Exhibit 4.10
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRUST AGREEMENT
among
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES, AS DEPOSITOR,
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
AS PROPERTY TRUSTEE,
THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE)
AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE,
and
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
DATED AS OF _________________, 1999
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL TRUST I
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Article I.
DEFINED TERMS.....................................................................................................1
Section 1.1 Definitions............................................................................1
Article II.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST.......................................................................................10
Section 2.1 Name..................................................................................10
Section 2.2 Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business...........................10
Section 2.3 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses.......................10
Section 2.4 Issuance of the Preferred Securities..................................................10
Section 2.5 Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and
Purchase of Debentures................................................................11
Section 2.6 Declaration of Trust..................................................................11
Section 2.7 Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions......................................12
Section 2.8 Assets of Trust.......................................................................15
Section 2.9 Title to Trust Property...............................................................15
Article III.
PROPERTY ACCOUNT.................................................................................................15
Section 3.1 Property Account......................................................................15
Article IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION........................................................................................16
Section 4.1 Distributions.........................................................................16
Section 4.2 Redemption............................................................................17
Section 4.3 Subordination of Common Securities....................................................19
Section 4.4 Payment Procedures....................................................................20
Section 4.5 Tax Returns and Reports...............................................................20
Section 4.6 Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust...........................................21
Section 4.7 Payments under Indenture..............................................................21
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Article V.
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES....................................................................................21
Section 5.1 Initial Ownership.....................................................................21
Section 5.2 The Trust Securities Certificates.....................................................21
Section 5.3 Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates...............................21
Section 5.4 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities.........................22
Section 5.5 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates....................22
Section 5.6 Persons Deemed Securityholders........................................................23
Section 5.7 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses................................23
Section 5.8 Maintenance of Office or Agency.......................................................23
Section 5.9 Appointment of Paying Agent...........................................................23
Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor...........................................24
Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common
Securities Certificate................................................................24
Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency............................................................25
Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates..........................................25
Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders.............................................................26
Article VI.
ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING........................................................................28
Section 6.1 Limitations on Voting Rights..........................................................28
Section 6.2 Notice of Meetings....................................................................29
Section 6.3 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders.................................................29
Section 6.4 Voting Rights.........................................................................29
Section 6.5 Proxies, etc..........................................................................30
Section 6.6 Securityholder Action by Written Consent..............................................30
Section 6.7 Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.............................................30
Section 6.8 Acts of Securityholders...............................................................30
Section 6.9 Inspection of Records.................................................................31
Article VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...................................................................................32
Section 7.1 Representations and Warranties of the Bank, the Property Trustee
and the Delaware Trustee..............................................................32
Section 7.2 Representations and Warranties of Depositor...........................................33
Article VIII.
THE TRUSTEES.....................................................................................................33
Section 8.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities...................................................33
Section 8.2 Certain Notices.......................................................................35
Section 8.3 Certain Rights of Property Trustee....................................................35
Section 8.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities................................37
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Section 8.5 May Hold Securities...................................................................37
Section 8.6 Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.........................................................37
Section 8.7 Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Trustees..........................39
Section 8.8 Conflicting Interests.................................................................39
Section 8.9 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee......................................................39
Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.....................................41
Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor................................................42
Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business..............................................................................43
Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust..........................43
Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee...........................................................44
Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee.......................................................44
Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent......................................45
Section 8.17 Number of Trustees....................................................................45
Section 8.18 Delegation of Power...................................................................45
Article IX.
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER..............................................................................46
Section 9.1 Dissolution Upon Expiration Date......................................................46
Section 9.2 Early Termination.....................................................................46
Section 9.3 Termination...........................................................................46
Section 9.4 Liquidation...........................................................................46
Section 9.5 Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of
the Trust.............................................................................48
Article X.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.........................................................................................49
Section 10.1 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders...............................................49
Section 10.2 Amendment.............................................................................49
Section 10.3 Separability..........................................................................50
Section 10.4 Governing Law.........................................................................50
Section 10.5 Payments Due on Non-Business Day......................................................51
Section 10.6 Successors............................................................................51
Section 10.7 Headings..............................................................................51
Section 10.8 Reports, Notices and Demands..........................................................51
Section 10.9 Agreement Not to Petition.............................................................52
Section 10.10 Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act................................52
Section 10.11 Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and
Indenture.............................................................................52
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SIERRA PACIFIC CAPITAL TRUST I
CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT RELATING TO
SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318 OF THE
TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:
Trust Indenture Trust Agreement
ACT SECTION SECTION
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Section 310(a)(1)...............................................................................................8.7
(a)(2)..........................................................................................................8.7
(a)(3)..........................................................................................................8.9
(a)(4)...................................................................................................2.7(a)(ii)
(b).............................................................................................................8.8
Section 311(A).................................................................................................8.13
(b)............................................................................................................8.13
Section 312(a)..................................................................................................5.7
(b).............................................................................................................5.7
(c).............................................................................................................5.7
Section 313(a)..............................................................................................8.14(a)
(a)(4)......................................................................................................8.14(b)
(b).........................................................................................................8.14(b)
(c)............................................................................................................10.8
(d).........................................................................................................8.14(c)
Section 314(a).................................................................................................8.15
(b)..................................................................................................Not Applicable
(c)(1).........................................................................................................8.16
(c)(2).........................................................................................................8.16
(c)(3)...............................................................................................Not Applicable
(d)..................................................................................................Not Applicable
(e).......................................................................................................1.1, 8.16
Section 315(a).......................................................................................8.1(a), 8.3(a)
(b).......................................................................................................8.2, 10.8
(c)..........................................................................................................8.1(a)
(d)........................................................................................................8.1, 8.3
(e)..................................................................................................Not Applicable
Section 316(a).......................................................................................Not Applicable
(a)(1)(A)............................................................................................Not Applicable
(a)(1)(B)............................................................................................Not Applicable
(a)(2)...............................................................................................Not Applicable
(b)............................................................................................................5.14
(c).............................................................................................................6.7
Section 317 (a)(1)...................................................................................Not Applicable
(a)(2)...............................................................................................Not Applicable
(b).............................................................................................................5.9
Section 318(a)................................................................................................10.10
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Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any
purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Trust Agreement.
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of _________________,
1999, among (i) Sierra Pacific Resources, a Nevada corporation (including any
successors or assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) The Bank of New York, a banking
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of New York, as
property trustee, (in each such capacity, the "Property Trustee" and, in its
separate corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the
"Bank"), (iii) The Bank of New York (Delaware), a Delaware banking
corporation, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), (iv) [ ], an
individual, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, an individual, each of whose address is
▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (6100 ▇▇▇▇ Road) Reno, Nevada
89520-3150 (each an "Administrative Trustee" and collectively the
"Administrative Trustees") (the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and
the Administrative Trustees referred to collectively as the "Trustees") and
(v) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined.
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Trustees have heretofore duly declared
and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by
the entering into that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of _________________,
1999 (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed
on ______________, 1999, attached as EXHIBIT A; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Trustees desire to amend and restate the
Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for,
among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to
the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the
Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (iii) the acquisition by the Trust
from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Debentures and
(iv) the appointment of the Administrative Trustees;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties
and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the
Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:
Article I.
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1 DEFINITIONS. For all purposes of this Trust
Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context
otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings
assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be,
of this Trust Agreement; and
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of
a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional
Interest (as defined in the Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of
Debentures for such period.
"Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 10.6 of
the Indenture.
"Administrative Trustee" means each of [ ], and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, solely in such Person's capacity as Administrative Trustee of the
Trust created and continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual
capacity, or such Administrative Trustee's successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule
405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule
thereunder.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly
adopted by the Depositor's Board of Directors, or such committee of the Board of
Directors or officers of the Company to which authority to act on behalf of the
Board of Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the
date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees.
"Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means a
beneficial interest in the Preferred Securities Certificates, ownership and
transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as
described in Section 5.11.
"Business Day" means a day other than (a) a Saturday or
Sunday, (b) a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are
authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed, or (c) a day
on which the Property Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the Corporate Trust
Office of the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
"Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement among
the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial
Clearing Agency, dated as of the Closing Date, relating to the Trust Securities
Certificates, substantially in the form attached as EXHIBIT B, as the same may
be amended and supplemented from time to time.
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"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a
"clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing
Agency.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank,
other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a
Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited
with the Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" means the First Time of Delivery, which date is
also the date of execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such
Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under
the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in
the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the
rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as EXHIBIT C.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the
Property Trustee located at [ ], ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
"Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as
defined in the Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any
Debentures to be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption
under the Indenture.
"Debenture Tax Event" means a "Tax Event" as defined in the
Indenture.
"Debenture Trustee" means The Bank of New York, a trust
company organized under the laws of New York, and any successor thereto.
"Debentures" means the aggregate principal amount of the
Depositor's ____% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series
___, issued pursuant to the Indenture.
3
"Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or
both (as the context requires) of (a) Preferred Securities Certificates issued
as Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as provided in Section 5.11(a)
and (b) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully
registered form as provided in Section 5.13.
"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of
the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq., as it may be amended from
time to time.
"Delaware Trustee" means the corporation identified as the
"Delaware Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its
capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust created and continued hereunder and
not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity,
or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this
Trust Agreement.
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section
4.1(a).
