UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
- -----------------------------------X
:
In the Matter of : CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO
: RULE 24
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC. :
:
File No. 70-8487 :
:
(Public Utility Holding Company :
Act of 1935) :
- -----------------------------------X
This is to certify, pursuant to Rule 24 under the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, that the
transactions described below, which were proposed by Entergy
Louisiana, Inc. ("Company") in its Application-Declaration, as
amended, in the above file, have been carried out in accordance
with the terms and conditions of and for the purposes represented
by said Application-Declaration, as amended, and pursuant to the
order of the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect
thereto dated October 3, 1995.
On July 10, 1996, the Company's subsidiary, Entergy
Louisiana Capital I, a statutory business trust created under the
laws of the State of Delaware ("Trust"), issued and sold, by
negotiated public offering, to Goldman, Sachs & Co., Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc., A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. and Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as underwriters, 2,800,000
9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A
($70,000,000 in aggregate liquidation amount) ("Series A
Preferred Securities") issued by the Trust pursuant to the
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Entergy Louisiana Capital
I dated July 16, 1996 ("Trust Agreement"). In connection with
the issuance and sale of the Series A Preferred Securities, the
Company executed and delivered a guarantee of the Trust's payment
obligations under the Series A Preferred Securities ("Guaranty").
In addition, the Company purchased 86,598 9% Common Securities
($2,164,950 in aggregate liquidation amount) issued by the Trust
pursuant of the Trust Agreement ("Common Securities"). The Trust
invested the proceeds from the sale of both the Series A
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities in the Company's
9% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A
due September 30, 2045, issued pursuant to the Indenture for
Unsecured Subordinated Debt Securities relating to Trust
Securities, dated as of July 1, 1996 between the Company and the
Bank of New York, as Trustee.
Attached hereto and incorporated by reference are:
Exhibit A-14(a) - Execution form of Indenture for
Unsecured Subordinated Debt Securities
relating to Trust Securities.
Exhibit A-15(a) - Execution form of 9% Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debenture, Series A due September 30,
2045.
Exhibit A-16(a) - Execution form of Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement of Entergy
Louisiana Capital I and execution form
of Series A Preferred Securities.
Exhibit A-19(a) - Execution form of Guaranty of
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
Exhibit B-11(a) - Execution form of Underwriting
Agreement relating to the Series A
Preferred Securities.
Exhibit C-7(a) - Copy of the Prospectus Supplement
and accompanying Prospectus being used
in connection with the sale of the
Preferred Securities (previously filed
in Registration Nos. 333-3567 and 333-
3567-01 and incorporated herein by
reference).
Exhibit F-1(c) - Post-effective opinion of Denise C.
Redmann, Senior Attorney - Corporate and
Securities of Entergy Services, Inc.,
counsel for the Company.
Exhibit F-3(c) - Post-effective opinion of Reid &
Priest LLP, counsel for the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Entergy Louisiana, Inc. has caused
this certificate to be executed this 25th day of July, 1996.
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
By:/s/William J. Regan, Jr.
William J. Regan, Jr.
Vice President and Treasurer
Exhibit A-14(a)
__________________________________________
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
TO
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
Trustee
_________
Indenture
(For Unsecured Subordinated Debt Securities
relating to Trust Securities)
Dated as of July 1, 1996
__________________________________________.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PARTIES 1
RECITAL OF THE COMPANY 1
ARTICLE ONE 1
Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application 1
SECTION 101. Definitions 1
Act 2
Additional Interest 2
Affiliate 2
Authenticating Agent 2
Authorized Officer 2
Board of Directors 2
Board Resolution 2
Business Day 2
Commission 3
Company 3
Company Request or Company Order 3
Corporate Trust Office 3
corporation 3
Defaulted Interest 3
Dollar or $ 3
Event of Default 3
Governmental Authority 3
Government Obligations 3
Guarantee 4
Holder 4
Indenture 4
Interest Payment Date 4
Maturity 4
Officer's Certificate 4
Opinion of Counsel 4
Outstanding 4
Paying Agent 5
Person 5
Place of Payment 5
Predecessor Security 5
Preferred Securities 6
Property Trustee 6
Redemption Date 6
Redemption Price 6
Regular Record Date 6
Responsible Officer 6
Securities 6
Security Register and Security Registrar 6
Senior Indebtedness 6
Special Record Date 7
Stated Maturity 7
Trust 7
Trust Agreement 7
Trust Indenture Act 7
Trustee 7
United States 7
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions 7
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee 8
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders 9
SECTION 105. Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company 11
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver 12
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 12
