EXHIBIT 10.1
TRANSITION PROPERTY PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CPL TRANSITION FUNDING LLC
NOTE ISSUER
AND
CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
SELLER
DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 7, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................................1
SECTION 1.01. Definitions...............................................................................1
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitional Provisions.............................................................2
ARTICLE II
CONVEYANCE OF TRANSITION PROPERTY.................................................................................2
SECTION 2.01. Conveyance of Original Transition Property................................................2
SECTION 2.02. Conveyance of Subsequent Transition Property..............................................3
SECTION 2.03. Conditions to Conveyance of Transition Property...........................................3
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER..........................................................................5
SECTION 3.01. Organization and Good Standing............................................................5
SECTION 3.02. Due Qualification.........................................................................5
SECTION 3.03. Power and Authority.......................................................................5
SECTION 3.04. Binding Obligation........................................................................6
SECTION 3.05. No Violation..............................................................................6
SECTION 3.06. No Proceedings............................................................................6
SECTION 3.07. Approvals.................................................................................6
SECTION 3.08. The Transition Property...................................................................7
SECTION 3.09. Limitations on Representations and Warranties............................................10
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS OF THE SELLER..........................................................................................11
SECTION 4.01. Existence................................................................................11
SECTION 4.02. No Liens.................................................................................11
SECTION 4.03. Delivery of Collections..................................................................11
SECTION 4.04. Notice of Liens..........................................................................12
SECTION 4.05. Compliance with Law......................................................................12
SECTION 4.06. Covenants Related to Notes and Transition Property.......................................12
SECTION 4.07. Protection of Title......................................................................13
SECTION 4.08. Nonpetition Covenants....................................................................14
SECTION 4.09. Taxes....................................................................................14
SECTION 4.10. Issuance Advice Letter...................................................................14
SECTION 4.11. Tariff...................................................................................14
SECTION 4.12. Maintenance of Operations................................................................14
SECTION 4.13. Notice of Breach to Rating Agencies, Etc.................................................14
SECTION 4.14. Use of Proceeds..........................................................................15
SECTION 4.15. Further Assurances.......................................................................15
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Page
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ARTICLE V
THE SELLER.......................................................................................................15
SECTION 5.01. Liability of Seller; Indemnities.........................................................15
SECTION 5.02. Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the Obligations of, Seller......17
SECTION 5.03. Conversion of the Seller to a Limited Liability Company..................................18
SECTION 5.04. Limitation on Liability of Seller and Others.............................................18
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.........................................................................................18
SECTION 6.01. Amendment................................................................................18
SECTION 6.02. PUCT Condition...........................................................................19
SECTION 6.03. Notices..................................................................................20
SECTION 6.04. Assignment...............................................................................20
SECTION 6.05. Limitations on Rights of Third Parties...................................................20
SECTION 6.06. Severability.............................................................................20
SECTION 6.07. Separate Counterparts....................................................................20
SECTION 6.08. Headings.................................................................................21
SECTION 6.09. Governing Law............................................................................21
SECTION 6.10. Assignment to Indenture Trustee..........................................................21
SECTION 6.11. Limitation of Liability..................................................................21
SECTION 6.12. Waivers..................................................................................21
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Form of ▇▇▇▇ of Sale
ii
This
TRANSITION PROPERTY PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, dated as of
February 7, 2002, is between
CPL Transition Funding LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company (the "Note Issuer"), and Central Power and Light Company, a
Texas corporation (together with its successors in interest to the extent
permitted hereunder, the "Seller").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Note Issuer desires to purchase from time to time the
Transition Property created pursuant to the Securitization Law;
WHEREAS, the Seller is willing to sell from time to time the Transition
Property to the Note Issuer;
WHEREAS, the Note Issuer, in order to finance the purchase of the
Transferred Transition Property, will from time to time issue one or more Series
of Notes under the Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Note Issuer, to secure its obligations under the Notes of
each Series and the Indenture, will pledge, among other things, all right, title
and interest of the Note Issuer in and to the Transferred Transition Property
and this Agreement to the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of
the Notes of such Series.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01 Definitions. (a) Unless otherwise defined herein,
capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in that
certain Indenture (including Appendix A thereto) dated as of the date hereof
between the Note Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as the Indenture
Trustee, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
(b) Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words and phrases
shall have the following meanings:
"Agreement" means this
Transition Property Purchase and Sale Agreement,
as amended and supplemented from time to time.
"▇▇▇▇ of Sale" means a ▇▇▇▇ of sale substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto delivered pursuant to Section 2.03(i).
"Indemnified Person" has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(g).
"Original Transition Property" means the Initial Transition Property
sold, transferred, assigned, set over and conveyed by the Seller to the Note
Issuer as of the Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement.
"Losses" has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(d).
"Note Issuer" has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
"Seller" has the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
"Transfer Date" means, with respect to the Original Transition
Property, the Closing Date and, with respect to any Subsequent Transition
Property, the Subsequent Transfer Date related thereto.
"Transferred Transition Property" means, collectively, the Original
Transition Property and any Subsequent Transition Property.
SECTION 1.02 Other Definitional Provisions.
(a) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings
when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto
unless otherwise defined therein.
(b) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereunder" and words of similar
import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole
and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; Section, Schedule and
Exhibit references contained in this Agreement are references to Sections,
Schedules and Exhibits in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; and
the term "including" shall mean "including without limitation".
(c) The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the
singular as well as the plural forms of such terms.
ARTICLE II
CONVEYANCE OF TRANSITION PROPERTY
SECTION 2.01 Conveyance of Original Transition Property. (a) In
consideration of the Note Issuer's delivery to or upon the order of the Seller
of $763,734,489, subject to the conditions specified in Section 2.03, the Seller
does hereby irrevocably sell, transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to
the Note Issuer, without recourse or warranty, except as set forth herein, all
right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the Original Transition
Property (such sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance of the
Original Transition Property includes, to the fullest extent permitted by the
Securitization Law, the right to impose, collect and receive Transition Charges
and the assignment of all revenues, collections, claims, rights, payments, money
or proceeds of or arising from the Transition Charges related to the Original
Transition Property, as the same may be adjusted from time to time). Such sale,
transfer,
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assignment, setting over and conveyance is hereby expressly stated to be a sale
and, pursuant to Section 39.308 of the Securitization Law, shall be treated as
an absolute transfer of all of the Seller's right, title and interest in and to
(as in a true sale), and not as a pledge or other financing of, the Original
Transition Property. The Seller and the Note Issuer agree that after giving
effect to the sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance
contemplated hereby the Seller has no right, title or interest in or to the
Original Transition Property to which a security interest could attach because
(i) it has sold, transferred, assigned, set over and conveyed all right, title
and interest in and to the Original Transition Property to the Note Issuer, (ii)
as provided in Section 39.304 of the Securitization Law, such rights are only
contract rights until the time of such sale, transfer, assignment, setting over
and conveyance and (iii) as provided in Section 39.309(c) of the Securitization
Law, appropriate notice has been filed and such transfer is perfected against
all third parties, including subsequent judicial or other lien creditors. If
such sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance is held by any
court of competent jurisdiction not to be a true sale as provided in Section
39.308 of the Securitization Law, then such sale, transfer, assignment, setting
over and conveyance shall be treated as the creation of a security interest
(within the meaning of the Securitization Law and the UCC) in the Original
Transition Property and, without prejudice to its position that it has
absolutely transferred all of its rights in the Original Transition Property to
the Note Issuer, the Seller hereby grants a security interest in the Original
Transition Property to the Note Issuer (and, to the extent necessary to qualify
the grant as a security interest under the Securitization Law, to the Indenture
Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of Notes issued by the Note Issuer and
secured by the Original Transition Property).
