SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-----------------------
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
-----------------------
Date of Report
(Date of earliest
event reported): March 1, 2000
Wisconsin Power and Light Company
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Wisconsin 0-337 39-0714890
- --------------- ---------------- -------------------
(State or other (Commission File (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
222 West Washington Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53703
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(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(608) 252-3311
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(Registrant's telephone number)
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Item 5. Other Events.
On March 1, 2000, Wisconsin Power and Light Company (the "Company")
agreed to sell $100,000,000 principal amount of its 7-5/8% Debentures due March
1, 2010 (the "Debentures") in a public offering through Robert W. Baird & Co.,
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc., Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated and
Wachovia Securities, Inc. The closing for the sale of the Debentures is
scheduled for March 6, 2000. The Debentures are registered on a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-87883) as filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Final versions of the Underwriting Agreement, by and
between the Company and the underwriters, including Robert W. Baird & Co., and
the Officers' Certificate creating the Debentures are filed herewith.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits.
The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index
are filed as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
Date: March 2, 2000 By: /s/ Enrique Bacalao
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Enrique Bacalao
Assistant Treasurer
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WISCONSIN POWER & LIGHT COMPANY
EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K
Report Dated March 1, 2000
Exhibit
(1) Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2000, by and between
Wisconsin Power and Light Company and the underwriters, including
Robert W. Baird & Co.
(4) Officers' Certificate, dated as of March 1, 2000, executed and
delivered in connection with the issuance and sale of Wisconsin Power
and Light Company's 7-5/8% Debentures due March 1, 2010.
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Exhibit (1)
================================================================================
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
(a Wisconsin corporation)
7-5/8% DEBENTURES DUE MARCH 1, 2010
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Dated: March 1, 2000
================================================================================
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION HEADING PAGE
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................2
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company.....................2
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements................3
(ii) Incorporated Documents...................................3
(iii) Independent Accountants..................................4
(iv) Financial Statements.....................................4
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business...................4
(vi) Due Organization of the Company..........................4
(vii) No Significant Subsidiaries..............................5
(viii) Capitalization...........................................5
(ix) Authorization of Agreement...............................5
(x) Authorization of the Indenture...........................5
(xi) Authorization of the Securities..........................5
(xii) Description of the Securities and the Indenture..........6
(xiii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts........................6
(xiv) Absence of Work Stoppage.................................6
(xv) Absence of Proceedings...................................7
(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements..........................7
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits.......................7
(xviii) Title to Property........................................8
(xix) Environmental Laws.......................................8
Not an Investment Company.........................................9
(b) Officer's Certificates............................................9
SECTION 2. SALE AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING........................9
(a) Securities........................................................9
(b) Payment...........................................................9
(c) Denominations; Registration.......................................9
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.........................................10
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations
and Commission Requests........................................10
(b) Filing of Amendments.............................................10
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements..............................10
(d) Delivery of Prospectus...........................................11
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws........................11
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications..........................................11
(g) Rule 158.........................................................12
(h) Use of Proceeds..................................................12
(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities................................12
(j) Reporting Requirements...........................................12
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(k) Compliance with the Final Order of the Public
Service Commission of Wisconsin................................12
SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES..............................................12
(a) Expenses.........................................................12
(b) Termination of Agreement.........................................13
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS'OBLIGATIONS...........................13
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement..........................13
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company...................................14
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters..............................14
(d) Officers'Certificate.............................................14
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter......................................14
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter........................................15
(g) Maintenance of Rating............................................15
(h) Regulatory Approval..............................................15
(i) Additional Documents.............................................15
(j) Termination of Agreement.........................................15
SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION..................................................15
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters..................................15
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers...............16
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification............................17
(d) Settlement without Consent If Failure to Reimburse...............17
SECTION 7. CONTRIBUTION.....................................................18
SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS
TO SURVIVE DELIVERY............................................19
SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.........................................19
(a) Termination; General.............................................19
(b) Liabilities......................................................20
SECTION 10. DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS.......................20
SECTION 11. NOTICES..........................................................20
SECTION 12. PARTIES..........................................................20
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME...........................................21
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SECTION 14. EFFECT OF HEADINGS...............................................21
SECTION 15. SEVERABILITY.....................................................21
Schedule A -List of Underwriters...............................................1
Schedule B -Pricing Information................................................1
Schedule A - List of Underwriters..............................................1
Schedule B - Pricing Information...............................................1
Exhibit A -- Form of Opinion of Company's Counsel............................A-1
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Wisconsin Power and Light Company
(a Wisconsin corporation)
$100,000,000
7-5/8% Debentures due March 1, 2010
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
March 1, 2000
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO.