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 12
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns 12
SECTION 110. Separability Clause 13
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture 13
SECTION 112. Governing Law 13
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays 13
ARTICLE TWO 14
Security Forms 14
SECTION 201. Forms Generally 14
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee's
Certificate of Authentication 14
ARTICLE THREE 15
The Securities 15
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 15
SECTION 302. Denominations 18
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery
and Dating 18
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities 20
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer
and Exchange 21
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed,
Lost and Stolen Securities 22
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest;
Interest Rights Preserved 23
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners 24
SECTION 309. Cancellation by Security Registrar 24
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest 24
SECTION 311. Extension of Interest Payment 24
SECTION 312. Additional Interest. 25
SECTION 313. CUSIP Numbers 25
ARTICLE FOUR 25
Redemption of Securities 25
SECTION 401. Applicability of Article 25
SECTION 402. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee 25
SECTION 403. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed 26
SECTION 404. Notice of Redemption 26
SECTION 405. Securities Payable on Redemption Date 28
SECTION 406. Securities Redeemed in Part 28
ARTICLE FIVE 28
Sinking Funds 28
SECTION 501. Applicability of Article 28
SECTION 502. Satisfaction of Sinking
Fund Payments with Securities 29
SECTION 503. Redemption of Securities
for Sinking Fund 29
ARTICLE SIX 30
Covenants 30
SECTION 601. Payment of Principal,
Premium and Interest 30
SECTION 602. Maintenance of Office of Agency 30
SECTION 603. Money for Securities
Payments to Be Held in Trust 31
SECTION 604. Corporate Existence 32
SECTION 605. Maintenance of Properties 32
SECTION 606. Annual Officer's Certificate as
to Compliance. 32
SECTION 607. Waiver of Certain Covenants 33
SECTION 608. Restriction on Payment of Dividends 33
SECTION 609. Maintenance of Trust Existence 34
SECTION 610. Rights of Holders of Preferred Securities 34
ARTICLE SEVEN 34
Satisfaction and Discharge 34
SECTION 701. Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities 34
SECTION 702. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 37
SECTION 703. Application of Trust Money 37
ARTICLE EIGHT 38
Events of Default; Remedies 38
SECTION 801. Events of Default 38
SECTION 802. Acceleration of Maturity;
Rescission and Annulment 40
SECTION 803. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits
for Enforcement by Trustee 41
SECTION 804. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 41
SECTION 805. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without
Possession of Securities 42
SECTION 806. Application of Money Collected 42
SECTION 807. Limitation on Suits 43
SECTION 808. Unconditional Right of Holders
to ReceivePrincipal, Premium and Interest 44
SECTION 809. Restoration of Rights and Remedies 44
SECTION 810. Rights and Remedies Cumulative 44
SECTION 811. Delay or Omission Not Waiver 44
SECTION 812. Control by Holders of Securities 45
SECTION 813. Waiver of Past Defaults 45
SECTION 814. Undertaking for Costs 46
SECTION 815. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws 46
ARTICLE NINE 46
The Trustee 46
SECTION 901. Certain Duties and Responsibilities 46
SECTION 902. Notice of Defaults 48
SECTION 903. Certain Rights of Trustee 48
SECTION 904. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance
of Securities 49
SECTION 905. May Hold Securities 49
SECTION 906. Money Held in Trust 50
SECTION 907. Compensation and Reimbursement 50
SECTION 908. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. 50
SECTION 909. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility 51
SECTION 910. Resignation and Removal;
Appointment of Successor 51
SECTION 911. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 53
SECTION 912. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business 54
SECTION 913. Preferential Collection of Claims
Against Company 55
SECTION 914. Co-trustees and Separate Trustees. 55
SECTION 915. Appointment of Authenticating Agent 56
ARTICLE TEN 58
Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company 58
SECTION 1001. Lists of Holders 58
SECTION 1002. Reports by Trustee and Company 59
ARTICLE ELEVEN 59
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer 59
SECTION 1101. Company May Consolidate,
etc., Only on Certain Terms 59
SECTION 1102. Successor Corporation Substituted 60
ARTICLE TWELVE 60
Supplemental Indentures 60
SECTION 1201. Supplemental Indentures
Without Consent of Holders 60
SECTION 1202. Supplemental Indentures
With Consent of Holders 62
SECTION 1203. Execution of Supplemental Indentures 64
SECTION 1204. Effect of Supplemental Indentures 64
SECTION 1205. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act 64
SECTION 1206. Reference in Securities to Supplemental
Indentures 64
SECTION 1207. Modification Without Supplemental
Indenture 65
ARTICLE THIRTEEN 65
Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting 65
SECTION 1301. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called 65
SECTION 1302. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings 65
SECTION 1303. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings 66
SECTION 1304. Quorum; Action 66
SECTION 1305. Attendance at Meetings;
Determination of Voting Rights;
Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings 67
SECTION 1306. Counting Votes and
Recording Action of Meetings 68
SECTION 1307. Action Without Meeting 68
ARTICLE FOURTEEN 69
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors 69
SECTION 1401. Liability Solely Corporate 69
ARTICLE FIFTEEN 69
Subordination of Securities 69
SECTION 1501. Securities Subordinate
to Senior Indebtedness. 69
SECTION 1502. Payment Over of Proceeds
of Securities 70
SECTION 1503. Disputes with Holders of
Certain Senior Indebtedness 72
SECTION 1504. Subrogation 72
SECTION 1505. Obligation of the Company Unconditional 72
SECTION 1506. Priority of Senior
Indebtedness Upon Maturity 73
SECTION 1507. Trustee as Holder of
Senior Indebtedness 73
SECTION 1508. Notice to Trustee to
Effectuate Subordination 74
SECTION 1509. Modification, Extension,
etc. of Senior Indebtedness 74
SECTION 1510. Trustee Has No Fiduciary
Duty to Holders of Senior Indebtedness 74
SECTION 1511. Paying Agents Other Than
the Trustee 74
SECTION 1512. Rights of Holders of
Senior Indebtedness Not Impaired 74
SECTION 1513. Effect of Subordination
Provisions; Termination 75
Testimonium 76
Signatures and Seals 76
Acknowledgements 78
<PAGE>
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and Indenture, dated as of July 1, 1996
Trust Indenture Act Section Indenture Section
- --------------------------- -----------------
310 (a)(1) 909
(a)(2) 909
(a)(3) 914
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(b) 908
910
311 (a) 913
(b) 913
(c) 913
312 (a) 1001
(b) 1001
(c) 1001
313 (a) 1002
(b) 1002
(c) 1002
314 (a) 1002
(a)(4) 606
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 102
(c)(2) 102
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 102
315 (a) 901
903
(b) 902
(c) 901
(d) 901
(e) 814
316 (a) 812
813
(a)(1)(A) 802
812
(a)(1)(B) 813
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) 808
317 (a)(1) 803
(a)(2) 804
(b) 603
318 (a) 107
<PAGE>
INDENTURE, dated as of July 1, 1996, between
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC., a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana (herein
called the "Company"), having its principal office at 639
Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113, and THE BANK OF
NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation, having its
principal corporate trust office at 101 Barclay Street, New
York, New York 10286, as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee").
RECITAL OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and
delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from
time to time of its unsecured subordinated debentures, notes
or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the
"Securities"), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to
be issued in one or more series as contemplated herein; and
all acts necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement
of the Company have been performed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise
requires, capitalized terms used herein shall have the
meanings assigned to them in Article One of this Indenture.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That in order to declare the terms and conditions
upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued
and delivered and in consideration of the premises and the
purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is
mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of
any series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application
SECTION 101. Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise
requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the
meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the
plural as well as the singular;
(b) all terms used herein without definition which
are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly
or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to
them therein;
(c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined
herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States, and, except as otherwise herein expressly
provided, the term "generally accepted accounting
principles" with respect to any computation required or
permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles
as are generally accepted in the United States at the
date of such computation or, at the election of the
Company from time to time, at the date of the execution
and delivery of this Indenture; provided, however, that
in determining generally accepted accounting principles
applicable to the Company, the Company shall, to the
extent required, conform to any order, rule or regulation
of any administrative agency, regulatory authority or
other governmental body having jurisdiction over the
Company; and
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder"
and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture
as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or
other subdivision.
Certain terms, used principally in Article Nine, are
defined in that Article.
"Act", when used with respect to any Holder of a
Security, has the meaning specified in Section 104.
"Additional Interest" has the meaning specified in
Section 312.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by
or under direct or indirect common control with such
specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person
means the power to direct the management and policies of
such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person (other than
the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) authorized by
the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
one or more series of Securities.