(b) Subject to Section 2.03, the Note Issuer does hereby purchase the
Original Transition Property from the Seller for the consideration set forth in
Section 2.01(a).
SECTION 2.02 Conveyance of Subsequent Transition Property. The Seller
may from time to time offer to sell, transfer, assign, set over and convey
additional Transition Property to the Note Issuer, subject to the conditions
specified in Section 2.03. If any such offer is accepted by the Note Issuer,
such Subsequent Transition Property shall be, subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions specified in Section 2.03, sold, transferred, assigned,
set over and conveyed to the Note Issuer effective on the Subsequent Transfer
Date specified in the related Addition Notice.
SECTION 2.03 Conditions to Conveyance of Transition Property. The
obligation of the Note Issuer to purchase Transition Property on any Transfer
Date shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Note Issuer of each
of the following conditions:
(i) on or prior to such Transfer Date, the Seller shall have
delivered to the Note Issuer a duly executed ▇▇▇▇ of Sale identifying the
Transition Property to be conveyed on that Transfer Date;
(ii) on or prior to such Transfer Date, the Seller shall have
received a Financing Order creating the Transferred Transition Property;
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(iii) as of such Transfer Date, the Seller is not insolvent
and will not have been made insolvent by such sale and the Seller is not aware
of any pending insolvency with respect to itself;
(iv) as of such Transfer Date, the representations and
warranties of the Seller set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct
with the same force and effect as if made on such Transfer Date (except to the
extent that they relate to an earlier date); on and as of such Transfer Date no
breach of any covenant or agreement of the Seller contained in this Agreement
has occurred and is continuing; and no Servicer Default shall have occurred and
be continuing;
(v) as of such Transfer Date, (A) the Note Issuer shall have
sufficient funds available to pay the purchase price for the Transferred
Transition Property to be conveyed on such date and (B) all conditions to the
issuance of one or more Series of Notes intended to provide such funds set forth
in the Indenture shall have been satisfied or waived;
(vi) on or prior to such Transfer Date, the Seller shall have
taken all action required to transfer to the Note Issuer ownership of the
Transition Property to be conveyed on such date, free and clear of all Liens
other than Liens created by the Note Issuer pursuant to the Indenture; and the
Note Issuer or the Servicer, on behalf of the Note Issuer, shall have taken any
action required for the Note Issuer to grant the Indenture Trustee a first
priority perfected security interest in the Note Collateral and maintain such
security interest as of such date;
(vii) in the case of a sale of Subsequent Transition Property
only, on or prior to the Subsequent Transfer Date, the Seller shall have
provided the Note Issuer and the Rating Agencies with a timely Addition Notice;
(viii) the Seller shall have delivered to the Rating Agencies
and the Note Issuer any Opinions of Counsel required by the Rating Agencies;
(ix) the Seller shall have received and delivered to the Note
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee: (i) an opinion of outside tax counsel (as
selected by the Seller, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Note Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that the Note Issuer will
not be subject to United States federal income tax as an entity separate from
its sole owner and that the Notes will be treated as debt of the Note Issuer's
sole owner for United States federal income tax purposes, (ii) an opinion of
outside tax counsel (as selected by the Seller, and in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Note Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) or, if the
Seller so chooses, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, in either case to
the effect that, for United States federal income tax purposes, the issuance of
the Notes will not result in gross income to the Seller and (iii) in the case of
a subsequent issuance of Notes only, an opinion of outside tax counsel (as
selected by the Seller, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Note Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that such issuance will not
adversely affect the characterization of any then outstanding Notes as
obligations of the Note Issuer's sole owner. The opinion of outside tax counsel
described above may, if the Seller so chooses, be conditioned on the receipt by
the Seller of one or more letter rulings from the Internal Revenue Service and
in rendering such opinion outside tax counsel shall be entitled to rely on the
rulings contained in such ruling letters and to rely on the
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representations made, and information supplied, to the Internal Revenue Service
in connection with such letter rulings;
(x) on and as of such Transfer Date, each of the LLC
Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, this Agreement, the Indenture, any issued
Financing Order, any issued Tariff and the Securitization Law shall be in full
force and effect;
(xi) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied
with respect to such purchase;
(xii) the Seller shall have received written confirmation from
Moody's that such purchase will not result in a suspension, reduction or
withdrawal of the then current rating by Moody's of any Series or Class of
Notes; and
(xiii) the Seller shall have delivered to the Indenture
Trustee and the Note Issuer an Officers' Certificate confirming the satisfaction
of each condition precedent specified in this Section 2.03.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Subject to Sections 3.09, the Seller makes the following
representations and warranties, as of each Transfer Date, and the Seller
acknowledges that the Note Issuer has relied thereon in acquiring the
Transferred Transition Property. The representations and warranties shall
survive the sale and transfer of Transferred Transition Property to the Note
Issuer and the pledge thereof to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the
Indenture.
SECTION 3.01 Organization and Good Standing. The Seller is duly
organized and validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the
state of its organization, with the requisite corporate or other power and
authority to own its properties as such properties are currently owned and to
conduct its business as such business is now conducted by it, and has the
requisite corporate or other power and authority to obtain Financing Orders and
own, sell and transfer the Transition Property.
SECTION 3.02 Due Qualification. The Seller is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing, and has obtained all necessary licenses and
approvals, in all jurisdictions in which the ownership or lease of property or
the conduct of its business shall require such qualifications, licenses or
approvals (except where the failure to so qualify or obtain such licenses and
approvals would not be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on
the Seller's business, operations, assets, revenues or properties).
SECTION 3.03 Power and Authority. The Seller has the requisite
corporate or other power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to carry out its terms; and the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement have been duly authorized by all
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necessary action on the part of the Seller under its organizational or governing
documents and laws.
SECTION 3.04 Binding Obligation. This Agreement constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Seller enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, subject to applicable insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' or
secured parties' rights generally from time to time in effect and to general
principles of equity (including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good
faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law.
SECTION 3.05 No Violation. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof do not:
(i) conflict with or result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of,
nor constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time) a default under, the
Seller's organizational documents, or any indenture or other agreement or
instrument to which the Seller is a party or by which it or any of its property
is bound; (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the
Seller's properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, agreement or
other instrument (other than any Lien that may be granted under the Basic
Documents or any Lien created pursuant to Section 39.309 of the Securitization
Law); or (iii) violate any existing law or any existing order, rule or
regulation applicable to the Seller of any Governmental Authority having
jurisdiction over the Seller or its properties.