as Representatives of the Underwriters
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Wisconsin Power and Light Company, a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Company"), confirms its agreement with Robert W. Baird & Co. ("Baird") and each
of the Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the
"Underwriters", which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as
hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Baird is acting as
representative (in such capacity, the "Representative"), with respect to the
issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the respective principal amounts set forth in said
Schedule A of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's unsecured
7-5/8% Debentures due March 1, 2010 (the "Securities"). The Securities are to be
issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of June 20, 1997 (the "Indenture")
between the Company and Firstar Bank, N.A., formerly known as Firstar Trust
Company, a Wisconsin state banking corporation (succeeded by Firstar Bank,
N.A.), as trustee (the "Trustee"). The term "Indenture", as used herein,
includes the Officers' Certificate (as defined in the Indenture) establishing
the form and terms of the Securities pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 of the
Indenture.
The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representative deems advisable after
this Agreement has been executed and delivered and the Indenture has been
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act").
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-87883) covering the
registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses.
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will
either: (i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of
Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the rules and regulations of the Commission under
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the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations") and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule
424(b)") of the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) if the Company has elected to rely
upon Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a term
sheet (a "Term Sheet") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule
424(b). The information included in such prospectus or in such Term Sheet, as
the case may be, that was omitted from such registration statement at the time
it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement
at the time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is
referred to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule
434 is referred to as "Rule 434 Information." Each prospectus used before such
registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as
applicable, the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was used
after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, is herein called a "preliminary prospectus." Such registration
statement, including the exhibits thereto, schedules thereto, if any, and the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
under the 1933 Act, at the time it became effective and including the Rule 430A
Information and the Rule 434 Information, as applicable, is herein called the
"Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement," and after such filing the term "Registration Statement"
shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final prospectus
(including the prospectus supplement), as well as the documents incorporated by
reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, in the
form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering
of the Securities, is herein called the "Prospectus." If Rule 434 is relied on,
the term "Prospectus" shall refer to the preliminary prospectus dated February
25, 2000 together with the Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement to
the date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet. For purposes
of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the
Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
system ("EDGAR").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") which is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
Section 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, and as of the
Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each
Underwriter, as follows:
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(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company
meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. Each of
the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or,
to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission,
and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
information has been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments
thereto became effective and at the Closing Time, the Registration
Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments
and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations and the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act Regulations"), and did
not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the
Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the
Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the
Closing Time, included or will include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If Rule 434
is used, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 434 and
the Prospectus shall not be "materially different," as such term is
used in Rule 434, from the Prospectus included in the Registration
Statement at the time it became effective. The representations and
warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company in writing by any Underwriter through Baird expressly for use
in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as
part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of
any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933
Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act
Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering
was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed
with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted
by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with
the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with
the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read
together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the
Registration Statement became effective, at the time the Prospectus
was issued and at the Closing Time, did not and will
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not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.
(iii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who
certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included
in the Registration Statement are independent public accountants as
required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(iv) Financial Statements. The financial statements
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together
with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material
respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations,
stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any,
included in the Registration Statement present fairly in accordance
with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected
financial data and the summary financial information of the Company
included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown
therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the
audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement.
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A)
there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business
(a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions
entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than
those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with
respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, and (C) except for regular dividends on the Company's
common stock, par value $5.00 per share, and preferred stock, without
par value, in amounts per share that are consistent with past
practice, or the applicable charter document or supplement thereto,
respectively, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital
stock.
(vi) Due Organization of the Company. The Company has been
duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws
of the State of Wisconsin and has corporate power and authority to
own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as
a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be
in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(vii) No Significant Subsidiaries. The Company has no
"significant subsidiary" as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.
(viii) Capitalization. The shares of issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of the
preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the
Company. Alliant Energy Corporation, formerly known as Interstate
Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Parent Company"),
owns all of the common stock of the Company. The Parent Company is a
"holding company" and the Company is a "subsidiary" of a "holding
company" as such terms are defined under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended.
(ix) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(x) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and duly
qualified under the 1939 Act and, assuming due execution and delivery
by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except (A) as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to
fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and (B) as
enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law).