"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust
Securities as provided in Section 4.1.
"Early Dissolution Event" has the meaning specified in Section
9.2.
"Event of Default" means any one of the following events
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary
or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(a) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default; or
(b) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any
Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default
for a period of 30 days; or
(c) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any
Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material
respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement
(other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance or breach of
which is dealt with in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default
or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or
certified mail, to the defaulting Trustee or Trustees by the Holders of at least
25% in aggregate liquidation preference of the Outstanding Preferred Securities
a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or
4
(e) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the
Property Trustee and the failure by the Depositor to appoint a successor
Property Trustee within 60 days thereof.
"Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and
Liabilities between the Depositor and the Trust, substantially in the form
attached as EXHIBIT D, as amended from time to time.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
"First Time of Delivery" has the meaning specified in the
Underwriting Agreement.
"Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and
delivered by the Depositor and The Bank of New York, as trustee,
contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for
the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to
time.
"Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as
of , 1999, between the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee, as trustee, as
amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of
an Opinion of Counsel, rendered by a law firm having a recognized national tax
and securities practice, to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a
change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law
or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), to the effect that the Trust is or will
be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under
the 1940 Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the
date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities under this Trust
Agreement.
"Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage,
deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security
interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential
arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Trust
Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal
amount of Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
Indenture the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such
Trust Securities, and (b) with respect to a distribution of Debentures to
Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of
the Trust, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount
of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Debentures are distributed.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust
Security. "Liquidation Date" means the date on which Debentures are to be
distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination and
liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4(a).
5
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in
Section 9.4(d).
"1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the
President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the
Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Depositor, and
delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers'
Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.16 shall be the principal executive,
financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Trust Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating
thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the
Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such
examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to
enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who
may be counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Depositor, but not an
employee of any thereof, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property
Trustee.
"Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the
recitals to this Trust Agreement.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Preferred Securities,
means, as of the date of determination, all Preferred Securities theretofore
executed and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
(a) Preferred Securities theretofore canceled by the Property
Trustee or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money
in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee
or any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities; provided that,
if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has
been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
6
(c) Preferred Securities which have been paid or in exchange
for or in lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been executed and
delivered pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.11 and 5.13; provided, however, that
in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the
Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by
the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (i) in
determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only
Preferred Securities that such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so
disregarded and (ii) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the
outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the
Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned which have
been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee
establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee's
right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a
Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the
Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as
reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing
Agency (directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing
Agency).
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent
appointed pursuant to Section 5.9 and shall initially be the Bank.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in
the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the
rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate
evidencing ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached
as EXHIBIT E.
"Property Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing
corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its
trust department for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts
paid in respect of the Debentures will be held and from which the Property
Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Sections
4.1 and 4.2.
"Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company
identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement
solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore created and
continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its
7
successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee
appointed as herein provided.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to
be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust
Agreement; provided that each Debenture Redemption Date and the stated maturity
of the Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust
Securities.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any Trust Security,
the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the Redemption Date, plus the related amount of the premium, if
any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption of a Like Amount of
Debentures, allocated on a pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among
the Trust Securities.
"Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.10.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Property
Trustee, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice
President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant
Treasurer, any Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of
the Corporate Trust Department of the above-designated officers and also means,
with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom
such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity
with the particular subject.
"Second Time of Delivery" has the meaning specified in the
Underwriting Agreement.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the
respective meanings specified in Section 5.4.
"Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a
Trust Security or Trust Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any
such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business
Trust Act.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of
the Preferred Securities under this Trust Agreement, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the
date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to United States Federal income tax
with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures, (ii) interest
payable by the Depositor on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days after the
date of such Opinion of Counsel, will not be, deductible by the Depositor, in
whole or in
8
part, for United States Federal income tax purposes or (iii) the Trust is, or
will be within 90 days after the date of such Opinion of Counsel, subject to
more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties, assessments or other
governmental charges.
"Time of Delivery" means, collectively, the First Time of
Delivery and the Second Time of Delivery.
"Trust" means the Delaware business trust created and
continued hereby and identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement.
"Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance
with the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including,
for all purposes of this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, respectively.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as
in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided,
however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such
date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment,
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) the rights of
the Property Trustee under the Guarantee, (c) any cash on deposit in, or owing
to, the Property Account and (d) all proceeds and rights in respect of the
foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to
be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust Agreement.
"Trust Redemption Tax Opinion" means an opinion of nationally
recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters that there has
been a Tax Event, and following such Tax Event there is more than an
insubstantial risk that interest payable by One Sierra Pacific with respect to
the Debentures is not, and will not be deductible by Sierra Pacific for United
States federal income tax purposes even if the Debentures were distributed to
the Holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of such Holders' interests in
the Trust.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the
Preferred Securities.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common
Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.
"Trust Special Event" means a Tax Event or an Investment
Company Event.
"Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees.
9
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Pricing Agreement, dated as
of _____________, 1999, among the Trust, the Depositor and the underwriters
named therein incorporating the Underwriting Agreement dated ____________, 1999.
Article II.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST
Section 2.1 NAME.
The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "Sierra Pacific Resources
Capital Trust I," as such name may be modified from time to time by the
Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust
Securities and the other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the
business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on
behalf of the Trust and ▇▇▇ and be sued.
Section 2.2 OFFICE OF THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE; PRINCIPAL PLACE OF
BUSINESS.
The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is , or
such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may
designate by written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor. The
principal executive office of the Trust is ▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (6100 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇), ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
Section 2.3 INITIAL CONTRIBUTION OF TRUST PROPERTY;
ORGANIZATIONAL EXPENSES.
The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt in trust from the Depositor
in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which
constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational
expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee,
promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such expenses paid by such Trustee. The
Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such
expenses.
Section 2.4 ISSUANCE OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES.
The Depositor, on behalf of the Trust and pursuant to the Original
Trust Agreement, executed and delivered the Underwriting Agreement.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, an
Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in accordance with
Section 5.2 and deliver to the Underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement
Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the nominee of the
initial Clearing Agency, in an aggregate amount of Preferred Securities having
an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $__________________, against receipt of such
aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $_________________,
which amount the Administrative Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Property
Trustee. If there is a Second Time of Delivery, an Administrative Trustee, on
behalf of the Trust, shall execute in accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to
the
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Underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement Preferred Securities
Certificates, registered in the name of the nominee of the initial Clearing
Agency, in an aggregate amount of up to Preferred Securities having an aggregate
Liquidation Amount of up to $__________, against receipt of such aggregate
purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $____________, which amount such
Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee, on the
date specified pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
Section 2.5 ISSUANCE OF THE COMMON SECURITIES; SUBSCRIPTION AND
PURCHASE OF DEBENTURES.
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in
accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities
Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of
Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $____________
against payment by the Depositor of such amount. Contemporaneously therewith, an
Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase
from the Depositor Debentures, registered in the name of the Trust and having an
aggregate principal amount equal to $______________, and, in satisfaction of the
purchase price for such Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the
Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $_____________. If there is a
Second Time of Delivery, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust,
shall execute in accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Depositor Common
Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an
aggregate amount of up to Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation
Amount of up to $_______________ against payment by the Depositor of such
amount. Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the
Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Debentures, registered
in the name of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount of up to
$__________________, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such
Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the
Depositor the amount received from one of the Administrative Trustees pursuant
to the last sentence of Section 2.4.
Section 2.6 DECLARATION OF TRUST.
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and
sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the
Debentures, and (b) to engage in those activities necessary, convenient or
incidental thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of
the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth
herein, and the Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee
hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject
to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the
Securityholders. The Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and
duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to
accomplishing the purposes of the Trust.
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Section 2.7 AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.
(a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in
accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations
set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance with the following
provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all
transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in
exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees
under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof,
including without limitation, the following:
(i) As among the Trustees, each Administrative
Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with
respect to the following matters:
(A) the issuance and sale of the Trust
Securities;
(B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute,
deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense
Agreement and the Certificate Depository Agreement and such
other agreements as may be necessary or desirable in
connection with the purposes and function of the Trust;
(C) assisting in the registration of the Preferred
Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
under state securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification
of this Trust Agreement as a trust indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act;
(D) assisting in the listing of the Preferred
Securities upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall
be determined by the Depositor and the registration of the
Preferred Securities under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the preparation and filing of all
periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant to the
foregoing;
(E) the sending of notices (other than notices of
default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities
and the Debentures to the Securityholders in accordance with
this Trust Agreement;
(F) the appointment of a Paying Agent, authenticating
agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this Trust
Agreement;
(G) registering transfer of the Trust Securities in
accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(H) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement,
the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust
and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate
of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware;
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(I) unless otherwise required by the Delaware
Business Trust Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to execute on
behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any
or all of the Administrative Trustees) any documents that the
Administrative Trustees have the power to execute pursuant to
this Trust Agreement; and
(J) the taking of any action incidental to the
foregoing as the Trustees may from time to time determine is
necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this
Trust Agreement for the benefit of the Securityholders
(without consideration of the effect of any such action on any
particular Securityholder).
