Exhibit 4.4
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SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
AND
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
TO
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
TRUSTEE.
----------------
FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
DATED AS OF JULY 31, 2002
----------------
$206,185,575
SERIES F 7.125% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
DUE JUNE 30, 2042
TABLE OF CONTENTS1
ARTICLE 1.........................................................................................................2
SECTION 101. Establishment.................................................................2
SECTION 102. Definitions...................................................................2
SECTION 103. Payment of Principal and Interest.............................................3
SECTION 104. Deferral of Interest Payments.................................................4
SECTION 105. Denominations.................................................................5
SECTION 106. Global Securities.............................................................5
SECTION 107. Transfer......................................................................6
SECTION 108. Redemption....................................................................6
ARTICLE 2.........................................................................................................6
SECTION 201. Recitals by Company...........................................................7
SECTION 202. Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture..........................7
SECTION 203. Executed in Counterparts......................................................7
SECTION 204. Listing of Notes..............................................................7
SECTION 205. Trustee Not Liable............................................................7
________________________________
1 This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture or have any bearing upon the
interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.
THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is made as of the 31st day
of July, 2002 by and among SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC., a Delaware
corporation, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the
"Company"), THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇.▇., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Guarantor"), and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY
AMERICAS, a New York banking corporation, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Guarantor have heretofore entered
into a Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1997 (the "Original
Indenture"), with Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as
Bankers Trust Company), as heretofore supplemented;
WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this
reference and the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and as further
supplemented by this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, is herein called the
"Indenture";
WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of Junior
Subordinated Notes may at any time be established by the Board of Directors of
the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Original Indenture and the
terms of such series may be described by a supplemental indenture executed by
the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee;
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to create under the Indenture
a new series of Junior Subordinated Notes;
WHEREAS, additional Junior Subordinated Notes of other series
hereafter established, except as may be limited in the Original Indenture as at
the time supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to
the Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified; and
WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution
and delivery of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture and to make it a valid and
binding obligation of the Company have been done or performed.
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, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1
Series F Junior Subordinated Notes
SECTION 101.......Establishment. There is hereby established a new
series of Junior Subordinated Notes to be issued under the Indenture, to be
designated as the Company's Series F 7.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due June
30, 2042 (the "Series F Notes").
There are to be authenticated and delivered $206,185,575 principal
amount of Series F Notes, and no further Series F Notes shall be authenticated
and delivered except as provided by Sections 203, 303, 304, 907 or 1107 of the
Original Indenture. The Series F Notes shall be issued in definitive fully
registered form.
The Series F Notes shall be in substantially the form set out in
Exhibit A hereto. The entire principal amount of the Series F Notes shall
initially be evidenced by one certificate issued to the Property Trustee of
Southern Company Capital Trust VI.
The form of the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication for the Series
F Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto. A
notation of the Notes Guarantee shall be set forth on each Series F Note in
substantially the form set forth in Section 1404 of the Original Indenture.
Each Series F Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof
and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the
most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for.
SECTION 102.......Definitions. The following defined terms used herein
shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below.
Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture.
"Deferred Interest" means each installment of interest not paid during
any Extension Period, and interest thereon. Deferred installments of interest
shall bear interest at the rate of 7.125% per annum from the applicable Interest
Payment Date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.
"Extension Period" means any period during which the Company has
elected to defer payments of interest, which deferral may be for a period of up
to twenty (20) consecutive quarters.
"Interest Payment Dates" means March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year, commencing September 30, 2002.
"Investment Company Act Event" means that the Company shall have
received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence
of a change in law or regulation or a written change in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the Securities Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
which change becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date.
"Original Issue Date" means July 31, 2002.
"Regular Record Date" means, with respect to each Interest Payment
Date, the close of business (i) on the Business Day immediately preceding such
Interest Payment Date if (A) the Preferred Securities issued by the Securities
Trust are in book-entry only form or (B) the Series F Notes have been
distributed to holders of the Trust Securities of the Securities Trust and such
Series F Notes are in book-entry only form or (ii) on the 15th calendar day
preceding such Interest Payment Date if neither such Preferred Securities nor
the Series F Notes are in book-entry only form.