(xi) Authorization of the Securities. The Securities have
been duly authorized and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly
executed by the Company and, when authenticated, issued and delivered
in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against
payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in this Agreement,
will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except
as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
(including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law), and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the
benefits of, the Indenture.
(xii) Description of the Securities and the Indenture. The
Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to
the respective statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus
and the Officers' Certificate creating such Securities and the
Indenture will be in substantially the respective forms filed or
incorporated by reference, as the case may be, as exhibits to the
Registration Statement.
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(xiii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or
by-laws or in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit
agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
Company or any subsidiary is subject (collectively, "Agreements and
Instruments") except for such defaults that would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the
Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the
Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities
as described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds")
and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder and under
the Indenture and the Securities have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or
without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with
or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined
below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or
any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for
such conflicts, breaches, defaults, events or liens, charges or
encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor
will such action result in any violation of the provisions of (x) the
charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary (except for any
such violation with respect to any such subsidiary that would not,
individually or the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect) or
(y) any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order,
writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court,
domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any
subsidiary or any of their assets, properties or operations, except
for any such violations with respect to this clause (y) as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.
As used herein, a "Repayment Event" means any event or condition which
gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of
indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right
to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion
of such indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary.
(xiv) Absence of Work Stoppage. No work stoppage with the
employees of the Company or any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge
of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any
existing or imminent work stoppage by the employees of any of its or
any subsidiary's principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or
contractors, which, in either case, may reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xv) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the
Company or any subsidiary, which is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which
might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
or which might reasonably be expected to
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materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or
the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; the
aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which
the Company or any subsidiary is a party or of which any of their
respective property or assets is the subject which are not described
in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation
incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or
agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of
its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance
or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or for the due execution,
delivery or performance of the Indenture by the Company, except such
as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act
or the 1933 Act Regulations or state securities laws, except for the
qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act and except for
certain filings required by or pursuant to the Final Order of the
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and under the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and
its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents
and other authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses")
issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory
agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by
them, except where the failure to possess any such Governmental
Licenses would not have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all
such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect;
all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and
effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or
the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and
effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in
a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company
has received a Final Order of the Public Service Commission of
Wisconsin authorizing the issuance of the Securities and such issuance
is in compliance with the terms and conditions of such Order. Such
Order is in full force and effect and has not been amended,
supplemented or otherwise modified. No proceeding to review, suspend,
limit, modify, restrict or revoke such Order has been instituted.
(xviii) Title to Property. The Company has good and
marketable title to all real property owned by it and good title to
all other properties owned by it, in each case, free and clear of all
mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or
encumbrances of any kind except such as (a) are described in the
Prospectus or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially
affect the value of such property and do not interfere
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with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the
Company; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business
of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and
under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties
described in the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither
the Company nor any subsidiary has any notice of any material claim of
any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the
Company or any subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases
mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company
or such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or
subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, except where such
would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xix) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the
Registration Statement and except as would not, singly or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal,
state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance,
code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative
interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative
order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or
protection of human health, the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or
subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws
and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of
chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances,
hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively,
"Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling
of Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), (B) the
Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and
approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are
each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending
or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits,
demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or
violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental
Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are
no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form
the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit
or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency,
against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating
to Hazardous Materials or the violation of any Environmental Laws.
(xx) Not an Investment Company. The Company is not an
"investment company" or an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or
"principal underwriter" for, an "investment company," as such terms
are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(b) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representative or to
counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by
the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
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Section 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at
the price set forth in Schedule B, the aggregate principal amount of Securities
set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any
additional principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter may become
obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.
(b) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for the Securities shall
be made at the offices of the Company, 222 West Washington Avenue, Madison,
Wisconsin 53703, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
Representative and the Company, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third
(fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day)
business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days
after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company
(such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to
the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that
each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept
delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price, for the
Securities which it has agreed to purchase. Baird, individually and not as
representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make
payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any
Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, but such
payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(c) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Securities
shall be in such denominations ($1,000 or integral multiples thereof), delivered
to you at the offices of the Company or through the facilities of The Depository
Trust Company for the accounts of the several Underwriters, and registered in
such names, all as the Representative may request in writing at least one full
business day before the Closing Time. The Securities will be made available for
examination and packaging by the Representative in The City of New York not
later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to the Closing
Time.
Section 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.