SECTION 3.06 No Proceedings. There are no proceedings pending and, to
the Seller's knowledge, there are no proceedings threatened and, to the Seller's
knowledge, there are no investigations pending or threatened, before any
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Seller or its properties
involving or relating to the Seller or the Note Issuer or, to the Seller's
knowledge, any other Person: (i) asserting the invalidity of the Securitization
Law, any Financing Order, this Agreement, any of the other Basic Documents or
the Notes of any Series, (ii) seeking to prevent the issuance of the Notes of
such Series or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or any of the other Basic Documents, (iii) seeking any determination
or ruling that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect
the performance by the Seller of its obligations under, or the validity or
enforceability of the Securitization Law, any Financing Order, this Agreement,
any of the other Basic Documents or the Notes of any Series or (iv) seeking to
adversely affect the federal income tax or state income or franchise tax
classification of the Notes of any Series as debt.
SECTION 3.07 Approvals. Except for UCC filings, no approval,
authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with, any
Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution and delivery
by the Seller of this Agreement, the performance by the Seller of the
transactions contemplated hereby or the fulfillment by the Seller of the terms
hereof, except those that have been obtained or made and those that the Seller,
in its capacity as Servicer under the Servicing Agreement, is required to make
in the future pursuant to the Servicing Agreement.
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SECTION 3.08 The Transition Property.
(a) Information. Subject to subsection (f) below, at each Transfer
Date, all written information, as amended or supplemented from time to time,
provided by the Seller to the Note Issuer with respect to the Transferred
Transition Property (including the Expected Amortization Schedule, the Financing
Order and the Issuance Advice Letter relating thereto) is true and correct in
all material respects.
(b) Title. It is the intention of the parties hereto that (other than
for federal income tax purposes and, to the extent consistent with applicable
state tax law, state income and franchise tax purposes), the transfers and
assignments herein contemplated each constitute a sale and absolute transfer of
the Transferred Transition Property from the Seller to the Note Issuer and that
no interest in, or right or title to, the Transferred Transition Property shall
be part of the Seller's estate in the event of the filing of a bankruptcy
petition by or against the Seller under any bankruptcy law. No portion of the
Transferred Transition Property has been sold, transferred, assigned or pledged
or otherwise conveyed by the Seller to any Person other than the Note Issuer,
and no security agreement, financing statement or equivalent security or lien
instrument listing the Seller as debtor covering all or any part of the
Transferred Transition Property is on file or of record in any jurisdiction,
except such as may have been filed, recorded or made in favor of the Note Issuer
or the Indenture Trustee in connection with the Basic Documents. The Seller has
not authorized the filing of and is not aware (after due inquiry) of any
financing statement against it that includes a description of collateral
including the Transferred Transition Property other than any financing statement
filed, recorded or made in favor of the Note Issuer or the Indenture Trustee in
connection with the Transaction Documents. The Seller is not aware (after due
inquiry) of any judgment or tax lien filings against either the Seller or the
Note Issuer. At each applicable Transfer Date, immediately prior to the sale of
such Transferred Transition Property hereunder, the Seller owns such Transferred
Transition Property free and clear of all Liens and rights of any other Person,
and no offsets, defenses or counterclaims exist or have been asserted with
respect thereto.
(c) Transfer Filings. On such Transfer Date, immediately upon the sale
hereunder, the Transferred Transition Property shall be validly transferred and
sold to the Note Issuer, the Note Issuer shall own all such Transferred
Transition Property free and clear of all Liens (except for any Lien created in
favor of the Holders pursuant to Section 39.309 of the Securitization Law or any
Lien that may be granted under the Basic Documents) and all filings to be made
by the Seller (including filings with the Secretary of State of the State of
Texas under the Securitization Law) necessary in any jurisdiction to give the
Note Issuer a perfected ownership interest (subject to any Lien created in favor
of the Holders pursuant to Section 39.309 of the Securitization Law and any Lien
that may be granted under the Basic Documents) in the Transferred Transition
Property have been made. No further action is required to maintain such
ownership interest (subject to any Lien created in favor of the Holders pursuant
to Section 39.309 of the Securitization Law and any Lien that may be granted
under the Basic Documents) and to give the Indenture Trustee a first priority
perfected security interest in the Transferred Transition Property. Filings have
also been made to perfect the security interest in the Transferred Transition
Property granted by the Seller to the Note Issuer (subject to any Lien created
in favor of the Holders pursuant to Section 39.309 of the Securitization Law and
any Lien that may be granted under the Basic Documents) and, to the extent
necessary, the Indenture Trustee pursuant
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to Section 2.01, in the case of the Original Transition Property, or Section
2.02, in the case of Subsequent Transition Property.
(d) Financing Order, Issuance Advice Letter and Tariff; Other
Approvals. On each Transfer Date, under the laws of the State of
Texas and the
United States in effect on such Transfer Date, (i) the Financing Order pursuant
to which the rights and interests of the Seller, including the right to impose,
collect and receive the Transition Charge and, in and to the Transition Property
transferred on such date have been created, is Final and non-appealable and is
in full force and effect; (ii) as of the issuance of the Notes, the Notes are
entitled to the protection of the Securitization Law and, accordingly, the
Financing Order, the Transition Charges and the Issuance Advice Letter are not
revocable by the PUCT; (iii) the Tariff is in full force and effect and is not
subject to modification by the PUCT except as provided under Section 39.307 of
the Securitization Law; (iv) the process by which the Financing Order creating
the Transition Property transferred on such date was adopted and approved, and
such Financing Order, Issuance Advice Letter and Tariff themselves, comply with
all applicable laws, rules and regulations; (v) the Issuance Advice Letter and
the Tariff relating to the Transition Property transferred on such date have
been filed in accordance with the Financing Order creating the Transition
Property transferred on such date and an officer of the Seller has provided the
certification to the PUCT required by the Issuance Advice Letter; and (vi) no
other approval, authorization, consent, order or other action of, or filing with
any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the creation of the
Transition Property transferred on such date, except those that have been
obtained or made.
(e) State Action. Under the Securitization Law, the State of
Texas has
pledged that it will not take or permit any action that would impair the value
of the Transition Property transferred on such date, or, except as permitted by
Section 39.307 of the Securitization Law, reduce, alter or impair the Transition
Charges relating to such Transition Property until the principal, interest and
premium and any other charges incurred and contracts to be performed in
connection with the Notes of such Series relating to such Transition Property
have been paid and performed in full. Under the laws of the State of
Texas and
the United States, the State of
Texas could not constitutionally take any action
of a legislative character including the repeal or amendment of the
Securitization Law, which would substantially limit, alter or impair the
Transition Property or other rights vested in the Holders pursuant to the
Financing Order or substantially limit, alter or reduce the value or amount of
the Transition Property, unless such action is a reasonable exercise of the
sovereign powers of the State of
Texas and of a character reasonable and
appropriate to further a legitimate public purpose, and, under the takings
clauses of the United States and
Texas Constitutions, the State of
Texas could
not repeal or amend the Securitization Law or take any other action in
contravention of its pledge quoted above without paying just compensation to the
Holders, as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction if doing so would
constitute a permanent appropriation of a substantial property interest of the
Holders in the Transition Property and deprive the Holders of their reasonable
expectations arising from their investments in the Notes. There is no assurance,
however, that, even if a court were to award just compensation it would be
sufficient to pay the full amount of principal and interest on the Notes.