"Securities Trust" means Southern Company Capital Trust VI, a statutory
business trust formed by the Company under Delaware law to issue Trust
Securities, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase Series F Notes.
"Special Event" means an Investment Company Act Event or Tax Event.
"Stated Maturity" means June 30, 2042.
"Tax Event" means that the Company shall have received an Opinion of
Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, laws
(or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (b) any amendment to, or
change in, an interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there
is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Securities Trust would be
subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued or
received on the Series F Notes, (ii) interest payable on the Series F Notes
would not be deductible by a member of the Guarantor's consolidated tax group
for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Securities Trust
would be subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges, which change or amendment becomes effective on or
after the Original Issue Date.
SECTION 103.......Payment of Principal and Interest. The unpaid
principal amount of the Series F Notes shall bear interest at the rate of 7.125%
per annum until paid or duly provided for. Interest shall be paid quarterly in
arrears on each Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name the Series F
Notes are registered on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date,
provided that interest payable at the Stated Maturity of principal or on a
Redemption Date as provided herein will be paid to the Person to whom principal
is payable. So long as an Extension Period is not occurring, any such interest
that is not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be
payable to the Holders on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the
Person or Persons in whose name the Series F Notes are registered at the close
of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest
to be fixed by the Trustee ("Special Record Date"), notice whereof shall be
given to Holders of the Series F Notes not less than ten (10) days prior to such
Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which
the Series F Notes shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by
any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Original Indenture.
Payments of interest on the Series F Notes will include interest
accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest
payments for the Series F Notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on the Series F Notes is not a Business Day, then a payment
of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the date the payment was originally payable.
Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest (including
Additional Interest, if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of
the Series F Notes shall be made upon surrender of the Series F Notes at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts. Payments of interest (including interest on any
Interest Payment Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable,
at the option of the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person
entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii)
by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in
the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least
sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.
The Company shall pay, as additional interest on the Series F Notes,
when due to the United States or any other taxing authority, the amounts set
forth in clause (i) of the definition of Additional Interest.
SECTION 104.......Deferral of Interest Payments. The Company has the
right at any time and from time to time to extend the interest payment period of
the Series F Notes for up to twenty (20) consecutive quarters (each, an
"Extension Period"), but not beyond the Stated Maturity. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company has no right to extend its obligation to pay such amounts
as are defined in clause (i) of the definition of Additional Interest. Prior to
the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend the
interest payment period, provided that such Extension Period, together with all
such previous and further extensions of that Extension Period, shall not exceed
twenty (20) consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any
Additional Interest then due, the Company may select a new Extension Period,
subject to the above limitations and requirements.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period, which termination shall
be on an Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest on
the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name the Series
F Notes are registered on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment
Date, provided that Deferred Interest payable at Stated Maturity or on any
Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.
The Company shall give the Holder or Holders of the Series F Notes and
the Trustee notice, as provided in Sections 105 and 106, respectively, of the
Original Indenture, of its selection or extension of an Extension Period at
least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the Regular Record Date
relating to the Interest Payment Date on which the Extension Period is to
commence or relating to the Interest Payment Date on which an Extension Period
that is being extended would otherwise terminate, or (ii) the date the Company
or Securities Trust is required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or
other applicable self-regulatory organization of the record date or the date
such distributions are payable. The Company shall cause the Securities Trust to
give notice of the Company's selection of such Extension Period to Holders of
the Trust Securities. The month in which any notice is given pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence of this Section shall constitute the first month
of the first quarter of the twenty (20) quarters, which comprise the Maximum
Extension Period.
At any time any of the foregoing notices are given to the Trustee, the
Company shall give to the Paying Agent for the Series F Notes such information
as said Paying Agent shall reasonably require in order to fulfill its tax
reporting obligations with respect to such Series F Notes.
SECTION 105.......Denominations. The Series F Notes may be issued in
the denominations of $25, or any integral multiple thereof.