"Authorized Officer" means the Chairman of the
Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any
Assistant Treasurer, or any other duly authorized officer of
the Company.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of
directors of the Company or any committee thereof duly
authorized to act in respect of matters relating to this
Indenture.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors
and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day", when used with respect to a Place of
Payment or any other particular location specified in the
Securities or this Indenture, means any day, other than a
Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which banking
institutions or trust companies in such Place of Payment or
other location are generally authorized or required by law,
regulation or executive order to remain closed, except as
may be otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or, if at
any time after the date of execution and delivery of this
Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act,
then the body, if any, performing such duties at such time.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in
the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor
Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall
mean such successor Person.
"Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written
request or order signed in the name of the Company by an
Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the
Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be principally administered, which office at
the date of execution and delivery of this Indenture is
located at 101 Barclay Street, 21 West, New York, New York
10286.
"corporation" means a corporation, association,
company, joint stock company or business trust.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in
Section 307.
"Dollar" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent
unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the
time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and
private debts.
"Event of Default" with respect to Securities of a
particular series has the meaning specified in Section 801.
"Governmental Authority" means the government of the
United States or of any State or Territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia or of any county, municipality or other
political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or any
department, agency, authority or other instrumentality of
any of the foregoing.
"Government Obligations" means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the
principal of and interest on which are
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States and
entitled to the benefit of the full faith and credit
thereof; and
(b) certificates, depositary receipts or other
instruments which evidence a direct ownership
interest in obligations described in clause (a)
above or in any specific interest or principal
payments due in respect thereof; provided, however,
that the custodian of such obligations or specific
interest or principal payments shall be a bank or
trust company (which may include the Trustee or any
Paying Agent) subject to Federal or state
supervision or examination with a combined capital
and surplus of at least $50,000,000; and provided,
further, that except as may be otherwise required by
law, such custodian shall be obligated to pay to the
holders of such certificates, depositary receipts or
other instruments the full amount received by such
custodian in respect of such obligations or specific
payments and shall not be permitted to make any
deduction therefrom.
"Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement delivered
from the Company to a Trust, for the benefit of the
holders of Preferred Securities issued by such Trust.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is
registered in the Security Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally
executed and delivered and as it may from time to time be
supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the
applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms
of a particular series of Securities established as
contemplated by Section 301.
"Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to
any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment
of interest on such Security.
"Maturity", when used with respect to any Security,
means the date on which the principal of such Security or
an installment of principal becomes due and payable as
provided in such Security or in this Indenture, whether at
the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, upon
call for redemption or otherwise.
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by
an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of
counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, or other
counsel acceptable to the Trustee.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities,
means, as of the date of determination, all Securities
theretofore authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture, except:
(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the
Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities deemed to have been paid in
accordance with Section 701; and
(c) Securities which have been paid pursuant to
Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which
other Securities have been authenticated and
delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any
such Securities in respect of which there shall have
been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to
it and the Company that such Securities are held by a
bona fide purchaser or purchasers in whose hands such
Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether or not the
Holders of the requisite principal amount of the
Securities Outstanding under this Indenture, or the
Outstanding Securities of any series, have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent or waiver hereunder or whether or not a quorum is
present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, Securities
owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such
other obligor (unless the Company, such Affiliate or such
obligor owns all Securities Outstanding under this
Indenture, or (except for purposes of actions to be taken
by Holders generally under Section 812 or 813) all
Outstanding Securities of each such series, as the case
may be, determined without regard to this provision)
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be
protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or
upon any such determination as to the presence of a
quorum, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so
owned shall be so disregarded; provided, however, that
Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith
may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes
to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so
to act with respect to such Securities and that the
pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such
other obligor; and provided, further, that, in the case
of any Security the principal of which is payable from
time to time without presentment or surrender, the
principal amount of such Security that shall be deemed to
be Outstanding at any time for all purposes of this
Indenture shall be the original principal amount thereof
less the aggregate amount of principal thereof
theretofore paid.
"Paying Agent" means any Person, including the
Company, authorized by the Company to pay the principal
of, and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any
Securities on behalf of the Company.
"Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership or unincorporated
organization or any Governmental Authority.
"Place of Payment", when used with respect to the
Securities of any series, means the place or places,
specified as contemplated by Section 301, at which,
subject to Section 602, principal of and premium, if any,
and interest, if any, on the Securities of such series are
payable.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Security
means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion
of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular
Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in
exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen Security shall be deemed (to the extent lawful) to
evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost
or stolen Security.
"Preferred Securities" means any preferred trust
interests issued by a Trust or similar securities issued
by permitted successors to such Trust in accordance with
the Trust Agreement pertaining to such Trust.
"Property Trustee" has the meaning specified in
Section 111.