(f) Assumptions. On each Transfer Date, based upon the information
available to the Seller on such date, the assumptions used in calculating the
Transition Charges are reasonable
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and are made in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Seller makes no
representation or warranty, express or implied, that the assumptions used in
calculating such Transition Charges will in fact be realized.
(g) Creation of Transition Property. Upon the effectiveness of the
Financing Order, the Issuance Advice Letter and the Tariff with respect to the
Transferred Transition Property and the transfer of such Transition Property
pursuant to this Agreement: (i) the rights and interests of the Seller under the
Financing Order, including the right to impose, collect and receive the
Transition Charges authorized in the Financing Order, become Transition
Property; (ii) the Transferred Transition Property constitutes a present
property right vested in the Note Issuer; (iii) the Transferred Transition
Property includes (A) the right, title and interest of the Seller in the
Financing Order and the Transition Charges and (B) the right to impose, collect
and obtain periodic adjustments (with respect to adjustments, in the manner and
with the effect provided in Section 4.01(b) of the Servicing Agreement) of such
Transition Charges, and the rates and other charges authorized by the Financing
Order and all revenues, collections, claims, payments, money or proceeds of or
arising from the Transition Charges; (iv) the owner of the Transferred
Transition Property is legally entitled to ▇▇▇▇ Transition Charges and collect
payments in respect of the Transition Charges in the aggregate sufficient to pay
the interest on and principal of the Notes of such Series in accordance with the
Indenture, to pay the fees and expenses of servicing the Notes of such Series,
to replenish the Capital Subaccount to the Required Capital Level and to fund
the Overcollateralization Subaccount to the Required Overcollateralization Level
until the Notes of such Series are paid in full or until the last date permitted
for the collection of payments in respect of the Transition Charge under the
Financing Order, whichever is earlier and the Customer class allocation
percentages in the Financing Order do not prohibit the owner of the Transferred
Transition Property from obtaining adjustments and effecting allocations to the
Transition Charges in order to collect payments of such amounts; and (v) the
Transferred Transition Property is not subject to any Lien other than the lien
created by the Indenture.
(h) Nature of Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties set forth in this Section 3.08, insofar as they involve conclusions
of law, are made not on the basis that the Seller purports to be a legal expert
or to be rendering legal advice, but rather to reflect the parties' good faith
understanding of the legal basis on which the parties are entering into this
Agreement and the other Basic Documents and the basis on which the Holders are
purchasing the Notes, and to reflect the parties' agreement that, if such
understanding turns out to be incorrect or inaccurate, the Seller will be
obligated to indemnify the Note Issuer and its permitted assigns (to the extent
required by and in accordance with Section 5.01), and that the Note Issuer and
its permitted assigns will be entitled to enforce any rights and remedies under
the Basic Documents, on account of such inaccuracy to the same extent as if the
Seller had breached any other representations or warranties hereunder.
(i) Prospectus. As of the date hereof, the information describing the
Seller under the caption "The Seller and Servicer" in the prospectus dated
January 18, 2002 relating to the Notes is correct in all material respects.
(j) Solvency. After giving effect to the sale of the Transition
Property hereunder, the Seller:
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(i) is solvent and expects to remain solvent;
(ii) is adequately capitalized to conduct its business and
affairs considering its size and the nature of its business and intended
purpose;
(iii) is not engaged in nor does it expect to engage in a
business for which its remaining property represents an unreasonably small
capital;
(iv) reasonably believes that it will be able to pay its debts
as they come due; and
(v) is able to pay its debts as they mature and does not
intend to incur, or believes that it will not incur, indebtedness that it will
not be able to repay at its maturity.
(k) No Court Order. There is no order by any court providing for the
revocation, alteration, limitation or other impairment of the Securitization
Law, the Financing Order, the Issuance Advice Letter, the Transferred Transition
Property or the Transition Charges or any rights arising under any of them or
that seeks to enjoin the performance of any obligations under the Financing
Order.
(l) No Proceedings Concerning the Securitization Law. Except as
disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no proceedings pending, and to the
Seller's knowledge, (i) there are no proceedings threatened and (ii) there are
no investigations pending or threatened, before any Governmental Authority
having jurisdiction over the Issuer or the Seller or their respective properties
challenging the Securitization Law or the Financing Order.
(m) Conversion to a Limited Liability Company. In the event the Seller
converts into a
Texas limited liability company, such conversion will not:
(i) interrupt the Seller's existence,
(ii) affect the Seller's rights, title and interests in its
real estate and other property or its power, authority or ability to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, the Servicing Agreement or the other Basic
Documents, or
(iii) impair or diminish the liabilities and obligations of
the Seller including, without limitation, its obligations under this Agreement
or any other Basic Document.
(n) Survival of Representations and Warranties The representations and
warranties set forth in this Section 3.08 shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, shall be deemed re-made on each Transfer Date and
may not be waived by any party hereto except pursuant to a written agreement
executed in accordance with Article VI and as to which the Rating Agency
Condition has been satisfied.
SECTION 3.09 Limitations on Representations and Warranties. Without
prejudice to any of the other rights of the parties, the Seller will not be in
breach of any representation or warranty, as a result of a change in law by
means of any legislative enactment, constitutional
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amendment or voter initiative. THE SELLER MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, THAT BILLED TRANSITION CHARGES WILL BE ACTUALLY COLLECTED
FROM CUSTOMERS.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS OF THE SELLER
SECTION 4.01 Existence. Subject to Section 5.02, so long as any of the
Notes of any Series are Outstanding, the Seller (a) will keep in full force and
effect its existence and remain in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, (b) will obtain and preserve its qualification
to do business, in each case to the extent that in each such jurisdiction such
existence or qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and
enforceability of this Agreement, the other Basic Documents to which the Seller
is a party and each other instrument or agreement necessary or appropriate to
the proper administration of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby or to the extent necessary for the Seller to perform its obligations
hereunder or thereunder and (c) will provide wire service directly to customers
taking service at facilities, premises or loads located in CPL's certificated
service area as it existed on May 1, 1999.
SECTION 4.02 No Liens. Except for the conveyances hereunder or any Lien
under Section 39.309 of the Securitization Law for the benefit of the Note
Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Holders, the Seller will not sell, pledge,
assign or transfer, or grant, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien
on, any of the Transferred Transition Property, or any interest therein, and the
Seller shall defend the right, title and interest of the Note Issuer and the
Indenture Trustee, on behalf of the Holders, in, to and under the Transferred
Transition Property against all claims of third parties claiming through or
under the Seller. CPL, in its capacity as Seller, will not at any time assert
any Lien against, or with respect to, any of the Transferred Transition
Property.
SECTION 4.03 Delivery of Collections. In the event that the Seller
receives Collections in respect of the Transition Charges or the proceeds
thereof other than in its capacity as the Servicer, the Seller agrees to pay to
the Servicer all payments received by it in respect thereof as soon as
practicable after receipt thereof and for so long as any Intercreditor Agreement
is in effect, it shall do so in accordance with such Intercreditor Agreement.