SECTION 106.......Global Securities. If the Series F Notes are
distributed to Holders of the Trust Securities of the Securities Trust in
liquidation of such Holders' interests therein, the Series F Notes will be
issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of
the Depositary (which shall be The Depository Trust Company) or its nominee.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, Series F Notes
represented by the Global Security will not be exchangeable for, and will not
otherwise be issuable as, Series F Notes in definitive form. The Global
Securities described above may not be transferred except by the Depositary to a
nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or
another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or its nominee.
Owners of beneficial interests in such a Global Security will not be
considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and no
Global Security representing a Series F Note shall be exchangeable, except for
another Global Security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee or to a successor Depositary or its
nominee. The rights of Holders of such Global Security shall be exercised only
through the Depositary.
A Global Security shall be exchangeable for Series F Notes registered
in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only if (i) the
Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
Depositary for such Global Security and no successor Depositary shall have been
appointed, or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at a time when
the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such Depositary and no
successor Depositary shall have been appointed, (ii) the Company in its sole
discretion determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable, or
(iii) there shall have occurred an Event of Default with respect to the Series F
Notes. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall be exchangeable for Series F Notes registered in such names as
the Depositary shall direct.
SECTION 107.......Transfer. No service charge will be made for any
transfer or exchange of Series F Notes, but payment will be required of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection therewith.
The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange
any Series F Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen
(15) days before the day of the mailing of a notice identifying the serial
numbers of the Series F Notes to be called for redemption, and ending at the
close of business on the day of the mailing, or (b) to transfer or exchange any
Series F Notes theretofore selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any Series F Note redeemed in part.
SECTION 108.......Redemption. The Series F Notes shall be subject to
redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, without premium or
penalty, at any time on or after July 31, 2007, at a Redemption Price equal to
100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest,
including Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided,
however, that if a redemption in part shall result in the delisting of the
Preferred Securities issued by the Securities Trust, the Company may only redeem
the Series F Notes in whole. In addition, upon the occurrence of a Special Event
at any time, the Company may, within ninety (90) days following the occurrence
thereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, elect to
redeem the Series F Notes, in whole, at a price equal to 100% of the principal
amount to be redeemed plus any accrued but unpaid interest (including Additional
Interest) to the Redemption Date.
In the event of redemption of the Series F Notes in part only, a new
Series F Note or Notes for the unredeemed portion will be issued in the name or
names of the Holders thereof upon the surrender thereof.
The Series F Notes will not have a sinking fund.
Notice of redemption shall be given as provided in Section 1104 of the
Original Indenture.
Any redemption of less than all of the Series F Notes shall, with
respect to the principal thereof, be divisible by $25.
ARTICLE 2
Miscellaneous Provisions
SECTION 201.......Recitals by Company. The recitals in this Fourth
Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company only and not by the Trustee, and
all of the provisions contained in the Original Indenture in respect of the
rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be
applicable in respect of Series F Notes and of this Fourth Supplemental
Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.
SECTION 202.......Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture.
As heretofore supplemented and as supplemented hereby, the Original Indenture is
in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Original Indenture, as
heretofore supplemented and as further supplemented by this Fourth Supplemental
Indenture, shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument.
SECTION 203.......Executed in Counterparts. This Fourth Supplemental
Indenture may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 204.......Listing of Notes. If the Series F Notes are to be
issued as a Global Security in connection with the distribution of the Series F
Notes to the Holders of the Preferred Securities issued by the Securities Trust,
the Company will use its best efforts to list such Series F Notes on the New
York Stock Exchange or any such other exchange on which such Preferred
Securities are then listed and traded.
SECTION 205.......Trustee Not Liable. In no event shall the Trustee be
liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of
any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits, even if the
Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless
of the form of action.
In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the
performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond its
control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether
declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo, government action,
including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like
which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by
this Indenture.
