the Initial Sale Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, or would be required to be delivered but for Rule 172 (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review a copy of each such

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proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.

        (b)   Securities Act Compliance.   After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act and (v) of 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 or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or suspension of such use. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to promptly obtain the lifting of such order. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424, 430A, 430B and 430C, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424 were received in a timely manner by the Commission. The Company will also pay the registration fees for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act prior to the Closing Date.

        (c)   Exchange Act Compliance.   During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

        (d)   Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters.   If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, the Company agrees to (i) notify the Representative of any such event or condition and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section 3(a) and 3(e) hereof), file with the Commission and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, necessary in order to

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make the statements in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances when the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or so that the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

        (e)   Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.   The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not make any offer relating to the Debentures that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Representative hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule B hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus”. The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

        (f)   Copies of the Prospectus.   The Company agrees to furnish the Representative, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) as the Representative may reasonably request.

        (g)   Copies of the Registration Statement.   The Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto).

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

        (i)   Use of Proceeds.   The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

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

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

        (l)   Earnings Statement.   As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representative an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period ending [December 31, 2006] that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.

        (m)   NYSE Reporting Obligations.   During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the New York Stock Exchange all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.

        (n)   Listing.   Prior to any issuance of Conversion Shares, the Company will list, subject to notice of issuance, the Conversion Shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

        (o)   Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities.   During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 90^th day following the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of BAS), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” or liquidate or decrease a “call equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of, transfer or hedge (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of), or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act (except for a registration statement on Form S-8) in respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of the Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Debentures); provided, however, that the Company may issue shares of its Common Stock or options to purchase its Common Stock, or Common Stock upon exercise of options, pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus, stock purchase or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in connection with the acquisition of ANS.

        (p)   Future Reports to Stockholders.   If and to the extent required by applicable laws and regulations, the Company will furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2006), to make available to its stockholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail.

        (q)   Future Reports to the Representative.   Unless otherwise publicly available, for the lesser of (i) three years or (ii) so long as the Debentures are outstanding, the Company will

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furnish to the Representative at 9 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10022: Attention: Thomas Morrison: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent registered public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, the NASD or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital stock.

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

        (s)   No Manipulation of Price.   The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Debentures; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not apply to any stabilization activities conducted by the Underwriters, who shall remain solely responsible for such activities.

        (t)   Lock-Up Agreements.   The Company will enforce all agreements between the Company and any of its security holders existing on the date hereof or entered into in connection with this Agreement that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any of the Company’s securities. In addition, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such securities of the Company that are bound by such “lock-up” agreements for the duration of the periods contemplated in such agreements.

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

        SECTION 4.   Payment of Expenses.   The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Debentures (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture , (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Debentures to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent registered public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the

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qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Debentures for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws, (vii) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Conversion Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, (viii) all transportation and other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Debentures and (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

        SECTION 5.   Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters.   The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Debentures as provided herein on the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Debentures, any Subsequent Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Debentures, as of any Subsequent Closing Date as though then made, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

        (a)   Accountants’ Comfort Letters.   On the date hereof, the Representative shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accountants for the Company and ANS, letters dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A.

        (b)   Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order.   For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Debentures, any Subsequent Closing Date:

        (i)   the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including, if applicable, the information required by Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A, if applicable, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective; and the Company shall have filed with the Commission any Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and

        (ii)   no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

        (c)   No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change.   For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Debentures, any Subsequent Closing Date:

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

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

(iii)   there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.

        (d)   Opinion of Counsel for the Company.   On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel for the Company, dated such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B-1, and the favorable opinion of Kevin T. O’Malley, General Counsel of the Company, dated such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B-2.

        (e)   Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters.   On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to, and addressed to, the Representative, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Debentures, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto), the Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

        (f)   Officers’ Certificate.   On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representative shall have received a written certificate executed by the President or any Vice President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated such Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement, to the effect set forth in subsections (b)(ii) and (c)(iii) of this Section 5, and further to the effect that:

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

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

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

        (g)   Bring-down Comfort Letter.   On each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date, the Representative shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accountants for the Company and ANS, letters dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letters furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date or Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be.

        (h)   Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Securityholders of the Company.   On or prior to the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative an agreement in the form of Exhibit C hereto from each of its directors and executive officers, and such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the Closing Date and any Subsequent Closing Date.

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

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

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

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

        SECTION 8.   Indemnification.

        (a)   Indemnification of the Underwriters.   The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A, Rule 430B or, if applicable, Rule 430C under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to reimburse each Underwriter, its officers, directors, employees, agents and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by BAS) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter, or its officers, directors, employees and agents or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.

        (b)   Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers.   Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent,

23

and only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representative expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the table in the first paragraph and as the [eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth paragraphs] under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.

        (c)   Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures.   Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any liability other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (other than local counsel), reasonably

24

approved by the indemnifying party (or by BAS in the case of Section 9), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.

        (d)   Settlements.   The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying party (i) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such request to the extent it considers such request to be reasonable and (ii) provides written notice to the indemnified party substantiating the unpaid balance as unreasonable, in each case prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

        SECTION 9.   Contribution.   If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Debentures pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Debentures pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Debentures pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Debentures as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters,

25

on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

        The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.

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

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

        SECTION 10.   Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters.   If, on the Closing Date or a Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Debentures that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Debentures which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Debentures set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule Abears to the aggregate principal amount of Firm Debentures set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representative with the consent of the non-

26

defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Debentures which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date or a Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Debentures and the aggregate principal amount of Debentures with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representative and the Company for the purchase of such Debentures are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or a Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

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

        SECTION 11.   Termination of this Agreement.   Prior to the Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the New York Stock Exchange, or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or New York authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States has occurred; or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Debentures in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representative and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof or (b) any Underwriter to the Company.

        SECTION 12.   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.   The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Debentures pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Debentures and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby

27

and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company or its affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the several Underwriters have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

        This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the several Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

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

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

        If  to the Representative:

Banc of America Securities LLC
9 West 57^th Street
New York, NY 10019
Facsimile: (212) 933-2217
Attention: Syndicate Department

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with a copy to:

Banc of America Securities LLC
9 West 57th Street
New York, New York 10019
Facsimile: [                ]
Attention: [                ]

        If to the Company:

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
One Lillehei Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota 55117
Facsimile: 651-481-7690
Attention: Corporate Secretary

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

        SECTION 15.   Successors.   This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of (i) the Company, its directors, any person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any officer of the Company (ii) the Underwriters, the officers, directors, employees and agents of the Underwriters, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and (iii) the respective successors and assigns of any of the above, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser of any of the Debentures from any of the several Underwriters merely because of such purchase.

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

        SECTION 17.   Governing Law Provisions.   THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.

        SECTION 18.   General Provisions.   This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original,

29

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

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

30

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

Very truly yours, ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
By:
	Name:    Title:

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

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
     Acting as Representative of the
     several Underwriters named in
     the attached Schedule A.

By:
	Managing Director

31

SCHEDULE A

Underwriters	Aggregate Principal Amount of Firm Debentures to be Purchased
Banc of America Securities LLC	$
[         ]
[         ]
[         ]
[         ]
[         ]
Total	$

1

SCHEDULE B

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses Included in the Disclosure Package

Statutory Prospectus dated December [    ], 2005

Final Term Sheet dated December [    ], 2005

1

SCHEDULE C

Significant Subsidiaries

Pacesetter, Inc. (CRM)

St. Jude Medical S.C., Inc. (a/k/a “US Division”)

SJM Puerto Rico BV

Getz Japan

Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.

St. Jude Medical, Daig Division, Inc.

1

EXHIBIT A

Form of Accountants’ Comfort Letter

        (i)    we are independent accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder;

        (ii)    we have performed an audit of the Company’s financial statements for the years indicated in their audit report and have performed a review of the unaudited interim financial information of the Company for the three-, six- and nine-month period ended March 31, 2005 and 204, June 30, 2005 and 2004 and September 30, 2005 and 2004 and as at March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2005, in accordance with Statement on Auditing Standards No. 100.

        (iii)    in our opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement schedules and pro forma financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;

        (iv)    on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial statements made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; their limited review, in accordance with standards established under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 100, of the unaudited interim financial information for the three-, six- and nine-month period ended March 31, 2005 and 204, June 30, 2005 and 2004 and September 30, 2005 and 2004 and as at March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2005; carrying out certain specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the shareholders, directors andaudit committees of the Company and the Subsidiaries; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to December 31, 2004, nothing came to our attention which caused us to believe that:

        (A)    any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and with the related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission with respect to registration statements on Form S-3; and said unaudited financial statements are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

A-1

        (B)    with respect to the period subsequent to September 30, 2005, there were any changes, at a specified date not more than five days prior to the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or capital stock of the Company or decreases in the shareholders’ equity of the Company as compared with the amounts shown on the September 30, 2005 consolidated balance sheet included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or for the period from October 1, 2005 to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year in operating profit or earnings before income taxes or in total or per share amounts of net earnings of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the Representative;

        (C)    the information included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus in response to Regulation S-K, Item 301 (Selected Financial Data), Item 302 (Supplementary Financial Information) and Item 402 (Executive Compensation) is not in conformity with the applicable disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K;

        (v)    we have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of which we determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation; and

        (vi)    on the basis of a reading of the unaudited pro forma combined financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (the “pro forma financial statements”); carrying out certain specified procedures; inquiries of certain officials of the Company and Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters; and proving the arithmetic accuracy of the application of the pro forma adjustments to the historical amounts in the pro forma financial statements, nothing came to our attention which caused us to believe that the pro forma financial statements do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X or that the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of such statements.

A-2

EXHIBIT B-1

Form of Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Counsel for the Company

        References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit B-1 include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

        (i)    The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota.

        (ii)    The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement.

        (iii)    The Company’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company (including the Common Stock) conform to the descriptions thereof set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.”

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

        (v)    The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee, will constitute a legally valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors’ or by general equitable principles; the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act; and the Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

        (vi)    The Debentures have been duly authorized by the Company; when the Debentures are executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement on the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be (assuming due authentication of the Debentures by the Trustee), such Debentures will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles; and the Debentures will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.

        (vii)    The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date of the Underwriting Agreement. To the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, if any,

B-1-1

has been issued under the Securities Act, no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act have been instituted or are pending or are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

        (viii)    The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Statutory Prospectus and each amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Statutory Prospectus, as of their respective effective or issue dates (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference therein or in exhibits to or excluded from the Registration Statement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act.

        (ix)    The Conversion Shares initially issuable upon conversion of the Debentures have been duly authorized and reserved and, when issued upon conversion of the Debentures in accordance with the terms of the Debentures, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

        (x)    Each document filed pursuant to the Exchange Act (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied when so filed as to form in all material respects with the Exchange Act.

        (xi)    The statements in the Prospectus and in the Statutory Prospectus under the captions “Description of Capital Stock” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”, insofar as such statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, have been reviewed by such counsel and fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

        (xii)    No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and by the Prospectus, except as required under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD.

        (xiii)    The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder (other than performance by the Company of its obligations under the indemnification section of the Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; (ii) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company; (iii) will not constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, the Company’s 1.02% Yen-denominated notes due 2010 or the related indenture, the Multi-Year $400 million Credit Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2004, with a consortium of lenders and the Multi-Year $350 million Credit Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2003, with a consortium of lenders; or (iv) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule or regulation, or any judgment, order

B-1-2

or decree known to such counsel, applicable to the Company of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties.

        (xiv)    The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Debentures and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.

        In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent registered public accountants for the Company and representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any supplements or amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus including the documents incorporated by reference therein (other than as specified above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that (i) either the Registration Statement or any amendments thereto, at the time the Registration Statement or such amendments became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) the Prospectus, as of its date or at the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, contained 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; or (iii) the documents specified in Schedule I, consisting of those included in the Disclosure Package, as of the Initial Sale Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to the Form T-1 or the financial statements or schedules or other financial data derived therefrom, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or any amendments or supplements thereto).

        In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the New York Corporation Law or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters, shall expressly state that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Representative) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

B-1-3

EXHIBIT B-2

Form of Opinion of General Counsel of the Company

        References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit B-2 include any supplements thereto at the Closing Date.

        (i)    Each significant subsidiary of the Company (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (ii)    The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (iii)    All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such significant subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any pending or threatened claim.

        (iv)    All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable.

        (v)    No stockholder of the Company or any other person has any preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company arising (a) by operation of the charter or by-laws of the Company or the Minnesota Business Corporation Act or (b) to the best knowledge of such counsel, otherwise.

        (vi)    The issuance of the Conversion Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights arising (a) by operation of the charter or by-laws of the Company or the Minnesota Business Corporation Act or (b) to the best knowledge of such counsel, otherwise.

        (vii)    The statements in the Forms 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2005 under the caption “Item 1: Legal Proceedings,” and in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 under the caption “Item 3: Legal Proceedings,” insofar as such statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters or legal proceedings, or

B-2-1

legal conclusions, have been reviewed by such counsel and fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.

        (viii)    To the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened which are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those disclosed therein.

        (ix)    The execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder (other than performance by the Company of its obligations under the indemnification section of the Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) (a) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of any Significant Subsidiary of the Company; (b) will not constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of any of Significant Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to, (A) the Company’s 1.02% Yen-denominated notes due 2010 or the related indenture, the Multi-Year $400 million Credit Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2004, with a consortium of lenders and the Multi-Year $350 million Credit Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2003, with a consortium of lenders or (B) any other Existing Instrument; or (c) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule or regulation or any judgment, order or decree known to such counsel, applicable to any Significant Subsidiary of the Company of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any of its properties, except with respect to clauses (b) and (c) only, such breaches, defaults, liens, charges, encumbrances or violations that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

        (x)    Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, to the best knowledge of such counsel, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

        (xi)    To the best knowledge of such counsel, neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary (A) is in violation of (i) its charter or by-laws or (ii) any statute, law, rule, judgment, regulation, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any of its or their properties or (B) is in Default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any Existing Instrument, except with respect to clauses A(ii) and (B) only, for such violations or Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

        (xii)    The Company and each Significant Subsidiary possess such valid and current licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such licenses, certificates, authorizations or permits would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such

B-2-2

license, certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could have a Material Adverse Effect.

        In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent registered public accountants for the Company and representatives of the Underwriters at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any supplements or amendments thereto, and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus including the documents incorporated by reference therein (other than as specified above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, nothing has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that (i) either the Registration Statement or any amendments thereto, at the time the Registration Statement or such amendments became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) the Prospectus, as of its date or at the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, contained 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; or (iii) the documents specified in Schedule I, consisting of those included in the Disclosure Package, as of the Initial Sale Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to the financial statements or schedules or other financial data derived therefrom, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or any amendments or supplements thereto).

        In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the New York Corporation Law or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the Closing Date or any Subsequent Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters, shall expressly state that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Representative) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

B-2-3

EXHIBIT C

December    , 2005

Banc of America Securities LLC
     As Representative of the Several Underwriters
c/o Banc of America Securities LLC
9 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
Re:     St. Jude Medical, Inc. (the “Company”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:

        The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common stock, $0.10 par value, of the Company (“Common Stock”) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry out a public offering of Convertible Senior Debentures due 2035, which will be convertible into cash and, in certain circumstances, Common Stock (the “Offering”) for which you will act as the representative of the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the Offering.

        In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not (and will cause any spouse or immediate family member of the spouse or the undersigned living in the undersigned’s household not to), without the prior written consent of Banc of America Securities LLC (“BAS”) (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” or liquidate or decrease a “call equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise dispose of, transfer or hedge (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition of), or file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement (other than a registration statement on Form S-8) with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by the undersigned (or such spouse or family member), or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on January 31, 2006 (the “Lock-Up Period”). The foregoing sentence shall not apply to: (a) bona fide gifts to charities not in excess of an aggregate of 500 shares of Common Stock for all such gifts by the undersigned, (b) other bona fide gifts, provided that the recipient thereof agrees in writing with you to be bound by the terms of this agreement, (c) dispositions to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned and/or immediate family members of the undersigned, provided that such trust agrees in writing with you to be bound by the terms of this agreement, (d) sales of Common Stock (whether in connection with

C-1

the exercise of stock options or otherwise) pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 selling plan entered into by the undersigned prior to the date hereof, or (e) the exercise of stock options granted to the undersigned pursuant to the Company’s stock plans prior to the date hereof, provided that such exercise does not involve the sale of any shares of Common Stock in the open market other than pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 selling plan entered into by the undersigned prior to the date hereof. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of BAS, it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of any Common Stock owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights to receive notice of the Offering.

        The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

        This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representative, and assigns of the undersigned. This agreement shall be terminated and the undersigned shall be released from its obligations hereunder if: (a) the Company notifies you in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (b) the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the Offering is withdrawn, or (c) for any reason, the Underwriting Agreement between you and the Company relating to the Offering is terminated prior to the Closing Date (as defined in said Underwriting Agreement).

By:
	Signature
Printed Name of Holder

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EX-4.5

EXHIBIT 4.5

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.