"Redemption Date", when used with respect to any
Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such
redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any
Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to
be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any
Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series
means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated
by Section 301.
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the
Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the
Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.
"Securities" has the meaning stated in the first
recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any
securities authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the
respective meanings specified in Section 305.
"Senior Indebtedness" means all obligations (other
than non-recourse obligations and the indebtedness issued
under this Indenture) of, or guaranteed or assumed by, the
Company for borrowed money, including both senior and
subordinated indebtedness for borrowed money (other than
the Securities), or for the payment of money relating to
any lease which is capitalized on the consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
from time to time, or evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or other similar instruments, and in each case,
amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and
refundings of any such indebtedness or obligations,
whether existing as of the date of this Indenture or
subsequently incurred by the Company unless, in the case
of any particular indebtedness, obligation, renewal,
extension or refunding, the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or the assumption or guarantee of the
same expressly provides that such indebtedness,
obligation, renewal, extension or refunding is not
superior in right of payment to or is pari passu with the
Securities; provided that the Company's obligations under
the Guarantee shall not be deemed to be Senior
Indebtedness.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any
Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.
"Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any
obligation or any installment of principal thereof or
interest thereon, means the date on which the principal of
such obligation or such installment of principal or
interest is stated to be due and payable (without regard
to any provisions for redemption, prepayment,
acceleration, purchase or extension).
"Trust" means Entergy Louisiana Capital I, Entergy
Louisiana Capital II, Entergy Louisiana Capital III each a
statutory business trust created under the laws of the
State of Delaware, or any other Trust designated pursuant
to Section 301 hereof or any permitted successor under the
Trust Agreement pertaining to such Trust.
"Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement, dated as of July 16, 1996, relating to
Entergy Louisiana Capital I, the Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement relating to Entergy Louisiana Capital II,
the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement relating to
Entergy Louisiana Capital III or an Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement relating to a Trust designated pursuant to
Section 301 hereof, in each case, among the Company, as
Depositor, the trustees named therein and several holders
referred to therein as they may be amended from time to
time.
"Trust Indenture Act" means, as of any time, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or any successor statute, as
in effect at such time.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in
the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor
Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more
series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions
of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or
include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and
if at any time there is more than one such Person,
"Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of any
series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities
of that series.
"United States" means the United States of America,
its Territories, its possessions and other areas subject
to its political jurisdiction.
SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company
to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of
this Indenture, the Company shall, if requested by the
Trustee, furnish to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate
stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided
for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action
(including any covenants compliance with which constitutes
a condition precedent) have been complied with and an
Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such
counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been
complied with, except that in the case of any such
application or request as to which the furnishing of such
documents is specifically required by any provision of
this Indenture relating to such particular application or
request, no additional certificate or opinion need be
furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to
compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in
this Indenture shall include:
(a) a statement that each Person signing such
certificate or opinion has read such covenant or
condition and the definitions herein relating
thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and
scope of the examination or investigation upon which
the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each
such Person, such Person has made such examination
or investigation as is necessary to enable such
Person to express an informed opinion as to whether
or not such covenant or condition has been complied
with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion
of each such Person, such condition or covenant has
been complied with.
SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several matters are required
to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any
specified Person, it is not necessary that all such
matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of,
only one such Person, or that they be so certified or
covered by only one document, but one such Person may
certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters
and one or more other such Persons as to other matters,
and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to
such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the
Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal
matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows,
or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that
the certificate or opinion or representations with
respect to the matters upon which such Officer's
Certificate or opinion are based are erroneous. Any such
certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar
as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or
opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers
of the Company stating that the information with respect
to such factual matters is in the possession of the
Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or
opinion or representations with respect to such matters
are erroneous.
Where any Person is required to make, give or
execute two or more applications, requests, consents,
certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments
under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be
consolidated and form one instrument.
Whenever, subsequent to the receipt by the
Trustee of any Board Resolution, Officer's Certificate,
Opinion of Counsel or other document or instrument, a
clerical, typographical or other inadvertent or
unintentional error or omission shall be discovered
therein, a new document or instrument may be substituted
therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect
as if originally filed in the corrected form and,
irrespective of the date or dates of the actual execution
and/or delivery thereof, such substitute document or
instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or
delivered as of the date or dates required with respect
to the document or instrument for which it is
substituted. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary
notwithstanding, if any such corrective document or
instrument indicates that action has been taken by or at
the request of the Company which could not have been
taken had the original document or instrument not
contained such error or omission, the action so taken
shall not be invalidated or otherwise rendered
ineffective but shall be and remain in full force and
effect, except to the extent that such action was a
result of willful misconduct or bad faith. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Securities
issued under the authority of such defective document or
instrument shall nevertheless be the valid obligations of
the Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture
equally and ratably with all other Outstanding
Securities, except as aforesaid.