SoCo VI Fourth Supplemental Indenture (2).DOC
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this
instrument to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officers,
all as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHERN COMPANY
CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
ATTEST:
By:____________________________ By:_____________________________
▇▇▇▇▇ Boston ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Assistant Secretary President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST: THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By:____________________________ By:_____________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Assistant Secretary Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
ATTEST: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Trustee
By:____________________________ By:_____________________________
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SERIES F NOTE
SoCo VI Fourth Supplemental Indenture (2).DOC
▇▇. ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THIS SECURITY IS, TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THE
INDENTURE, SUBORDINATE AND SUBJECT IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE PRIOR PAYMENT IN
FULL OF ALL SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS OF THE COMPANY AND THIS SECURITY IS ISSUED
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE WITH RESPECT THERETO.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
SERIES F 7.125% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE
DUE JUNE 30, 2042
Principal Amount: $____________
Regular Record Date: One Business Day prior to Interest Payment Date (if the
Preferred Securities issued by the Securities Trust are in
book-entry only form or if the Securities Trust is
dissolved and the Series F Notes are in book-entry only
form) or 15th calendar day prior to Interest Payment Date
(if neither such Preferred Securities or the Series F
Notes are in book-entry only form)
Original Issue Date: July 31, 2002
Stated Maturity: June 30, 2042
Interest Payment Dates: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31
Interest Rate: 7.125% per annum
Authorized Denomination: $25
Initial Redemption Date: July 31, 2007
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture
referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay
to _____________________________________, or registered assigns, the principal
sum of _________ DOLLARS ($__________) on the Stated Maturity shown above (or
upon earlier redemption), and to pay interest thereon from the Original Issue
Date shown above, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on each
Interest Payment Date as specified above, commencing on September 30, 2002 and
on the Stated Maturity (or upon earlier redemption) at the rate per annum shown
above until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and on
any overdue principal and on any overdue installment of interest. The interest
so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date (other than an Interest Payment Date that is the Stated Maturity or on a
Redemption Date) will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in
whose name this Note (the "Note") is registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date as specified above next preceding such Interest Payment
Date, provided that any interest payable at Stated Maturity or on any Redemption
Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable. Except as
otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or
duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note
is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment
of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be
given to Holders of Notes of this series not less than 10 days prior to such
Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which
the Notes of this series shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be
required by any such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
Payments of interest on this Note will include interest accrued to but
excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for this Note
shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Note is
not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment shall be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law or
executive order to remain closed or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee or the principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee of
the Securities Trust are closed for business.
The Company shall have the right at any time and from time to time
during the term of this Note to extend the interest payment period of such Note
for up to 20 consecutive quarters but not beyond the Stated Maturity of this
Note (each, an "Extension Period"), during which periods unpaid interest
(together with interest thereon) will compound quarterly at the Interest Rate
("Deferred Interest"). Upon the termination of each Extension Period, which
shall be an Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest
on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name this
Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
Interest Payment Date, provided that any Deferred Interest payable at Stated
Maturity or on any Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal
is payable. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company
may extend the interest payment period, provided that such Extension Period
together with all such previous and further extensions thereof shall not exceed
20 consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period, and
the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then
due, the Company may select a new Extension Period, subject to the above
requirements. If the Company shall have given notice of its election to select
any Extension Period, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture,
neither the Company nor the Guarantor referred to herein shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend or distribution on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, or make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by it that rank pari passu with or junior to this Note or
the Notes Guarantee referred to herein. The Company shall give the Holder of
this Note and the Trustee notice of its selection or extension of an Extension
Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the Regular Record
Date relating to the Interest Payment Date on which the Extension Period is to
commence or relating to the Interest Payment Date on which an Extension Period
that is being extended would otherwise terminate or (ii) the date the Company or
Securities Trust is required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or
other applicable self-regulatory organization of the record date or the date
distributions are payable.
The Company also shall be obligated to pay when due and without
extension all additional amounts as may be required so that the net amount
received and retained by the Holder of this Note (if the Holder is a Securities
Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or
any other taxing authority will not be less than the amounts such Holder would
have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental
charges been imposed.
Payment of the principal of and interest (including Additional
Interest, if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of the Series
F Notes shall be made upon surrender of the Series F Notes at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts. Payment of interest (including interest on an Interest Payment
Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of
the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto
as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer
at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States
as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least 16 days prior to the
date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company,
and this Note is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect
thereto. Each Holder of this Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and
shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his
behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination so provided, and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his acceptance hereof, waives
all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein
and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such
holder upon said provisions.
REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET
FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES
HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit
under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
SoCo VI Fourth Supplemental Indenture (2).DOC
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: ________ __, ____.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL
FUNDING, INC.
By:
--------------------------------------
Vice President
Attest:
Assistant Secretary
{Seal of SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC. appears here}
NOTES GUARANTEE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, a corporation duly organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Guarantor", which
term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to herein),
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of this Junior
Subordinated Note issued by Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. (the
"Company"), pursuant to the terms of the Notes Guarantee contained in Article
XIV of the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest) on this Junior
Subordinated Note, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at
the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or
otherwise, in accordance with the terms of this Junior Subordinated Note and the
Indenture.
The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Notes Guarantee and the
Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture, and reference
is hereby made to such Article and Indenture for the precise terms of the Notes
Guarantee.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Notes Guarantee, all
payments in respect of the Notes Guarantee are subordinate and subject in right
of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined
in the Indenture) of the Guarantor.
This Notes Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
The Notes Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication on the Junior Subordinated Note upon
which this notation of the Notes Guarantee is endorsed shall have been executed
by the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of its
authorized officers.
(SEAL) THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
Attest:
By:
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Title
SoCo VI Fourth Supplemental Indenture (2).DOC
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY
AMERICAS,
as Trustee
By:
Authorized Officer
(Reverse Side of Note)
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Junior Subordinated
Notes of the Company (the "Notes"), issued and issuable in one or more series
under a Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1997, as supplemented
(the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Guarantor and Deutsche Bank Trust
Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), Trustee (the
"Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to
which Indenture and all indentures incidental thereto reference is hereby made
for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders
of the Notes issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Notes are, and
are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series
designated on the face hereof as Series F 7.125% Junior Subordinated Notes due
June 30, 2042 (the "Series F Notes") in the aggregate principal amount of up to
$206,185,575. Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided
herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.
The Company shall have the right, subject to the terms and conditions
of the Indenture, to redeem this Note at any time on or after July 31, 2007, at
the option of the Company, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part, at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date . Upon the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined below) at
any time, the Company may, within 90 days following the occurrence thereof and
subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, redeem this Note without
premium or penalty, in whole, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof plus any accrued and unpaid interest, including
Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. A Special Event may be a
Tax Event or an Investment Company Act Event. "Tax Event" means that the Company
shall have received an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any
announced prospective change) in, laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the
United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein or (b) any amendment to, or change in, an interpretation or application
of such laws or regulations, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i)
the related Securities Trust would be subject to United States federal income
tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Series F Notes, (ii)
interest payable on the Series F Notes would not be deductible by a member of
the Guarantor's consolidated tax group for United States federal income tax
purposes, or (iii) the related Securities Trust would be subject to more than a
de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges, which
change or amendment becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date.
"Investment Company Act Event" means that the Company shall have received an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change
in law or regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law
or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the related Securities
Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" which is required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which change
becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date.
In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or
Notes of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the
name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof. The Notes will not have a
sinking fund.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the
conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Notes of each
series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the Notes of each series at the time Outstanding
of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting
the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes of such series, to waive
compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether
or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at
the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of
authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service
charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor
or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the
owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided
in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of
this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of
this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder
surrendering the same upon surrender of the Note or Notes to be exchanged at the
office or agency of the Company.
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of New York.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this
instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according
to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM- as tenants in UNIF GIFT MIN ACT- _______ Custodian ________
common (Cust) (Minor)
TEN ENT- as tenants by the
entireties under Uniform Gifts to
JT TEN- as joint tenants Minors Act
with right of
survivorship and ________________________
not as tenants (State)
in common
Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not on the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto
(please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF
ASSIGNEE
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and
appointing
agent to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.
Dated:
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NOTICE: The signature to
this assignment must correspond with
the name as written upon the face of
the within instrument in every
particular without alteration or
enlargement, or any change whatever.
EXHIBIT B
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY
AMERICAS,
as Trustee
By:
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Authorized Officer