[    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035

INDENTURE

Dated as of December [    ], 2005

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

TRUSTEE

Cross-Reference Table¹

Trust Indenture Act Section	Indenture Section
310 (a)(1)		7.10
(a)(2)		7.10
(a)(3)		N.A.
(a)(4)		N.A.
(a)(5)		N.A.
(b)		7.08, 7.10
(c)		N.A.
311 (a)		7.11
(b)		7.11
(c)		N.A.
312 (a)		2.05
(b)		12.03
(c)		12.03
313 (a)		7.06
(b)(1)		7.06
(b)(2)		7.06
(c)		7.06, 12.02
(d)		7.06
314 (a)		4.02
(b)		N.A.
(c)(1)		12.04
(c)(2)		12.04
(c)(3)		N.A.
(d)		N.A.
(e)		12.05
(f)		4.04
315 (a)		7.01(b)
(b)		7.05
(c)		7.01(a)
(d)		7.01(c)
(e)		6.11
316 (a)(1)(A)		6.05
(a)(1)(B)		6.04
(a)(2)		2.08
(b)		6.07
(c)		1.05(e)
317 (a)(1)		6.08
(a)(2)		6.09
(b)		2.04
318 (a)		12.01
_________________      N.A. means not applicable.
_________________      1This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	PAGE
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01.   Definitions	1
Section 1.02.   Other Definitions	9
Section 1.03.   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act	10
Section 1.04.   Rules of Construction	10
Section 1.05.   Acts of Holders	11
ARTICLE 2 THE SECURITIES
Section 2.01.   Form and Dating	12
Section 2.02.   Execution and Authentication	13
Section 2.03.   Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent	13
Section 2.04.   Paying Agent to Hold Money and Securities in Trust	14
Section 2.05.   Securityholder Lists	14
Section 2.06.   Transfer and Exchange	15
Section 2.07.   Replacement Securities	16
Section 2.08.   Outstanding Securities; Determinations of Holders’ Action	17
Section 2.09.   Temporary Securities	17
Section 2.10.   Cancellation	18
Section 2.11.   Persons Deemed Owners	18
Section 2.12.   Global Securities	18
Section 2.13.   CUSIP Numbers	23
Section 2.14.   Contingent Debt Tax Treatment	23
Section 2.15.   Calculation of Tax Original Issue Discount	24
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASES
Section 3.01.   Company’s Right to Redeem; Notices to Trustee	24
Section 3.02.   Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed	25
Section 3.03.   Notice of Redemption	25
Section 3.04.   Effect of Notice of Redemption	26
Section 3.05.   Deposit of Redemption Price	27
Section 3.06.   Securities Redeemed in Part	27
Section 3.07.   Repurchase of Securities by the Company at Option of the Holder	27
Section 3.08.   Repurchase of Securities at Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change	30

i

Section 3.09.   Effect of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice	33
Section 3.10.   Deposit of Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price	34
Section 3.11.   Securities Purchased in Part	34
Section 3.12.   Covenant to Comply with Securities Laws upon Purchase of Securities	34
Section 3.13.   Repayment to the Company	34
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS
Section 4.01.   Payment of Securities	35
Section 4.02.   SEC and Other Reports	35
Section 4.03.   Compliance Certificate	35
Section 4.04.   Further Instruments and Acts	36
Section 4.05.   Maintenance of Office or Agency	36
ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSOR PERSON
Section 5.01.   When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets	36
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01.   Events of Default	37
Section 6.02.   Acceleration	39
Section 6.03.   Other Remedies	40
Section 6.04.   Waiver of Past Defaults	40
Section 6.05.   Control by Majority	40
Section 6.06.   Limitation on Suits	40
Section 6.07.   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment	41
Section 6.08.   Collection Suit by Trustee	41
Section 6.09.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	41
Section 6.10.   Priorities	42
Section 6.11.   Undertaking for Costs	43
Section 6.12.   Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws	43
ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE
Section 7.01.   Duties of Trustee	43
Section 7.02.   Rights of Trustee	45
Section 7.03.   Individual Rights of Trustee	47
Section 7.04.   Trustee's Disclaimer	47
Section 7.05.   Notice of Defaults	47

ii

Section 7.06.   Reports by Trustee to Holders	47
Section 7.07.   Compensation and Indemnity	48
Section 7.08.   Replacement of Trustee	49
Section 7.09.   Successor Trustee by Merger	50
Section 7.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification	50
Section 7.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	50
ARTICLE 8 DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.01.   Discharge of Liability on Securities	50
Section 8.02.   Repayment to the Company	50
Section 8.03.   Application of Trust Money	51
ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENTS
Section 9.01.   Without Consent of Holders	51
Section 9.02.   With Consent of Holders	52
Section 9.03.   Compliance With Trust Indenture Act	54
Section 9.04.   Revocation and Effect of Consents, Waivers and Actions	54
Section 9.05.   Notice of Amendments, Notation on or Exchange of Securities	54
Section 9.06.   Trustee to Sign Supplemental Indentures	54
Section 9.07.   Effect of Supplemental Indentures	54
ARTICLE 10 CONVERSIONS
Section 10.01.   Conversion Privilege	55
Section 10.02.   Conversion Procedure; Conversion Rate; Fractional Shares	60
Section 10.03.   Payment Upon Conversion	62
Section 10.04.   Adjustment of Conversion Rate	64
Section 10.05.   Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale	73
Section 10.06.   Taxes on Shares Issued	75
Section 10.07.   Reservation of Shares, Shares to Be Fully Paid; Compliance with Governmental Requirements	75
Section 10.08.   Responsibility of Trustee	75
Section 10.09.   Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions	76
Section 10.10.   Shareholder Rights Plan	77
Section 10.11.   Unconditional Right of Holders to Convert	77
ARTICLE 11 CONTINGENT INTEREST
Section 11.01.   Contingent Interest	77
Section 11.02.   Payment of Contingent Interest	78
Section 11.03.   Contingent Interest Notification	78

iii

ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.01.   Trust Indenture Act Controls	78
Section 12.02.   Notices	78
Section 12.03.   Communication by Holders with Other Holders	79
Section 12.04.   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent	80
Section 12.05.   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion	80
Section 12.06.   Separability Clause	80
Section 12.07.   Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar	80
Section 12.08.   legal holidays	80
Section 12.09.   Governing Law	81
Section 12.10.   No Recourse Against Others	81
Section 12.11.   Successors	81
Section 12.12.   Multiple Originals	81

EXHIBIT A	Form of Global Security
EXHIBIT B	Form of Certificated Security
EXHIBIT C	Form of Notice of Redemption
EXHIBIT D	Form of Notice of Repurchase
EXHIBIT E	Notice of Occurrence of Change of Control
SCHEDULE I	Number of Additional Shares

iv

        INDENTURE dated as of December [    ], 2005 between ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC., a Minnesota corporation (“Company”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (“Trustee”).

        Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s [    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035:

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

        Section 1.01.   Definitions.

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

        “Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

        “Bid Solicitation Agent” means the agent of the Company appointed to obtain quotations for the Securities as set forth under the definition of Trading Price, which such agent shall be appointed no later than the first Contingent Interest Period and shall at no time be an Affiliate of the Company. The Company may, from time to time, change the Bid Solicitation Agent.

        “Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such board.

        “Board Resolution” means a resolution of the Board of Directors.

        “Business Day” means, with respect to any Security, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which commercial banks are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close in The City of New York.

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

1

        “Certificated Securities” means Securities that are in the form of the Securities attached hereto as Exhibit B.

        “Change of Control” means the occurrence at such time after the original issuance of the Securities when any of the following has occurred:

        (1)       a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act files a Schedule 13D or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such person or group has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of shares of Common Stock representing more than 50% of the Voting Stock; or

        (2)        the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors does not consist of Continuing Directors; or

        (3)        a consolidation, merger or binding share exchange, or any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s properties and assets to another Person, other than:

(a)       any transaction (i) that does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of Capital Stock and (ii) pursuant to which holders of the Company’s Capital Stock immediately prior to such transaction have the entitlement to exercise, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total Voting Stock of the continuing or surviving or successor Person immediately after giving effect to such issuance; or

(b)       any merger, share exchange, transfer of assets or similar transaction solely for the purpose of changing the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation and resulting in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of Common Stock, if at all, solely into shares of common stock, ordinary shares or American Depositary Shares of the surviving entity or a direct or indirect parent of the surviving corporation; or

(c)       any consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition with or into a Subsidiary, so long as such merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition is not part of a plan or a series of transactions designed to or having the effect of merging, consolidating with or conveying, transferring, selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of all or substantially all the Company’s properties and assets to, any other Person.

        The term “person” includes any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

2

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

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

        “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company existing on the date of this Indenture or any other shares of Capital Stock of the Company into which such Common Stock shall be reclassified or changed, including, subject to Section 10.05 below, in the event of a merger, consolidation or other similar transaction involving the Company that is otherwise permitted hereunder in which the Company is not the surviving Person, the common stock of such surviving corporation.

        “Company” means the party named as the “Company” in the preamble of this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean such successor. The foregoing sentence shall likewise apply to any subsequent such successor or successors.

        “Company Notice” means a notice to Holders delivered pursuant to Section 3.07 or Section 3.08.

        “Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any Officer.

        “Contingent Interest” means such interest payable as described in Article 11.

        “Contingent Interest Period” means (i) the period commencing on, and including, December 15, 2006 and ending on, and including, June 14, 2007, and (ii) each six-month period from June 15 to December 14 or from December 15 to June 14 thereafter.

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

        “Conversion Settlement Date” means (A) with respect to the Conversion Settlement Distribution (other than any Additional Shares which may be issuable pursuant to Section 10.01(c)), the third Business Day immediately following the Cash Settlement Period, and (B) with respect to any Additional Shares which may be issuable, the later of (i) the fifth Business Day following the effective date of

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any Change of Control transaction and (2) the third Business Day immediately following the Cash Settlement Period.

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

        “Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as a successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

        “Current Market Price” of the Common Stock on any day means the average of the Last Reported Sale Price per share of the Common Stock for each of the ten consecutive Trading Days ending on the earlier of the day in question and the day before the “Ex-Dividend Date” with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation, subject to adjustment by the Board of Directors if another transaction requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.04 occurs during such ten day period.

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

        “DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

        “Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date upon which a sale of the Common Stock, regular way on the relevant exchange or in the relevant market for the Common Stock, does not automatically transfer the right to receive the relevant dividend or distribution from the seller of the Common Stock to its buyer.

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

        “Fair Market Value”, or “fair market value” means the amount which a willing buyer would pay a willing seller in an arm’s-length transaction.

        “Fundamental Change” means either a Change of Control or a Termination of Trading.

        “Global Securities” means Securities that are in the form of the Securities attached hereto as Exhibit A, and that are registered in the register of Securities in the name of a Depositary or a nominee thereof.

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

        “Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, including the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part hereof.

        “Interest” means interest payable on each Security pursuant to Section 1 of the Securities.

        “Interest Payment Date” means June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2006.

        “Interest Record Date” means June 1 and December 1 of each year.

        “Issue Date” of any Security means the date on which the Security was originally issued or deemed issued as set forth on the face of the Security.

        “Last Reported Sale Price” means, with respect to any security on any date, the closing sale price (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and asked prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average asked prices) on that date as reported by the NYSE, if the Common Stock is not reported by the NYSE, in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded or on NASDAQ if the Common Stock is quoted thereon. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange and not reported by NASDAQ on the relevant date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the average of the midpoint of the last bid and ask prices for the Common Stock on the relevant date from each of at least three independent nationally recognized investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.

        “NASDAQ” means The NASDAQ Stock Market.

        “NYSE” means The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

        “Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.

        “Officer’s Certificate” means a written certificate containing the information specified in Sections 12.04 and 12.05, signed in the name of the Company by any Officer, and delivered to the Trustee. An Officer’s Certificate

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given pursuant to Section 4.03 shall be signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company but need not contain the information specified in Sections 12.04 and 12.05.

        “Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion containing the information specified in Sections 12.04 and 12.05, from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of, or counsel to, the Company who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

        “Prospectus” means the prospectus of the Company dated December [  ], 2005 relating to the offering of the Securities.

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

        “Redemption Date” means the date specified in a notice of redemption on which the Securities may be redeemed in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

        “Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee within the Institutional Trust Services department (or any successor department) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee who has direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and, for the purposes of Sections 7.01(c)(ii) and 7.05 shall also mean any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject matter.

        “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

        “Security” means any of the Company’s [    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035, as amended or supplemented from time to time, issued under this Indenture.

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

        “Significant Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company that is a significant subsidiary at any determination date pursuant to Regulation S-X,
Rule 1-02(w)(1) or (2).

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        “Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means December 15, 2035.

        “Stock Price” means the price per share of Common Stock paid in connection with a Change of Control transaction pursuant to which Additional Shares are issuable as set forth in Section 10.01(c) hereof, which shall be equal to (i) if Holders of Common Stock receive only cash in such Change of Control transaction, the cash amount paid per share of Common Stock and (ii) in all other cases, the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock on the five Trading Days prior to, but not including, the effective date of such Change of Control transaction.

        “Subsidiary” means any person of which at least a majority of the outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time directly or indirectly be owned or controlled by the Company or by one or more Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries.

        “Tax Original Issue Discount” means the amount of ordinary interest income on a Security that must be accrued as original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes pursuant to Treasury regulations section 1.1275-4.

        “Termination of Trading” means the occurrence, at any time, of the Common Stock of the Company (or other common stock into which the Securities are then convertible) being neither listed for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange nor quoted on NASDAQ.

        “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the date of this Indenture, provided, however, that in the event the TIA is amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the TIA as so amended.

        “Trading Day” means a day during which trading in securities generally occurs on the NYSE or, if the Common Stock is not quoted on the NYSE, then a day during which trading in securities generally occurs on the principal U.S. securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, then on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then traded or quoted.

        “Trading Price” of the Securities on any date of determination means the average of the secondary market bid quotations per $1,000 principal amount of the Securities obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent for $5,000,000 principal amount of the Securities at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Company selects, provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, that one bid shall be used. If the Bid Solicitation Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $5,000,000

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principal amount of the Securities from a nationally recognized securities dealer, or in the Company’s reasonable judgment, the bid quotations are not indicative of the secondary market value of $1,000 principal amount of the Securities, then

        (i)       for purposes of any determination of whether Contingent Interest is payable or the amount thereof, the Trading Price of the Securities on any date of determination shall equal the product of (i) the applicable Conversion Rate for the Securities as of the date of determination and (ii) the average Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the five Trading Days ending on such determination date; and

        (ii)       for purposes of determining whether the condition to conversion of the Securities set forth in Section 10.01(a)(2) has been satisfied, the Trading Price of the Securities will be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Closing Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on such date.

        “Treasury regulations” means the U.S. federal income tax regulations, including temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code, as those regulations may be amended from time to time. Any reference herein to a specific section of the Treasury regulations shall include any corresponding provisions of succeeding, similar, substitute, proposed or final Treasury regulations.

        “Trustee” means the party named as the “Trustee” in the preamble of this Indenture unless and until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean such successor. The foregoing sentence shall likewise apply to any subsequent such successor or successors.

        “Underwriting Agreement” means the Underwriting Agreement dated December [  ], 2005 between the Company, on the one hand, and Banc of America Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters, on the other relating to the Securities.

        “Voting Stock” of a Person means Capital Stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time Capital Stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).

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        Section 1.02.   Other Definitions.

Terms:	Defined in Section:
“Act”	1.05
“Accepted Purchased Shares”	10.04(g)
“Acquisition Value”	10.01(d)
“Additional Shares”	10.01(c)
“Adjustment Event”	10.04(k)
“Agent Members”	2.12(a)
“Bankruptcy Law”	6.01(g)
“cash”	3.01
“Cash Amount”	10.03(a)
“Cash Settlement Period”	10.03(a)
“contingent debt regulations”	2.14(a)
“Conversion Agent”	2.03
“Conversion Date”	10.02(c)
“Conversion Notice”	10.02(b)
“Conversion Obligation”	10.01(a)
“Conversion Rate”	10.02(a)
“Conversion Settlement Distribution”	10.03(a)
“Conversion Value”	10.03(a)
“Depositary”	2.01(b)
“Determination Date”	10.04(k)
“Distributed Assets”	10.04(d)
“DTC”	2.01(b)
“effective date”	10.01(c)
“Event of Default”	6.01
“Exchange Property”	10.01(b)
“Expiration Time”	10.04(f)
“Extraordinary Cash Dividend”	10.04(e)
“Fiscal Quarter”	10.01(a)
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”	3.08(a)
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”	3.08(c)
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”	3.08(a)
“legal holiday”	12.08
“Measurement Period”	10.01(a)
“Notice of Default”	6.01(h)
“Offer Expiration Time”	10.04(g)
“Paying Agent”	2.03
“Public Acquirer Change of Control”	10.01(d)
“Public Acquirer Common Stock”	10.01(d)
“Purchased Shares”	10.04(f)
“Redemption Price”	3.01
“Registrar”	2.03
“Repurchase Date”	3.07(a)

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Terms:	Defined in Section:
“Repurchase Notice”	3.07(b)
“Repurchase Price”	3.07(a)
“successor Person”	5.01(a)
“Trigger Event”	10.04(d)
“Valuation Period”	10.01(d)

        Section 1.03.   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.   Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

        “Commission” means the SEC.

        “indenture securities” means the Securities.

        “indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.

        “indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

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

        “obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company.

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

        Section 1.04.   Rules of Construction.   Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

(2) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time;

(3) “or” is not exclusive;

(4) “including” means including, without limitation;

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

(6) references to Sections and Articles are to references to Sections and Articles of this Indenture.

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        Section 1.05.   Acts of Holders.   (a)  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company, as described in Section 12.02. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

        (b)    The fact and date of the execution by any person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to such officer the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

        (c)    The principal amount and serial number of any Security and the ownership of Securities shall be proved by the register for the Securities.

        (d)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

        (e)    If the Company shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction,

11

notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

ARTICLE 2
THE SECURITIES

        Section 2.01.   Form and Dating.   (a)  The Securities and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibits A and B, which are a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement required by usage is in a form acceptable to the Company). The Company shall provide any such notations, legends or endorsements to the Trustee in writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities may, but need not, have the corporate seal of the Company or a facsimile thereof affixed thereto or imprinted thereon.

        (b)    Global Securities.   Securities shall be issued initially in the form of a Global Security, which shall be deposited with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, as custodian for the Depositary (as defined below) and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or the nominee thereof (DTC, or any successor thereto, and any such nominee being hereinafter referred to as the “Depositary”), duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary as hereinafter provided.

        (c)    Global Securities in General. Each Global Security shall represent such of the outstanding Securities as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, redemptions, repurchases and conversions.

        Any adjustment of the aggregate principal amount of a Global Security to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.12 hereof, and shall be made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary.

        (d)    Book-Entry Provisions.   This Section 2.01(d) shall apply only to Global Securities deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

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        The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.01(d), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof, (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or held by the Trustee pursuant to the Depositary’s instructions and (c) shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

        (e)    Certificated Securities.   Securities not issued as interests in the Global Securities shall be issued in certificated form substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

        Section 2.02.   Execution and Authentication.   The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by one Officer. The signature of such Officer on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

        Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of an individual who was, at the time of the execution of the Securities, an Officer shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication of such Securities.

        No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

        The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Securities for original issue in an aggregate principal amount of up to $[600] million (or up to $[660] million to the extent the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option) upon one or more Company Orders without any further action by the Company (other than as contemplated in Section 12.04Section 12.03 and Section 12.05 hereof). The aggregate principal amount of the Securities due at the Stated Maturity thereof outstanding at any time may not exceed the amount set forth in the foregoing sentence.

        The Securities shall be issued only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and any integral multiple of $1,000.

        Section 2.03.   Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent.   The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for purchase or payment (“Paying Agent”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for conversion (“Conversion Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-registrars, one or more

13

additional paying agents and one or more additional conversion agents. The term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent, including any named pursuant to Section 4.05. The term Conversion Agent includes any additional conversion agent, including any named pursuant to Section 4.05.

        The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or co-registrar (in each case, if such Registrar, agent or co-registrar is a Person other than the Trustee). The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Company or any Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, Conversion Agent or co-registrar.

        The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Conversion Agent and Paying Agent in connection with the Securities.

        Section 2.04.   Paying Agent to Hold Money and Securities in Trust.   Except as otherwise provided herein, on or prior to each due date of payments in respect of any Security, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum of money (in immediately available funds if deposited on the due date) or shares of Common Stock sufficient to make such payments when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders or the Trustee all money and shares of Common Stock held by the Paying Agent for the making of payments in respect of the Securities and shall promptly notify the Trustee of any Default by the Company in making any such payment. At any time during the continuance of any such Default, the Paying Agent shall, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all money and shares of Common Stock so held in trust. If the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money and shares of Common Stock held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money and shares of Common Stock held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds and Common Stock disbursed by it. Upon doing so, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money or shares of Common Stock.

        Section 2.05.   Securityholder Lists.   The Trustee shall preserve the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Trustee at least semiannually on June 1 and December 1 a listing of Securityholders dated within 15 days of the date on which the list is furnished and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.

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        Section 2.06.   Transfer and Exchange.   (a)  Subject to Section 2.12 hereof, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security, together with a written instrument of transfer satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Securityholder or such Securityholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, at the office or agency of the Company designated as Registrar or co-registrar pursuant to Section 2.03, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount. The Company shall not charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with the transfer or exchange of the Securities from the Securityholder requesting such transfer or exchange.