The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule
430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Representative immediately,
and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the
Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt
of any comments with respect to the Registration
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Statement or any amendment thereto from the Commission, (iii) of any request by
the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will
promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b) and will take such
steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus
transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the
Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such
prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the
lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b) Filing of Amendments. The Company will give the Representative
notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term Sheet or any
amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectus,
whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, will furnish the
Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time
prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or
use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the
Underwriters shall reasonably object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or
will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without
charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of
each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by
reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of
experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a
conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each
amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of
the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the
Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof
filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.
(d) Delivery of Prospectus. The Company will deliver to each
Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as
such Underwriter may reasonably request, and the Company hereby consents to the
use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will
furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act such
number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such
Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
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(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply
with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations and the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations so as to permit the
completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this
Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when the Prospectus is required
by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any
event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary,
in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to
amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order
that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein
not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is
delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion
of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend
or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the
1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly prepare and file
with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b), such amendment or supplement as
may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the
Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment
or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best efforts,
in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and
sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions
as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in
effect for a period of not less than six months from the later of the effective
date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general
consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a
dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to
subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in
which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the
Securities have been so qualified, the Company will file such statements and
reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such
qualification in effect for a period of not less than six months from the
effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. The Company will also supply the Underwriters with such information
as is necessary for the determination of the legality of the Securities for
investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may
reasonably request.
(g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to
the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes
of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section
11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received
by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus
under "Use of Proceeds."
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(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 30 days
from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written
consent of Baird, directly or indirectly, issue, sell, offer or contract to
sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any
debt securities of the Company which mature more than one year after the Closing
Time.
(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will
file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934
Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act
Regulations.
(k) Compliance with the Final Order of the Public Service Commission
of Wisconsin. The Company will comply with the terms and conditions of the Final
Order of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin issued on February 8, 2000.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the
preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, (ii) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement,
any Agreement among Underwriters, the Indenture and such other documents as may
be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or
delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of any
certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and
disbursements of the Company's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the
qualification of the Securities under state securities laws in accordance with
the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith
and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, provided, that, counsel fees in connection therewith do not exceed
$5,000, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each
preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of the Prospectus and any amendments
or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii)
the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities and
(ix) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i)
hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters.
Section 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of
the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof or
in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company
delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof to the performance in all
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material respects by the Company of its covenants and other obligations
hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
effective under the 1933 Act and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the
1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and
any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been
filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-effective
amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared
effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A), or, if the Company
has elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have been filed with the
Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of Foley & Lardner, counsel for the Company, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or
reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, to the
effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representative shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
Time, of Chapman and Cutler, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed
or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, with
respect to the matters set forth in clauses (iv) through (x), inclusive, and the
penultimate paragraph of Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion, such counsel
may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the
law of the State of Illinois and the federal law of the United States, upon the
opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representative. Such counsel may also
state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied,
to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and
its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
(d) Officers' Certificate. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have
received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice
President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer
of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been
no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in
Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as
though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied
in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or
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satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, (iv) no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or are contemplated by the
Commission and (v) no proceeding to review, suspend, limit, modify, restrict or
revoke the Order has been instituted.
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this
Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a
letter dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for
each of the other Underwriters, containing statements and information of the
type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the Representative
shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter, dated as of Closing Time,
to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished
pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date
referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to Closing
Time.
(g) Maintenance of Rating. At Closing Time, the Securities shall be
rated at least Aa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and A+ by Standard &
Poor's Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and the
Company shall have delivered to the Representative a letter, dated the Closing
Time, from each such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory to the
Representative, confirming that the Securities have such ratings; and since the
date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a downgrading in the
rating assigned to the Securities or any of the Company's other debt securities
by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as that term is
defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) of the 1933 Act
Regulations, and no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has
under surveillance or review its rating of the Securities or any of the
Company's other debt securities.
(h) Regulatory Approval. The Company shall have received all
regulatory approvals necessary in order to issue the Securities, including
without limitation a Final Order of Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
(i) Additional Documents. At Closing Time, counsel for the
Underwriters shall have been furnished with such additional documents as they
may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the
Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any
of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
conditions, herein contained.