(ii) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall
have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to
the following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Property Account;
(B) the receipt of the Debentures;
(C) the collection of interest, principal and any
other payments made in respect of the Debentures in the
Property Account;
(D) the distribution of amounts owed to the
Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and
privileges of a holder of the Debentures;
(F) the sending of notices of default and other
information regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures
to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust
Agreement;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in
accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(H) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement,
the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust
and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate
of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware;
(I) after an Event of Default the taking of any
action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may
from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give
effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement and protect and
conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the
Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any
such action on any particular Securityholder); and
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(J) except as otherwise provided in this Section
2.7(a)(ii), the Property Trustee shall have none of the
duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the
Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 2.7(a)(i).
The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor
shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the
Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware
Trustee shall be one of the Trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited
purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business
Trust Act. The duties and obligations of the Delaware Trustee shall be
determined solely by the express provisions of this Trust Agreement, and there
shall be no other duties or obligations, express or implied, of the Delaware
Trustee.
(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the
Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any
business activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or
contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trustees shall not (i) acquire any
investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement,
(ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise
dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to
Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that
would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for
United States Federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for
borrowed money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action that
would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. The
Administrative Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at
any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest
of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred
Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the
Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any
actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date
of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the preparation and filing by the Trust with the
Commission and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement
on the appropriate form in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any
amendments thereto;
(ii) the determination of the States in which to take
appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred
Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than actions
which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to the Trustees
of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for
execution and filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or
on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order
to comply with the applicable laws of any such States;
(iii) the preparation for filing by the Trust and
execution on behalf of the Trust of an application to the New York Stock
Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market for
listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities;
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(iv) the preparation for filing by the Trust with the
Commission and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement
on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under
Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto;
(v) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution
and delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the
Preferred Securities; and
(vi) the taking of any other actions necessary or
desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of
the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an
"investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended, or taxed as a corporation for United States Federal income
tax purposes and so that the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the
Depositor for United States Federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not
inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust
Agreement, that each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees determines
in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as
such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of
the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
Section 2.8 ASSETS OF TRUST.
The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
Section 2.9 TITLE TO TRUST PROPERTY.
Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by
the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders in
accordance with this Trust Agreement. The Holders shall not have legal title to
any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial
ownership interest in the assets of the Trust.
Article III.
PROPERTY ACCOUNT
Section 3.1 PROPERTY ACCOUNT.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee
shall establish the Property Account. The Property Trustee and any agent of the
Property Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with
respect to the Property Account for the purpose of making
15
deposits in and withdrawals from the Property Account in accordance with this
Trust Agreement. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to
time in the Property Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the
Property Account for the exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for
distribution as herein provided, including (and subject to) any priority of
payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Property
Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and
any other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Debentures. Amounts held in
the Property Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending
distribution thereof.
Article IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION
Section 4.1 DISTRIBUTIONS.
(a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative,
and will accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for
the payment of Distributions. Distributions shall accrue from _________________,
________________, and, except in the event that the Depositor exercises its
right to defer the payment of interest on the Debentures pursuant to the
Indenture, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September
30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on _____________________, 1999. If
any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is
not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in
the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on such date (each date on which distributions are payable in
accordance with this Section 4.1(a), a "Distribution Date").
(b) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial
interests in the Trust Property, and, as a practical matter, the Distributions
on the Trust Securities shall be payable at a rate of _____% per annum of the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions payable
for any full period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. The amount of Distributions for any partial period shall be
computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include
the Additional Amounts, if any.
(c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the
Property Trustee from the Property Account and shall be payable on each
Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and
available in the Property Account for the payment of such Distributions.
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(d) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a
Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the
Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which
shall be one Business Day prior to such Distribution Date; provided, however,
that in the event that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry-only
form, the relevant record date shall be the date 15 days prior to the relevant
Distribution Date.
Section 4.2 REDEMPTION.
(a) On each Debenture Redemption Date and on the stated
maturity of the Debentures, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount
of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property
Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to
be redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All
notices of redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price;
(iii) the CUSIP number;
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities
are to be redeemed, the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the
particular Trust Securities to be redeemed; and
(v) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price
will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and
that distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date.
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date
shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the
contemporaneous redemption of Debentures. Redemptions of the Trust Securities
shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date
only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the
Property Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in
respect of any Preferred Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on
the Redemption Date, [subject to Section 4.2(c),] the Property Trustee will, so
long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry-only form, irrevocably
deposit with the Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities funds sufficient
to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give such Clearing Agency
irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
Holders thereof. If the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry-only
form, the Property Trustee, [subject to Section
17
4.2(c),] will irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay
the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable
instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof
upon surrender of their Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any
Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such
Trust Securities as they appear on the Register for the Trust Securities on the
relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of
redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the
date of such deposit, all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so
called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to
receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable on or prior to the
Redemption Date, but without interest, and such Securities will cease to be
outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable
is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date
will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such
Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect
as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in
respect of any Trust Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or
refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the
Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accrue, at
the then applicable rate, from the Redemption Date originally established by the
Trust for such Trust Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually
paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for
redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
(e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust Securities
shall be made to the record holders thereof as they appear on the Securities
Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be
one Business Day prior to the relevant Redemption Date; provided, however, that
in the event that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry-only
form, the relevant record date shall be the date fifteen days prior to the
relevant Redemption Date.
(f) If, at any time, a Trust Special Event shall occur and be
continuing, the Administrative Trustees shall, unless the Debentures are
redeemed in the limited circumstances described below, within 90 days following
the occurrence of such Trust Special Event elect to either (i) dissolve the
Trust upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice with the result that,
after satisfaction of creditors, if any, of the Trust, Debentures would be
distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Trust Preferred Securities
and the Trust Common Securities in liquidation of such Holders' interests in the
Trust; provided, however, that if at the time there is available to the Trust
the opportunity to eliminate, within such 90-day period, the Trust Special Event
by taking some ministerial action, such as filing a form or making an election,
or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure which in the sole judgment of
the Depositor has or will cause no adverse effect on the Trust, the Sponsor or
the Holders of the Trust Securities and will involve no material cost, the Trust
will pursue such measure in lieu of dissolution or (ii) cause the Preferred
Securities to remain outstanding; provided, that in the case of this clause
(ii), the Sponsor shall pay any and all expenses incurred by or payable by the
Trust attributable to the Trust Special Event. Furthermore, if in the case of
the occurrence of a Tax Event, the Administrative Trustees have received a Trust
18
Redemption Tax Opinion, then the Debenture Trustee shall have the right, within
90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, to elect to redeem the
Debentures in whole (but not in part) for cash upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days notice and promptly following such redemption, the Trust Securities
will be redeemed by the Trust at the Redemption Price as described in this
Section 4.2 below.
(g) If the Debentures are distributed to the Holders of the
Preferred Securities, the Depositor will use its best efforts to cause the
Debentures to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other national
securities exchange or similar organization as the Preferred Securities are then
listed or quoted.
(h) On the date fixed for any distribution of Debentures, upon
dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities
will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and (ii) certificates representing
Trust Securities will be deemed to represent the Debentures having a liquidation
preference equal to the stated liquidation amount of such Trust Securities until
such certificates are presented to the Depositor or its agent for transfer or
reissuance.
(i) Subject to Section 4.3(a), if less than all the
Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be
allocated on a pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among the Common
Securities and the Preferred Securities. The particular Preferred Securities to
be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation
Amounts) not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property
Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for
redemption, by such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as the
Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the
selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an integral multiple of
$25 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a
denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the
Security Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities selected for
redemption and in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial
redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of
this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions
relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of
any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion
of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities that has been or is to be
redeemed. [In any case, a failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in
the notice to the Holder of any Trust Security designated for redemption as a
whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Trust Security.
Section 4.3 SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if
applicable) on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust Securities, as
applicable, shall be made, subject to Section 4.2(i), pro rata among the Common
Securities and the Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or
Redemption Date any Event of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default
shall have occurred and be
19
continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if
applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, any Common Security, and no other
payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common
Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and
unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on all
Outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or
prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount
of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have
been made or provided for and all funds immediately available to the Property
Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all
Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or the
Redemption Price of, Preferred Securities then due and payable.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default
resulting from any Debenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities
will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of
Default under this Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of
Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated. Until any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement
with respect to the Preferred Securities has been so cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the Common Securities, and only
the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the
Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
Section 4.4 PAYMENT PROCEDURES.
Payments of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable)
in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Securities Register or, if the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing
Agency, such Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately
available funds, which shall credit the relevant Persons' accounts at such
Clearing Agency on the applicable distribution dates. Payments in respect of the
Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed
between the Property Trustee and the Common Securityholder.
Section 4.5 TAX RETURNS AND REPORTS.
The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at
the Depositor's expense, and file all United States Federal, state and local tax
and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the
Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and file
(or cause to be prepared and filed) the appropriate Internal Revenue Service
Form required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the
Trust and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to
each Securityholder the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to be
provided on such form. The Administrative Trustees shall provide the Depositor
and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly
after such filing or furnishing. The Trustees shall comply with United States
Federal withholding and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting
requirements with respect to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust
Securities.
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Section 4.6 PAYMENT OF TAXES, DUTIES, ETC. OF THE TRUST. Upon receipt
under the Debentures of Additional Sums, the Property Trustee shall promptly pay
any taxes, duties or governmental charges of whatsoever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing
authority.
Section 4.7 PAYMENTS UNDER INDENTURE.