        At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other Securities of any authorized denomination or denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged, together with a written instrument of transfer satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Securityholder or such Securityholder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

        The Company shall not be required to make, and the Registrar need not register, transfers or exchanges of Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of Securities to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed) or any Securities in respect of which a Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn by the Holder thereof in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (except, in the case of Securities to be purchased in part, the portion thereof not to be purchased) or any Securities for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed.

        (b)    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, so long as a Global Security remains outstanding and is held by or on behalf of the Depositary, transfers of a Global Security, in whole or in part, shall be made only in accordance with Section 2.12 and this Section 2.06(b). Transfers of a Global Security shall, except as set forth in Section 2.12, be limited to transfers of such Global Security in whole or in part, to the Depositary, to nominees of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or such successor’s nominee.

        (c)    Successive registrations and registrations of transfers and exchanges as aforesaid may be made from time to time as desired, and each such registration shall be noted on the register for the Securities.

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        (d)    Except as otherwise set forth in this Indenture, any such action taken by a Holder shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security and of any Securities issued in exchange or substitution therefor, irrespective of whether any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security or any Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor.

        (e)    Any Registrar appointed pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof shall provide to the Trustee such information as the Trustee may reasonably require in connection with the delivery by such Registrar of Securities upon transfer or exchange of Securities.

        (f)    No Registrar shall be required to make registrations of transfer or exchange of Securities during any periods designated in the text of the Securities or in this Indenture as periods during which such registration of transfers and exchanges need not be made.

        Section 2.07.   Replacement Securities.   If (a) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or (b) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for any such mutilated Security or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a certificate number not contemporaneously outstanding.

        In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, or is about to be redeemed or purchased by the Company pursuant to Article 3 hereof, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay or purchase such Security, as the case may be.

        Upon the issuance of any new Securities under this Section 2.07, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

        Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section 2.07 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities duly issued hereunder.

        The provisions of this Section 2.07 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

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        Section 2.08.   Outstanding Securities; Determinations of Holders’ Action.   Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those redeemed or purchased pursuant to Section 2.07, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate thereof holds the Security; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have given or concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Securities outstanding at the time of such determination shall be considered in any such determination (including, without limitation, determinations pursuant to Article 6 and Article 9).

        If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

        If the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, on a Redemption Date, or on the Business Day immediately following a Repurchase Date or a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, or on Stated Maturity, money or securities, if permitted hereunder, sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then from and after such Redemption Date, Repurchase Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, such Securities shall cease to be outstanding and Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on such Securities shall cease to accrue; provided, that if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made.

        If a Security is converted in accordance with Article 10, then from and after the time of conversion on the date of conversion, such Security shall cease to be outstanding and Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, shall cease to accrue and the rights of the Holders therein shall terminate (other than the right to receive the Conversion Settlement Distribution).

        Section 2.09.   Temporary Securities.   Pending the preparation of Certificated Securities, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Certificated Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions

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and other variations as the Officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

        If temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause Certificated Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Certificated Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for Certificated Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.03, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of Certificated Securities of authorized denominations. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Certificated Securities.

        Section 2.10.   Cancellation.   All Securities surrendered for payment, purchase by the Company pursuant to Article 3, conversion, redemption or registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation other than in connection with registrations of transfer or exchange or that any Holder has converted pursuant to Article 10. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with the Trustee’s customary procedure.

        Section 2.11.   Persons Deemed Owners.   Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal amount of the Security or any portion thereof, or the payment of any Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price in respect thereof, and Interest or Contingent Interest thereon, for the purpose of conversion and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

        Section 2.12.   Global Securities.   Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture or the Securities, (A) transfers of a Global Security, in whole or in part, shall be made only in accordance with Section 2.06 and Section 2.12(a)(i) below, (B) transfers of a beneficial interest in a Global Security for a Certificated

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Security shall comply with Section 2.06 and Section 2.12(a)(ii) below and Section 2.12(e) below, and (C) transfers of a Certificated Security shall comply with Section 2.06, Section 2.12(a)(iii) and Section 2.12(a)(iv) below.

        (i)    Transfer of Global Security.   A Global Security may not be transferred, in whole or in part, to any Person other than the Depositary or a nominee or any successor thereof, and no such transfer to any such other Person may be registered; provided that this Section 2.12(a)(i) shall not prohibit any transfer of a Security that is issued in exchange for a Global Security but is not itself a Global Security. No transfer of a Security to any Person shall be effective under this Indenture or the Securities unless and until such Security has been registered in the name of such Person. Nothing in this Section 2.12(a)(i) shall prohibit or render ineffective any transfer of a beneficial interest in a Global Security effected in accordance with the other provisions of this Section 2.12.

        (ii)    Restrictions on Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a Global Security for a Certificated Security.   A beneficial interest in a Global Security may not be exchanged for a Certificated Security except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in this paragraph below and in Section 2.12(e) below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a request to transfer a beneficial interest in a Global Security in accordance with Applicable Procedures for a Certificated Security in the form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with written instructions to the Trustee to make, or direct the Registrar to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Security to reflect a decrease in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities represented by the Global Security, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be decreased, then the Trustee shall cause, or direct the Registrar to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Registrar, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities represented by the Global Security to be decreased by the aggregate principal amount of the Certificated Security to be issued, shall issue such Certificated Security and shall debit or cause to be debited to the account of the person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security equal to the principal amount of the Certificated Security so issued.

        (iii)    Transfer and Exchange of Certificated Securities.   When Certificated Securities are presented to the Registrar with a request:

        (y)    to register the transfer of such Certificated Securities; or

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        (z)    to exchange such Certificated Securities for an equal principal amount of Certificated Securities of other authorized denominations,

the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Certificated Securities surrendered for transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

        (iv)   Restrictions on Transfer or Exchange of a Certificated Security for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Security.   A Certificated Security may not be transferred or exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Security except upon receipt by the Trustee of a Certificated Security, duly endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Registrar to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Security to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities represented by the Global Security, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase. The Trustee shall cancel such Certificated Security and cause, or direct the Registrar to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Registrar, the aggregate principal amount of Securities represented by the Global Security to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Certificated Security to be exchanged, and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security equal to the principal amount of the Certificated Security so cancelled. If no Global Securities are then outstanding, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of the Company in the form of an Officer’s Certificate, a new Global Security in the appropriate principal amount.

        (b)    [Reserved].

        (c)    [Reserved].

        (d)    [Reserved].

        (e)    The provisions of clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

        (i)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture or the Securities, a Global Security shall not be exchanged in whole or in part for a Security registered in the name of any Person other than the Depositary or

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one or more nominees thereof, provided that a Global Security may be exchanged for Securities registered in the names of any Person designated by the Depositary in the event that (i) the Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or such Depositary has ceased to be a “clearing agency” registered under Exchange Act, and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days (ii) the Company determines at any time that the Securities shall no longer be represented by Global Securities and shall inform such Depositary of such determination in writing and participants in such Depositary elect to withdraw their beneficial interests in the Global Securities from such Depositary, following notification by the Depositary of their right to do so or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Any Global Security exchanged pursuant to clause (i) above shall be so exchanged in whole and not in part, and any Global Security exchanged pursuant to clauses (ii) or (iii) above may be exchanged in whole or from time to time in part as directed by the Depositary. Any Security issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be a Global Security; provided that any such Security so issued that is registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or a nominee thereof or any successor of either of the foregoing pursuant to this paragraph shall not be a Global Security.

        (ii)    Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depositary shall designate and shall bear the applicable legends provided for herein. Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Registrar. With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, if the Trustee is acting as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee with respect to such Global Security, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee. Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depositary or an authorized representative thereof.

        (iii)    Subject to the provisions of clause (v) below, the registered Holder may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members (as defined below) and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

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        (iv)    In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in clause (i) above, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form.

        (v)    Neither any members of, or participants in, the Depositary (collectively, the “Agent Members”) nor any other persons on whose behalf Agent Members may act shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security registered in the name of the Depositary or any nominee thereof, or under any such Global Security, and the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner and Holder of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, or impair, as between the Depositary, its Agent Members and any other person on whose behalf an Agent Member may act, the operation of customary practices of such Persons governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.

        (vi)    Except as expressly set forth in this Indenture, including Sections 2.12(a)(ii) and 2.12(e), none of the Trustee, any Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, the Company or the Registrar shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner in the Global Securities, a member of, or a participant in the Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Global Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Global Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be, in the case of a Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee). The rights of beneficial owners in the Global Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. Other than as set forth in this Indenture, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent, the Company and the Registrar may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners. Except as expressly set forth in this Indenture, including Sections 2.12(a)(ii) and 2.12(e), the Trustee, each Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent, the Company and the Registrar shall be entitled to deal with any depositary (including the Depositary), and any nominee

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thereof, that is the Holder of any Global Securities as a Holder for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Securities (including the payment of principal, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or Holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Securities) as the sole Holder of such Global Securities and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof. None of the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent, the Company or the Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of any such depositary with respect to such Global Securities, for the records of any such depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Securities, for any transactions between such depositary and any participant in such depositary or between or among any such depositary, any such participant and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Securities or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Securities.

        (f)    The Trustee and the Registrar shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Agent Members or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

        The Trustee shall have no responsibility for the actions or omissions of the Depositary, or the accuracy of the books and records of the Depositary.

        Section 2.13.   CUSIP Numbers.   The Company may issue the Securities with one or more “CUSIP”, “ISIN”or other similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” , “ISIN” or other similar numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption or purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers.

        Section 2.14.   Contingent Debt Tax Treatment.   The Company and each Holder, by acquiring a beneficial interest in a Security, agree (i) to treat the Security as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments (the “contingent debt regulations”), (ii) that each Holder shall be bound by the

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Company’s application of the contingent debt regulations to the Security, including the Company’s determination of the “comparable yield”and “projected payment schedule” within the meaning of the contingent debt regulations, (iii) to treat the cash and the fair market value of any Common Stock received upon the conversion of the Security as a contingent payment for purposes of the contingent debt regulations, (iv) to accrue interest with respect to the outstanding Security as Tax Original Issue Discount according to the “noncontingent bond method” set forth in the contingent debt regulations, using the comparable yield of     % compounded semi-annually and (v) that the Company and each Holder will not take any position on any U.S. federal income tax return that is inconsistent with (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) unless required by applicable law. A Holder may obtain the issue price, the amount of Tax Original Issue Discount, issue date, yield to maturity, comparable yield and projected payment schedule for the Security, as determined by the Company pursuant to the contingent debt regulations, by submitting a written request to the Company at the following address: St. Jude Medical, Inc., One Lillehei Plaza, St. Paul, Minnesota 55117, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

        (b)    Each Security shall bear a legend relating to U.S. federal income tax matters in the form set forth in Exhibits A and B.

        Section 2.15.   Calculation of Tax Original Issue Discount.   At the request of the Trustee, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of Tax Original Issue Discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such Tax Original Issue Discount as may then be required under the Code or the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.

ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASES

        Section 3.01.   Company’s Right to Redeem; Notices to Trustee.   Prior to December 15, 2006, the Securities shall not be redeemable at the Company’s option. On or after December 15, 2006, the Company, at its option, may redeem the Securities for U.S. legal tender (“cash”) at any time, in whole or in part, at a redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on the Securities redeemed up to, but not including, the Redemption Date, provided, that if the Redemption Date is on a date that is after an Interest Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Redemption Price shall be 100% of the principal amount of the Securities redeemed but shall not include accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any. Instead, the Company shall pay such Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on the Interest Payment Date to the Holder of record on the corresponding Interest Record Date. If the Company elects to

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redeem Securities pursuant to this Section 3.01, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of such election together with the Redemption Date, the Conversion Rate, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the Redemption Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not redeem the Securities if it has failed to pay any Interest, including Contingent Interest, if any, on the Securities when due and such failure is continuing.

        The Company shall give the notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section 3.01 by a Company Order, at least 45 days but not more than 75 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

        Section 3.02.   Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed.   If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed, unless the procedures of the Depositary provide otherwise, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed by lot, on a pro rata basis or by another method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate (so long as such method is not prohibited by the rules of any stock exchange or quotation association on which the Securities are then traded or quoted). The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal amount of Securities that have denominations larger than $1,000.

        Securities and portions of Securities that the Trustee selects shall be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly (but in any case within seven days of the Company Order referred to in Section 3.01) of the Securities or portions of the Securities selected to be redeemed and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the method it has chosen for the selection of the Security.

        Following a notice of redemption, Securities and portions of Securities are convertible, pursuant to Section 10.01(a)(2), by the Holder until the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date. If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities that have been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed may be treated by the Trustee as outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

        Section 3.03.   Notice of Redemption.   At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption (substantially in the form of Exhibit C) by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

        The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state (along with any other information the Company wishes to include):

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(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price;

(3) the Conversion Rate;

(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent and Conversion Agent;

(5) that Securities may be converted at any time before the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date;

(6) that Securities called for redemption and not converted shall be redeemed on the Redemption Date;

(7) that Holders who want to convert their Securities must satisfy the requirements set forth in the Securities;

(8) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent (by effecting book entry transfer of the Securities or delivering Certificated Securities, together with necessary endorsements, as the case may be) to collect the Redemption Price;

(9) if fewer than all of the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the certificate numbers, if any, and principal amounts of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(10) that, unless the Company defaults in making payment of such Redemption Price, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on the Securities called for redemption shall cease to accrue from and after the Redemption Date; and

(11) the CUSIP, “ISIN” or other similar number(s), as the case may be, of the Securities being redeemed.

        At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense, provided that the Company makes such request at least seven Business Days (or such shorter period as may be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to the date by which such notice of redemption must be given to Holders in accordance with this Section 3.03.

        Section 3.04.   Effect of Notice of Redemption.   Once notice of redemption is given, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date and at the Redemption Price stated in the notice except for Securities that are converted in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the Redemption Price stated in the notice and from and after the Redemption Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear Interest

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and Contingent Interest, if any, and the rights of the Holders therein shall terminate (other than the right to receive the Redemption Price).

        Section 3.05.   Deposit of Redemption Price.   Prior to 10:00 a.m. (New York City time), on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Securities to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption which on or prior thereto have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation or have been converted. The Paying Agent shall as promptly as practicable return to the Company any money not required for that purpose because of conversion of Securities pursuant to Article 10. If such money is then held by the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either in trust and is not required for such purpose it shall be discharged from such trust.

        Section 3.06.   Securities Redeemed in Part.   Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, without charge, authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new Security in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

        Section 3.07.   Repurchase of Securities by the Company at Option of the Holder.   On each of December 15, 2006, December 15, 2008, December 15, 2010, December 15, 2015, December 15, 2020, December 15, 2025 and December 15, 2030 (each, a “Repurchase Date”), each Holder shall have the option to require the Company to repurchase Securities for which that Holder has properly delivered and not withdrawn a written Repurchase Notice (as defined below) at a repurchase price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of those Securities, plus accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on those Securities, to, but not including, such Repurchase Date (the “Repurchase Price”); provided, that if the Repurchase Date is on a date that is after an Interest Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Repurchase Price shall be 100% of the principal amount of the Securities repurchased but shall not include accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any. Instead, the Company shall pay such accrued and unpaid Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on the Interest Payment Date, to the Holder of Record on the corresponding Interest Record Date. Not later than 20 Business Days prior to any Repurchase Date, the Company shall mail a Company Notice (substantially in the form of Exhibit D) by first class mail to the Trustee and to each Holder (and to beneficial owners if required by applicable law). The Company Notice shall include a form of Repurchase Notice to be completed by a Holder and shall state:

        (i)    the Repurchase Date, the Repurchase Price and the Conversion Rate;

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        (ii)    the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

        (iii)    that Securities as to which a Repurchase Notice has been given may be converted if they are otherwise convertible only in accordance with Article 10 hereof and the terms of the Securities if the applicable Repurchase Notice has been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

        (iv)    that Securities must be surrendered to the Paying Agent (by effecting book entry transfer of the Securities or delivering Certificated Securities, together with necessary endorsements, as the case may be) to collect payment;

        (v)    that the Repurchase Price for any security as to which a Repurchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn shall be paid promptly following the later of the Business Day immediately following the Repurchase Date and the time of surrender of such Security as described in clause (iv) above;

        (vi)    the procedures the Holder must follow to exercise its right to require the Company to repurchase such Holder’s Securities under this Section 3.07 and a brief description of that right;

        (vii)    briefly, the conversion rights, if any, that exist at the date of the Company Notice or as a result of the Company Notice with respect to the Securities;

        (viii)    the procedures for withdrawing a Repurchase Notice;

        (ix)    that, unless the Company defaults in making payment on Securities for which a Repurchase Notice has been submitted, Interest or Contingent Interest, if any, on such Securities shall cease to accrue from and after the Repurchase Date; and

        (x)    the CUSIP, “ISIN” or other similar number(s), as the case may be, of the Securities.

        At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give such Company Notice to each Holder in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company.

        (b)    A Holder may exercise its rights specified in Section 3.07(a) upon delivery to the Paying Agent of a written notice of repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) during the period beginning at any time from the opening of business on

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the date that is 20 Business Days prior to the relevant Repurchase Date until the close of business on such Repurchase Date, stating:

        (i)    if Certificated Securities have been issued, the certificate number(s) of the Securities which the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased or, if Certificated Securities have not been issued for such Security, the Repurchase Notice shall comply with the appropriate Depositary procedures for book-entry transfer,

        (ii)    the portion of the principal amount of the Security which the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased, which portion must be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000, and

        (iii)    that such Security shall be repurchased by the Company as of the Repurchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in Section 6 of the Securities and in this Indenture.

        The delivery of such Security (together with all necessary endorsements) to the Paying Agent at any time after delivery of the Repurchase Notice at the offices of the Paying Agent shall be a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Repurchase Price therefor; provided, however, that such Repurchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 3.07 only if the Security (together with all necessary endorsements) so delivered to the Paying Agent shall conform in all respects to the description thereof in the related Repurchase Notice.

        The Company shall repurchase from the Holder thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.07, a portion of a Security, if the principal amount of such portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to the repurchase of all of a Security also apply to the repurchase of such portion of such Security.

        Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.07 shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to be received by the Holder promptly following the later of the Business Day immediately following the Repurchase Date and the time of delivery of the Security (together with all necessary endorsements or notifications of book-entry transfer).

        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 3.07 shall have the right to withdraw such Repurchase Notice by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 3.09 at any time prior to the close of business on the Repurchase Date.

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

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        Section 3.08.   Repurchase of Securities at Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change.   If a Fundamental Change occurs, each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Securities not previously called for redemption by the Company, or any portion thereof that is equal to or an integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount, at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of those Securities, plus accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on those Securities (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”) to, but not including, the date that is 30 days following the date of the notice of a Fundamental Change mailed by the Company pursuant to Section 3.08(b) (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”), subject to satisfaction by or on behalf of the Holder of the requirements set forth in Section 3.08(c); provided, that if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is on a date that is after an Interest Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be 100% of the principal amount of the Securities repurchased but shall not include accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any. Instead, the Company shall pay such Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on the Interest Payment Date to the Holder of Record on the corresponding Interest Record Date.