(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this
Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at
any time at or prior to
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Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to
any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 6 and 7
shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule
430A Information and the Rule 434 Information deemed to be a part
thereof, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expenses whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Baird),
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental
agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based
upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue
statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid
under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through Baird expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or
any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information deemed to be a part thereof, if applicable, or any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
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(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a)
of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
the Rule 434 Information deemed to be a part thereof, if applicable, or any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by such Underwriter through Baird expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party
shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be
sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not
relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is
not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve
it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this
indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a)
above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Baird (which
counsel shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company), and, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified
parties shall be selected by the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably
acceptable to Baird). An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense
in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the
indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party)
also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying
parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to
any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties
in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in
the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by
any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought
under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties
are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and
(ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or
a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Settlement without Consent If Failure to Reimburse. If at any
time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel it is otherwise
entitled under this Agreement, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii)
effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more
than 45 days after
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receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such
indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at
least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such
indemnifying party (x) shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (y) to the
extent it shall not have so reimbursed such indemnified party for such fees and
expenses prior to the date of such settlement, it shall not have provided
written notice to such indemnified party setting forth in reasonable detail why
such indemnified party is not entitled to reimbursement of such fees and
expenses.
Section 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in
Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the
offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of
the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and
the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in
each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is used,
the corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the aggregate initial
public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency
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or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission,
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in
proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
Section 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters.
Section 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The Representative may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i)
if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse
change in the financial markets in the United States, any outbreak of
hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or
development involving a prospective change in national or international
political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is
such as to make it, in the good faith judgment of the Representative,
impracticable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of
the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been
suspended or materially limited by the Commission, the New York Stock Exchange
or the American Stock Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock
Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has
been suspended or materially limited, or
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minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for
prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by
order of the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or any other governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been
declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided, further, that
Sections 6 and 7 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and
effect.
Section 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more
of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Securities which
it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the "Defaulted
Securities"), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 hours
thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all,
of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the
terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed
such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(a) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities does
not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be
purchased hereunder, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated,
severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the
proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the
underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds
10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased
hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a
termination of this Agreement, either the Representative or the Company shall
have the right to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in
order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
Section 10.
Section 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to the Representative at 777 East Wisconsin
Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202, attention of Lance R. Lange; and notices to
the Company shall be directed to it at 222 West Washington Avenue, Madison,
Wisconsin 53703, attention of Edward M. Gleason.
19
<PAGE>
Section 12. Parties. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling
persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their
heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors
and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other
person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
Section 14. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings
herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect
the construction hereof.
Section 15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be
determined to be unenforceable, that shall not affect any other provision of
this Agreement.
20
<PAGE>
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
By: /s/ Edward M. Gleason
---------------------------------------------
Name: Edward M. Gleason
Title: Vice President - Treasurer and
Corporate Secretary
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO.
By: /s/ Lance R. Lange
---------------------------------------
Name: Lance R. Lange
Title: Vice President
For itself and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A
hereto.
21
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
NAME OF UNDERWRITER OF SECURITIES
Robert W. Baird & Co..............................................$ 50,000,000
Banc One Capital Markets, Inc.....................................$ 20,000,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated..............................$ 20,000,000
Wachovia Securities, Inc..........................................$ 10,000,000
------------
Total.............................................................$100,000,000
============
SCHEDULE A
(to Underwriting Agreement)
<PAGE>
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
$100,000,000 UNSECURED DEBT SECURITIES
1. The initial public offering price of the Securities shall be 99.39%
of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from the date of
issuance.
2. The purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters for the
Securities shall be 98.74% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
interest, if any.
3. The interest rate on the Securities shall be 7-5/8% per annum.
SCHEDULE B
(to Underwriting Agreement)
<PAGE>
FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
(i) The Company is validly existing as a corporation under the laws
of the State of Wisconsin.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Underwriting
Agreement.
(iii) To the best of our knowledge, the Company is duly qualified as
a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(iv) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company.
(v) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
thereof by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except
(A) as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency
(including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers),
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors'
rights generally, (B) as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law) and (C) as enforcement of those provisions set forth in
Schedule 1 hereto may be limited under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, but
the inclusion of such provisions does not affect the validity of the Indenture,
and the Indenture contains legally adequate provisions for the realization of
the principal legal rights and benefits offered thereby.