SECTION 104. Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or
other action provided by this Indenture to be made,
given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and
evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders
in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing
or, alternatively, may be embodied in and evidenced
by the record of Holders voting in favor thereof,
either in person or by proxies duly appointed in
writing, at any meeting of Holders duly called and
held in accordance with the provisions of Article
Thirteen, or a combination of such instruments and
any such record. Except as herein otherwise
expressly provided, such action shall become
effective when such instrument or instruments or
record or both are delivered to the Trustee and,
where it is hereby expressly required, to the
Company. Such instrument or instruments and any
such record (and the action embodied therein and
evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to
as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument
or instruments and so voting at any such meeting.
Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a
writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding
by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for
any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Sec
tion 901) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the
Company, if made in the manner provided in this
Section. The record of any meeting of Holders shall
be proved in the manner provided in Section 1306.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any
Person of any such instrument or writing may be
proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or
other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the
individual signing such instrument or writing
acknowledged to him the execution thereof or may be
proved in any other manner which the Trustee and the
Company deem sufficient. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his
individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit
shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority.
(c) The principal amount and serial numbers of
Securities held by any Person, and the date of
holding the same, shall be proved by the Security
Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, election, waiver or
other Act of a Holder shall bind every future Holder
of the same Security and the Holder of every
Security issued upon the registration of transfer
thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof
in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to
be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance
thereon, whether or not notation of such action is
made upon such Security.
(e) Until such time as written instruments
shall have been delivered to the Trustee with
respect to the requisite percentage of principal
amount of Securities for the action contemplated by
such instruments, any such instrument executed and
delivered by or on behalf of a Holder may be revoked
with respect to any or all of such Securities by
written notice by such Holder or any subsequent
Holder, proven in the manner in which such
instrument was proven.
(f) Securities of any series authenticated and
delivered after any Act of Holders may, and shall if
required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form
approved by the Trustee as to any action taken by
such Act of Holders. If the Company shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified
as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the
Company, to such action may be prepared and executed
by the Company and authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities
of such series.
(g) If the Company shall solicit from Holders
any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company
may, at its option, by Board Resolution, fix in
advance a record date for the determination of
Holders entitled to give such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation
to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or
after such record date, but only the Holders of
record at the close of business on the record date
shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of
(i) determining whether Holders of the requisite
proportion of the Outstanding Securities have
authorized or agreed or consented to such request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the
Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of the
record date or (ii) determining which Holders may
revoke any such Act (notwithstanding Section
104(e)).
SECTION 105. Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, election, waiver or Act of Holders or
other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to
be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the
Trustee by any Holder or by the Company, or the Company
by the Trustee or by any Holder, shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein
expressly provided) if in writing and delivered
personally to an officer or other responsible employee of
the addressee, or transmitted by facsimile transmission,
telex or other direct written electronic means to such
telephone number or other electronic communications
address as the parties hereto shall from time to time
designate, or transmitted by registered mail, charges
prepaid, to the applicable address set opposite such
party's name below or to such other address as either
party hereto may from time to time designate:
If to the Trustee, to:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Telephone: (212) 815-2745
Telecopy: (212) 815-5915
If to the Company, to:
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone: (504) 576-4308
Telecopy: (504) 576-4455
With a copy to:
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
Attention: Legal Department
- Corporate and Securities Law
Division
Telephone:(504) 576-2272
Telecopy: (504) 576-4150
Any communication contemplated herein shall be
deemed to have been made, given, furnished and filed if
personally delivered, on the date of delivery, if
transmitted by facsimile transmission or other direct
written electronic means, on the date of transmission,
and if transmitted by registered mail, on the date of
receipt.
SECTION 106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of
any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given, and
shall be deemed given, to Holders if in writing and
mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder
affected by such event, at the address of such Holder as
it appears in the Security Register, not later than the
latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date,
prescribed for the giving of such notice.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular
mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be
impracticable to give such notice to Holders by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval
of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification
for every purpose hereunder. In any case where notice to
Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail
such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to
any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of
such notice with respect to other Holders.
