Atmos Energy 8K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement | ATO 10 Oct 23

Atmos Energy (ATO) 8-KEntry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Exhibit 4.4

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

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

ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

6.200% Senior Notes due 2053


No. 1		CUSIP NO. 049560 BA2 ISIN NO. US049560BA22

Atmos Energy Corporation, a Texas and Virginia corporation (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor entity under the Indenture, hereinafter defined), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns the principal sum of FIVE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($500,000,000) on November 15, 2053 (the “Maturity Date”), at the office or agency of the Company referred to below, and to pay interest thereon from October 10, 2023, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 in each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), beginning May 15, 2024 at 6.200% per annum until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for.

Any payment of principal or interest required to be made on a day that is not a Business Day need not be made on such day, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such day and no interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment. Interest payable on each Interest Payment Date will include interest accrued from and including October 10, 2023, or from and including the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be, to but excluding such Interest Payment Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person (the “Holder”) in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the May 1 and November 1 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date (a “Regular Record Date”). Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for (“Defaulted Interest”) will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee (referred to herein), notice whereof shall be given to the Holder of this Security not less than ten days prior to such Special Record Date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

For purposes of this Security, “Business Day” means any day that, in the city of the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and in the City of New York, is neither a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be maintained for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. So long as this Security remains in book-entry form, all payments of principal and interest will be made by the Company in immediately available funds.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company, designated as the 6.200% Senior Notes due 2053 (the “Securities”), issued under an Indenture dated as of March 26, 2009, as it may be supplemented from time to time (referred to herein as the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (referred to herein as the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the series of which this Security is a part). A reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties, obligations and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered, except as otherwise provided herein.

The Securities are initially limited to $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount. The Company may, at any time, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, issue additional securities having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms (except for the issue date, public offering price and, if applicable, the first interest payment date) as the Securities. Any such additional securities shall be consolidated and form the same series of the Securities having the same terms as to status, redemption and otherwise as the Securities under the Indenture.

Events of Default. If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all the Securities may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Optional Redemption. Prior to the applicable Par Call Date (as defined below), the Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(1)(a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Securities being redeemed matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, less (b) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed;

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed to the applicable Redemption Date.

On or after the applicable Par Call Date, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but not including, the applicable Redemption Date.

“Par Call Date” means May 15, 2053.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Company shall determine the Treasury Rate after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the applicable Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the applicable Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number

of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the applicable Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the applicable Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the applicable Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the applicable Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the applicable Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the applicable Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the applicable Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

In the case of a partial redemption of the Securities, selection of the Securities for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Security is redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Security will state the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed. A new Security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security being redeemed will be issued in the name of the holder of such Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so long as the Securities being redeemed are held by DTC (or another Depository), the Redemption of such Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Depository. Notice of any Redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the Depository’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Securities to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the applicable Redemption Price, on or after the applicable Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities being redeemed or portions thereof called for Redemption.

Sinking Fund. This Security does not have the benefit of any sinking fund obligations.

Modification and Waivers; Obligations of the Company Absolute. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities. Certain limited amendments may be effected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of any Holders of the Securities. Certain other amendments affecting the Securities may only be effected under the Indenture with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Outstanding Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture affecting the Securities. Furthermore, provisions in the Indenture permit the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities to waive on behalf of all of the Holders of all Outstanding Securities certain past defaults under the Indenture in respect of the Securities and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by or on behalf of the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

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

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Company represented by this Security and (b) certain restrictive covenants and the related Defaults and Events of Default, upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to this Security.

Authorized Denominations. The Securities are issuable only in registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Registration of Transfer or Exchange. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. At the date of the original issuance of this Security such office or agency of the Company is maintained by U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association, 2 Concourse Parkway, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA, 30328-5588.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange or redemption of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes or other governmental charges payable in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange.

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

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

Governing Laws. This Security and the Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws principles that would apply any other law.

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


ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION

By:		/s/ Daniel M. Meziere
		Name: Daniel M. Meziere Title: Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer

Attest:


By:	/s/ Karen E. Hartsfield
	Name:	Karen E. Hartsfield
	Title:	Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

2053 Note No. 1

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

2053 Note No. 1

ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Security, fill in the form below:

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Security to

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. 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.

Dated: October 10, 2023

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,
as Trustee

/s/ Jack Ellerin

Authorized Officer