(vi) The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture,
have been duly authorized by the Company and, assuming that the Securities have
been duly authenticated by the Trustee in the manner described in its
certificate delivered to you today and payment of the consideration for the
Securities as specified in the Underwriting Agreement has been made, the
Securities have been duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company and
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms, except (A) as the enforcement thereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all
laws relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar
laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally, (B) as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (C) as
enforcement of those provisions set forth in Schedule 2 may be limited under the
laws of the State of Wisconsin, but the inclusion of such provisions does not
affect the validity of the Securities, and the Securities contain legally
EXHIBIT A
(to Underwriting Agreement)
<PAGE>
adequate provisions for the realization of the principal legal rights and
benefits offered thereby, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(vii) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.
(viii) The Securities and the Indenture conform as to legal matters in
all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(ix) The Registration Statement has been declared effective under
the 1933 Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has
been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and,
to the best of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for
that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by the
Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, including the Rule 430A
Information, the Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by reference
therein, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, as of
their respective effective or issue dates (other than the financial statements,
supporting schedules and other financial or statistical data included therein or
omitted therefrom, and the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 (the
"Statement of Eligibility"), as to which we express no opinion) complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933
Act Regulations.
(xi) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements, supporting schedules and other financial
or statistical data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we
express no opinion), when they were filed with the Commission complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(xii) To the best of our knowledge and other than as set forth in the
Prospectus, there is not pending or threatened any action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation, to which the Company or any wholly-owned subsidiary is
a party, or to which the property of the Company or any wholly-owned subsidiary
is subject, before or brought by any court or government agency or body,
domestic or foreign, which, if determined adversely, would result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xiii) The information in the Prospectus under "Description of the
Debentures" and "Certain Terms of the Debentures," to the extent that it
constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company's charter
and by-laws or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by us
and is correct in all material respects.
(xiv) To the best of our knowledge, the Company is not in violation
of its charter or by-laws and no default by the Company exists in the due
performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note,
lease or other agreement or instrument that is described or referred to in the
A-2
<PAGE>
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or filed or incorporated by reference
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
(xv) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license,
order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
authority or agency, domestic or foreign (other than under the 1933 Act and the
1933 Act Regulations, which have been obtained, or as may be required under the
securities or blue sky laws of the various states, except for the qualification
of the Indenture under the 1939 Act and except for certain filings required by
or pursuant to the Final Order of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and
under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, relating to
the Debentures, as to which we express no opinion) is necessary or required in
connection with the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Underwriting Agreement or the due execution, delivery or performance of the
Indenture by the Company or for the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the
Securities.
(xvi) The execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting
Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement and in the Registration
Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the
proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Prospectus under
the caption "Use of Proceeds") and compliance by the Company with its
obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities
do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment
Event (as defined in Section 1(a)(xiii) of the Underwriting Agreement) under or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Company pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or
instrument, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to which the
Company is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property
or assets of the Company is subject (except for such conflicts, breaches or
defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not have a Material
Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the charter or by-laws of the Company, or any applicable law, statute, rule,
regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree, known to us, of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Company or any of its properties, assets or operations.
Nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that
the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule 430A
Information and Rule 434 Information (if applicable), (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial or statistical data included or
incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom and the Statements of
Eligibility, as to which we make no statement), at the time such Registration
Statement or any such amendment became effective, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial or statistical data included or
incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom and the Statements of
Eligibility, as to which we make no statement), at the time the Prospectus was
issued, at the time any such amended or supplemented prospectus was issued or at
the Closing Time, included or includes an
A-3
<PAGE>
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of
fact (but not as to legal conclusions), to the extent they deem proper, on
certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials. Such
opinion shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or that it is
otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to
legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the
ABA Section of Business Law (1991).
A-4
Exhibit (4)
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE
Dated as of March 1, 2000
----------------------
Setting Forth Terms of a Series of Debt Securities
7 5/8% Debentures Due March 1, 2010
----------------------
Pursuant to the Indenture
Dated as of June 20, 1997
<PAGE>
OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, the Vice President-Treasurer and Corporate Secretary
and the Assistant Treasurer of Wisconsin Power and Light Company, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Company"), hereby certify as provided below pursuant to
Section 2.01 of the Indenture, dated as of June 20, 1997 (the "Indenture"),
between the Company and Firstar Trust Company (subsequently succeeded by Firstar
Bank, N.A.) (the "Trustee"). This Officers' Certificate is delivered, pursuant
to authority granted to the undersigned by resolutions adopted on July 30, 1999
by the Board of Directors of the Company, for the purpose of creating and
setting forth the terms of a series of Securities to be issued pursuant to the
Indenture. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein are used as defined in
the Indenture.