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities
shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder (and
Owner) has directly received pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture.
Article V.
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
Section 5.1 INITIAL OWNERSHIP.
Upon the creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at
any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the Depositor shall
be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.
Section 5.2 THE TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.
The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum
denominations of $25 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $25 in excess
thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in denominations
of $25 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples thereof. The Trust Securities
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual signature of at
least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the
manual signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures
shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be
validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so
authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did
not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust Securities
Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a
Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the
obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust
Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.11
and 5.13.
Section 5.3 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF TRUST SECURITIES
CERTIFICATES.
At each Time of Delivery, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust
Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in
Sections 2.4 and 2.5, to be executed on behalf of the Trust and delivered to or
upon the written order of the Depositor, signed by its chairman of the board,
its president, any executive vice president or any vice president, treasurer or
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assistant treasurer or controller without further corporate action by the
Depositor, in authorized denominations.
Section 5.4 REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED
SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.
The Depositor shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, a register or registers for the purpose of
registering Trust Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges of
Preferred Securities Certificates (the "Securities Register") in which, the
registrar designated by the Depositor (the "Securities Registrar"), subject to
such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the
registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common Securities
Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities
Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred
Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Bank shall be the initial
Securities Registrar. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any
Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to
Section 5.8, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and
deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more
new Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount dated the date of execution by such Administrative
Trustee or Trustees. The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register
the transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption.
At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged
for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the
same class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the
Preferred Securities Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 5.8. Every Preferred Securities Certificate
presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to an
Administrative Trustee and the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder
or his attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities
Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be
cancelled and subsequently disposed of by an Administrative Trustee in
accordance with such Person's customary practice. No service charge shall be
made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that maybe imposed in
connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.
Section 5.5 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN TRUST SECURITIES
CERTIFICATES.
If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered
to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust
Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities
Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice
that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the
Trust shall execute and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu
of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a
new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination. In
connection with the issuance of any new Trust
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Securities Certificate under this Section, the Administrative Trustees or the
Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall
constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.
Section 5.6 PERSONS DEEMED SECURITYHOLDERS.
The Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar shall treat the
Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the
Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the
purpose of receiving distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice
to the contrary.
Section 5.7 ACCESS TO LIST OF SECURITYHOLDERS' NAMES AND
ADDRESSES.
Each Holder of a Trust Securities Certificate, and each Owner shall be
deemed to have agreed not to hold the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the
Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and
address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived.
Section 5.8 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.
The Administrative Trustees shall maintain an office or offices or
agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served.
The Administrative Trustees initially designate Sierra Pacific Resources, P.O.
Box 30150 (6100 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇), ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attn: __________, as its
principal corporate trust office for such purposes. The Administrative Trustees
shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of
any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or
agency.
Section 5.9 APPOINTMENT OF PAYING AGENT.
The Paying Agent shall make distributions to Securityholders from the
Property Account and shall report the amounts of such distributions to the
Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have
the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Property Account for the purpose
of making the distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may
revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in
their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its
obligations under this Trust Agreement in any material respect. The Paying Agent
shall initially be the Bank, and any co-paying agent chosen by the Bank, and
acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. Any Person acting
as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days'
written
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notice to the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Depositor.
In the event that the Bank shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor
Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the Administrative
Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the Property Trustee
and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust
company). The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent or
any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to execute
and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent
or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent,
such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if
any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of
the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such
Securityholders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the
Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also
return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of
Sections 8.1, 8.3 and 8.6 herein shall apply to the Bank also in its role as
Paying Agent, for so long as the Bank shall act as Paying Agent and, to the
extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference
in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless
the context requires otherwise.
Section 5.10 OWNERSHIP OF COMMON SECURITIES BY DEPOSITOR.
At each Time of Delivery, the Depositor shall acquire and retain
beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, other than a transfer in connection with a transaction
permitted by Section 8.1 of the Indenture, any attempted transfer of the Common
Securities shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common
Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS
CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUST
AGREEMENT (DEFINED BELOW)".
Section 5.11 BOOK-ENTRY PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES; COMMON
SECURITIES CERTIFICATE.
(a) The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original
issuance, will be issued in the form of a typewritten Preferred Securities
Certificate or Certificates representing Book-Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates, to be delivered to The Depository Trust Company or its agent, the
initial Clearing Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Preferred
Securities Certificate or Certificates shall initially be registered on the
Securities Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial
Clearing Agency, and no Owner will receive a Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificate representing such Owner's interest in such Preferred Securities,
except as provided in Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13:
(i) the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in
full force and effect;
(ii) the Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be
entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Trust
Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates
(including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on
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the Book-Entry Preferred Securities and the giving of instructions or directions
to Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of Book-Entry
Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof;
(iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section
5.11 conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the provisions
of this Section 5.11 shall control; and
(iv) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry
Preferred Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing
Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between
such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants.
Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and until Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 5.13, the
initial Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency
Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities to
such Clearing Agency Participants.
(b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the
Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive
Common Securities Certificate.
Section 5.12 NOTICES TO CLEARING AGENCY.
To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is
required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section
5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified
herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no
obligations to the Owners.
Section 5.13 DEFINITIVE PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.
If (a) the Depositor advises the Trustees in writing that the Clearing
Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities
with respect to the Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is
unable to locate a qualified successor, (b) the Depositor at its option advises
the Trustees in writing that it elects to terminate the book-entry system
through the Clearing Agency or (c) after the occurrence of a Debenture Event of
Default, Owners of Preferred Securities Certificates representing beneficial
interests aggregating at least a majority of the Liquidation Amount advise the
Administrative Trustees in writing that the continuation of a book-entry system
through the Clearing Agency is no longer in the best interest of the Owners of
Preferred Securities Certificates, then the Administrative Trustee shall notify
the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency shall notify all Owners of Preferred
Securities Certificates and the other Trustees of the occurrence of any such
event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates to Owners of such class or classes, as applicable, requesting the
same. Upon surrender to the Administrative Trustees of the typewritten Preferred
Securities Certificate or Certificates representing the Book Entry Preferred
Securities Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration
instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions
of the
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Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall be
liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely
on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance
of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize
the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as
Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be
printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the
execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of them.
Section 5.14 RIGHTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and
the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the
undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their
Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or
division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below.
The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights
specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. The Trust Securities
shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to
Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor will be fully
paid and nonassessable by the Trust. The Holders of the Trust Securities, in
their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
(b) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if,
upon a Debenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of
not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to
declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and
payable, the Holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities then Outstanding shall have such right by a notice in writing to the
Depositor and the Debenture Trustee; and upon any such declaration such
principal amount of and the accrued interest on all of the Debentures shall
become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of principal and
interest on such Debentures shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in
the Indenture.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
the Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the
money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as in the Indenture
provided, the Holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the
Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences
if:
(i) the Depositor has paid or deposited with the
Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue installments of interest (including
any Additional Interest (as defined in the Indenture)) on all of the Debentures,
26
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any
Debentures which have become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate
borne by the Debentures, and
(C) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture
Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee
and the Property Trustee, their agents and counsel; and
(ii) all Events of Default with respect to the
Debentures, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Debentures which
has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 5.13 of the Indenture.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred
Securities, waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the
payment of principal or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum
sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due
otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or
a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot
be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Debenture. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice declaring such
an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of the
Preferred Securities all or part of which is represented by Book-Entry Preferred
Securities Certificates, a record date shall be established for determining
Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities entitled to join in such notice,
which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property
Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly
designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such
notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date;
provided, that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and
annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the
requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day which is 90
days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or
rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without
further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in
this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving,
after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of
acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is
identical to a written notice which has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to
the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.14(b).
(c) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain
Outstanding, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of
this Trust Agreement and the Indenture, upon a Debenture Event of Default
specified in Section 5.1(1) or 5.1(2) of the Indenture, any Holder of Preferred
Securities shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the
Depositor, pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture, for enforcement of payment
to such Holder of the principal amount of or interest on Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of
27
the Preferred Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action"). In connection
with any such Direct Action, the Holders of the Common Securities will be
subrogated to the rights of any Holder of the Preferred Securities to the
extent of any payment made by the Depositor to such Holder of Preferred
Securities as a result of such Direct Action. Except as set forth in Section
5.14(b) and (c), the Holders of Preferred Securities shall have no right to
exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or in
respect of, the Debentures.
Article VI.
ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
Section 6.1 LIMITATIONS ON VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) Except as provided in this Section, in Sections 5.14, 8.10
and 10.2 and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of
Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise
control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the
obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or
contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as
to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an
association.
(b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to
such Debentures, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Section
5.13 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable or
(iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or
the Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case,
obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a majority in
Liquidation Amount of all Outstanding Preferred Securities, provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each
Holder of Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the
Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred
Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or
approved by a vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities, except by a
subsequent vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee
shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default
received from the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures. In addition
to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities,
prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense
of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to
the effect that the Trust will not be classified as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes on account of such
action.
(c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides
for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
adversely affect in any material
28
respect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities,
whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the
terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred
Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and
such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of
the Holders of at least a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result of
such amendment, the Trust would cause the Trust to fail or cause to be
classified as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
Section 6.2 NOTICE OF MEETINGS.
Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the
time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee
pursuant to Section 10.8 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at his
registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the
meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so
considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned
meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
Section 6.3 MEETINGS OF PREFERRED SECURITYHOLDERS.
No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The
Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to
vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of
record of 25% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities and the
Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at anytime in their
discretion, call a meeting of Preferred Securityholders to vote on any matters
as to which Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote.
Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% in Liquidation Amount of the
Outstanding Preferred Securities, present in person or by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the
Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding more
than a majority of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation
Amount)held by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, either in person
or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders,
unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
Section 6.4 VOTING RIGHTS.
Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $25 of
Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any
matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote.
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Section 6.5 PROXIES, ETC.
At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote
thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting
unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or
with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may
direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken.
Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in
the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property
Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust
Securities are held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any
meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more
than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and
such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be
cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A
proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be
deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of
proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more
than three years after its date of execution.
Section 6.6 SECURITYHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT.
Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be
taken without a meeting and without prior notice if Securityholders than a
majority of all Outstanding Trust Securities (based upon their Liquidation
Amount) entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion
thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Trust
Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing.
Section 6.7 RECORD DATE FOR VOTING AND OTHER PURPOSES.
For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to
notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate in
any distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is
not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any
other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not
more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the
payment of a distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date
for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such
purposes
Section 6.8 ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made
or taken by Securityholders or Owners may be embodied in and evidenced by one or
more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders
or Owners in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when
such instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred
30
to as the "Act" of the Securityholders or Owners 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 Trust
Agreement and (subject to Section 8.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if
made in the manner provided in this Section.
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 him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
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 any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.
The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future
Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust
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 Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not
notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to
take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so
with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security
or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such
appointment with regard to all or any part of such liquidation amount.
If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders and the
Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect
to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand,
authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or
Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the
Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
Section 6.9 INSPECTION OF RECORDS.
Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders
during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such
Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder.
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Article VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 7.1 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BANK, THE
PROPERTY TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE.
The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf
of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Depositor and the Securityholders that:
(a) the Property Trustee is a [trust company] duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of [The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts];
(b) the Property Trustee has full corporate power, authority
and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(c) the Delaware Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in the State of Delaware;
(d) the Delaware Trustee has full corporate power, authority
and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(e) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and constitutes
the valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust
Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on
the part of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and does not require
any approval of stockholders of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Charter or
By-laws of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, (ii) violate any
provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a default
under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien on any properties
included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any indenture,
mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which
the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee is a party or by which it is bound,
or (iii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States
or the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking, trust or
general powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (as
32
appropriate in context) or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;
(g) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the
consummation of any of the transactions by the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee (as appropriate in context) contemplated herein or therein requires the
consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the
taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency
under any existing Federal law governing the banking, trust or general powers of
the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, under the laws
of the United States or the State of Delaware;
(h) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of each
of the Property Trustee's and the Delaware Trustee's knowledge, threatened
against or affecting the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court
or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal
which, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect
the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, to enter into or perform
its obligations as one of the Trustees under this Trust Agreement.
Section 7.2 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITOR.
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Securityholders that (a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued at each Time
of Delivery on behalf of the Trust have been duly authorized and will have been,
duly and validly executed, issued and delivered by the Trustees pursuant to the
terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust
Agreement and the Securityholders will be, as of each such date, entitled to the
benefits of this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges
payable by the Trust (or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust) under the laws of
the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.
Article VIII.
THE TRUSTEES
Section 8.1 CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be
as provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Trust Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or
otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any
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of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers,
if they 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. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or
affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed to release the
Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act, or its own willful misconduct. To the extent that, at law or in
equity, a Trustee has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities
relating thereto to the Trust or to the Securityholders, such Trustee shall not
be liable to the Trustor to any Securityholder for such Trustee's good faith
reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust
Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the
Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and
the Securityholders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the
Trustees.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying
Agent in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and
proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be
sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property
Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof.
Each Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will
look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent
legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the
Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect
of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust
Security. This Section 8.1(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees
expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the
Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any
error of judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with
respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in
accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities relating to the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee
under this Trust Agreement;
(iii) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to
the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the
Property Account shall be to deal with such Property in a similar manner as the
Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject to the
protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under
this Trust Agreement and the Trust Indenture Act;
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(iv) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any
interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the
Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from
other funds held by it except in relation to the Property Account maintained by
the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to the extent otherwise
required by law; and
(v) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for
monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor with
their respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall the Property
Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of the Administrative Trustees
or the Depositor.
Section 8.2 CERTAIN NOTICES.
Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such Event of
Default to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. Within five
Business Days after the receipt of notice of the Depositor's exercise of its
right to defer the payment of interest on the Debentures pursuant to the
Indenture, the Administrative Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the
extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such exercise to the Securityholders
and the Property Trustee, unless such exercise shall have been revoked.
Section 8.3 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:
(a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in
acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of
Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee,
certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture,
note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it
to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or
parties;
(b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement
the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action
or (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property
Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions
contained herein or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of
any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which
the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust
Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor
requesting written instructions of the Depositor as to the course of action to
be taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking
such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or
to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if the
Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten
Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably
35
shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent practicable
shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be under no duty
to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this Trust
Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the
Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability
except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct;
(c) any direction or act of the Depositor or the
Administrative Trustees contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;
(d) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement,
the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be established before
undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee
(unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which,
upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor or
the Administrative Trustees;
(e) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or
continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any
rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof;
(f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which
counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may
include any of its employees) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered
or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in
accordance with such advice, such counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any
of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees; the Property Trustee
shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Trust Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction;
(g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the
request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust
Agreement, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property
Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction;
(h) the Property 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, consent, order,
approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more
Securityholders, but the Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(i) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or
powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or
through its agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be
responsible for its own negligence or recklessness with respect to selection of
any agent or attorney appointed by it hereunder;
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(j) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the
Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder the Property
Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Trust Securities
which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the
Property Trustee under the terms of the Trust Securities in respect of such
remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or
taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall
be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; and
(k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust
Agreement, the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any
action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty
or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any
right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction
in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No
permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.
Section 8.4 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF
SECURITIES.
The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume
any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable
for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Debentures.
Section 8.5 MAY HOLD SECURITIES.
Any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust
Securities and, except as provided in the definition of the term
"Outstanding" in Article I and, subject to Sections 8.8 and 8.13, may
otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were
not a Trustee or such other agent.
Section 8.6 COMPENSATION; INDEMNITY; FEES.
The Depositor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable
compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation
shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements
and advances incurred or made by the
37
Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and
counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to
indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Trustee,
(iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or agent of
any Trustee, and (iv) any employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates,
(referred to herein as an "Indemnified Person") from and against any loss,
damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature
whatsoever incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of the creation,
operation or termination of the Trust or any act or omission performed or
omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a
manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of
authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Trust Agreement, except
that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any
loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of
negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(d) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to
advance expenses (including legal fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in
defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to
time, prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by the Depositor of (i) a written affirmation by or on
behalf of the Indemnified Person of its or his good faith belief that it or he
has met the standard of conduct set forth in this Section 8.6 and (ii) an
undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it
shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be
indemnified as authorized in the preceding subsection.
The provisions of this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of
this Trust Agreement.
No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any Trust Property as a
result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.
The Depositor and any Trustee may, subject to Section 8.8, engage in or
possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description,
independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the
Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Trust Securities shall have no rights by
virtue of this Trust Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income
or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if
competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or
improper. Neither the Depositor, nor any Trustee, shall be obligated to present
any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such
opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by
the Trust, and the Depositor or any Trustee shall have the right to take for its
own account(individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others
any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Trustee may engage or
be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Depositor or any
Affiliate of the Depositor, or may act as depository for, trustee or agent for,
or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations
of the Depositor or its Affiliates.
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Section 8.7 CORPORATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY OF
TRUSTEES.
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder
with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person
that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of
this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to
be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of
this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative
Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative
Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a
legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that
entity.
(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with
respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a
natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of
Delaware or (ii) a legal entity with its principal place of business in the
State of Delaware and that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable
Delaware law that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such
entity.
Section 8.8 CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest
within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust
Agreement.
Section 8.9 CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE TRUSTEE.
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at
anytime or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may
at the time be located, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees, by agreed
action of the majority of such Trustees, shall have power to appoint, and upon
the written request of the Administrative Trustees, the Depositor shall for such
purpose join with the Administrative Trustees in the execution, delivery, and
performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint,
one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as co-trustee
jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or
to the extent required by law to act as separate trustee of any such property,
in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of
appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the capacity aforesaid,
any property, title, right or power deemed
39
necessary or desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. If the
Depositor does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by
it of a request so to do, or in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such
appointment. Any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this
Section shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and
a resident of the United States or (ii) a legal entity with its principal place
of business in the United States that shall act through one or more persons
authorized to bind such entity.
Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any
co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such
co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and
all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered
by the Depositor.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms,
namely:
(a) The Trust Securities shall be executed and delivered and
all rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody
of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be
deposited or pledged with, the Trustees specified hereunder, shall be exercised,
solely by such Trustees and not by such co-trustee or separate trustee.