Prior to such remittance to the Servicer by the Seller, the Seller agrees that
such amounts are held by it in trust for the Note Issuer. If the Seller becomes
a party to any future trade receivables purchase and sale arrangement or similar
arrangement under which it sells all or any portion of its accounts receivables,
the Seller and the other parties to such arrangement shall enter into an
agreement substantially similar to the Intercreditor Agreement in connection
therewith and the terms of the documentation evidencing such trade receivables
purchase and sale arrangement or similar arrangement shall expressly exclude
Transition Charges from any receivables or other assets pledged or sold under
such arrangement.
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SECTION 4.04 Notice of Liens. The Seller shall notify the Note Issuer
and the Indenture Trustee promptly after becoming aware of any Lien on any of
the Transferred Transition Property, other than the conveyances hereunder, any
Lien under the Basic Documents or any Lien under Section 39.309 of the
Securitization Law or the UCC for the benefit of the Note Issuer or the Holders.
SECTION 4.05 Compliance with Law. The Seller hereby agrees to comply
with its organizational or governing documents and all laws, treaties, rules,
regulations and determinations of any Governmental Authority applicable to it,
except to the extent that failure to so comply would not materially adversely
affect the Note Issuer's or the Indenture Trustee's interests in the Transferred
Transition Property or under any of the other Basic Documents to which the
Seller is party or the Seller's performance of its obligations hereunder or
under any of the other Basic Documents to which it is party.
SECTION 4.06 Covenants Related to Notes and Transition Property.
(a) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Seller shall treat
the Notes as debt for all purposes and specifically as debt of the Note Issuer,
other than for financial reporting or tax purposes or as required under the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
(b) Solely for the purposes of federal taxes and, to the extent
consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, for purposes of
state, local and other taxes, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the
Seller agrees to treat the Notes as indebtedness of the Seller (as the sole
owner of the Note Issuer) secured by the Note Collateral unless otherwise
required by appropriate taxing authorities.
(c) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Seller shall
disclose in its financial statements that the Note Issuer and not the Seller is
the owner of the Transferred Transition Property and that the assets of the Note
Issuer are not available to pay creditors of the Seller or its Affiliates (other
than the Note Issuer).
(d) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Seller shall not
own or purchase any Notes.
(e) So long as the Notes are outstanding, the Seller shall disclose the
effects of all transactions between the Seller and the Note Issuer in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.
(f) The Seller agrees that, upon the sale by the Seller of the
Transferred Transition Property to the Note Issuer pursuant to this Agreement,
(i) to the fullest extent permitted by law, including applicable PUCT
Regulations and the Securitization Law, the Note Issuer shall have all of the
rights originally held by the Seller with respect to the Transferred Transition
Property, including the right (subject to the terms of the Servicing Agreement)
to exercise any and all rights and remedies to collect any amounts payable by
any Customer or REP in respect of the Transferred Transition Property,
notwithstanding any objection or direction to the contrary by the Seller (and
the Seller agrees not to make any such objection or to take any such contrary
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action) and (ii) any payment by any Customer or REP directly to the Note Issuer
shall discharge such Customer's or REP's obligations, if any, to the Seller in
respect of the Transferred Transition Property to the extent of such payment,
notwithstanding any objection or direction to the contrary by the Seller.
(g) So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, (i) in all proceedings
relating directly or indirectly to the Transferred Transition Property, the
Seller shall affirmatively certify and confirm that it has sold all of its
rights and interests in and to such property (other than for financial reporting
or tax purposes), (ii) the Seller shall not make any statement or reference in
respect of the Transferred Transition Property that is inconsistent with the
ownership interest of the Note Issuer (other than for financial accounting or
tax purposes or as required under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, as amended), (iii) the Seller shall not take any action in respect of the
Transferred Transition Property except solely in its capacity as the Servicer
thereof pursuant to the Servicing Agreement or as otherwise contemplated by the
Basic Documents including any Intercreditor Agreement (iv) the Seller shall not
sell transition property under a separate financing order in connection with the
issuance of additional transition bonds unless the Rating Agency Condition shall
have been satisfied, and (v) neither the Seller nor the Note Issuer shall take
any action, file any tax return, or make any election inconsistent with the
treatment of the Note Issuer, for purposes of federal taxes and, to the extent
consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, for purposes of
state, local and other taxes, as a disregarded entity that is not separate from
the Seller (or, if relevant, from another sole owner of the Note Issuer).
SECTION 4.07 Protection of Title. The Seller shall execute and file
such filings, including filings with the Secretary of State of the State of
Texas pursuant to the Securitization Law, and cause to be executed and filed
such filings, all in such manner and in such places as may be required by law to
fully preserve, maintain and protect the ownership interest of the Note Issuer
in the Transferred Transition Property, including all filings required under the
Securitization Law and the UCC relating to the transfer of the ownership
interest in the Transferred Transition Property by the Seller to the Note Issuer
or the pledge of the Note Issuer's interest in such Transferred Transition
Property to the Indenture Trustee. The Seller shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the Note Issuer file-stamped copies of, or filing receipts for, any
document filed as provided above, as soon as available following such filing.
The Seller shall institute any action or proceeding necessary to compel
performance by the PUCT, the State of Texas or any of their respective agents,
of any of their obligations or duties under the Securitization Law, any
Financing Order or any Issuance Advice Letter, and the Seller agrees to take
such legal or administrative actions, including defending against or instituting
and pursuing legal actions and appearing or testifying at hearings or similar
proceedings, as may be reasonably necessary (i) to protect the Note Issuer and
Holders from claims, state actions or other actions or proceedings of third
parties which, if successfully pursued, would result in a breach of any
representation set forth in Article III and (ii) to block or overturn any
attempts to cause a repeal of, modification of or supplement to the
Securitization Law, the Financing Order, any Issuance Advice Letter or the
rights of Transition Noteholders by legislative enactment or constitutional
amendment that would be materially adverse to the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee
or the Transition Noteholder or which would otherwise cause an impairment of the
rights of the Note Issuer or the Holders. The costs of any such actions or
proceedings will be payable by the Seller.
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SECTION 4.08 Nonpetition Covenants. Notwithstanding any prior
termination of this Agreement or the Indenture, the Seller shall not, prior to
the date which is one year and one day after the termination of the Indenture,
petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Note Issuer to invoke the process of
any Government Authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining a case
against the Note Issuer under any federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar law, appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Note Issuer or any substantial
part of the property of the Note Issuer, or ordering the winding up or
liquidation of the affairs of the Note Issuer.
SECTION 4.09 Taxes. So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the
Seller shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, pay all taxes,
assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or any of its properties or
assets or with respect to any of its franchises, business, income or property
before any penalty accrues thereon if the failure to pay any such taxes,
assessments and governmental charges would, after any applicable grace periods,
notices or other similar requirements, result in a Lien on the Transferred
Transition Property; provided that no such tax need be paid if the Seller or one
of its subsidiaries is contesting the same in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if the Seller or
such subsidiary has established appropriate reserves as shall be required in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
SECTION 4.10 Issuance Advice Letter. The Seller hereby agrees not to
withdraw the filing of any Issuance Advice Letter with the PUCT.