        (b)    No later than 15 days after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall mail a Company Notice of the Fundamental Change (substantially in the form of Exhibit E) by first class mail to the Trustee and to each Holder (and to beneficial owners if required by applicable law). The Company Notice shall include a form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to be completed by the Holder and shall state:

        (i)    briefly, the events causing a Fundamental Change and the date of such Fundamental Change;

        (ii)    the date by which the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice pursuant to this Section 3.08 must be delivered to the Paying Agent in order for a Holder to exercise the repurchase rights;

        (iii)    the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

        (iv)    the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

        (v)    the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

        (vi)    the Conversion Rate;

        (vii)    that the Securities as to which a Fundamental Change

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Repurchase Notice has been given may be converted if they are otherwise convertible pursuant to Article 10 hereof only if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been withdrawn in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

        (viii)    that the Securities must be surrendered to the Paying Agent (by effecting book entry transfer of the Securities or delivering Certificated Securities, together with necessary endorsements, as the case may be) to collect payment;

        (ix)    that the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for any Security as to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been duly given and not withdrawn shall be paid promptly following the later of the Business Day immediately following the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time of surrender of such Security as described in clause (viii);

        (x)    briefly, the procedures the Holder must follow to exercise rights under this Section 3.08;

        (xi)    briefly, the conversion rights, if any, that exist on the Securities at the date of the Company Notice and as a result of such Fundamental Change;

        (xii)    the procedures for withdrawing a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice;

        (xiii)    that, unless the Company defaults in making payment of such Fundamental Change Repurchase Price on Securities for which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is submitted, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on Securities surrendered for purchase by the Company shall cease to accrue from and after the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and

        (xiv)    the CUSIP, “ISIN” or other similar number(s), as the case may be, of the Securities.

        At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give such Company Notice to each Holder in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company.

        (c)    A Holder may exercise its rights specified in this Section 3.08 upon delivery of a written notice of repurchase (a “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) to the Paying Agent at any time on or prior to the close of business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, stating:

        (i)    If Certificated Securities have been issued, the certificate number(s) of the Securities which the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased

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or, if Certificated Securities have not been issued, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall comply with the appropriate Depositary procedures for book-entry transfer;

        (ii)    the portion of the principal amount of the Security which the Holder shall deliver to be repurchased, which portion must be $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000; and

        (iii)    that such Security shall be repurchased pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in Section 6 of the Securities and in this Indenture.

        The delivery of such Security (together with all necessary endorsements) to the Paying Agent with the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at the offices of the Paying Agent shall be a condition to the receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor; provided, however, that such Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 3.08 only if the Security (together with all necessary endorsements) so delivered to the Paying Agent shall conform in all respects to the description thereof set forth in the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.

        The Company shall repurchase from the Holder thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.08, a portion of a Security if the principal amount of such portion is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to the repurchase of all of a Security also apply to the repurchase of such portion of such Security.

        Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.08 shall be consummated by the delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price promptly following the later of the Business Day following the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or the time of delivery of such Security (together with all necessary endorsements or notifications of book-entry transfer).

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, Holders shall not have the right to require us to repurchase the Securities upon a Change of Control described in clause (3) of the definition thereof if more than 90% of the consideration in the transaction or transactions constituting such Change of Control consists of shares of common stock traded or to be traded immediately following such Change of Control on a U.S. national securities exchange or NASDAQ, and, as a result of such transaction or transactions, the Securities become convertible into such common stock (and any rights attached thereto).

        Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 3.08(c) shall have the right to withdraw such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 3.09 at any time prior to the close of business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

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

        Section 3.09.   Effect of Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.   (a)  Upon receipt by the Paying Agent of the Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice specified in Section 3.07 or Section 3.08, as applicable, the Holder of the Security in respect of which such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, was given shall (unless such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, is withdrawn as specified in Section 3.09(b)) thereafter be entitled solely to receive the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, with respect to such Security whether or not the Security is, in fact, properly delivered. Such Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be paid to such Holder, subject to receipt of funds and/or securities by the Paying Agent, promptly following the later of (x) the Business Day following the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, with respect to such Security (provided the conditions in Section 3.07 or Section 3.08, as applicable, have been satisfied) and (y) the time of delivery of such Security to the Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 3.07 or Section 3.08, as applicable. Securities in respect of which a Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been given by the Holder thereof may not be converted pursuant to and to the extent permitted by Article 10 hereof on or after the date of the delivery of such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice unless such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has first been validly withdrawn as specified in Section 3.09(b).

        (b)    A Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the office of the Paying Agent in accordance with the Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, at any time (i) in the case of the Repurchase Notice, if received by the Paying Agent prior to the close of business on the Repurchase Date or (ii) in the case of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, if received by the Paying Agent prior to the close of business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, specifying:

(1) the principal amount, if any, of such Security which remains subject to the original Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, and which has been or shall be delivered for purchase by the Company,

(2) if Certificated Securities have been issued, the certificate number, if any, of the Security in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted (or, if Certificated Securities have not been issued, that such withdrawal notice shall comply with the appropriate Depositary procedures), and

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(3) the principal amount of the Security with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted.

        Section 3.10.   Deposit of Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.   Prior to 10:00 a.m. (local time in The City of New York) on the Business Day following the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them is acting as the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 2.04) an amount of cash in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, of all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be purchased as of the Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be.

        Section 3.11.   Securities Purchased in Part.   Any Certificated Security which is to be purchased only in part shall be surrendered at the office of the Paying Agent (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge, a new Security or Securities, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, the portion of the principal amount of the Security so surrendered which is not purchased.

        Section 3.12.   Covenant to Comply with Securities Laws upon Purchase of Securities.   When complying with the provisions of Section 3.07 or Section 3.08 hereof (provided that such offer or purchase constitutes an “issuer tender offer” for purposes of Rule 13e-4 (which term, as used herein, includes any successor provision thereto) under the Exchange Act at the time of such offer or purchase), and subject to any exemptions available under applicable law, the Company shall (i) comply with Rule 13e-4 and Rule 14e-1 (or any successor provision) and any other applicable tender offer rules under the Exchange Act, (ii) file the related Schedule TO (or any successor schedule, form or report) under the Exchange Act, and (iii) otherwise comply with all Federal and state securities laws so as to permit the rights and obligations under Sections 3.07 and 3.08 to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in Sections 3.07 and 3.08.

        Section 3.13.   Repayment to the Company.   The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Company any cash that remains unclaimed as provided in Section 12 of the Securities, together with interest, if any, thereon (subject to the provisions of Section 7.01(f)), held by them for the payment of the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be.

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ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS

        Section 4.01.   Payment of Securities.   The Company shall make all payments in respect of the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities or pursuant to this Indenture. Any amounts of cash in immediately available funds or shares of Common Stock to be given to the Trustee or Paying Agent shall be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, by the Company. The principal amount of, and Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on the Securities, and the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be considered paid on the applicable date due if on such date (which, in the case of a Repurchase Price or a Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, shall be on the Business Day immediately following the applicable Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be) the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, cash or securities, if permitted hereunder, sufficient to pay all such amounts then due.

        Section 4.02.   SEC and Other Reports.   The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 15 days after it files such annual and quarterly reports, information, documents and other reports with the SEC, copies of its annual report and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company shall also comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a). Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

        Section 4.03.   Compliance Certificate.   The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005) an Officer’s Certificate, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signer thereof, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such Officer may have knowledge and otherwise comply with Section 314(a)(4) of the TIA.

        The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days of any executive officer of the Company becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such

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Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

        Section 4.04.   Further Instruments and Acts.   The Company shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.

        Section 4.05.   Maintenance of Office or Agency.   The Company shall maintain in the United States of America an office or agency of the Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, purchase, redemption or conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, as listed in Section 12.02, shall initially be such office or agency for all of the aforesaid purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of any such office or agency (other than a change in the location of the office of the Trustee). If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee set forth in Section 12.02.

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

ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSOR PERSON

        Section 5.01.   When Company May Merge or Transfer Assets.   The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or convey, transfer, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

        (a)    the resulting, surviving or transferee person (the “successor Person”) will be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the successor Person (if not the Company) will expressly assume, by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

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        (b)    immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the successor Person as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by such successor Person as the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

        (c)    the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with this Article 5 and that all conditions precedent herein provided relating to such transaction have been satisfied.

        For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise) of the properties and assets of one or more Subsidiaries (other than to the Company or another Subsidiary), which, if such assets were owned by the Company, would constitute all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.

        The successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the successor Person to which such conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease and obligations the Company may have under a supplemental indenture, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities. Subject to Section 9.06, the Company, the Trustee and the successor Person shall enter into a supplemental indenture to evidence the succession and substitution of such successor Person and such discharge and release of the Company.

ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

        Section 6.01.   Events of Default.   So long as any Securities are outstanding, each of the following shall be an “Event of Default”:

        (a)    following the exercise by the Holder of the right to convert a Security in accordance with Article 10 hereof, the Company fails to comply with its obligations to deliver the cash or shares of Common Stock, if any, required to be delivered as part of the applicable Conversion Settlement Distribution on the applicable Conversion Settlement Date and such failure continues for a period of 5 days or more;

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        (b)    the Company defaults in its obligation to provide timely notice of a Fundamental Change to the Trustee and each Holder as required under
Section 3.08(b);

        (c)    the Company defaults in its obligation to redeem any Security, or any portion thereof, called for redemption by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with Section 3.01 hereof;

        (d)    the Company defaults in the payment of the principal amount of any Security when due at maturity, redemption, upon repurchase or otherwise (including, without limitation, upon the exercise by a Holder of its right to require the Company to repurchase such Securities pursuant to and in accordance with Section 3.07 or Section 3.08 hereof);

        (e)    the Company defaults in the payment of any Interest or Contingent Interest when due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

        (f)    the Company fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or warranty or agreement in the Securities or this Indenture (other than those referred to in clause (a) through clause (e) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after receipt by the Company of a Notice of Default;

        (g)    the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premise of (i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law (any “Bankruptcy Law”)or (ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, under any applicable Bankruptcy Law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of any of their property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order described in clause (i) or (ii) above is unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; and

        (h)    (i) the commencement by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or (ii) the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Bankruptcy Law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or (iii) the filing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or

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relief under any applicable Bankruptcy Law, or (iv) the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or the taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of any of their property, or (v) the making by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.

        The foregoing shall constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

        For the avoidance of doubt, clause (f) above shall not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding notify the Company and the Trustee, of such default and the Company does not cure such default (and such default is not waived) within the time specified in clause (f) above after actual receipt of such notice. Any such notice must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

        Section 6.02.   Acceleration.   If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing (the Event of Default not having been cured or waived), the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on all the Securities to be immediately due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such accelerated amount shall be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on all the Securities shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholders. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, by notice to the Trustee (and without notice to any other Securityholder) may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, and thereby waive the Events of Default giving rise to such acceleration, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, that have become due solely as a result of acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

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        Section 6.03.   Other Remedies.   If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

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

        Section 6.04.   Waiver of Past Defaults.   The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, by notice to the Trustee (and without notice to any other Securityholder), may waive any existing or past Default and its consequences except (1) an Event of Default described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) of Section 6.01 or (2) an Event of Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Securityholder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right. This Section 6.04 shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)1(B) of the TIA and such Section 316(a)1(B) is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA.

        Section 6.05.   Control by Majority.   The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; provided, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction or this Indenture. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

        Section 6.06.   Limitation on Suits.   A Securityholder may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities, except in case of a Default due to the non-payment of the principal amount of the Securities, any accrued and unpaid Interest or any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, unless:

(1) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating that a Default is continuing;

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(2) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

(3) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of such notice and offer of security or indemnity; and

(4) the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period.

        A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of any other Securityholder or to obtain a preference or priority over any other Securityholder.

        Section 6.07.   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, in respect of the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities or any Redemption Date, Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, and to convert the Securities in accordance with Article 10, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment or the right to convert on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected adversely without the consent of such Holder.

        Section 6.08.   Collection Suit by Trustee.   If an Event of Default described in Section 6.01 clauses (a) through (e) (other than (b)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount owing with respect to the Securities and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

        Section 6.09.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.   In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, in respect of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of any such amount) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

        (a)    to file and prove a claim for the whole principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, and to file such other papers or

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documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel or any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

        (b)    to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

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

        The Company agrees not to object to the Trustee participating as a member of any official committee of creditors of the Company as it deems necessary or advisable.

        Section 6.10.   Priorities.   Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 6, and, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, shall be paid out in the following order:

        FIRST: to the Trustee (including any predecessor Trustee) for amounts due under Section 7.07;

        SECOND: to Securityholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, as the case may be, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to such amounts due and payable on the Securities; and

        THIRD: the balance, if any, to the Company.

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

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        Section 6.11.   Undertaking for Costs.   In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant (other than the Trustee) in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding. This Section 6.11 shall be in lieu of Section 315(e) of the TIA and such Section 315(e) is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA.

        Section 6.12.   Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.   The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury or other law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and any accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on Securities, as contemplated herein, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE

        Section 7.01.   Duties of Trustee.

        (a)    If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

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

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

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the

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correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture, but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture, but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein. This Section 7.01(b) shall be in lieu of Section 315(a) of the TIA and such Section 315(a) is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA.

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

(1) this Section 7.01 (c) does not limit the effect of Sections 7.01(b) and 7.01(g);

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

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

        Subparagraphs (c)(1), (2) and (3) shall be in lieu of Sections 315(d)(1), 315(d)(2) and 315(d)(3) of the TIA and such Sections 315(d)(1), 315(d)(2) and
315(d)(3) are hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA.

        (d)    Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to this Section 7.01.

        (e)    The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

        (f)    Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder) shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Company (provided that any interest earned on money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder shall be the property of the Company).

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        (g)    No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

        Section 7.02.   Rights of Trustee.   Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01:

        (a)    the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

        (b)    whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

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

        (d)    the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred under this Indenture;

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

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

        (g)    any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order

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and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

        (i)    Except with respect to Section 4.01, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company with respect to the covenants contained in Article 4. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default except (i) any Default or Event of Default occurring pursuant to Sections 6.01(a), 6.01(c), 6.01(d) or 6.01(e) or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which the Trustee shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.;

        (j)    the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

        (k)    the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

        (l)    the permissive rights of the Trustee to take certain actions under this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein; and

        (m)   delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 4.02 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including compliance with any of their covenants

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hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

        Section 7.03.   Individual Rights of Trustee.   The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, Conversion Agent or co-registrar may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Section 7.10 and Section 7.11.

        Section 7.04.   Trustee’s Disclaimer.   The Trustee makes no representation as to, and shall have no responsibility for, the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use or application by the Company of the Securities or of the proceeds from the Securities, it shall not be responsible for the correctness of any statement in the registration statement for the Securities under the Securities Act or in any offering document for the Securities, the Indenture or the Securities (other than its certificate of authentication), or the determination as to which beneficial owners are entitled to receive any notices hereunder.

        Section 7.05.   Notice of Defaults.   If a Default or Event of Default occurs and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to each Securityholder notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, within 15 days after it is known to the Trustee, unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except in the case of a Default or Event of Default described in clauses (d) and (e) of Section 6.01, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of the Securityholders. The preceding sentence shall be in lieu of the proviso to Section 315(b) of the TIA and such proviso is hereby expressly excluded from this Indenture, as permitted by the TIA. The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of a Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of such Default or Event of Default, which notice specifically references this Indenture and the Securities.

        Section 7.06.   Reports by Trustee to Holders.   Within 60 days after each December 31 beginning with May 15, 2006, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such December 31 that complies with TIA Section 313(a), if required by such Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b). Any reports required by this Section 8.06 shall be transmitted by mail to Securityholders pursuant to TIA Section 313(c).

        A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be filed with the SEC and each securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities are

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listed. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee promptly whenever the Securities become listed on any securities exchange and of any delisting thereof.

        Section 7.07.   Compensation and Indemnity.   The Company agrees:

        (a)    to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited (to the extent permitted by law) by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

        (b)    to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses, advances and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its own negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; and

        (c)    to indemnify the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, damage, claim, liability, cost or expense (including reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee)) incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

        To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay the principal amount of, or the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, Interest or Contingent Interest, if any, as the case may be, on particular Securities.

        The Company’s payment, reimbursement and indemnity obligations pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination of this Indenture for any reason. In addition to and without prejudice to its rights hereunder, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(g) or Section 6.01(h), the expenses, including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel and the compensation for services payable pursuant to Section 7.07(a), are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

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        For the purposes of this Section 7.07, the “Trustee” shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that except as may be otherwise agreed among the parties, the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.

        Section 7.08.   Replacement of Trustee.   The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company; provided, however, no such resignation shall be effective until a successor Trustee has accepted its appointment pursuant to this Section 7.08. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

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

(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

        If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint, by resolution of its Board of Directors, a successor Trustee.

        A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company satisfactory in form and substance to the retiring Trustee and the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.

        If a successor Trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the expense of the Company for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

        If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

        So long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, if the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee (i) a Board Resolution appointing a successor Trustee, effective as of a date at least 30 days

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after delivery of such Resolution to the Trustee, and (ii) an instrument of acceptance of such appointment, effective as of such date, by such successor Trustee in accordance with this Indenture, the Trustee shall be deemed to have resigned as contemplated in this Section 7.08, the successor Trustee shall be deemed to have been accepted as contemplated in this Indenture, all as of such date, and all other provisions of this Indenture shall be applicable to such resignation, appointment and acceptance.

        Section 7.09.   Successor Trustee by Merger.   If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another Person, the resulting, surviving or transferee Person without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

        Section 7.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification.   The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA Sections 310(a)(1) and 310(b). The Trustee (or any parent holding company) shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Trustee from filing with the Commission the application referred to in the penultimate paragraph of TIA Section 310(b).

        Section 7.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.   The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

        Section 8.01.   Discharge of Liability on Securities.   When (i) the Company causes to be delivered to the Trustee all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced or repaid pursuant to Section 2.07) for cancellation or (ii) all outstanding Securities have become due and payable and the Company deposits with the Trustee cash sufficient to pay all amounts due and owing on all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case the Company pays all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Section 7.07, cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall join in the execution of a document prepared by the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company.

        Section 8.02.   Repayment to the Company.   The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Company upon written request any money or securities

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held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Securities that remains unclaimed for two years, subject to applicable abandoned property law. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money or securities must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person and the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no further liability to the Securityholders with respect to such money or securities for that period commencing after the return thereof.

        Section 8.03.   Application of Trust Money.   The Trustee shall hold in trust all money and other consideration deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01 and shall apply such deposited money and other consideration through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of amounts due on the Securities. Money and other consideration so held in trust is subject to the Trustee’s rights under Section 7.07.

ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENTS

        Section 9.01.   Without Consent of Holders.   The Company and the Trustee may modify or amend this Indenture or the Securities without the consent of any Securityholder to:

        (a)    add guarantees with respect to the Securities;

        (b)    remove any guarantee added to the Securities pursuant to clause (a) above, unless such guarantee is required pursuant to Section 5.01(a);

        (c)    conform, as necessary, this Indenture and the Securities to the “Description of the Debentures” as set forth in the Prospectus;

        (d)    add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of Securities;

        (e)    surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

        (f)    provide for conversion rights of Holders of Securities if any reclassification or change of the Common Stock or any consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets occurs;

        (g)    provide for the assumption by a successor Person (and the public acquirer, if applicable) of the Company’s obligations to the Holders of Securities in the case of a merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition pursuant to Article 5 hereof (or Section 10.01(d) in the case of a public acquirer);

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        (h)    provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of Certificated Securities; provided, however, that uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

        (i)    change the Conversion Rate in accordance with this Indenture; provided, however, that any increase in the Conversion Rate other than pursuant to Article 10 shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities (after taking into account U.S. federal income tax and other consequences of such increase);

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

        (k)    cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein or which is otherwise defective; provided, however, that any such change or modification does not, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company (as evidenced by a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities in any material respect;

        (l)    add or modify any other provisions herein with respect to matters or questions arising hereunder which the Company and the Trustee may deem necessary or desirable and which, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company (as evidenced by a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities in any material respect;

        (m)    establish the form of Securities if issued in definitive form (substantially in the form of Exhibit B); or

        (n)    evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

        Section 9.02.   With Consent of Holders.   Except as provided below in this Section 9.02 and in Section 9.01, this Indenture or the Securities may be amended, modified or supplemented, and noncompliance in any particular instance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities may be waived, in each case with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding.

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        Without the written consent or the affirmative vote of each Holder of Securities affected thereby, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not:

        (a)    reduce the principal amount of or change the maturity of any Security, or the payment date of any installment of Interest or Contingent Interest payable on any Security;

        (b)    reduce the Redemption Price, Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of, any Security or change the time at which or circumstances under which the Securities may be redeemed or repurchased;

        (c)    change the currency of payment of such Securities or Interest, Contingent Interest, Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Repurchase Price thereon;

        (d)    alter the manner of calculation or rate of accrual of Interest or Contingent Interest, or extend the time for payment of any such amount or the Redemption Price, Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Repurchase Price of any Security;

        (e)    impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to, or conversion of, any Security;

        (f)    adversely affect the repurchase option of the Holders of the Securities as provided in Article 3 or the right of the Holders of the Securities to convert any Security as provided in Article 10, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Article 5 or Section 10.05 hereof;

        (g)    modify the redemption provisions of Article 3 in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Securities;

        (h)    change the Company’s obligation to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes specified in this Indenture;

        (i)    modify any of the provisions of this Section, or reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities required to amend, modify or supplement the Indenture or the Securities or waive an Event of Default, except to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security affected thereby; or

        (j)    reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture entered into in accordance with this Section

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9.02 or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver provided for in this Indenture.

        It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

        After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to each Holder a notice briefly describing the amendment.

        Section 9.03.   Compliance With Trust Indenture Act.   Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

        Section 9.04.   Revocation and Effect of Consents, Waivers and Actions.   Until an amendment, waiver or other action by Holders becomes effective, a consent thereto by a Holder of a Security hereunder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same obligation as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent, waiver or action is not made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent, waiver or action as to such Holder’s Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment, waiver or action becomes effective. After an amendment, waiver or action becomes effective, it shall bind every Securityholder.

        Section 9.05.   Notice of Amendments, Notation on or Exchange of Securities.   Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article 9 may, and shall if required by the Company, bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for outstanding Securities.

        Section 9.06.   Trustee to Sign Supplemental Indentures.   The Trustee shall sign any supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment contained therein does not affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not, sign such supplemental indenture. In signing such supplemental indenture the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to the provisions of Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

        Section 9.07.   Effect of Supplemental Indentures.   Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in

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accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

ARTICLE 10
CONVERSIONS

        Section 10.01.   Conversion Privilege.   Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article 10, a Holder of a Security shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) of such Security prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding Stated Maturity into cash and shares of Common Stock, if any, at the Conversion Rate (the “Conversion Obligation”) in effect on the date of conversion only as follows:

        (1)    during any fiscal quarter of the Company (a “Fiscal Quarter”) commencing after December 31, 2005 (and only during such Fiscal Quarter), if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on the last Trading Day of the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter is more than 130% of the Conversion Price in effect on such last Trading Day;

(2)    during the five Business Day period immediately following any five consecutive Trading Day period (the “Measurement Period”) in which the Trading Price per $1,000 original principal amount of the Securities for each day of such Measurement Period was less than 98% of the product of the Closing Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each such date; provided, however, that a Holder cannot convert any Security in reliance on this provision after December 15, 2030 if on any trading day during the Measurement Period the closing price of the Common Stock was between 100% and 130% of the Conversion Price of the Securities. The Conversion Agent will, on the Company’s behalf, determine if the Securities are convertible as a result of the Trading Price of the Securities and notify the Company and the Trustee; provided, that the Conversion Agent shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price of the Securities unless the Company has requested such determination and the Company shall have no obligation to make such request unless requested to do so by a Holder of the Securities. Upon making any such request, any such requesting Holder shall provide reasonable evidence that (A) such requesting Holder is a Holder of the Securities as of the date of such notice, and (B) the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Securities would be less than 98% of the product of the Closing Price

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of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. At such time, the Company shall instruct the Conversion Agent to determine the Trading Price of the Securities beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per $1,000 original principal amount of the Securities is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Closing Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate;

        (3)    at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date, if the Company has called the Securities for redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof, even if the Securities are not otherwise convertible at that time;

        (4)    any time on or after December 15, 2034 and prior to the close of business on the Stated Maturity;

        (5)    as provided in clause (b) of this Section 10.01.

        The Company or, at its option, the Conversion Agent on behalf of the Company, shall determine on a daily basis during the time periods specified in Section 10.01(a)(1) or, following a request by a Holder of Securities in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 10.01(a)(2), whether the Securities shall be convertible as a result of the occurrence of an event specified in such Sections and, if the Securities shall be so convertible, the Company or the Conversion Agent, as applicable, shall promptly deliver to the Trustee and Conversion Agent or the Company, as applicable written notice thereof. Whenever the Securities shall become convertible pursuant to this Section 10.01 (as determined in accordance with this Section 10.01), the Company or, at the Company’s request, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall promptly notify the Holders of the event triggering such convertibility in the manner provided in Section 12.02, and the Company shall also promptly disseminate a press release through Dow Jones & Company, Inc. or Bloomberg Business News and publish such information on the Company’s Website or through another public medium the Company may use at that time. Any notice so given shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.

(b) In the event that:

        (1)    (A) the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock rights or warrants entitling them to purchase, for a period expiring within 60 days after the date of such distribution, Common Stock at less than the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the announcement date for such distribution; or (B) the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock assets (including cash), debt securities or rights or warrants to purchase the Company’s securities, which distribution has a per share value as

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determined by the Board of Directors exceeding 10% of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the announcement date of such distribution, then, in either case, the Securities may be surrendered for conversion at any time on and after the date that the Company gives notice to the Holders of such distribution, which shall be not less than 20 Business Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution, until the earlier of the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date or the date the Company announces that such distribution shall not take place, even if the Securities are not otherwise convertible at such time; provided that no Holder of a Security shall have the right to convert if the Holder may otherwise participate in such distribution without conversion; or

        (2)    a Change of Control occurs pursuant to clause (1) of the definition thereof set forth above or clause (3) of the definition thereof set forth above pursuant to which the Common Stock is to be converted into cash, securities or other property, then the Securities may be surrendered for conversion at any time from and after the date which is 15 days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction until 15 days after the actual effective date of such transaction (or, if such transaction also constitutes a Change of Control pursuant to which Holders have a right to require the Company to repurchase the Securities pursuant to Section 3.08, until the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Date). The Company shall notify Holders at the time the Company publicly announces the Change of Control transaction giving rise to the above conversion right (but in no event less than 15 days prior to the effective date of such transaction). If the Company engages in any reclassification of the Common Stock (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value) or is party to a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets pursuant to which Holders of Common Stock would be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property, then at the effective time of such transaction, to the extent that it constitutes a Change of Control as described in this paragraph above as giving rise to a conversion right, the Conversion Obligation and the Conversion Settlement Distribution shall be based on the applicable Conversion Rate and the kind and amount of cash, securities or other property that a holder of one share of the Common Stock would have received in such transaction as determined pursuant to Section 10.05(b) (such property, collectively, the “Exchange Property”). In addition, if a Holder converts Securities following the effective time of any such transaction, any amounts of the Conversion Settlement Distribution to

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be settled in shares of Common Stock shall be paid in such Exchange Property rather than shares of Common Stock. If the transaction also constitutes a Change of Control, (A) a Holder can require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of its Securities pursuant to Section 3.08 or, (B) if such Holder elects, instead, to convert all or a portion of its Securities, such Holder shall receive Additional Shares upon conversion pursuant to Section 10.01(c), in each case, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in each such Section.

        (c)    If and only to the extent a Holder timely elects to convert Securities during the period specified in Section 10.01(b)(2) above on or prior to December 15, 2006, and 10% or more of the consideration for the Common Stock in such Change of Control transaction consists of consideration other than common stock traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on a U.S. national securities exchange or NASDAQ, the Conversion Rate shall be increased by an additional number of shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”) as described below; provided that if the Stock Price paid in connection with such transaction is greater than $[        ] or less than $[        ] (subject in each case to adjustment as described below), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate. Notwithstanding this Section 10.01(c), if the Company elects to adjust the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.01(d), the provisions of Section 10.01(d)shall apply in lieu of the provisions of this Section 10.01(c). The Company shall notify Holders, at least 15 days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction causing any increase of the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.01(c), whether the Company elects to increase the Conversion Rate as described above or to adjust the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.01(d).

        The number of Additional Shares to be added to the Conversion Rate as described in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be determined by reference to the table attached as Schedule I hereto, based on the effective date of such Change of Control transaction and the Stock Price paid in connection with such transaction; provided that if the Stock Price is between two Stock Price amounts in the table or such effective date is between two effective dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Price amounts and the two dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year. The “effective date” with respect to a Change of Control transaction means the date that a Change of Control becomes effective.

        With respect to any Securities tendered for conversion to which Additional Shares apply, any shares of Common Stock to be delivered upon conversion of such Securities pursuant to Section 10.02 shall be delivered to Holders who elect to convert their Securities on the later of (i) the fifth Business Day following the effective date and (2) the third Business Day following the final day of the Cash Settlement Period.

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        The Stock Prices set forth in the first row of the table in Schedule I hereto shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate of the Securities is adjusted pursuant to Section 10.04. The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares shall be adjusted in the same manner as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 10.04.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities exceed [        ] per $1,000 principal amount of Securities, subject to adjustments in the same manner as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 10.04.

        (d)    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.01(c), in the case of a Change of Control that would lead to the issuance of Additional Shares as set forth in clause (c) above that is also a Public Acquirer Change of Control, the Company may, in lieu of increasing the Conversion Rate by Additional Shares as described in Section 10.01(c), elect to adjust the Conversion Rate and the related Conversion Obligation such that from and after the effective date of such Public Acquirer Change of Control, Holders of Securities shall be entitled to convert their Securities (subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to conversion set forth in Section 10.01(a)) into Public Acquirer Common Stock. The Conversion Rate following the effective date of such transaction will be a number of shares of Public Acquirer Common Stock equal to the product of the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the Public Acquirer Change of Control times the average of the quotients obtained, for each Trading Day in the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the effective date of such Public Acquirer Change of Control (the “Valuation Period”), of:

(i) the Acquisition Value of our Common Stock on each such Trading Day in the Valuation Period, divided by

(ii) the Last Reported Sale Price of the Public Acquirer Common Stock on each such Trading Day in the Valuation Period.

        The “Acquisition Value” of the Common Stock means, for each Trading Day in the Valuation Period, the value of the consideration paid per share of Common Stock in connection with such Public Acquirer Change of Control, as follows:

(i) for any cash, 100% of the face amount of such cash;

(ii) for any Public Acquirer Common Stock, 100% of the Last Reported Sale Price of such Public Acquirer Common Stock on such trading day; and

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(iii) for any other securities, assets or property, 102% of the fair market value of such security, asset or property on such Trading Day, as determined by three independent nationally recognized investment banks selected by the Company for this purpose.

        “Public Acquirer Change of Control” means an event constituting a corporate transaction that would otherwise obligate the Company to increase the Conversion Rate as described in Section 10.01(c) and the acquirer, the Person formed by or surviving the merger or consolidation or any entity that is direct or indirect “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of such Person’s or acquirer’s Voting Stock has a class of common stock traded on a national securities exchange or quoted on NASDAQ or which shall be so traded or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such Change of Control (the “Public Acquirer Common Stock”); provided, that if there is more than one of such entity, the relevant entity shall be such entity with the most direct beneficial ownership to such acquirer’s or Person’s capital stock.

        Upon a Public Acquirer Change of Control, if the Company so elects, Holders may convert their Securities (subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to conversion set forth in Section 10.01(a)) at the adjusted Conversion Rate described above but shall not be entitled to the increased Conversion Rate described in Section 10.01(c). The Company shall notify Holders of its election in its notice to Holders pursuant to Section 10.01(b)(2) above. Holders may convert their Securities upon a Public Acquirer Change of Control during the period specified in Section 10.01(b)(2). In addition, Holders can also, subject to certain conditions, require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their Securities as described in Section 3.08.

        After any adjustment of the Conversion Rate in connection with a Public Acquirer Change of Control, the Conversion Rate shall be subject to further similar adjustments in the event that any of the events described in Section 10.03(a)(i) occur thereafter.

        The Company may only make such election if such public acquirer is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District Columbia and if the Company and such public acquirer execute a supplemental indenture whereby the public acquirer agrees to comply with the obligations of the Company under the Securities and the Indenture applicable to such public acquirer or any securities thereof that may be issuable upon conversion of the Securities.

        Section 10.02.   Conversion Procedure; Conversion Rate; Fractional Shares.   Subject to Section 10.01 and the Company’s rights under Section 10.03, each Security shall be convertible at the office of the Conversion Agent into a combination of cash and fully paid and nonassessable shares (calculated to the nearest 1/100th of a share) of Common Stock, if any at a rate (the “Conversion

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Rate”) equal to, initially, [        ] shares of Common Stock for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted in certain instances as provided in Section 10.04 hereof, but shall not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid Interest or Contingent Interest, if any. Upon conversion, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to any accrued and unpaid Interest, including Contingent Interest, if any. Instead, such amount shall be deemed paid by the applicable Conversion Settlement Distribution delivered upon conversion of any Security. In addition, no payment or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends on the Common Stock with a record date prior to the Conversion Date. The Company shall not issue any fraction of a share of Common Stock in connection with any conversion of Securities, but instead shall, subject to Section 10.03 hereof, make a cash payment (calculated to the nearest cent) equal to such fraction multiplied by the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day prior to the Conversion Date.

        (b)    Before any Holder of a Security shall be entitled to convert the same into a combination of cash and Common Stock, if any, such Holder shall (1) in the case of Global Securities, comply with the procedures of the Depositary in effect at that time for converting a beneficial interest in a Global Security, and in the case of Certificated Securities, surrender such Securities, duly endorsed to the Company or in blank, at the office of the Conversion Agent, and (2) give written notice to the Company in the form on the reverse of such Certificated Security (the “Conversion Notice”) at said office or place that such Holder elects to convert the same and shall state in writing therein the principal amount of Securities to be converted and the name or names (with addresses) in which such Holder wishes the certificate or certificates for Common Stock included in the Conversion Settlement Distribution, if any, to be registered.

        Before any such conversion, a Holder also shall pay all taxes or duties, if any, as provided in Section 10.06 and any amount payable pursuant to Section 10.02(g).

        If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock, if any, that shall be deliverable upon conversion as part of the Conversion Settlement Distribution shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted thereby) so surrendered.

        (c)    A Security shall be deemed to have been converted as of the close of business on the date (the “Conversion Date”) that the Holder has complied with Section 10.02(b).

        (d)    The Company shall, on the Conversion Settlement Date, (i) pay the cash component (including cash in lieu of any fraction of a share to which such Holder would otherwise be entitled) of the Conversion Obligation determined pursuant to Section 10.03 to the Holder of a Security surrendered for conversion, or

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such Holder’s nominee or nominees, and (ii) issue, or cause to be issued, and deliver to the Conversion Agent or to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock, if any, to which such Holder shall be entitled as part of such Conversion Obligation. The Company shall not be required to deliver certificates for shares of Common Stock while the stock transfer books for such stock or the security register are duly closed for any purpose, but certificates for shares of Common Stock shall be issued and delivered as soon as practicable after the opening of such books or security register, and the Person or Persons entitled to receive the Common Stock as part of the applicable Conversion Settlement Distribution upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such Common Stock, as of the close of business on the applicable Conversion Settlement Date.

        (e)    In case any Security shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Holder of the Security so surrendered, without charge to such Holder (subject to the provisions of Section 10.06 hereof), a new Security or Securities in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Securities.

        (f)    By delivering the combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, if any, together with a cash payment in lieu of any fractional shares to the Conversion Agent or to the Holder or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, the Company shall have satisfied in full its Conversion Obligation with respect to such Security, and upon such delivery, accrued and unpaid Interest, if any, and Contingent Interest, if any, with respect to such Security shall be deemed to be paid in full rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited, and such amounts shall no longer accrue.

        (g)    If a Securityholder delivers a Conversion Notice after the Interest Record Date for a payment of Interest (including Contingent Interest, if any) but prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, such Securityholder must pay to the Company, at the time such Securityholder surrenders Securities for conversion, an amount equal to the Interest (including Contingent Interest, if any), that has accrued and shall be paid on the related Interest Payment Date. The preceding sentence shall not apply if (1) the Company has specified a Redemption Date that is after an Interest Record Date but on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, (2) the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date during such period referred to in clause (1) of this paragraph or (3) to the extent of overdue Interest, if any overdue Interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to the Securities converted.

        Section 10.03.   Payment Upon Conversion.   Upon conversion of Securities, the Company shall deliver to Holders surrendering Securities for conversion, for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities, a settlement amount

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(the “Conversion Settlement Distribution”) on the Conversion Settlement Date consisting of:

        (i)    cash amount (the “Cash Amount”) equal to the lesser of $1,000 and the Conversion Value; and

        (ii)    if the Conversion Value exceeds $1,000, a number of shares of Common Stock (the “Net Shares”) equal to:

        (A)    the difference between (x) the Conversion Value, and (y) $1,000, divided by

        (B)    the “Twenty Day Average Closing Stock Price.”

        The Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Securities. Instead, the Company shall pay the cash value of such fractional shares based upon the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Conversion Date.

        The “Conversion Value” means the product of (1) the Conversion Rate in effect (plus any Additional Shares as described under Section 10.01(c)) and (2) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the Trading Days during the Cash Settlement Period (such average, the “Twenty Day Average Closing Stock Price”).

        The “Cash Settlement Period” with respect to any Securities converted means the 20 consecutive Trading Days beginning on the second Trading Day after the Conversion Date for those Securities.

        (b)    If a Holder tenders Securities for conversion and the Conversion Value is being determined at a time when the Securities are convertible into Exchange Property, the Conversion Value of each Security shall be determined based on the kind and amount of such Exchange Property and the value thereof during the Cash Settlement Period. Settlement of Securities tendered for conversion after the effective date of any transaction giving rise to Exchange Property shall be as set forth above. For the purposes of this Section, the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock shall be deemed to equal the sum of (A) 100% of the value of any Exchange Property consisting of cash received per share of Common Stock, (B) the Last Reported Sale Price of any Exchange Property received per share of

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Common Stock consisting of securities that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or approved for quotation on NASDAQ and (3) the Fair Market Value of any other Exchange Property received per share, as determined by three independent nationally recognized investment banks selected by the Company for this purpose. Settlement (in cash and/or shares) will occur on the third Business Day following the final day of such Cash Settlement Period.