(b) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby
conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property
covered by such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or
performed by the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee
or separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument appointing
such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that under any law of
any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property
Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event
such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised and performed by
such co-trustee or separate trustee.
(c) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in
writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may
accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed
under this Section, and, in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the resignation
of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without the concurrence
of the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the
Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and
performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to effectuate
such resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or separate trustee
so resigned or removed may be appointed in the manner provided in this Section.
(d) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be
personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee or
any other trustee hereunder.
40
(e) The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of any
act of a co-trustee or separate trustee.
(f) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall
be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
Section 8.10 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.
No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and
no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in
accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11.
Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Relevant Trustee
may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Securityholders.
If the instrument of acceptance by the successor Trustee required by Section
8.11 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after
the giving of such notice of resignation, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at
the expense of the Trust, any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Common
Securityholder. If a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may
be removed at such time by Act of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its
individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may
be removed by the Common Securityholder at any time.
If any Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting
as Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any
cause, at a time when no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder
delivered to the retiring Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or
Trustees, and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements
of Section 8.11. If the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall resign,
be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Property Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, at a time when a Debenture Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Preferred Securityholders, by
Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities then Outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall
promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor
Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If an
Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as
Administrative Trustee, at a time when a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Common Securityholder by Act of the Common
Securityholder delivered to the Administrative Trustee shall promptly appoint a
successor Administrative Trustee or Administrative Trustees and such successor
Administrative Trustee or Trustees shall comply with the applicable
41
requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been
so appointed by the Common Securityholder or the Preferred Securityholders and
accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any Securityholder
who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities for at least six months may,
on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all
Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 10.8 and shall give notice to
the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant
Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property
Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is
a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent
or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity
may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of remaining Administrative Trustees if
there are at least two of them or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the
successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement
for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, set forth
in Section 8.7).
Section 8.11 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee such
successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Trust and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and
thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and
deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights,
powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and if the Property Trustee is the
resigning Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to the successor
Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Property Trustee hereunder.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee,
the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect
to the Trust Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein
each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a)
shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities and the Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the
provisions of this Trust Agreement as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it
being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such
Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such
amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall
become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with
all the
42
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on
request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee such retiring Relevant
Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant
Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring
Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts
referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be. No
successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of
such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible
under this Article.
Section 8.12 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO
BUSINESS.
Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee
maybe merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such
Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall
be the successor of such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation
shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto.
Section 8.13 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST DEPOSITOR
OR TRUST.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
similar judicial proceeding relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the
Trust Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on
the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall
have made any demand on the Trust for the payment of any past due Distributions)
shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by
intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any
Distributions owing and unpaid in respect of the Trust Securities (or, if the
Trust Securities are Discount Securities, such portion of the liquidation amount
as may be specified in the terms of such Trust Securities) and to file such
other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the
claims of the Property Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its
agents and counsel) 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 other
similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the
Property Trustee
43
shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to
the Property Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and
counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property
Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement adjustment or compensation affecting the
Trust Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the
Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such
proceeding.
Section 8.14 REPORTS BY PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
(a) Not later than July 15 of each year commencing with July
15, 1999, the Property Trustee shall transmit to all Securityholders in
accordance with Section 10.8, and to the Depositor, a brief report dated as of
such December 31 with respect to:
(i) its eligibility under Section 8.7 or, in lieu
thereof, if to the best of its knowledge it has continued to be eligible under
said Section, a written statement to such effect;
(ii) a statement that the Property Trustee has complied
with all of its obligations under this Trust Agreement during the twelve-month
period (or, in the case of the initial report, the period since the Closing
Date) ending with such December 31 or, if the Property Trustee has not complied
in any material respect with such obligations, a description of such
noncompliance; and
(iii) any change in the property and funds in its
possession as Property Trustee since the date of its last report and any action
taken by the Property Trustee in the performance of its duties hereunder which
it has not previously reported and which in its opinion materially affects the
Trust Securities.
(b) In addition the Property Trustee shall transmit to
Securityholders such reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions
under this Trust Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such
transmission to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with each national
stock exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or such other interdealer quotation
system or self-regulatory organization upon which the Trust Securities are
listed or traded, with the Commission and with the Depositor.
Section 8.15 REPORTS TO THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.
The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust
44
Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 8.16 EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate
to any of the matters set forth in Section 314 (c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to
Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate.
Section 8.17 NUMBER OF TRUSTEES.
(a) The number of Trustees shall be four, provided that the
Holder of all of the Common Securities by written instrument may increase or
decrease the number of Administrative Trustees. The Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee may be the same Person.
(b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the
number of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.17(a), or
if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy
shall occur. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance
with Section 8.10.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy,
incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate
to annul, dissolve or terminate the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of
Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the
appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.10, the
Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement), shall have all the
powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties
imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
Section 8.18 DELEGATION OF POWER.
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney
consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the
age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents
contemplated in Section 2.7(a), including any registration statement or
amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other governmental
filing; and
(b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate
from time to time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such
things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or
the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative
Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by
applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust Agreement, as set
forth herein.
45
Article IX.
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
Section 9.1 DISSOLUTION UPON EXPIRATION DATE.
Unless earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on
December 31, 2053 (the "Expiration Date"). Thereafter, the Trust Property shall
be distributed in accordance with Section 9.4.
Section 9.2 EARLY TERMINATION.
The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early
Dissolution Event", the occurrence of which will cause a dissolution of the
Trust:
(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the
dissolution or liquidation of, the Depositor;
(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from the
Depositor at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the
discretion of the Depositor) to dissolve the Trust and distribute Debentures to
Securityholders in exchange for the Preferred Securities;
(c) the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities in
connection with the redemption or maturity of all the Debentures; and
(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a
court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 9.3 TERMINATION.
The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the
Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of
the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders
upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, or upon the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2, of all
amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust
Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c)the
discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including
the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or
the Securityholders.
Section 9.4 LIQUIDATION.
(a) If an Early Dissolution Event specified in clause (a), (b)
or (d) of Section 9.2 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be
liquidated by the Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee
determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of
46
liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to each
Securityholder a Like Amount of Debentures, subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice of
liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage
prepaid mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation
Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder's address appearing in
the Securities Register. All notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
(ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the
Trust Securities will
no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust Securities Certificates not
surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of
Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the
mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for
Debentures, or if Section 9.4(d) applies receive a Liquidation Distribution, as
the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.
(b) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to
effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Debentures to
Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such
distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation
Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of
a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem
appropriate to effect the distribution of Debentures in exchange for the
Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the
Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be
Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Debentures will be
issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such
certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange, (iii)
the Depositor shall use its reasonable efforts to have the Debentures listed on
the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange, interdealer quotation
system or self-regulatory organization as the Preferred Securities are then
listed, (iv) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange
will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Debentures, accruing interest at
the rate provided for in the Debentures from the last Distribution Date on which
a Distribution was made on such Trust Securities Certificates until such
certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered,
no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities
Certificates with respect to such Debentures) and (v) all rights of
Securityholders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such
Securityholders to receive Debentures upon surrender of Trust Securities
Certificates.
(d) In the event that, notwithstanding the other provisions of
this Section 9.4, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court
of competent jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the
manner provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be
practical, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be
wound-up by the Property Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee
determines. In such
47
event, Securityholders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
Trust available for distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount
equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation
Distribution"). If, upon any such winding up the Liquidation Distribution can be
paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in
full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next
succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities
shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The holder
of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions
upon any such winding-up pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of
Preferred Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the
Common Securities.
Section 9.5 MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR
REPLACEMENTS OF THE TRUST.
The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, convert into,
amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, except pursuant to this
Section 9.5 or Section 9.4. At the request of the Depositor, with the consent of
the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, the Trust
may merge with or into, consolidate, convert into, amalgamate, or be replaced by
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided,
that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities or (b)
substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially
the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long
as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in
priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption
and otherwise, (ii) the Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor
entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the
holder of the Debentures, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed or traded,
or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any
national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed or traded, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation,
conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v)
such merger, consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose
substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger,
consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a)
such merger, consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect, and (b)following such merger,
consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register
as an investment company
48
under the 1940 Act and (viii) the Depositor owns all of the common securities
of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor
entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the
Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with
the consent of Holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, merge with or into, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other entity
to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such
consolidation, amalgamation, merger, conversion, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
Article X.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 10.1 LIMITATION OF RIGHTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
The death, dissolution, termination, bankruptcy or incapacity of any
Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall
not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal
successors, representatives or heirs of such Person or any Securityholder for
such Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding
in any court for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated
hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the
parties hereto or any of them.
Section 10.2 AMENDMENT.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by
the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, without the
consent of any Securityholders, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement
any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein,
or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
under this Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other
provisions of this Trust Agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any
provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to
ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States Federal income tax
purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are
outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an
investment company under the 1940 Act; provided, however, that in the case of
clause (i), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the
interests of any Securityholder, and any such amendments of this Trust Agreement
shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Securityholders.