SECTION 4.11 Tariff. The Seller hereby agrees to make all reasonable
efforts to keep each Tariff in full force and effect at all times.
SECTION 4.12 Maintenance of Operations. Subject to Section 5.02, the
Seller agrees that, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Seller
shall continue to operate its electric transmission and distribution system to
provide service to its customers (or, if transmission and distribution are
split, to provide wire service directly to its customers) throughout the
Seller's certificated service area as it existed as of May 1, 1999, except for
former customers not taking service from the Seller pursuant to PUCT Docket No.
20292 and, except as provided under PURA Sections 39.252(b) and 39.262(k), as
implemented by P.U.C. SUBST. R. 25.345.
SECTION 4.13 Notice of Breach to Rating Agencies, Etc. Promptly after
obtaining knowledge thereof, in the event of a breach in any material respect
(without regard to any materiality qualifier contained in such representation,
warranty or covenant) of any of the Seller's representations, warranties or
covenants contained herein, the Seller shall promptly notify the Note Issuer,
the Indenture Trustee, the PUCT and the Rating Agencies of such breach. For the
avoidance of doubt, any breach which would adversely affect scheduled payments
on the Notes will be deemed to be a material breach for purposes of this Section
4.13.
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SECTION 4.14 Use of Proceeds. The Seller shall use the proceeds of the
sale of the Transition Property in accordance with the Financing Order and the
Securitization Law.
SECTION 4.15 Further Assurances. Upon the request of the Note Issuer,
the Seller shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such
further acts as may be reasonably necessary to carry out more effectually the
provisions and purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
THE SELLER
SECTION 5.01 Liability of Seller; Indemnities.
(a) The Seller shall be liable in accordance herewith only to the
extent of the obligations specifically undertaken by the Seller under this
Agreement.
(b) The Seller shall indemnify the Note Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee (for itself and for the benefit of the Noteholders) and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees, trustees, managers and agents for,
and defend and hold harmless each such Person from and against, any and all
taxes (other than taxes imposed on Noteholders as a result of their ownership of
a Note) that may at any time be imposed on or asserted against any such Person
as a result of the sale of the Transferred Transition Property to the Note
Issuer, including any franchise, sales, gross receipts, general corporation,
tangible personal property, privilege or license taxes but excluding any taxes
imposed as a result of a failure of such Person to withhold or remit taxes with
respect to payments on any Note.
(c) The Seller shall indemnify the Note Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee (for itself and for the benefit of the Noteholders) and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees, trustees, managers, and agents for,
and defend and hold harmless each such Person from and against, any and all
taxes (other than taxes imposed on Noteholders as a result of their ownership of
a Note) that may at any time be imposed on or asserted against any such Person
as a result of the Note Issuer's ownership and assignment of the Transferred
Transition Property, the issuance and sale by the Note Issuer of the Notes or
the other transactions contemplated in the Basic Documents, including any
franchise, sales, gross receipts, general corporation, tangible personal
property, privilege or license taxes but excluding any taxes imposed as a result
of a failure of such Person to withhold or remit taxes with respect to payments
on any Note.
(d) The Seller shall indemnify the Note Issuer, the Indenture Trustee
(for the benefit of the Noteholders) and each of their respective officers,
directors, employees and agents and any Swap Counterparty for, and defend and
hold harmless each such Person from and against, (i) any and all amounts of
principal and interest on the Notes not paid when due or when scheduled to be
paid in accordance with their terms and the amounts of any deposits by or to the
Note Issuer required to have been made in accordance with the terms of the Basic
Documents or any Financing Order which are not made when so required and (ii)
any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, payments,
costs or expenses of any kind whatsoever
15
(collectively, "Losses") that may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against
each such Person, in each such case, as a result of the Seller's breach of any
of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement.
(e) Indemnification under Sections 5.01(b), 5.01(c), 5.01(d) and
5.01(g) shall include reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses of
investigation and litigation (including reasonable attorney's fees and
expenses), except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement.
(f) Without prejudice to any of the other rights of the parties, the
Seller will not be in breach of any representation or warranty as a result of a
change in law by means of any legislative enactment, constitutional amendment or
voter initiative.
(g) The Seller shall indemnify the Indenture Trustee (for itself) and
the Independent Managers, and any of their respective affiliates, officers,
directors, employees and agents (each an "Indemnified Person") for, and defend
and hold harmless each such Person from and against, any and all Losses incurred
by any of such Indemnified Persons as a result of the Seller's breach of any of
its representations and warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement,
except to the extent of Losses either resulting from the willful misconduct, bad
faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Person or resulting from a breach
of a representation or warranty made by such Indemnified Person in any of the
Basic Documents that gives rise to the Seller's breach. The Seller shall not be
required to indemnify an Indemnified Person for any amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Person in the settlement of any action, proceeding or
investigation without the prior written consent of the Seller which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified
Person of notice of the commencement of any action, proceeding or investigation,
such Indemnified Person shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made
against the Seller under this Section 5.01(g), notify the Seller in writing of
the commencement thereof. Failure by an Indemnified Person to so notify the
Seller shall relieve the Seller from the obligation to indemnify and hold
harmless such Indemnified Person under this Section 5.01(g) only to the extent
that the Seller suffers actual prejudice as a result of such failure. With
respect to any action, proceeding or investigation brought by a third party for
which indemnification may be sought under this Section 5.01(g), the Seller shall
be entitled to conduct and control, at its expense and with counsel of its
choosing that is reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, the defense
of any such action, proceeding or investigation (in which case the Seller shall
not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel
retained by the Indemnified Person except as set forth below); provided that the
Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such action,
proceeding or investigation through counsel chosen by it and at its own expense.
Notwithstanding the Seller's election to assume the defense of any action,
proceeding or investigation, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to
employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Seller shall bear the
reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the
defendants in any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Seller
and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be
legal defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those
available to the Seller, (ii) the Seller shall not have employed counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified
Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action
or (iii) the Seller shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate
counsel at the expense of the Seller. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
16
the Seller shall not be obligated to pay for the fees, costs and expenses of
more than one separate counsel for the Indemnified Persons other than one local
counsel, if appropriate.
(h) The Seller shall indemnify the Servicer (if the Servicer is not the
Seller) for the costs of any action instituted by the Servicer pursuant to
Section 5.02(d) of the Servicing Agreement which are not paid as Operating
Expenses in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section 8.02(e) of the
Indenture.
(i) The remedies provided in this Agreement are the sole and exclusive
remedies against the Seller for breach of its representations and warranties in
this Agreement.