Any notice required by this Indenture may be
waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such
notice, either before or after the event otherwise to be
specified therein, and such waiver shall be the
equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders
shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall
not be a condition precedent to the validity of any
action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision of this Indenture limits,
qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof
which is required or deemed to be included in this
Indenture by, or is otherwise governed by, any of the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such other
provision shall control; and if any provision hereof
otherwise conflicts with the Trust Indenture Act, the
Trust Indenture Act shall control.
SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings in this
Indenture and the Table of Contents are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture
by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns,
whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 110. Separability Clause.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in
the Securities shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired
thereby.
SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or the Securities,
express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than
the parties hereto, their successors hereunder, the
Holders and, so long as the notice described in Section
1513 hereof has not been given, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, any benefit or any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Indenture; provided,
however, if the property trustee under the related Trust
Agreement (the "Property Trustee") fails to enforce its
rights with respect to the Securities or the related
Trust Agreement, a holder of Preferred Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company
to enforce the Property Trustee's rights with respect to
the Securities or such Trust Agreement, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, without first instituting any
legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any
other person or entity.
SECTION 112. Governing Law.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of New York, except to the extent that the law
of any other jurisdiction shall be mandatorily
applicable.
SECTION 113. Legal Holidays.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date,
Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall
not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or
of the Securities other than a provision in Securities of
any series, or in the Board Resolution or Officer's
Certificate which establishes the terms of the Securities
of such series, which specifically states that such
provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of
interest or principal and premium, if any, need not be
made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be
made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of
Payment, except that if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with
the same force and effect, and in the same amount, as if
made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or
at the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, and, if such
payment is made or duly provided for on such Business
Day, no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable
for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date,
Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be,
to such Business Day.
ARTICLE TWO
Security Forms
SECTION 201. Forms Generally.
The definitive Securities of each series shall
be in substantially the form or forms thereof established
in the indenture supplemental hereto establishing such
series or in a Board Resolution establishing such series,
or in an Officer's Certificate pursuant to such
supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, in each case
with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as are required or
permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters,
numbers or other marks of identification and such legends
or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to
comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as
may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers
executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of the Securities. If the form or forms of
Securities of any series are established in a Board
Resolution or in an Officer's Certificate pursuant to a
Board Resolution, such Board Resolution and Officer's
Certificate, if any, shall be delivered to the Trustee at
or prior to the delivery of the Company Order
contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and
delivery of such Securities.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301, the Securities of each series shall be
issuable in registered form without coupons. The
definitive Securities shall be produced in such manner as
shall be determined by the officers executing such
Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof.
SECTION 202. Form of Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication.
The Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be in substantially the form set forth below:
This is one of the Securities of
the series designated therein referred to in
the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
_________________________________
as Trustee
By:
___________________________
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
ARTICLE THREE
The Securities
SECTION 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities
which may be authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture is unlimited; provided, however, that all
Securities shall be issued to a Trust in exchange for
securities of the Company or to evidence loans by a Trust
of the proceeds of the issuance of Preferred Securities
of such Trust plus the amount deposited by the Company
with such Trust from time to time.
The Securities may be issued in one or more
series. Prior to the authentication, issuance and
delivery of Securities of any series there shall be
established by specification in a supplemental indenture
or in a Board Resolution, or in an Officer's Certificate
pursuant to a supplemental indenture or a Board
Resolution:
(a) the title of the Securities of such series
(which shall distinguish the Securities of such
series from Securities of all other series);
(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of such series which may be
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture
(except for Securities authenticated and delivered
upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange
for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series
pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 406 or 1206 and
except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section
303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and
delivered hereunder);
(c) the Person or Persons (without specific
identification) to whom interest on Securities of
such series shall be payable on any Interest Payment
Date, if other than the Persons in whose names such
Securities (or one or more Predecessor Securities)
are registered at the close of business on the
Regular Record Date for such interest;
(d) the date or dates on which the principal
of the Securities of such series is payable or any