(b) Except as provided in Section 10.2(c) hereof, any
provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustees and the
Depositor with (i) the consent of Trust Securityholders representing not less
than a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then
Outstanding and (ii)receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees
in accordance with such
49
amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption from status of an
investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in
this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such
consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6 hereof), this Trust
Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of
any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a
specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date; notwithstanding
any other provision herein, without the unanimous consent of the Securityholders
(such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 6.3 or 6.6 hereof), this
paragraph (c) of this Section 10.2 may not be amended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust
Agreement, no Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust
Agreement which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the
exemption from status of an investment company under the 1940 Act or fail or
cease to be classified as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the
contrary, without the consent of the Depositor, this Trust Agreement may not be
amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is
made, the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy
of such amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee
shall be required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement which
affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement. The
Property Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an
Officers' Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in
compliance with this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.3 SEPARABILITY.
In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust
Securities Certificates 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 10.4 GOVERNING LAW.
This Trust Agreement and the rights and obligations of each of the
Securityholders, the Trust and the Trustees with respect to this Trust Agreement
and the Trust Securities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by
the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws
principles).
50
Section 10.5 PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAY.
If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day
that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but
maybe made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (except as
otherwise provided in Sections 4.1(a) and 4.2(d)), with the same force and
effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no interest shall
accrue thereon for the period after such date.
Section 10.6 SUCCESSORS.
This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant Trustee,
including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a
transaction involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article Eight of the
Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the
Depositor's obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its
obligations hereunder.
Section 10.7 HEADINGS.
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.8 REPORTS, NOTICES AND DEMANDS.
Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any
provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served
to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing
by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand
delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of
a Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such
Securityholder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b)
in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Sierra Pacific
Resources, P.O. Box 30150 (6100 ▇▇▇▇ Road) Reno, Nevada 89520-3150, Attention:
____________, facsimile no.: ___-___-_____. Such notice, demand or other
communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been
sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or
transmission.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of
this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon
the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published
by the Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee to; (b) with
respect to the Delaware Trustee, to The Bank of New York
(Delaware) [ ] ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇;
------------------------------------
and (c) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address
above for notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention Administrative Trustees of
Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I." Such notice, demand or other
communication to or upon the Trust or the Property Trustee shall be deemed to
have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by
the Trust or the Property Trustee.
51
Section 10.9 AGREEMENT NOT TO PETITION.
Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the
Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has
been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join in
the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United
States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in
the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law.
In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the
Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, that at the expense
of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise
properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust
or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has
agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped and precluded
therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustee or the
Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.9 shall survive the
termination of this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.10 TRUST INDENTURE ACT; CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE
ACT.
(a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust Agreement and shall, to
the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee
for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another
provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by any
of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall
control. If any provision of this Trust Agreement modifies or excludes any
provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the
latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Trust Agreement as so modified
or excluded, as the case may be.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement
shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
Section 10.11 ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS OF TRUST AGREEMENT, GUARANTEE AND
INDENTURE.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN
BY OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY
SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL
ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL
52
THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE INDENTURE, AND
SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS
THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING,
OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH
OTHERS.
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Property
Trustee
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee
By:
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-------------------------------------
[ ], as Administrative Trustee
-------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as Administrative Trustee
53
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL TRUST I
THIS Certificate of Trust of Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I
(the "Trust"), dated as of ______________ __, 1999, is being duly executed and
filed by the undersigned, as trustees, to form a business trust under the
Delaware Business Trust Act (12 DEL. C. ss. 3801, eT Seq.).
1. NAME. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Sierra
Pacific Resources Capital Trust I.
2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the
trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware
is [
-----------------------------------------------------
Attention: .]
-------------------------------------------------------
3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon
filing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the trustees of the Trust,
have executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first-above written.
[ ], not
--------------------------------------
in its individual capacity but solely as
trustee of the Trust
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[ ], not in
-----------------------------------
his [her] individual capacity but solely as
trustee of the Trust
-------------------------------------
A-1
EXHIBIT B
The Depository Trust Company
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention:
---------------------
Re: Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I ___% Trust
Originated PREFERRED SECURITIES, SERIES A
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The purpose of this letter is to set forth certain matters relating to
the issuance and deposit with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") of the Sierra
Pacific Resources Capital Trust I Preferred Securities, Series A (the "Preferred
Securities"), of Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I, a Delaware business
trust (the "Issuer"), formed pursuant to a Trust Agreement, as amended and
restated, between Sierra Pacific Resources ("Sierra Pacific") and
[ ], as Property Trustee, [ ],
---------------------------------------- ----------
as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named therein. The payment
of distributions on the Preferred Securities, and payments due upon liquidation
of Issuer or redemption of the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer
has funds available for the payment thereof are guaranteed by Sierra Pacific to
the extent set forth in a Guarantee Agreement dated ______________, ____ by
Sierra Pacific with respect to the Preferred Securities. Sierra Pacific and the
Issuer propose to sell the Preferred Securities to certain Underwriters (the
"Underwriters") pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement dated _____________, ____
by and among the Underwriters, the Issuer and Sierra Pacific, and the
Underwriters wish to take delivery of the Preferred Securities through DTC.
[ ]is acting as transfer agent and registrar with
------------------------- respect to the Preferred Securities (the "Transfer
Agent and Registrar").
To induce DTC to accept the Preferred Securities as eligible for
deposit at DTC, and to act in accordance with DTC's rules with respect to the
Preferred Securities, the Issuer, the Transfer Agent and Registrar and DTC agree
among each other as follows:
1. Prior to the closing of the sale of the Preferred Securities to the
Underwriters, which is expected to occur on or about _________________, ___,
there shall be deposited with DTC one or more global certificates (individually
and collectively, the "Global Certificate") registered in the name of DTC's
Preferred Securities nominee, Cede & Co., representing an aggregate of
$__________ in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities and bearing the
following legend:
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,
B-1
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.
2. The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Issuer provides for
the voting by Holders of the Preferred Securities under certain limited
circumstances. The Issuer shall establish a record date for such purposes and
shall, to the extent possible, give DTC notice of such record date not less than
15 calendar days in advance of such record date.
3. In the event of a stock split, conversion, recapitalization,
reorganization or any other similar transaction resulting in the cancellation of
all or any part of the Preferred Securities outstanding, the Issuer or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar shall send DTC a notice of such event at least 5
business days prior to the effective date of such event.
4. In the event of distribution on, or an offering or issuance of
rights with respect to, the Preferred Securities outstanding, the Issuer or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar shall send DTC a notice specifying: (a) the amount
of and conditions, if any, applicable to the payment of any such distribution or
any such offering or issuance of rights; (b) any applicable expiration or
deadline date, or any date by which any action on the part of the Holders of
Preferred Securities is required; and (c) the date any required notice is to be
mailed by or on behalf of the Issuer to Holders of Preferred Securities or
published by or on behalf of the Issuer (whether by mail or publication, the
"Publication Date"). Such notice shall be sent to DTC by a secure means (e.g.,
legible telecopy, registered or certified mail, overnight delivery) in a timely
manner designed to assure that such notice is in DTC's possession no later than
the close of business on the business day before the Publication Date. The
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar will forward such notice either in a
separate secure transmission for each CUSIP number or in a secure transmission
of multiple CUSIP numbers (if applicable) that includes a manifest or list of
each CUSIP number submitted in that transmission. (The party sending such notice
shall have a method to verify subsequently the use of such means and the
timeliness of such notice.) The Publication Date shall be not less than 30
calendar days nor more than 60 calendar days prior to the payment of any such
distribution or any such offering or issuance of rights with respect to the
Preferred Securities. After establishing the amount of payment to be made on the
Preferred Securities, the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar will notify
DTC's Dividend Department of such payment 5 business days prior to payment date.
Notices to DTC's Dividend Department by telecopy shall be sent to
(212)[ ].Such notices by mail or by any other means shall be
---------------------
sent to:
Manager, Announcements
Dividend Department
The Depository Trust Company
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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The Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall confirm DTC's
receipt of such telecopy by telephoning the Dividend Department at
(212) [ ].
---------------------
5. In the event of a redemption by the Issuer of the Preferred
Securities, notice specifying the terms of the redemption and the Publication
Date of such notice shall be sent by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and
Registrar to DTC not less than 30 calendar days prior to such event by a secure
means in the manner set forth in paragraph 4. Such redemption notice shall be
sent to DTC's Call Notification Department at (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ or (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇,
and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
Notice by mail or by any other means shall be sent to:
Call Notification Department
The Depository Trust Company
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
6. In the event of any invitation to tender the Preferred Securities,
notice specifying the terms of the tender and the Publication Date of such
notice shall be sent by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar to DTC by
a secure means and in a timely manner as described in paragraph 4. Notices to
DTC pursuant to this paragraph and notices of other corporate actions (including
mandatory tenders, exchanges and capital changes) shall be sent, unless
notification to another department is expressly provided for herein, by telecopy
to DTC's Reorganization Department at (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ or (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ and
receipt of such notice shall be confirmed by telephoning (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, or by
mail or any other means to:
Manager, Reorganization Department
Reorganization Window
The Depository Trust Company
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
7. All notices and payment advices sent to DTC shall contain the CUSIP
number or numbers of the Preferred Securities and the accompanying designation
of the Preferred Securities, which, as of the date of this letter, is "Sierra
Pacific Resources Capital Trust I ____% Trust Originated Preferred Securities,
Series A."