1. The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized the creation
by the Company of the series of Securities described below pursuant to this
Officers' Certificate and in accordance with the Indenture.
2. The title of the Securities shall be "7 5/8% Debentures due
March 1, 2010" (herein called the "Debentures").
3. The aggregate principal amount of Debentures which may be
authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is limited to U.S. $100,000,000,
except for Debentures authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer
of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Debentures as provided in Sections
2.07, 2.08, 2.13 or 9.06 of the Indenture and except for Debentures which,
pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture, are deemed never to have been
authenticated and delivered thereunder.
4. The principal of the Debentures shall be payable in U.S. dollars on
March 1, 2010.
5. The Debentures shall bear interest at the rate of 7 5/8% per
annum; such interest shall accrue from March 6, 2000 (or from the most recent
interest payment date to which interest on the Debentures has been paid or
provided for); the interest payment dates on which such interest shall be
payable shall be March 1 and September 1 in each year, commencing September 1,
2000; the record dates for the determination of Holders to whom interest is
payable shall be the February 15 or August 15 next preceding each interest
payment date. Interest on the Debentures shall be payable in U.S. dollars.
6. Pursuant to the Indenture, the Trustee has been appointed as the
Registrar for the Debentures. The Trustee is hereby further appointed as the
initial Paying Agent and Transfer Agent of the Debentures. The principal of and
interest on the Debentures shall be payable at the office of the Paying Agent,
which shall initially be located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
7. The Debentures shall not be redeemable prior to maturity, shall not
be subject to any sinking fund and shall not be repurchasable at the option of a
Holder. The
-2-
<PAGE>
Debentures shall be issuable as Registered Securities and shall not
be exchangeable for Bearer Securities.
8. Section 4.07 of the Indenture shall apply to the Debentures.
9. Defeasance and covenant defeasance under Article 8 of the Indenture
shall be applicable to the Debentures.
10. The Debentures shall initially be issued in whole in the form of
one or more global Securities. The Depository Trust Company, a clearing agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("DTC"), shall
initially serve as the depositary for such global Security or Securities. For so
long as DTC shall be the depositary, all Debentures shall be registered in its
name or in the name of a nominee thereof. While the Debentures are evidenced by
one or more global Securities, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may
be, shall be the sole Holder thereof for all purposes under the Indenture.
Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or the
obligation to the depositary's participants or the beneficial owners for whom
they act with respect to their receipt from the depositary of payments on the
Debentures or notices given under the Indenture. The global Security or
Securities provided for hereunder shall bear such legend or legends as may be
required from time to time by the depositary.
11. Except as hereinafter described, Debentures in definitive form
will not be issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company
decides to discontinue the use of global Securities, or if DTC is at any time
unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue individual
Debentures in certificated form to owners of "book entry" ownership interests in
exchange for the Debentures held by DTC or its nominee, as the case may be. In
such instance, an owner of a "book-entry" ownership interest will be entitled to
physical delivery of certificates equal in principal amount to such "book-entry"
ownership interest and to have such certificates registered in its name.
Individual certificates so issued will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or
any multiple thereof.
12. Additional terms regarding the Debentures are as set forth in the
form of Debenture set forth below.
-3-
<PAGE>
13. The form of the Debentures shall be substantially as follows:
[Form of 7 5/8% Debenture due March 1, 2010]
No. R-__________ $____________
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
7 5/8% Debenture due March 1, 2010
CUSIP 976826 BC 0
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
promises to pay to
--------------------------------------------------------------
or registered assigns
the principal sum of Dollars on March 1, 2010
----------------------------------
Interest Payment Dates: March 1 and September 1
Record Dates: February 15 and August 15
Dated:
FIRSTAR BANK, N.A. WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
(As successor to Firstar Trust
Company)
Transfer Agent and Paying Agent
By:
-------------------------------------
[Title of Authorized Officer]
Authenticated:
FIRSTAR BANK, N.A. (CORPORATE SEAL)
(As successor to Firstar Trust
Company)
Registrar -------------------------------------
[Assistant Secretary]
By:
-------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
-4-
<PAGE>
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
7 5/8% Debenture due March 1, 2010
Interest. Wisconsin Power and Light Company (the "Company"), a
Wisconsin corporation, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this
Security (as defined herein) at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will
pay interest semiannually on March 1 and September 1 of each year commencing
September 1, 2000. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent
date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from
March 6, 2000. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months.
Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Securities to
the persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close of business on
the record date for the next interest payment date, except as otherwise provided
in the Indenture. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect
principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the
United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public
and private debts. The Company may pay principal and interest by check payable
in such money. It may mail an interest check to a holder's registered address.
Securities Agents. Initially, Firstar Bank, N.A. (as successor to
Firstar Trust Company) will act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar.
The Company may change any Paying Agent or Transfer Agent without notice. The
Company or any Affiliate may act in any such capacity. Subject to certain
conditions, the Company may change the Trustee.
Indenture. The Company issued the securities of this series
(individually a "Security" and collectively the "Securities") under an
Indenture, dated as of June 20, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and
Firstar Trust Company (subsequently succeeded by Firstar Bank, N.A.) (the
"Trustee"). The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture
and in the Officers' Certificate establishing the Securities and those made part
of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections
77aaa-77bbbb). Securityholders are referred to the Indenture, the
above-referenced Officers' Certificate and such Act for a statement of such
terms.
Maturity; No Redemption Prior to Maturity. The principal on the
Securities shall be payable on March 1, 2010. The Securities are not redeemable
prior to maturity.
Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Securities are in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000.
The transfer of Securities may be registered and Securities may be exchanged as
provided in the Indenture. The Transfer Agent may require a holder, among other
things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay
any taxes and fees required by law or the Indenture.
Persons Deemed Owners. The registered holder of a Security may be
treated as its owner for all purposes.
-5-
<PAGE>
Amendments and Waivers. Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture
or the Securities may be amended with the consent of the holders of not less
than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the securities of all series
affected by the amendment. Subject to certain exceptions, a default on a series
may be waived with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the series.
Without the consent of any Securityholder, the Indenture or the
Securities may be amended, among other things, to cure any ambiguity, omission,
defect or inconsistency; to provide for assumption of Company obligations to
Securityholders; or to make any change that does not materially adversely affect
the rights of any Securityholder.
Restrictive Covenants. The Securities are unsecured general
obligations of the Company limited to $100,000,000 principal amount. The
Indenture does not limit other unsecured debt. Section 4.07 of the Indenture,
which limits certain mortgages and other liens, will apply with respect to the
Securities. The limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications
and exceptions.
Successors. When a successor assumes all the obligations of the
Company under the Securities and the Indenture, the Company will be released
from those obligations.
Defeasance Prior to Maturity. Subject to certain conditions, the
Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the
Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or
U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of and interest on the
Securities to maturity. U.S. Government Obligations are securities backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States of America or certificates
representing an ownership interest in such Obligations.
Defaults and Remedies. An Event of Default includes: default for 60
days in payment of interest on the Securities; default in payment of principal
on the Securities; default by the Company for a specified period after notice to
it in the performance of any of its other agreements applicable to the
Securities; and certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency. If an Event of
Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the Securities may declare the principal of all the
Securities to be due and payable immediately.
Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except
as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity satisfactory to
it before it enforces the Indenture or the Securities. Subject to certain
limitations, holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may
direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may
withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing default (except a default
in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is
in their interests. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to
the Trustee.
Trustee Dealings with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any
other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services
for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with those persons, as
if it were not Trustee.
-6-
<PAGE>
No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee or
shareholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any
claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their
creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all
such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the
issue of the Securities.
Authentication. This Security shall not be valid until authenticated
by a manual signature of the Registrar.
Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a
Securityholder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT
(=tenants by the entirety), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gifts to
Minors Act), and U/T/M/A (=Uniform Transfers to Minors Act).
The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request
and without charge a copy of the Indenture and the Officers' Certificate, which
contains the text of this Security. Requests may be made to: Corporate
Secretary, Wisconsin Power and Light Company, 222 West Washington Avenue,
Madison, Wisconsin 53703.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
[Form of Assignment Form]
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Security, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Security to
-------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
-7-
<PAGE>
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer
---------------------------------------
this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to
act for him.
Date: , Your signature:
------------------ ------- -----------------------------
-----------------------------
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Security)
Signature Guaranteed:
- --------------------------------
* * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have set our hands and the corporate seal of
the Company as of the day and year first above written.
WISCONSIN POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY
By: /s/ Edward M. Gleason
-------------------------------------
Edward M. Gleason
Vice President-Treasurer and
Corporate Secretary
[CORPORATE SEAL] By: /s/ Enrique Bacalao
-------------------------------------
Enrique Bacalao
Assistant Treasurer
-8-
<PAGE>