(j) Indemnification under this Section 5.01 shall survive any repeal
of, modification of, or supplement to, or judicial invalidation of, the
Securitization Law or any Financing Order and shall survive the resignation or
removal of the Indenture Trustee or the termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 5.02 Merger, Conversion or Consolidation of, or Assumption of
the Obligations of, Seller. Any Person (a) into which the Seller may be merged,
converted or consolidated and which is a Permitted Successor, (b) that may
result from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Seller shall be
a party and which is a Permitted Successor, (c) that may succeed to the
properties and assets of the Seller substantially as a whole and which is a
Permitted Successor, (d) which is a successor entity resulting from the division
of the Seller into two or more Persons and which is a Permitted Successor, or
(e) which otherwise succeeds to all or substantially all of the electric
transmission and distribution business of the Seller (or, if transmission and
distribution are not provided by a single entity, which provides wire service
directly to customers taking service at facilities, premises or loads located in
CPL's certificated service area as it existed on May 1, 1999) (a "Permitted
Successor") and which Person in any of the foregoing cases executes an agreement
of assumption to perform all of the obligations of the Seller hereunder
(including the Seller's obligations under Section 5.01 incurred at any time
prior to or after the date of such assumption), shall be the successor to the
Seller under this Agreement without further act on the part of any of the
parties to this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) immediately after giving
effect to such transaction, no representation or warranty made pursuant to
Article III (if made as of such date) shall be breached and no Servicer Default,
and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a
Servicer Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) the Seller shall
have delivered to the Note Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and each Rating Agency
an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from external counsel stating
that such consolidation, merger, division or succession and such agreement of
assumption comply with this Section 5.02 and that all conditions precedent, if
any, provided for in this Agreement relating to such transaction have been
complied with, (iii) the Seller shall have delivered to the Note Issuer, the
Indenture Trustee and each Rating Agency an Opinion of Counsel from external
counsel either (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all filings to
be made by the Seller, including filings with the PUCT pursuant to the
Securitization Law, have been executed and filed that are necessary to fully
preserve and protect the interest of the Note Issuer in all of the Transferred
Transition Property and reciting the details of such filings, or (B) stating
that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to
preserve and protect such interests and (iv) the
17
Seller shall have given the Rating Agencies prior written notice of such
transaction. When any Person (or more than one Person) acquires the properties
and assets of the Seller substantially as a whole or otherwise becomes the
successor, whether by merger, conversion, consolidation, sale, transfer, lease,
management contract or otherwise, to all or substantially all of the electric
transmission and distribution business of the Seller (or, if transmission and
distribution are not provided by a single entity, provides wire service directly
to customers taking service at facilities, premises or loads located in CPL's
certificated service area as it existed on May 1, 1999 (except for former
customers not taking service from CPL by reason of taking service from Sharyland
Utilities, L.P. pursuant to PUCT action in Docket No. 20292)) in accordance with
the terms of this Section 5.02, then upon satisfaction of all of the other
conditions of this Section 5.02, the preceding Seller shall automatically and
without further notice be released from all of its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 5.03 Conversion of the Seller to a Limited Liability Company.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Seller shall be
able to convert to a limited liability company without the execution of an
agreement of assumption and without compliance with clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and
(iv) of Section 5.02, provided that such conversion does not result in a breach
of the Seller's representation and warranty in Section 3.08(m) hereof.
SECTION 5.04 Limitation on Liability of Seller and Others. The Seller
and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Seller may rely in good
faith on the advice of counsel or on any document of any kind, prima facie
properly executed and submitted by any Person, respecting any matters arising
hereunder. Subject to Section 4.07, the Seller shall not be under any obligation
to appear in, prosecute or defend any legal action that is not incidental to its
obligations under this Agreement, and that in its opinion may involve it in any
expense or liability.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 6.01 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended in writing by the
Seller and the Note Issuer, with the prior written consent of the Indenture
Trustee, the satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition and the satisfaction of
the condition set forth below in Section 6.02. Promptly after the execution of
any such amendment or consent, the Note Issuer shall furnish written
notification of the substance of such amendment or consent to each of the Rating
Agencies.
Prior to the execution of any amendment to this Agreement, the Note
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive and rely upon an
Opinion of Counsel from external counsel stating that the execution of such
amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement and the Opinion of
Counsel referred to in Section 3.01(c)(i) of the Servicing Agreement. The Note
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into
any such amendment which affects the Indenture Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.
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SECTION 6.02 PUCT Condition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in Section 6.01, no amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be
effective except upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent in this Section
6.02.
(a) At least fifteen days prior to the effectiveness of any such
amendment or modification and after obtaining the other necessary approvals set
forth in Section 6.01 above, (except that the consent of the Indenture Trustee
may be subject to the consent of the Holders if such consent is required or
sought by the Indenture Trustee in connection with such amendment or
modification), the Seller shall have delivered to the PUCT's executive director
and general counsel written notification of any proposed amendment, which
notification shall contain:
(i) a reference to Docket No. 21528;
(ii) an Officer's Certificate stating that the proposed
amendment or modification has been approved by all parties to this Agreement;
and
(iii) a statement identifying the person to whom the PUCT or
its staff is to address any response to the proposed amendment or to request
additional time;
(b) If the PUCT or its staff shall have, within fifteen days (subject
to extension as provided in Section 6.02(c) below) of receiving a notification
complying with Section 6.02(a) above, delivered to the office of the person
specified in Section 6.02(a)(iii) above a written statement that the PUCT might
object to the proposed amendment or modification, then such proposed amendment
or modification shall not be effective unless and until the PUCT subsequently
delivers a written statement in writing that it does not object to such proposed
amendment or modification.
(c) If the PUCT or its staff shall have, within fifteen days of
receiving a notification complying with Section 6.02(a) above, delivered to the
office of the person specified in Section 6.02(a)(iii) above a written statement
requesting an additional amount of time not to exceed thirty days in which to
consider such proposed amendment or modification, then such proposed amendment
or modification shall not be effective if, within such extended period, the PUCT
shall have delivered to the office of the person specified in Section
6.02(a)(iii) above a written statement as described in Section 6.02(b) above,
unless and until the PUCT subsequently delivers a written statement in writing
that it does not object to such proposed amendment or modification.
(d) If the PUCT or its staff shall have not delivered written notice
that the PUCT might object to such proposed amendment or modification within the
time periods described in Section 6.02(b) or Section 6.02(c) above, whichever is
applicable, then the PUCT shall be conclusively deemed not to have any objection
to the proposed amendment or modification and such amendment or modification may
subsequently become effective upon satisfaction of the other conditions
specified in Section 6.01.
(e) Following the delivery of a notice to the PUCT by the Seller under
Section 6.02(a) above, the Seller and the Note Issuer shall have the right at
any time to withdraw from the PUCT further consideration of any notification of
a proposed amendment.
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SECTION 6.03 Notices. All demands, notices and communications upon or
to the Seller, the Note Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, or the Rating Agencies
under this Agreement shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if
in writing, and delivered personally, sent by documented delivery service or, to
the extent receipt is confirmed telephonically, sent by telecopy or other form
of electronic transmission, (a) in the case of the Seller, to Central Power and
Light Company, at ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention of the
Treasurer, telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (b) in the case
of the Note Issuer to
CPL Transition Funding LLC at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Manager, telephone:
(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (c) in the case of the Indenture
Trustee, to it at the Corporate Trust Office, telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇,
facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (d) in the case of the PUCT, to ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Attention of Executive Director and General
Counsel, telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (e) in the case
of Moody's, to ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc., ABS Monitoring Department, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, facsimile:
(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (f) in the case of S&P, to Standard & Poor's, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention of Asset Backed Surveillance
Department, telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, (g) in the
case of Fitch, to Fitch Ratings, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
Attention of ABS Surveillance, telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, facsimile: (212)
908-0355 or (h) as to each of the foregoing, at such other address as shall be
designated by written notice to the other parties.