        Section 10.04.   Adjustment of Conversion Rate.   The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company in accordance with this Section 10.04:

        (a)    In case the Company shall hereafter pay a dividend or make a distribution to all or substantially all holders of the outstanding Common Stock in shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Rate shall be increased so that the same shall equal the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect at the opening of business on the date following the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution by a fraction,

        (i)    the numerator of which shall be the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination plus (B) the total number of shares of Common Stock constituting the dividend or distribution; and

        (ii)    the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination,

such increase to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 10.04 is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

        (b)    In case the Company shall issue rights, warrants or options (other than pursuant to any dividend reinvestment or share repurchase plans) to all or substantially all holders of its outstanding shares of Common Stock entitling them (for a period expiring within 60 days after the date of such distribution) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the Current Market Price on the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted so that the same shall equal the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants by a fraction,

        (i)    the numerator of which shall be the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants plus (B) the total

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number of additional shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or purchase, and

        (ii)    the denominator of which is the sum of (A) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants plus (B) the total number of additional shares of Common Stock that the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Common Stock offered for subscription or purchase would purchase at the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on such date.

        Such adjustment shall be successively made whenever any such rights or warrants are issued, and shall become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants. To the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustments made upon the issuance of such rights or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. In the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants had not been fixed. In determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than such Current Market Price, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.

        (c)    In case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision becomes effective shall be proportionately increased, and conversely, in case outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be combined into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Rate in effect at the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such combination becomes effective shall be proportionately reduced, such increase or reduction, as the case may be, to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision or combination becomes effective.

        (d)    In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock shares of any class of Capital Stock of the Company or evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including securities, but excluding any rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 10.04(b) and excluding any dividend or distribution (x) paid exclusively in cash or

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(y) referred to in Section 10.04(a)) (any of the foregoing hereinafter in this Section 10.04(d) called the “Distributed Assets”), then, in each such case, the Conversion Rate shall be increased so that the same shall be equal to the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect on the Record Date with respect to such distribution by a fraction,

        (i)    the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock on such Record Date; and

        (ii)    the denominator of which shall be the Current Market Price per share of the Common Stock less the Fair Market Value (as determined by the Board of Directors and described in a resolution of the Board of Directors) on the Record Date of the portion of the Distributed Assets so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock,

such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following such Record Date; provided, however, that in the event (1) the then Fair Market Value (as so determined) of the portion of the Distributed Assets so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on such Record Date or (2) the Current Market Price of Common Stock on the Record Date exceeds the then Fair Market Value (as so determined) of the portion of the Distributed Assets so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock by less than $1.00, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have the right to receive upon conversion the amount of Distributed Assets such Holder would have received had such Holder converted each Security on the Record Date for such distribution. In the event that such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. If the Board of Directors determines the Fair Market Value of any distribution for purposes of this Section 10.04(d) by reference to the actual or when issued trading market for any securities, it must in doing so consider the prices in such market over the same period used in computing the Current Market Price of the Common Stock.

        Rights or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of Common Stock entitling the Holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”): (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock; (ii) are not exercisable; and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 10.04 (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 10.04 shall be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights and warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made

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under this Section 10.04. If any such right or warrant, including any such existing rights or warrants distributed prior to the date of this Indenture, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and record date with respect to new rights or warrants with such rights (and a termination or expiration of the existing rights or warrants without exercise by any of the holders thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 10.04 was made, (1) in the case of any such rights or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase, and (2) in the case of such rights or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights and warrants had not been issued.

        No adjustment of the Conversion Rate shall be made pursuant to this Section 10.04(d) in respect of rights or warrants distributed or deemed distributed on any Trigger Event to the extent that such rights or warrants are actually distributed, or reserved by the Company for distribution to Holders of Securities upon conversion by such Holders of Securities to Common Stock.

        For purposes of this Section 10.04(d) and Section 10.04(a) and (b), any dividend or distribution to which this Section 10.04(d) is applicable that also includes shares of Common Stock, or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock (or both), shall be deemed instead to be (1) a dividend or distribution of the evidences of indebtedness, assets or shares of capital stock other than such shares of Common Stock or rights or warrants (and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by this Section 10.04(d) with respect to such dividend or distribution shall then be made) immediately followed by (2) a dividend or distribution of such shares of Common Stock or such rights or warrants (and any further Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 10.04(a) and (b) with respect to such dividend or distribution shall then be made), except (A) the Record Date of such dividend or distribution shall be substituted as “the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution”, “the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights or warrants” and “the date fixed for such determination” within the meaning of Section 10.04(a) and (b), and (B) any shares of Common Stock

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included in such dividend or distribution shall not be deemed “outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination” within the meaning of Section 10.04(a).

        If any Distributed Assets requiring any adjustment pursuant to this Section 10.04(d) consists of the Capital Stock, or similar equity interests in, a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company which are or in connection with such distribution will be listed or quoted for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange or NASDAQ, the Conversion Rate in effect immediately before the close of business on the Record Date fixed for determination of shareholders entitled to receive the distribution shall instead be increased by multiplying the Conversion Rate then in effect by a fraction, (A) the numerator of which is the sum of (1) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of such distributed security for the 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the fifth Trading Day after the Ex-Dividend Date on NASDAQ or such other national or regional exchange or market on which such securities are then listed or quoted plus (2) the average of the Closing Prices of the Common Stock over the same Trading Day period and (B) the denominator of which is such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 Trading Days commencing on and including the fifth Trading Day after the Ex-Dividend Date on NASDAQ or such other national or regional exchange or market on which the securities are then listed or quoted.

        (e)    In case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all or substantially all holders of its Common Stock cash (an “Extraordinary Cash Dividend”) (excluding any dividend or distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary), then, in such case, the Conversion Rate shall be increased so that the same shall equal the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the Record Date for such Extraordinary Cash Dividend by a fraction,

        (i)    the numerator of which shall be the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on such Record Date, and

        (ii)    the denominator of which shall be such Current Market Price of the Common Stock minus the amount per share of such dividend or the amount of cash so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock,

such adjustment to be effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following such Record Date; provided, however, that in the event the portion of the cash so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Current Market Price of the Common Stock on such Record Date, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have the right to receive upon conversion the amount of cash such Holder would have received had such Holder converted each Security on such

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Record Date. In the event that such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

        (f)    In case a tender or exchange offer made by the Company or any Subsidiary for all or any portion of the Common Stock shall expire and such tender or exchange offer (as amended upon the expiration thereof) shall require the payment to stockholders of consideration per share of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be conclusive and described in a resolution of the Board of Directors) that as of the last time (the “Expiration Time”) tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it may be amended) exceeds the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Time, the Conversion Rate shall be increased so that the same shall equal the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Expiration Time by a fraction,

        (i)    the numerator of which shall be the sum of (x) the Fair Market Value (determined as aforesaid) of the aggregate consideration payable to stockholders based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the tender or exchange offer) of all shares validly tendered or exchanged and not withdrawn as of the Expiration Time (the shares deemed so accepted up to any such maximum, being referred to as the “Purchased Shares”) and (y) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (less any Purchased Shares) at the Expiration Time and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the first Trading Day after the Expiration Time, and

        (ii)    the denominator of which shall be the product of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (including any Purchased Shares) at the Expiration Time multiplied by the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the first Trading Day after the Expiration Time,

such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the Expiration Time. In the event that the Company is obligated to purchase shares pursuant to any such tender or exchange offer, but the Company is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases or all such purchases are rescinded, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such tender or exchange offer had not been made.

        (g)    In case of a tender or exchange offer made by a Person other than the Company or any Subsidiary for an amount that increases the offeror’s ownership of Common Stock to more than 25% of the Common Stock outstanding and shall involve the payment by such Person of consideration per share of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value (as determined by the Board of Directors, whose

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determination shall be conclusive, and described in a resolution of the Board of Directors) that as of the last time (the “Offer Expiration Time”) tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (as it shall have been amended) exceeds the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the first Trading Day after the Offer Expiration Time, and in which, as of the Offer Expiration Time the Board of Directors is not recommending rejection of the offer, the Conversion Rate shall be increased so that the same shall equal the rate determined by multiplying the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Offer Expiration Time by a fraction

        (i)    the numerator of which shall be the sum of (x) the Fair Market Value (determined as aforesaid) of the aggregate consideration payable to stockholders based on the acceptance (up to any maximum specified in the terms of the tender or exchange offer) of all shares of Common Stock validly tendered or exchanged and not withdrawn as of the Offer Expiration Time (the shares deemed so accepted, up to any such maximum, being referred to as the “Accepted Purchased Shares”) and (y) the product of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (less any Accepted Purchased Shares) at the Offer Expiration Time and the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the first Trading Day after the Offer Expiration Time, and

        (ii)    the denominator of which shall be the product of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding (including any Accepted Purchase Shares) at the Offer Expiration Time multiplied by the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the first Trading Day after the Offer Expiration Time,

such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the Offer Expiration Time. In the event that such Person is obligated to purchase shares pursuant to any such tender or exchange offer, but such Person is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases or all such purchases are rescinded, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such tender or exchange offer had not been made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the adjustment described in this Section 10.04(g) shall not be made if, as of the Offer Expiration Time, the offering documents with respect to such offer disclose a plan or intention to cause the Company to engage in any transaction described in Section 10.05.

        (h)    The Company may make such increases in the Conversion Rate, in addition to those required by this Section 10.04, as the Board of Directors considers to be advisable to avoid or diminish any U.S. federal income tax to holders of Common Stock resulting from any stock distribution; provided, however, that such increase in the Conversion Rate shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities (after taking into account U.S. federal income tax and other consequences of such increase).

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        To the extent permitted by applicable law and the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed, the Company from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for any period of time if the period is at least twenty 20 days, the increase is irrevocable during the period and the Board of Directors shall have made a determination that such increase would be in the best interests of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive. Whenever the Conversion Rate is increased pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company shall mail to Holders of record of the Securities a notice of the increase at least fifteen 15 days prior to the date the increased Conversion Rate takes effect, and such notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period during which it shall be in effect.

        (i)    All calculations under this Article 10 shall be made by the Company and shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-ten thousandth of a share, as the case may be, with one half-cent and 0.005 of a share, respectively, being rounded upward. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment need be made for:

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

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

        (iii)    the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security outstanding as of the date the Securities were first issued,

        (iv)    a change in the par value of the Common Stock, or

        (v)    accrued and unpaid Interest, including Contingent Interest, if any.

        (j)    Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee and any Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the

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Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and shall mail such notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate to the Holder of each Security at his last address appearing on the Security register provided for in Section 2.03 of this Indenture, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment.

        (k)    In any case in which this Section 10.04 provides that an adjustment shall become effective immediately after (1) a record date or Record Date for an event, (2) the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive a dividend or distribution pursuant to Section 10.04(a), (3) a date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive rights or warrants pursuant to Section 10.04(b), (4) the effective date of any subdivision or combination of Common Stock, (5) the Expiration Time for any tender or exchange offer pursuant to Section 10.04(f), or (6) the Offer Expiration Time for a tender offer or exchange offer pursuant to Section 10.04(g) (each a “Determination Date”), the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of the relevant Adjustment Event (as hereinafter defined) (x) issuing to the Holder of any Security converted after such Determination Date and before the occurrence of such Adjustment Event, the additional shares of Common Stock or other securities issuable upon such conversion by reason of the adjustment required by such Adjustment Event over and above the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion before giving effect to such adjustment and (y) paying to such Holder any amount in cash in lieu of any fraction pursuant to Section 10.04(a). For purposes of this Section 10.04(k), the term “Adjustment Event” shall mean:

        (i)    in any case referred to in clause (1) hereof, the occurrence of such event,

        (ii)    in any case referred to in clause (2) hereof, the date any such dividend or distribution is paid or made,

        (iii)    in any case referred to in clause (3) hereof, the date of expiration of such rights or warrants,

        (iv)    in any case referred to in clause (4) hereof, the date of such subdivision or combination, and

        (v)    in any case referred to in clause (5) or clause (6) hereof, the date a sale or exchange of Common Stock pursuant to such tender or exchange offer is consummated and becomes irrevocable.

        (l)    For purposes of this Section 10.04, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company shall not pay any

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dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

        Section 10.05.   Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale.   (a)  If any of the following events occur, namely (i) any reclassification or change of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a subdivision or combination to which Section 10.04(c) applies or a change in par value) as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive Exchange Property with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, (ii) any consolidation, merger, binding share exchange or combination of the Company with another Person as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive Exchange Property with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, or (iii) any sale or conveyance of all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person as a result of which holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive Exchange Property with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, then the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture (which shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture) providing for the conversion and settlement of the Securities as set forth in this Indenture. Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article 10. If, in the case of any such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, binding share exchange, combination, sale or conveyance, the Exchange Property receivable thereupon by a holder of Common Stock includes shares of stock or other securities and assets of a corporation other than the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, binding share exchange, combination, sale or conveyance, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other corporation and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Securities as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing.

        (b)    The Conversion Obligation with respect to each $1,000 principal amount of Securities converted following the effective date of any such transaction, shall be calculated (as provided in clause (c) below) based on the Exchange Property. In the event holders of the Common Stock have the opportunity to elect the form of consideration to be received in such transaction, the Company shall make adequate provision whereby the Holders of the Securities shall have a reasonable opportunity to determine the form of consideration, consistent with the election rights and restrictions applicable to holders of Common Stock, into which all of the Securities, treated as a single class, shall be convertible from and after the effective date of such transaction. Such determination shall be made pursuant to Section 1.05 and shall be subject to any limitations to which all of the holders of the Common Stock are subject, such as pro-rata reductions applicable to any portion of the consideration payable in such event and shall be conducted in such a manner as to be completed by the date which is the earliest of (a) the deadline for

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elections to be made by holders of the Common Stock in connection with such transaction, and (b) two Trading Days prior to the anticipated effective date of such event. The Company shall provide notice of the opportunity to determine the form of such consideration, as well as notice of the determination made by Holders of the Securities by issuing a press release and providing a copy of such notice to the Trustee. The Company shall not become a party to any such transaction unless its terms are consistent with the preceding.

        (c)    The Conversion Obligation in respect of any Securities converted following the effective date of any such transaction shall be computed in the same manner as set forth in Section 10.03(a) except that (1) the Cash Settlement Period shall be the 10 Trading Day period beginning on the second Trading Day after the Conversion Date (or, in the event the Conversion Date is on the Business Day prior to the Stated Maturity, the 10 Trading Day period beginning on the second Trading Day after the Stated Maturity), and (2) if the Securities become convertible into Exchange Property, the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock shall be deemed to equal the sum of (A) 100% of the value of any Exchange Property consisting of cash received per share of Common Stock, (B) the Last Reported Sale Price of any Exchange Property received per share of Common Stock consisting of securities that are traded on a U.S. national securities exchange or approved for quotation on NASDAQ and (3) the Fair Market Value of any other Exchange Property received per share, as determined by three independent nationally recognized investment banks selected by the Company for this purpose. Settlement (in cash and/or shares) shall occur on the third Business Day following the final day of such Cash Settlement Period, provided, that any amount of the Conversion Settlement Distribution to be delivered in shares of Common Stock shall be paid in Exchange Property rather than shares of Common Stock. If the Exchange Property includes more than one kind of property, the amount of Exchange Property of each kind to be delivered shall be in the proportion that the value of the Exchange Property (as calculated pursuant to Section 10.03) of such kind bears to the value of all such Exchange Property. If the foregoing calculations would require the Company to deliver a fractional share or unit of Exchange Property to a Holder of Securities being converted, the Company shall deliver cash in lieu of such fractional share or unit based on the value of the Exchange Property.

        (d)    The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each Holder of Securities, at its address appearing on the Security register provided for in Section 2.03 of this Indenture, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.

        (e)    The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, changes, consolidations, mergers, statutory share exchanges, combinations, sales and conveyances.

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        If this Section 10.05 applies to any event or occurrence, Section 10.04 shall not apply.

        Section 10.06.   Taxes on Shares Issued.   The issue of stock certificates on conversions of Securities shall be made without charge to the converting Holder for any tax in respect of the issue thereof, except for applicable withholding, if any. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax or duty which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of stock in any name other than that of the Holder of any Securities converted, and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any such stock certificate unless and until the Person or Persons requesting the issue thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

        Section 10.07.   Reservation of Shares, Shares to Be Fully Paid; Compliance with Governmental Requirements.   (a) The Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares or shares held in treasury, sufficient shares of Common Stock for the conversion of the Securities from time to time as such Securities are presented for conversion.

        (b)    Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment increasing the Conversion Rate to an amount that would cause the Conversion Price to be reduced below the then par value, if any, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities, the Company shall take all corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue shares of such Common Stock at such adjusted Conversion Rate.

        (c)    (i)  The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued upon conversion of Securities shall upon issue be fully paid and non-assessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.

        (ii)    The Company covenants that, if any shares of Common Stock to be provided for the purpose of conversion of Securities hereunder require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any federal or state law before such shares may be validly issued upon conversion, the Company shall in good faith and as expeditiously as possible, to the extent then permitted by the rules and interpretations of the SEC (or any successor thereto), endeavor to secure such registration or approval, as the case may be.

        Section 10.08.   Responsibility of Trustee.   The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities to determine the Conversion Rate or whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect

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to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Security; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article 10. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 10.05 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Securities after any event referred to in such Section 10.05 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon the Officer’s Certificate (which the Company shall be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto.

        Section 10.09.   Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions.   In case:

        (a)   the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.04; or

        (b)    the Company shall authorize the granting to the holders of all of its Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any share of any class or any other rights or warrants that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.04(b); or

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

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

the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and to be mailed to each Holder of Securities at his address appearing on the register provided for in Section

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2.03 of this Indenture, as promptly as possible but in any event at least ten (10) days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution of rights or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the Holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution or rights are to be determined, or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, or statutory share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, or statutory share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution, reclassification, consolidation, merger, or statutory share exchange, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up.

        Section 10.10.   Shareholder Rights Plan.   To the extent that the Company has a rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Securities into Common Stock, a Holder who converts securities shall receive, in addition to the Common Stock, the rights under the rights plan, unless prior to any conversion, the rights have separated from the Common Stock, in which case the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all Holders of Common Stock, shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets as described in Section 10.04(d) above, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights. In lieu of any such adjustment, the Company may amend such applicable shareholder rights plan to provide that upon conversion of the Securities the Holders shall receive, in addition to the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights which would have attached to such Common Stock if the rights had not become separated from the Common Stock under such applicable shareholder rights agreement.

        Section 10.11.   Unconditional Right of Holders to Convert.   Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to convert its Security in accordance with this Article 10 and to bring an action for the enforcement of any such right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

ARTICLE 11
CONTINGENT INTEREST

        Section 11.01.   Contingent Interest.   (a)  The Company shall pay Contingent Interest with respect to the Securities for any Contingent Interest Period if the average Trading Price of Securities for the five consecutive Trading Days

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immediately before the last Trading Day before the relevant Contingent Interest Period equals or exceeds 120% of the principal amount of such Securities.