8. Distribution payments or other cash payments with respect to the
Preferred Securities evidenced by the Global Certificate shall be received by
Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns in next day funds on
each payment date (or in accordance with existing arrangements between the
Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar and DTC). Such payments shall be made
payable to the order of Cede & Co., and shall be addressed as follows:
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NDFS Redemption Department
The Depository Trust Company
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
9. DTC may by prior written notice direct the Issuer and the Transfer
Agent and Registrar to use any other telecopy number or address of DTC as the
number or address to which notices or payments may be sent.
10. In the event of a conversion, redemption, or any other similar
transaction (e.g., tender made and accepted in response to the Issuer's or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar's invitation) necessitating a reduction in the
aggregate number of Preferred Securities outstanding evidenced by Global
Certificates, DTC, in its discretion: (a) may request the Issuer or the Transfer
Agent and Registrar to issue and countersign a new Global Certificate; or (b)
may make an appropriate notation on the Global Certificate indicating the date
and amount of such reduction.
11. DTC may discontinue its services as a securities depositary with
respect to the Preferred Securities at any time by giving at least 90 days'
prior written notice to the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and Registrar (at
which time DTC will confirm with the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar
the aggregate number of Preferred Securities deposited with it) and discharging
its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such
circumstances, the Issuer may determine to make alternative arrangements for
book-entry settlement for the Preferred Securities, make available one or more
separate global certificates evidencing Preferred Securities to any Participant
having Preferred Securities credited to its DTC account, or issue definitive
Preferred Securities to the beneficial holders thereof, and in any such case,
DTC agrees to cooperate fully with the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and
Registrar, and to return the Global Certificate, duly endorsed for transfer as
directed by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar, together with any
other documents of transfer reasonably requested by the Issuer or the Transfer
Agent and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
▇▇. In the event that the Issuer determines that beneficial owners of
Preferred Securities shall be able to obtain definitive Preferred Securities,
the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall notify DTC of the
availability of certificates. In such event, the Issuer or the Transfer Agent
and Registrar shall issue, transfer and exchange certificates in appropriate
amounts, as required by DTC and others, and DTC agrees to cooperate fully with
the Issuer and the Transfer Agent and Registrar and to return the Global
Certificate, duly endorsed for transfer as directed by the Issuer or the
Transfer Agent and Registrar, together with any other documents of transfer
reasonably requested by the Issuer or the Transfer Agent and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
▇▇. This letter may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute but one
B-4
and the same instrument. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Transfer
Agent and Registrar to advance funds on behalf of Sierra Pacific Resources
Capital Trust I.
Very truly yours,
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL
TRUST I
(As Issuer)
By:
-------------------------------------
[ ]
-----------------------------------
(As Property Trustee)
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
[ ]
-----------------------------------
(As Transfer Agent and Registrar)
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Received and Accepted:
THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
By:
------------------------------------
Authorized Officer
B-5
EXHIBIT C
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUST
AGREEMENT (DEFINED BELOW)
Certificate Number Number Of Common Securities
C-1
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL TRUST I
____% Common Securities
(Liquidation Amount $25 Per Common Security)
Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust
created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies
that Sierra Pacific Resources (the "Holder"), is the registered owner of (____)
common securities of the Trust representing beneficial interests of the Trust
and designated the ____% Common Securities (Liquidation Amount $25 per Common
Security) (the "Common Securities"). Except as provided in Section 5.10 of the
Trust Agreement (as defined below), the Common Securities are not transferable
and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void. The designations, rights,
privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to
the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Trust dated as of ________________, ____, as the same may be amended from time
to time (the "Trust Agreement") including the designation of the terms of the
Common Securities as set forth therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the
Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust
at its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
In Witness Whereof, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has
executed this certificate this _______ day of _________________, ____.
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL
TRUST I
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
C-1
EXHIBIT D
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
AGREEMENT dated as of _____________ ____, 1999, between Sierra Pacific
Resources, a Nevada corporation ("Sierra Pacific"), and Sierra Pacific Resources
Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the "Common
Securities") to and receive Debentures from Sierra Pacific and to issue and sell
_______% Trust Originated Preferred Securities, Series A (the "Preferred
Securities") with such powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions
as are set forth in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated
as of ___________________, 1998 as the same may be amended from time to time
(the "Trust Agreement");
WHEREAS, Sierra Pacific will directly or indirectly own all of the
Common Securities of the Trust and will issue the Debentures;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the
Preferred Securities, which purchase Sierra Pacific hereby agrees shall benefit
Sierra Pacific and which purchase Sierra Pacific acknowledges will be made in
reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Sierra Pacific and
Trust hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
Section 1.1. GUARANTEE BY SIERRA PACIFIC. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, Sierra Pacific hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or hereafter
becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as
due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries.
As used herein, "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities of the
Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to Holders of any Preferred
Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such Holders
pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar
interests, as the case may be. This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit
of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such
Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
Section 1.2. TERM OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall terminate and be
of no further force and effect upon the later of (a) the date on which full
payment has been made of all amounts payable to all Holders of all the Preferred
Securities (whether upon redemption, liquidation, exchange or otherwise) and (b)
the date on which there are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that
this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the
case may be, if at any time any holder of Preferred Securities or any
Beneficiary must restore payment of any sums paid under the Preferred
Securities, under any Obligation, under the Guarantee Agreement dated the date
hereof by Sierra Pacific and [State Street Bank and Trust Company] as guarantee
D-1
trustee or under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever. This Agreement is
continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute.
Section 1.3. WAIVER OF NOTICE. Sierra Pacific hereby waives notice of
acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to which it applies or may
apply, and Sierra Pacific hereby waives presentment, demand for payment,
protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all
other notices and demands.
Section 1.4. NO IMPAIRMENT. The obligations, covenants,
agreements and duties of Sierra Pacific under this Agreement shall in no way be
affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the
following:
(a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any
portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other obligation under,
arising out of, or in connection with, the obligations;
(b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of
the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any
action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind; or
(c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the
Trust. There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or
obtain the consent of, Sierra Pacific with respect to the happening of any of
the foregoing.
Section 1.5. ENFORCEMENT.
A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement directly against Sierra
Pacific and Sierra Pacific waives any right or remedy to require that any action
be brought against the Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding
against Sierra Pacific.
Section 1.6. SUBROGATION.
Sierra Pacific shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Trust
in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by Sierra Pacific under this
Agreement; provided, however, that Sierra Pacific shall not (except to the
extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or
exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity,
reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this
Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid
under this Agreement.
D-2
ARTICLE II.
Section 2.1. BINDING EFFECT.
All guarantees and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind
the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of Sierra
Pacific and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries.
Section 2.2. AMENDMENT.
So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of
any series are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in
any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities.
Section 2.3. NOTICES. Any notice, request or other communication
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be given in writing by
delivering the same against receipt therefor by facsimile transmission
(confirmed by mail), telex or by registered or certified mail, addressed as
follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon receipt of
an answer-back, if sent by telex):
Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I
c/o [ ]
----------------------------
[Address]
Facsimile No.:
Attention: Corporate Trust Department
Sierra Pacific Resources P.O. Box 30150
(6100 ▇▇▇▇ Road)
Reno, Nevada 89520-3150
Facsimile No.:
Attention:
------------------------
D-3
Section 2.4. GOVERNING LAW. This agreement shall be governed by
and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of [ ].
This Agreement is executed as of the day and year first above written.
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL
FUND I
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
D-4
EXHIBIT E
If the Preferred Security is to be a Global Certificate Insert -- This
Preferred Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of the Trust
Agreement hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The
Depository Trust Company (the "Depository") or a nominee of the Depository. This
Preferred Security is exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the
name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Trust Agreement and no transfer of this Preferred
Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as a whole by the
Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to
the Depository or another nominee of the Depository) may be registered except in
limited circumstances.
Unless this Preferred Security is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇) to
Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I or its agent for registration of
transfer, exchange or payment, and any Preferred Security issued is registered
in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to
Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A
PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an
interest herein
Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities
P-_______ Cusip No. _____.
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL TRUST I
_____% Trust Originated Preferred Securities,
Series A
(Liquidation Amount $25 Per Preferred Security)
Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust
created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies
that (the "Holder") is the registered owner of (____) preferred securities of
the Trust representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the
Trust and designated the Sierra Pacific Resources Capital Trust I _______% Trust
Originated Preferred Securities, Series A (Liquidation Amount $25 per Preferred
Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are
transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in
proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.4 of the Trust Agreement (as
defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences
and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and
this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and
shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of ______________, _____, as the
same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement") including the
designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The
Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee
E-1
Agreement entered into by Sierra Pacific Resources, Inc., a Nevada
corporation, and [_________________________], as guarantee trustee, dated as
of ________________, 1998, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy
of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the Holder without charge upon
written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered
office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
In Witness Whereof, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has
executed this certificate this ___ day of ------------------,----.
SIERRA PACIFIC RESOURCES CAPITAL
FUND I
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Administrative Trustee
E-2
ASSIGNMENT
For Value Received, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred
Security to:
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints
agent to transfer this Preferred Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.
The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:
---------------------------------------
Signature
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other
side of this Preferred Security Certificate)
---------------------------------------
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an
eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers,
savings and loan associations and credit unions
with membership in an approved signature guarantee
medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
E-3