SECTION 6.04 Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, except as provided in Section 5.02, this Agreement may not be
assigned by the Seller.
SECTION 6.05 Limitations on Rights of Third Parties. The provisions of
this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Seller, the Note Issuer, the
Indenture Trustee (for itself and the Holders) and the other Persons expressly
referred to herein, and such Persons shall have the right to enforce the
relevant provisions of this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement, whether
express or implied, shall be construed to give to any other Person any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim in the Transition Property or under or in
respect of this Agreement or any covenants, conditions or provisions contained
herein.
SECTION 6.06 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remainder of such provision (if any) or the remaining
provisions hereof (unless such construction shall be unreasonable), and any such
prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 6.07 Separate Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by
the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and
delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
20
SECTION 6.08 Headings. The headings of the various Articles and
Sections herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or
limit any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 6.09 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
SECTION 6.10 Assignment to Indenture Trustee. The Seller hereby
acknowledges and consents to any mortgage, pledge, assignment and grant of a
security interest by the Note Issuer to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the
Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of all right, title and interest of the
Note Issuer in, to and under this Agreement and the proceeds thereof and the
assignment of any or all of the Note Issuer's rights hereunder to the Indenture
Trustee for the benefit of the Holders.
SECTION 6.11 Limitation of Liability. It is expressly understood and
agreed by the parties hereto that this Agreement is executed and delivered by
the Indenture Trustee, not individually or personally but solely as Indenture
Trustee on behalf of the Holders, in the exercise of the powers and authority
conferred and vested in it.
SECTION 6.12 Waivers. Any term or provision of this Agreement may be
waived, or the time for its performance may be extended, by the party or parties
entitled to the benefit thereof; provided, however, that no such waiver
delivered by the Note Issuer shall be effective unless the Indenture Trustee has
given its prior written consent thereto. Any such waiver shall be validly and
sufficiently authorized for the purposes of this Agreement if, as to any party,
it is authorized in writing by an authorized representative of such party. The
failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any provision of this
Agreement shall not be construed to be a waiver of such provision, nor in any
way to affect the validity of this Agreement or any part hereof or the right of
any party thereafter to enforce each and every such provision. No waiver of any
breach of this Agreement shall be held to constitute a waiver of any other or
subsequent breach.
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective officers as of the day and year first above
written.
CPL TRANSITION FUNDING LLC,
Note Issuer
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Manager
CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY,
Seller
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Assistant Treasurer
Acknowledged and Accepted:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Indenture Trustee
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
Signature Page to
Transition Property Purchase and Sale Agreement
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF ▇▇▇▇ OF SALE
1. This ▇▇▇▇ of Sale is being delivered pursuant to the
Transition
Property Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of ______________, 2002 (the
"Sale Agreement"), between Central Power and Light Company (the "Seller") and
CPL Transition Funding LLC (the "Note Issuer") and is subject to all of the
terms, conditions and limitations contained in the Sale Agreement. All
capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings
ascribed thereto in the Sale Agreement.
2. In consideration of the Note Issuer's delivery to or upon the order
of the Seller of $[_____], subject to the satisfaction of the conditions
specified in Section 2.03 of the Sale Agreement, the Seller does hereby
irrevocably sell, transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to the Note
Issuer, without recourse or warranty, except as set forth in the Sale Agreement,
all right, title and interest of the Seller in and to the [Original][Subsequent]
Transition Property identified on Schedule 1 hereto (such sale, transfer,
assignment, setting over and conveyance of the [Original][Subsequent] Transition
Property includes, to the fullest extent permitted by the Securitization Law,
the right to impose, collect and receive Transition Charges and the assignment
of all revenues, collections, claims, rights, payments, money or proceeds of or
arising from the Transition Charges related to the [Original][Subsequent]
Transition Property, as the same may be adjusted from time to time). Such sale,
transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance is hereby expressly stated to
be a sale and, pursuant to Section 39.308 of the Securitization Law, shall be
treated as an absolute transfer of all of the Seller's right, title and interest
in and to (as in a true sale), and not as a pledge or other financing of, the
[Original][Subsequent] Transition Property. The Seller and the Note Issuer agree
that after giving effect to the sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and
conveyance contemplated hereby the Seller has no right, title or interest in or
to the [Original][Subsequent] Transition Property to which a security interest
could attach because (i) it has sold, transferred, assigned, set over and
conveyed all right in and to the [Original][Subsequent] Transition Property to
the Note Issuer, (ii) as provided in Section 39.304 of the Securitization Law,
such rights are only contract rights until the time of such sale, transfer,
assignment, setting over and conveyance and (iii) as provided in Section
39.309(c) of the Securitization Law, appropriate notice has been filed and such
transfer is perfected against all third parties, including subsequent judicial
or other lien creditors. If such sale, transfer, assignment, setting over and
conveyance is held by any court of competent jurisdiction not to be a true sale
as provided in Section 39.308 of the Securitization Law, then such sale,
transfer, assignment, setting over and conveyance shall be treated as the
creation of a security interest (within the meaning of the Securitization Law
and the UCC) in the [Original][Subsequent] Transition Property and, without
prejudice to its position that it has absolutely transferred all of its rights
in the [Original][Subsequent] Transition Property to the Note Issuer, the Seller
hereby grants a security interest in the [Original][Subsequent] Transition
Property to the Note Issuer (and, to the extent necessary to qualify the grant
as a security interest under the Securitization Law, to the Indenture Trustee
for the benefit of the Holders of Notes issued by the Note Issuer and secured by
the [Original][Subsequent] Transition Property).
3. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section
2.03 of the Sale Agreement, the Note Issuer does hereby purchase the [Original]
[Subsequent] Transition Property from the Seller for the consideration set forth
in paragraph 2 above.
4. The Seller and the Note Issuer each acknowledge and agree that the
purchase price for the [Original] [Subsequent] Transition Property sold pursuant
to this ▇▇▇▇ of Sale and the Sale Agreement is equal to its fair market value at
the time of sale.
5. The Seller confirms that each of the representations and warranties
on the part of the Seller contained in the Sale Agreement are true and correct
in all respects on the date hereof as if made on the date hereof.(1)
6. This ▇▇▇▇ of Sale may be executed by the parties hereto in separate
counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original,
but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
7. THIS ▇▇▇▇ OF SALE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE
OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAW.
----------
(1) If any representations or warranties require modification with respect to
Subsequent Transition Property as a result of provisions in the Financing Order,
then such modifications should be set forth in this ▇▇▇▇ of Sale (it being
understood that any such modifications must be agreed to by the parties and
approved by the Rating Agencies prior to the time additional Notes are issued).
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Seller and the Note Issuer have duly executed
this ▇▇▇▇ of Sale as of the ___ day of ___________, ____.
CENTRAL POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
CPL TRANSITION FUNDING LLC
By: ,
-------------------------------------
as Manager
Name:
3
SCHEDULE 1
SCHEDULE 1
to
▇▇▇▇ OF SALE
[Original] [Subsequent] Transition Property