        (b)    The amount of Contingent Interest payable per $1,000 principal amount of Securities in respect of any Contingent Interest Period shall equal 0.25% per annum calculated on the average Trading Price of $1,000 principal amount of Securities during the relevant five Trading Day period used to determine whether Contingent Interest must be paid.

        (c)    The Company shall be responsible for calculating the amounts of Contingent Interest, if any, accrued on the Securities. The Company shall make any such calculations using the Trading Price provided by the Bid Solicitation Agent. The Bid Solicitation Agent shall be entitled in its sole discretion to consult with the Company and to request the assistance of the Company in connection with the Bid Solicitation Agent’s duties pursuant to this Article 11, and the Company agrees, if requested by the Bid Solicitation Agent, to cooperate with, and provide assistance to, the Trustee in carrying out its duties under this Article 11.

        Section 11.02.   Payment of Contingent Interest.   Payments of Contingent Interest shall be made in the same manner, at the same time, and subject to the same restrictions, including those restrictions in respect of accrued and unpaid Interest on any Securities that are submitted for conversion, as payments of Interest.

        Section 11.03.   Contingent Interest Notification.   By the first Business Day of a Contingent Interest Period for which Contingent Interest shall be payable, the Company shall disseminate a press release containing this information or publish the information on its Website or through such other public medium as it may use at that time.

ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS

        Section 12.01.   Trust Indenture Act Controls.   If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision shall control.

        Section 12.02.   Notices.   Any request, demand, authorization, notice, waiver, consent or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows or transmitted by facsimile transmission to the following facsimile numbers:

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        if to the Company:

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
One Lillehei Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota 55117
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile: (651) 483-2000

        With a copy to:

Dorsey & Whitney LLP
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Attn: Gary L. Tygesson, Esq.
Facsimile: (612) 340-2868

        if to the Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55107
Attn: Corporate Trust Administration
Facsimile: (651) 495-8097

        The Company or the Trustee by notice given to the other in the manner provided above may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

        Any notice or communication given to a Securityholder shall be delivered to the Securityholder, in accordance with the procedures of the Registrar or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at the Securityholder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

        Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not received by the addressee; provided, however, that no notice to the Trustee shall be deemed to be duly given unless and until the Trustee actually receives same at the address given above.

        If the Company mails a notice or communication to the Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or co-registrar.

        Section 12.03.   Communication by Holders with Other Holders.   Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other

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Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Paying Agent, the Conversion Agent and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

        Section 12.04.   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.   Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

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

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

        Section 12.05.   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.   Each Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:

        (1)    a statement that each person making such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel has read such covenant or condition;

        (2)    a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel are based;

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

        (4)    a statement that, in the opinion of such person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

        Section 12.06.   Separability Clause.   In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

        Section 12.07.   Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar.   The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar, the Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

        Section 12.08.   legal holidays.   A “legal holiday” is any day other than a Business Day. If any specified date (including a date for giving notice) is a legal holiday, the action shall be taken on the next succeeding day that is not a legal

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holiday, and, if the action to be taken on such date is a payment in respect of the Securities, no interest shall accrue with respect to such payment for the intervening period.

        Section 12.09.   Governing Law.   THIS INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS RULES THEREOF.

        Section 12.10.   No Recourse Against Others.   A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

        Section 12.11.   Successors.   All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

        Section 12.12.   Multiple Originals.   The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
By:
	Name:    Title:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,      as Trustee
By:
	Name:    Title:

81

EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF GLOBAL SECURITY]

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

        TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS TO NOMINEES OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN ARTICLE TWO OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

        FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH TAX ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. THE ISSUE PRICE OF THIS SECURITY IS $1000 PER $1000 OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, AND THE ISSUE DATE OF THIS SECURITY IS DECEMBER [    ], 2005. IN ADDITION, THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX REGULATIONS GOVERNING CONTINGENT PAYMENT DEBT INSTRUMENTS. FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE CODE, THE COMPARABLE YIELD OF THIS SECURITY IS [    ]%, COMPOUNDED SEMI-ANNUALLY (WHICH WILL BE TREATED AS THE YIELD TO MATURITY FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES).

        THE COMPANY AGREES TO PROVIDE PROMPTLY TO THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF TAX ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE, YIELD TO MATURITY, COMPARABLE YIELD AND PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE. ANY SUCH WRITTEN REQUEST SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC., ONE LILLEHEI PLAZA, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55117, ATTENTION: CORPORATE SECRETARY.

A-1

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.

[    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035

CUSIP:

ISSUE DATE: December [    ], 2005            Principal Amount: $[600],000,000No.

        ST. JUNE MEDICAL, INC., a Minnesota corporation, promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, the principal amount of [Six] Hundred Million Dollars, on December 15, 2035.

        Interest Rate: [    ]% per year.

        Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2006.

        Interest Record Date: June 1 and December 1 of each year.

        Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse side of this Security, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

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

Dated:   _________________, 2005	ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
	By:
		Name:    Title:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee, certifies that this is one
of the Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

By
	Authorized Officer
Dated:	_________________, 2005

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF GLOBAL SECURITY]

[    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035

        This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of [    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035 (the “Securities”) of St. Jude Medical, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (including any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, the “Company”), issued under an Indenture, dated as of December [    ], 2005 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The terms of the Security include those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (“TIA”), and those set forth in this Security. This Security is subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Security and the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall control. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated.

1.    Interest.

        The Securities shall bear interest on the principal amount thereof at a rate of [    ]% per year. The Company shall pay Contingent Interest, if any, as set forth in the Indenture and in Section 3 hereof.

        Interest shall be payable semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date to Holders at the close of business on the preceding Interest Record Date. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30 day months.

        The Company shall pay Interest to the Securityholder of record on the Interest Record Date even if the Company elects to redeem, or Securityholders elect to require the Company to repurchase, the Securities on a date that is after an Interest Record Date but on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date. In that instance, the Company shall pay accrued and unpaid Interest on the Securities being redeemed to, but not including, the Redemption Date, the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, to the Securityholder of record on the Interest Record Date.

        If the principal amount of any Security, or any accrued and unpaid Interest or Contingent Interest, if any, are not paid when due (whether upon acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Indenture, upon the date set for payment of the Redemption Price pursuant to Section 5 hereof, upon the date set for payment of the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, upon the Stated Maturity of the Securities or upon the Interest Payment Dates), then in each such case the overdue amount shall, to the extent

A-4

permitted by law, bear cash interest at the rate of [    ]% per annum, compounded semi-annually, which interest shall accrue from the date such overdue amount was originally due to the date payment of such amount, including interest thereon, has been made or duly provided for. All such interest shall be payable in cash on demand but if not so demanded shall be paid quarterly to the Holders on the last day of each quarter.

2.    Method of Payment.

        Except as provided below, the Company shall pay Interest, including Contingent Interest, if any, on (i) Global Securities, to DTC in immediately available funds, (ii) any Certificated Security having an aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 or less, by check mailed to the Holder of such Security and (iii) any Certificated Security having an aggregate principal amount of more than $2,000,000, by wire transfer in immediately available funds if requested by the Holder of any such Security as least five business days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date.

        At Stated Maturity, the Company shall pay Interest on Certificated Securities at the Company’s office or agency maintained for that purpose, which initially shall be the office or agency of the Trustee located at [    ].

        Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall make payments in cash in respect of Redemption Prices, Repurchase Prices, Fundamental Change Repurchase Prices and at Stated Maturity to Holders who surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Securities. The Company shall pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. However, the Company may make such cash payments by check payable in such money.

3.    Contingent Interest.

        The Company shall pay Contingent Interest under the circumstances and in the amounts described in Article 11 of the Indenture. Such Contingent Interest, if any, shall be payable in the same manner, at the same time, and subject to the same restrictions, including those restrictions in respect of accrued and unpaid Interest on any Securities that are submitted for conversion, as payments of Interest.

4.    Indenture.

        The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited to $[660],000,000 aggregate principal amount. The Indenture does not limit other indebtedness of the Company, secured or unsecured.

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5.    Redemption at the Option of the Company.

        No sinking fund is provided for the Securities. The Securities are redeemable for cash at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time on or after December 15, 2006 upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice by mail for a redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to 100% of the principal amount of those Securities plus accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on those Securities up to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

        In no event shall any Security be redeemable before December 15, 2006.

6.    Purchase By the Company at the Option of the Holder.

        Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to repurchase, at the option of the Holder, all or any portion of the Securities held by such Holder on December 15, 2006, December 15, 2008, December 15, 2010, December 15, 2015, December 15, 2020, December 15, 2025 and December 15, 2030 in integral multiples of $1,000 at a Repurchase Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of those Securities plus accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on those Securities up to, but not including, the Repurchase Date. To exercise such right, a Holder shall deliver to the Paying Agent a Repurchase Notice containing the information set forth in the Indenture, at any time from the opening of business on the date that is 20 Business Days prior to such Repurchase Date until the close of business on the Repurchase Date, and shall deliver the Securities to the Paying Agent as set forth in the Indenture.

        At the option of the Holder and subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to repurchase the Securities held by such Holder after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change for a Fundamental Change Repurchase Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of those Securities plus accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on those Securities up to, but not including, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. To exercise such right, a Holder shall deliver to the Paying Agent a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice containing the information set forth in the Indenture at any time on or prior to the close of business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and shall deliver the Securities to the Paying Agent as set forth in the Indenture.

        Holders have the right to withdraw any Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, by delivering to the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

        If cash sufficient to pay the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, as the case may be, of all Securities or portions thereof to be

A-6

purchased as of the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, is deposited with the Paying Agent prior to or on the Repurchase Date or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, shall cease to accrue on such Securities (or portions thereof) on and following such Repurchase Date or Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, and the Holder thereof shall have no other rights as such other than the right to receive the Repurchase Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price upon surrender of such Security.

7.    Notice of Redemption.

        Notice of redemption pursuant to Section 5 of this Security shall be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at the Holder’s registered address. If money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the Redemption Date is deposited with the Paying Agent prior to or on the Redemption Date, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, shall cease to accrue on such Securities or portions thereof on and following such Redemption Date, and the Holder thereof shall have no other rights as such other than the right to receive the Redemption Price upon surrender of such Security. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 principal amount may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $1,000 of principal amount.

8.    Conversion.

        Subject to the occurrence of certain events and in compliance with the provisions of the Indenture (including, without limitation, the conditions to conversion of this Security set forth in Section 10.01 thereof), a Holder is entitled, at such Holder’s option, to convert the Holder’s Security (or any portion of the principal amount thereof that is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000), into cash or a combination of cash and fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the Conversion Rate in effect at the time of conversion.

        The Company shall notify Holders of any event triggering the right to convert the Securities as specified in the Indenture.

        A Security in respect of which a Holder has delivered a Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, exercising the option of such Holder to require the Company to purchase such Security, may be converted only if such Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, as the case may be, is withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

        The initial Conversion Rate is [    ] shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount, subject to adjustment in certain events described in the Indenture. The Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid Interest or accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any. Upon conversion, no

A-7

payment shall be made by the Company with respect to accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any. Instead, such amount shall be deemed paid by the cash and shares of Common Stock, if any, delivered upon conversion of any Security. In addition, no payment or adjustment shall be made in respect of dividends on the Common Stock, except as set forth in the Indenture.

        In addition, following certain corporate transactions as set forth in Section 10.01(b) of the Indenture that occur prior to December 15, 2006 and that also constitute a Change of Control, a Holder who elects to convert its Securities in connection with such corporate transaction shall be entitled to receive Additional Shares of Common Stock upon conversion. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, in the case of a Public Acquirer Change of Control, the Company may, in lieu of increasing the Conversion Rate by Additional Shares, elect to adjust the Conversion Rate and Conversion Obligation such that from and after the effective date of such Public Acquirer Change of Control, Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to convert their Securities into a number of shares of Public Acquirer Common Stock, as determined pursuant to Section 10.01(d) of the Indenture.

        To surrender a Security for conversion, a Holder must (1) complete and manually sign the Conversion Notice attached hereto (or complete and manually sign a facsimile of such notice) and deliver such notice to the Conversion Agent, (2) surrender the Security to the Conversion Agent, (3) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, (4) if required by Section 10.02(g) of the Indenture, pay Interest and Contingent Interest and (5) pay any transfer or similar tax, if required.

        No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of any Security. Instead of any fractional share of Common Stock that would otherwise be issued upon conversion of such Security, the Company shall pay a cash adjustment as provided in the Indenture.

        If the Company engages in any reclassification of the Common Stock (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value) or is party to a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets, and as a result of any such event the Holders of Common Stock would be entitled to receive Exchange Property for their Common Stock, upon conversion of the Securities after the effective date of such event, the Conversion Obligation and the Conversion Settlement Distribution shall be based on the applicable Conversion Rate and the Exchange Property, in each case in accordance with the Indenture.

9.     Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar.

        Initially, the Trustee shall act as Paying Agent, Conversion Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Conversion

A-8

Agent or Registrar without notice, other than notice to the Trustee. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Registrar.

10.    Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

        The Securities are in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 of principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) for a period of 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed or any Securities in respect of which a Repurchase Notice or Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been given and not withdrawn (except, in the case of a Security to be purchased in part, the portion of the Security not to be purchased).

11.    Persons Deemed Owners.

        The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of this Security for all purposes.

12.    Unclaimed Money or Securities.

        The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Company upon written request any money or securities held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Securities that remains unclaimed for two years, subject to applicable abandoned property law. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the money or securities must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.

13.     Amendment; Waiver.

        Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities and (ii) certain Events of Defaults may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Securities (i) to add guarantees with respect to the Securities, (ii) to remove any guarantee added to the Securities pursuant to clause (i), unless such guarantee is required pursuant to Section 5.01(a) of the Indenture, (iii) to conform as necessary, the Indenture and this Security to the “Description of the Debentures”

A-9

as set forth in the Prospectus, (iv) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of Securities, (v) to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company in the Indenture, (vi) to provide for conversion rights of Holders of Securities if any reclassification or change of the Company’s Common Stock or any consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets occurs, (vii) to provide for the assumption by a successor Person (and the public acquirer, if applicable) of the Company’s obligations to the Holders of Securities in the case of a merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition as provided under the Indenture, (viii) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of Certificated Securities; provided, however, that uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code, (ix) to change the Conversion Rate in accordance with the Indenture; provided, however, that any increase in the Conversion Rate other than pursuant to Article 10 shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities (after taking into account U.S. federal income tax and other consequences of such increase), (x) to comply with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA, (xi) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision in the Indenture which may be inconsistent with any other provision in the Indenture or which is otherwise defective; provided, however, that any such change or modification does not, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company (as evidenced by a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities in any material respect, (xii) to add or modify any other provisions of the Indenture with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture which the Company and the Trustee may deem necessary or desirable and which, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company (as evidenced by a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities in any material respect, (xiii) to establish the form of Securities if issued in definitive form and (xiv) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee.

14.    Defaults and Remedies.

        If any Event of Default with respect to Securities shall occur and be continuing, the principal amount of the Securities and any accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Contingent Interest, if any, on all the Securities may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

15.    Trustee Dealings with the Company.

        Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to

A-10

it by the Company or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

16.    Calculations in Respect of Securities.

        The Company or its agents shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Securities including, but not limited to, determination of the market prices for the Securities and of the Common Stock and the amount of Contingent Interest, if any, accrued on the Securities. Any calculations made in good faith and without manifest error shall be final and binding on Holders of the Securities. The Company or its agents shall be required to deliver to the Trustee a schedule of its calculations and the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon the accuracy of such calculations without independent verification.

17.    U.S. Federal Income Tax Treatment.

        For purposes of Sections 1272, 1273 and 1275 of the Code, this Security is being issued with Tax Original Issue Discount and the issue date of this Security is December [    ], 2005. In addition, this Security is subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments. For purposes of Sections 1272, 1273 and 1275 of the Code, the comparable yield of this Security is [    ]%, compounded semi-annually (which shall be treated as the yield to maturity for U.S. federal income tax purposes).

        The Company and each Holder, by acquiring a beneficial interest in a Security, agree (i) to treat the Security as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is subject to the Treasury regulations governing contingent payment debt instruments (the “contingent debt regulations”), (ii) that each Holder shall be bound by the Company’s application of the contingent debt regulations to the Security, including the Company’s determination of the “comparable yield” and “projected payment schedule” within the meaning of the contingent debt regulations, (iii) to treat the cash and the fair market value of any Common Stock received upon the conversion of the Security as a contingent payment for purposes of the contingent debt regulations, (iv) to accrue interest with respect to the outstanding Security as Tax Original Issue Discount according to the “noncontingent bond method” set forth in the contingent debt regulations, using the comparable yield of [      ]% compounded semi-annually and (v) that the Company and each Holder will not take any position on any U.S. federal income tax return that is inconsistent with (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), unless required by applicable law. The Company agrees to provide promptly to the Holder of this Security, upon written request, the issue price, amount of Tax Original Issue Discount, issue date, yield to maturity, comparable yield and projected payment schedule. Any such written request should be sent to the Company at the following address: St. Jude Medical, Inc., One Lillehei Plaza, St. Paul, Minnesota 55117, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

18.    No Recourse Against Others.

        A director, officer, employee or shareholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder

A-11

waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

19.    Authentication.

        This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually signs the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication on the other side of this Security.

20.    Abbreviations.

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

21.    Governing Law.

        THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THIS SECURITY, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS RULES THEREOF.

22.    Copy of Indenture.

        The Company shall furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to:

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
One Lillehei Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota 55117
Attn: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: 651-481-7690

A-12

ASSIGNMENT FORM

CONVERSION NOTICE

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

To convert this Security, check the box o

I or we assign and transfer this Security to

(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax ID no.)



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

and irrevocably appoint


____________________ agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him. To convert only part of this Security, state the principal amount to be converted (which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000):

If you want the stock certificate made out in another person’s name fill in the form below:


(Insert the other person's soc. sec. tax ID no.)






(Print or type other person's name, address and zip code)

Date: __________ Your Signature: ______________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security)

Signature Guaranteed

________________________________

Participant in a Recognized Signature

Guarantee Medallion Program

By:__________________________________
        Authorized Signatory

A-13

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASESOF
GLOBAL SECURITY

Initial Principal Amount of Global Security: [Six] Hundred Million Dollars ($[600],000,000).
Date	Amount of Increase in Prinicpal Amount of Global Security	Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of Global Security	Principal Amount of Global Security After Increase or Decrease	Notation by Registrar or Security Custodian

A-13

EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF FACE OF CERTIFICATED SECURITY]

        FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”), THIS SECURITY IS BEING ISSUED WITH TAX ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. THE ISSUE PRICE OF THIS SECURITY IS $1000 PER $1000 OF PRINCIPAL AMOUNT, AND THE ISSUE DATE OF THIS SECURITY IS DECEMBER [    ], 2005. IN ADDITION, THIS SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX REGULATIONS GOVERNING CONTINGENT PAYMENT DEBT INSTRUMENTS. FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE CODE, THE COMPARABLE YIELD OF THIS SECURITY IS [    ]%, COMPOUNDED SEMI-ANNUALLY (WHICH WILL BE TREATED AS THE YIELD TO MATURITY FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES).

        THE COMPANY AGREES TO PROVIDE PROMPTLY TO THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF TAX ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE, YIELD TO MATURITY, COMPARABLE YIELD AND PROJECTED PAYMENT SCHEDULE. ANY SUCH WRITTEN REQUEST SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC., ONE LILLEHEI PLAZA, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 55117, ATTENTION: CORPORATE SECRETARY.

B-1

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.

[    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035

CUSIP:
ISSUE DATE: December [      ], 2005                 Principal Amount: $ [      ]
No.

        ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC., a Minnesota corporation, promises to pay to __________ or registered assigns, the principal amount of _____________________, on December 15, 2035.

         Interest Rate: [      ]% per year.

         Interest Payment Dates: December 15 and June 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2006.

         Interest Record Date: December 1 and June 1 of each year.

         Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse side of this Security, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

B-2

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

Dated: _____________________	ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
	By: __________________________
	Title: _________________________

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

__________________________,
U.S. Bank National Association
as Trustee, certifies that this is one
of the Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

By__________________________________
           Authorized Signatory

Dated: _______________________________

B-3

[FORM OF REVERSE OF CERTIFICATED SECURITY IS IDENTICAL TO EXHIBIT A]

B-4

EXHIBIT C

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

[DATE]

To the Holders of the [    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035 issued by St. Jude Medical, Inc.:

        St. Jude Medical, Inc. (the “Issuer”) by this written notice hereby exercises, pursuant to Section 3.01 of that certain Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December [    ], 2005, between the Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association, its right to redeem $[_________] of its [    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035 (the “Securities”). All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

1.    Redemption Date: [_______ _, ____]

2.    Redemption Price: $[______]

3.    Conversion Rate: Each $1,000 principal amount of the Securities is convertible at your option into cash and common stock, if any, at a rate of [insert number of shares] shares of the Issuer’s common stock, $0.10 par value (the “Common Stock”), subject to adjustment, during the period described below.

4.    Paying Agent and Conversion Agent: [NAME] [ADDRESS]

5.    The Securities called for redemption may be converted at your option at any time from the date of this Notice of Redemption until 5:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately prior to the Redemption Date set forth above.

6.    The Securities called for redemption and not converted at your election prior to 5:00 p.m. on the Business Day immediately prior to Redemption Date set forth above shall be redeemed on the Redemption Date.

7.    If you elect to convert your Securities, you must satisfy the requirements for conversion set forth in your Securities.

8.    Your Securities called for redemption must be surrendered by you (by effecting book entry transfer of the Securities or delivering Certificated Securities, together with necessary endorsements, as the case may be) to [Name of Paying Agent] at [insert address] in order for you to collect the Redemption Price.

C-1

9.    [The Securities bearing the following Certificate Number(s) in the principal amount set forth below opposite such Certificate Number(s) are being redeemed:

        Certificate Number(s)                       Principal Amount]

10.    Unless the Issuer defaults in making the payment of the Redemption Price owed to you, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on your Securities called for redemption shall cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date.

11.    Cusip Number: [            ]

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.

C-2

EXHIBIT D

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
NOTICE OF REPURCHASE

[DATE]

To the Beneficial Owners of the [    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035 (the “Securities”) issued by St. Jude Medical, Inc.:

        St. Jude Medical, Inc. (the “Issuer”) by this written notice hereby notifies you, pursuant to Section 3.07 of that certain Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December [    ], 2005, between the Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association, that you may request the Issuer to repurchase your Securities by delivery of a Repurchase Notice. Included herewith is the form of Repurchase Notice to be completed by you if you wish to have your Securities repurchased by the Issuer. All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Indenture.

1.     Repurchase Date: [        ]

2.     Repurchase Price: [        ]

3.     Conversion Rate: To the extent described in Item 5 below, each $1,000 principal amount of the Securities is convertible into [insert number of shares] shares of the Issuer’s common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”), subject to adjustment.

4.     Paying Agent and Conversion Agent: [NAME] [ADDRESS]

5.    The Securities as to which you have delivered a Repurchase Notice to the Paying Agent may be converted if they are otherwise convertible pursuant to Article 10 of the Indenture and the terms of the Securities only if you withdraw such Repurchase Notice pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. You may be entitled to have your Securities converted into cash or a combination of cash and shares of the Issuer’s common stock, if any:

(i)   during any fiscal quarter commencing after December 31, 2005 (and only during such quarter, if the last reported sale price (as defined in the Indenture) of the Issuer’s common stock for at least 20 trading days in the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter was more than 130% of the conversion price (as defined in the Indenture) on such trading day;

D-1

(ii)   during the five business days immediately after any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price (as defined in the Indenture) per $1,000 principal amount of the Securities for each day of that period was less than 98% of the product of the closing price of the Common Stock and the conversion rate (as defined in the Indenture) of the Securities on each such day; provided, however, that you may not convert the Securities in reliance on this provision after December 15, 2030 if on any trading day during such five consecutive trading-day period the closing price of the Common Stock was between 100% and 130% of the conversion price of the Securities;

(iii)   if the Issuer has called the Securities for redemption;

(iv)   on or after December 15, 2034; or

(v)   upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate transactions described in the Indenture.

6.     The Securities as to which you have delivered a Repurchase Notice must be surrendered by you (by effecting book entry transfer of the Securities or delivering Certificated Securities, together with necessary endorsements, as the case may be) to [Name of Paying Agent] at [insert address] in order for you to collect the Repurchase Price.

7.     The Repurchase Price for the Securities as to which you have delivered a Repurchase Notice and not withdrawn such Repurchase Notice shall be paid promptly following the later of the business day immediately following such Repurchase Date and the date you deliver such Securities to [Name of Paying Agent].

8.     In order to exercise your option to have the Issuer repurchase your Securities, you must deliver the Repurchase Notice, duly completed by you with the information required by such Repurchase Notice (as specified in Section 3.07 of the Indenture) and deliver such Repurchase Notice to the Paying Agent at any time from 9:00 a.m. on [insert day that is 20 Business Days prior to Repurchase Date] until 5:00 p.m. on the [insert day that is the Repurchase Date].

9.     In order to withdraw any Repurchase Notice previously delivered by you to the Paying Agent, you must deliver to the Paying Agent, by 5:00 p.m. on [insert day that is the Repurchase Date], a written notice of withdrawal specifying (i) the certificate number, if any, of the Securities in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, (ii) the principal amount of the Securities in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and (iii) if you are not withdrawing your Repurchase Notice for all of your Securities, the principal amount of the Securities which still remain subject to the original Repurchase Notice.

D-2

10.     Unless the Issuer defaults in making the payment of the Repurchase Price owed to you, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on your Securities as to which you have delivered a Repurchase Notice shall cease to accrue on and after the Repurchase Date.

11.     Cusip Number: [        ]

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.

D-3

EXHIBIT E

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
NOTICE OF OCCURRENCE
OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE

[DATE]

To the Holders of the [    ]% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2035 (the “Securities”) issued by St. Jude Medical, Inc.:

        St. Jude Medical, Inc. (the “Issuer”) by this written notice hereby notifies you, pursuant to Section 3.08 of that certain Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December [    ], 2005, between the Issuer and U.S. Bank National Association, that a Fundamental Change (as such term and other capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein is defined in the Indenture) as described below has occurred. Included herewith is the form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to be completed by you if you wish to have your Securities repurchased by the Issuer.

1.     Fundamental Change: [Insert brief description of the Fundamental Change and the date of the occurrence thereof].

2.     Date by which Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must be delivered by you to Paying Agent in order to have your Securities repurchased:

3.     Fundamental Change Repurchase Date:

4.     Fundamental Change Repurchase Price:

5.     Paying Agent and Conversion Agent: [NAME] [ADDRESS]

6.     Conversion Rate: To the extent described in Item 7 below, each $1,000 principal amount of the Securities is convertible into [insert number of shares] shares of the Issuer’s common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”), subject to adjustment.

7.     The Securities as to which you have delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to the Paying Agent may be converted if they are otherwise convertible pursuant to Article 10 of the Indenture and the terms of the Securities only if you withdraw such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. You may be entitled to have your Securities converted into cash or a combination of cash and shares of the Issuer’s common stock:

E-1

(i)   during any fiscal quarter of the Issuer commencing after December 31, 2005 (and only during such fiscal quarter), if the last reported sale price (as defined in the Indenture) of the Issuer’s common stock for at least 20 trading days in the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter was more than 130% of the conversion price (as defined in the Indenture) on such last trading day;

(ii)   during the five business days immediately after any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price (as defined in the Indenture) per $1,000 principal amount of the Securities for each day of that period was less than 98% of the product of the closing price of the Common Stock and the conversion rate (as defined in the Indenture) of the Securities on each such day; provided, however, that you may not convert the Securities in reliance on this provision after December 15, 2030 if on any trading day during such five consecutive trading-day period the closing price of the Common Stock was between 100% and 130% of the conversion price of the Securities;

(iii)   if the Issuer has called the Securities for redemption;

(iv)   on or after December 15, 2034; or

(v)   upon the occurrence of certain specified corporate transactions described in the Indenture.

8.     The Securities as to which you have delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must be surrendered by you (by effecting book entry transfer of the Securities or delivering Certificated Securities, together with necessary endorsements, as the case may be) to [Name of Paying Agent] at [insert address] in order for you to collect the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

9.     The Fundamental Change Repurchase Price for the Securities as to which you have delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and not withdrawn such Notice shall be paid promptly following the later of the Business Day immediately following such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the date you deliver such Securities to [Name of Paying Agent].

10.     In order to have the Issuer repurchase your Securities, you must deliver the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, duly completed by you with the information required by such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (as specified in Section 3.08 of the Indenture) and deliver such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to the Paying Agent at any time from 9:00 a.m. on the date of the occurrence of the Change of Control until 5:00 p.m. on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

E-2

11.     In order to withdraw any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice previously delivered by you to the Paying Agent, you must deliver to the Paying Agent, by 5:00 p.m. on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, a written notice of withdrawal specifying (i) the certificate number, if any, of the Securities in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, (ii) the principal amount of the Securities in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and (iii) if you are not withdrawing your Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice for all of your Securities, the principal amount of the Securities which still remain subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.

12.     Unless the Issuer defaults in making the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price owed to you, Interest and Contingent Interest, if any, on your Securities as to which you have delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall cease to accrue on and after the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

13.     Cusip Number:[        ]

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.

E-3

SCHEDULE I

The following table sets forth the Stock Prices and the number of Additional Shares per $1,000 principal amount of Securities.

EX-5.1

EXHIBIT 5.1

[Letterhead of Dorsey & Whitney LLP]

December 5, 2005

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
One Lillehei Plaza
St. Paul, Minnesota 55117

        Re:         Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to St. Jude Medical, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offer and sale by the Company from time to time of (i) up to $660,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Debentures (the “Debentures”) which are convertible into cash and, in certain circumstances, shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Conversion Shares”) and (ii) the Conversion Shares (together with the Debentures, the “Securities”).

        For purposes of this opinion we have examined the following:

(a) the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (the “Articles of Incorporation”);

(b) the Bylaws of the Company, as amended and restated (the “Bylaws”);

(c) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted by written consent dated December 1, 2005 (the “Resolutions”);

(d) the form of Indenture between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the “Indenture”); and

(e) the Registration Statement, including the preliminary prospectus included therein (such preliminary prospectus, together with any final prospectus relating to the Debentures filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the “Prospectus”).

        We have also examined such other documents and reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary and appropriate for the purposes of our opinions set forth below. In rendering our opinions, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures and the conformity to authentic originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons and, with respect to all parties to agreements or instruments relevant hereto other than the Company, that such parties had the requisite power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute, deliver and perform such agreements or instruments, that such agreements or instruments have been duly authorized by all requisite action (corporate or otherwise), executed and delivered by such parties and that such agreements or instruments are the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of such parties. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials.

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
December 5, 2005
Page 2

        Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

1. When (a) the committee of the Board of Directors established pursuant to the Resolutions (the “Committee”) has adopted resolutions in sufficient form and content under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”), as then in effect, and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as then in effect, authorizing and approving the offering, sale and issuance of the Debentures, including the final form, terms and conditions of the Indenture and the Debentures, (b) the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, in accordance with the terms of such resolutions, and by the trustee and (c) the instruments representing the Debentures have been duly authenticated by the trustee and duly executed and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of such resolutions and the Indenture and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Debentures will constitute binding obligations of the Company.

2. The Company has the authority pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock. When (a) all actions described in paragraph 1 have been taken with respect to the Debentures and (b) the Conversion Shares have been issued and delivered upon conversion of the Debentures in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Debentures and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Conversion Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

        The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:

(a) Our opinions stated above are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights.

(b) Our opinions stated above are subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and other similar doctrines affecting the enforceability of agreements generally (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

(c) Minnesota Statutes §290.371, Subd. 4, provides that any corporation required to file a Notice of Business Activities Report does not have a cause of action upon which it may bring suit under Minnesota law unless the corporation has filed a Notice of Business Activities Report and provides that the use of the courts of the State of Minnesota for all contracts executed and all causes of action that arose before the end of any period for which a corporation failed to file a required report is precluded. Insofar as our opinions may relate to the valid, binding and enforceable character of any agreement under Minnesota law or in Minnesota court, we have assumed that any party seeking to enforce such agreement has at all times been, and will continue at all times to be, exempt from the requirement of filing a Notice of Business Activities Report or, if not exempt, has duly filed, and will continue to duly file, all Notice of Business Activities Reports.

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
December 5, 2005
Page 3

(d) We express no opinion as to the enforceability of (i) provisions that relate to choice of law, (ii) waivers by the Company of any statutory or constitutional rights or remedies or (iii) terms which excuse any person or entity from liability for, or require the Company to indemnify such person or entity against, such person’s or entity’s negligence or willful misconduct.

(e) We draw your attention to the fact that, under certain circumstances, the enforceability of terms to the effect that provisions may not be waived or modified except in writing may be limited.

        Our opinions expressed above are limited to the laws of the States of Minnesota and New York and the federal laws of the United States of America.

        We hereby confirm to you that our opinion regarding the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Debentures and the Conversion Shares is set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” subject to the limitations set forth therein.

        We hereby consent to your filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the captions “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” and “Validity of the Securities” contained in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933.

Dated: December 5, 2005

Very truly yours,

/s/ Dorsey & Whitney LLP

EX-12.1

EXHIBIT 12.1

ST. JUDE MEDICAL, INC.
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

											Nine Months Ended
			Fiscal Year Ended December 31,								September 30,
	2004		2003		2002		2001		2000		2005		2004
EARNINGS
Earnings from continuing operations
before income taxes	$	537,192	$	455,107	$	373,358	$	227,978	$	177,309	$	563,677	$	383,596
Plus fixed charges
Interest expense		4,810		3,746		1,754		12,567		28,569		5,384		3,765
Portion of rent under operating
leases representative of the
interest component		5,778		5,513		3,405		2,951		2,343		4,002		4,333
TOTAL FIXED CHARGES		10,588		9,259		5,159		15,518		30,912		9,386		8,098
TOTAL EARNINGS AVAILABLE
FOR FIXED CHARGES	$	547,780	$	464,366	$	378,517	$	243,496	$	208,221	$	573,063	$	391,694
RATIO OF EARNINGS
TO FIXED CHARGES		51.7		50.2		73.4		15.7		6.7		61.1		48.4

EX-23.2

EXHIBIT 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of St. Jude Medical, Inc. for the registration of Convertible Senior Debentures and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated February 16, 2005, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of St. Jude Medical, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of St. Jude Medical, Inc. incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2004 and the related Financial Statement Schedule of St. Jude Medical, Inc. included therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
December 5, 2005

EX-23.3

EXHIBIT 23.3

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of St. Jude Medical, Inc. for the registration of Convertible Senior Debentures and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 11, 2005, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. included in Form 8-K/A of St. Jude Medical, Inc. dated November 16, 2005 and filed on December 5, 2005 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Dallas, Texas
December 2, 2005

EX-24.1

EXHIBIT 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Daniel J. Starks, John C. Heinmiller and Kevin T. O’Malley, and each of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with the powers of substitution and revocation, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign a Registration Statement on Form S-3, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, relating to the registration of convertible debt securities of St. Jude Medical, Inc., and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and with such state commissions and other agencies as necessary, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney has been signed as of this 5th day of December, 2005, by the following persons:

Signature	Title
/s/ Daniel J. Starks	President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
Daniel J. Starks	(principal executive officer)
	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
John C. Heinmiller	(principal financial and accounting officer)
/s/ John W. Brown	Director
John W. Brown
/s/ Richard R. Devenuti	Director
Richard R. Devenuti
/s/ Stuart M. Essig	Director
Stuart M. Essig
/s/ Thomas H. Garrett III	Director
Thomas H. Garrett III
/s/ Michael A. Rocca	Director
Michael A. Rocca
/s/ David A. Thompson	Director
David A. Thompson
/s/ Stefan K. Widensohler	Director
Stefan K. Widensohler
/s/ Wendy L. Yarno	Director
Wendy L. Yarno
/s/ Frank C-P Yin	Director
Frank C-P Yin

EX-25.1

EXHIBIT 25.1

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER
THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of
a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

31-0841368
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota	55402
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Richard Prokosch
U.S. Bank National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55107
(651) 495-3918
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

St. Jude Medical, Inc.
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

Minnesota	41-1276891
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Lillehei Plaza St. Paul, Minnesota	55117
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Convertible Senior Debentures
(Title of the Indenture Securities)

FORM T-1

Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.

b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.*

2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business.*

3. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers.*

4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.*

5. A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

7. Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2005 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

        * Incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 2 Registration Number 333-128217.

2

SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of St. Paul, State of Minnesota on the 28th of November, 2005.

By:	/s/ Richard Prokosch
	Richard Prokosch
	Vice President

By:	/s/ Raymond Haverstock
	Raymond Haverstock
	Vice President

3

Exhibit 6

CONSENT

        In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated:  November 28, 2005

By:	/s/ Richard Prokosch
	Richard Prokosch
	Vice President

By:	/s/ Raymond Haverstock
	Raymond Haverstock
	Vice President

4

Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
As of 6/30/2005

($000‘s)

	6/30/2005
Assets
Cash and Due From Depository Institutions	$	6,450,815
Federal Reserve Stock		0
Securities		42,078,340
Federal Funds		3,154,120
Loans & Lease Financing Receivables		129,709,823
Fixed Assets		2,193,705
Intangible Assets		10,387,232
Other Assets		9,503,538
Total Assets	$	203,477,573
Liabilities
Deposits	$	128,180,426
Fed Funds		16,063,915
Treasury Demand Notes		0
Trading Liabilities		153,065
Other Borrowed Money		25,358,095
Acceptances		94,841
Subordinated Notes and Debentures		6,808,639
Other Liabilities		6,051,172
Total Liabilities	$	182,710,153
Equity
Minority Interest in Subsidiaries	$	1,024,947
Common and Preferred Stock		18,200
Surplus		11,804,040
Undivided Profits		7,920,233
Total Equity Capital	$	20,767,420
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital	$	203,477,573

To the best of the undersigned’s determination, as of the date hereof, the above financial information is true and correct.

U.S. Bank National Association

By:	/s/ Richard Prokosch
	Vice President

Date: November 28, 2005

5