formulary or other method or other means by which
such date or dates shall be determined, by reference
to an index or other fact or event ascertainable
outside this Indenture or otherwise (without regard
to any provisions for redemption, prepayment,
acceleration, purchase or extension);
(e) the rate or rates at which the Securities
of such series shall bear interest, if any
(including the rate or rates at which overdue
principal shall bear interest, if different from the
rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear
interest prior to Maturity, and, if applicable, the
rate or rates at which overdue premium or interest
shall bear interest, if any), or any formulary or
other method or other means by which such rate or
rates shall be determined, by reference to an index
or other fact or event ascertainable outside this
Indenture or otherwise; the date or dates from which
such interest shall accrue; the Interest Payment
Dates on which such interest shall be payable and
the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest
payable on such Securities on any Interest Payment
Date; the right of the Company, if any, to extend
the interest payment periods and the duration of any
such extension as contemplated by Section 311; and
the basis of computation of interest, if other than
as provided in Section 310;
(f) the place or places at which or methods by
which (1) the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on Securities of such series shall
be payable, (2) registration of transfer of
Securities of such series may be effected, (3)
exchanges of Securities of such series may be
effected and (4) notices and demands to or upon the
Company in respect of the Securities of such series
and this Indenture may be served; the Security
Registrar and Paying Agent or Agents for such
series; and if such is the case, and if acceptable
to the Trustee, that the principal of such
Securities shall be payable without presentment or
surrender thereof;
(g) the period or periods within which, or the
date or dates on which, the price or prices at which
and the terms and conditions upon which the
Securities of such series may be redeemed, in whole
or in part, at the option of the Company and any
restrictions on such redemptions, including but not
limited to a restriction on a partial redemption by
the Company of the Securities of any series,
resulting in delisting of such Securities from any
national exchange;
(h) the obligation or obligations, if any, of
the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of
such series pursuant to any sinking fund or other
analogous mandatory redemption provisions or at the
option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods
within which or the date or dates on which, the
price or prices at which and the terms and
conditions upon which such Securities shall be
redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant
to such obligation, and applicable exceptions to the
requirements of Section 404 in the case of mandatory
redemption or redemption at the option of the
Holder;
(i) the denominations in which Securities of
such series shall be issuable if other than
denominations of $25 and any integral multiple
thereof;
(j) the currency or currencies, including com
posite currencies, in which payment of the principal
of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the
Securities of such series shall be payable (if other
than in Dollars);
(k) if the principal of or premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on the Securities of such series
are to be payable, at the election of the Company or
a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than
that in which the Securities are stated to be
payable, the period or periods within which and the
terms and conditions upon which, such election may
be made;
(l) if the principal of or premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on the Securities of such series
are to be payable, or are to be payable at the
election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in
securities or other property, the type and amount of
such securities or other property, or the formulary
or other method or other means by which such amount
shall be determined, and the period or periods
within which, and the terms and conditions upon
which, any such election may be made;
(m) if the amount payable in respect of
principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if
any, on the Securities of such series may be
determined with reference to an index or other fact
or event ascertainable outside this Indenture, the
manner in which such amounts shall be determined to
the extent not established pursuant to clause (e) of
this paragraph;
(n) if other than the principal amount
thereof, the portion of the principal amount of
Securities of such series which shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 802;
(o) any Events of Default, in addition to
those specified in Section 801, with respect to the
Securities of such series, and any covenants of the
Company for the benefit of the Holders of the
Securities of such series, in addition to those set
forth in Article Six and whether any such covenants
may be waived pursuant to Section 607;
(p) the terms, if any, pursuant to which the
Securities of such series may be converted into or
exchanged for shares of capital stock or other
securities of the Company or any other Person;
(q) the obligations or instruments, if any,
which shall be considered to be Government
Obligations in respect of the Securities of such
series denominated in a currency other than Dollars
or in a composite currency, and any additional or
alternative provisions for the reinstatement of the
Company's indebtedness in respect of such Securities
after the satisfaction and discharge thereof as
provided in Section 701;
(r) if the Securities of such series are to be
issued in global form, (i) any limitations on the
rights of the Holder or Holders of such Securities
to transfer or exchange the same or to obtain the
registration of transfer thereof, (ii) any
limitations on the rights of the Holder or Holders
thereof to obtain certificates therefor in
definitive form in lieu of global form and (iii) any
and all other matters incidental to such Securities;
(s) if the Securities of such series are to be
issuable as bearer securities, any and all matters
incidental thereto which are not specifically
addressed in a supplemental indenture as
contemplated by clause (g) of Section 1201;
(t) to the extent not established pursuant to
clause (r) of this paragraph, any limitations on the
rights of the Holders of the Securities of such
Series to transfer or exchange such Securities or to
obtain the registration of transfer thereof; and if
a service charge will be made for the registration
of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series
the amount or terms thereof;
(u) any exceptions to Section 113, or
variation in the definition of Business Day, with
respect to the Securities of such series;
(v) the designation of the Trust to which
Securities of such series are to be issued; and
(w) any other terms of the Securities of such
series not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Indenture.
The Securities of each series shall be
subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness
as provided in Article Fifteen.
SECTION 302. Denominations.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, the
Securities of each series shall be issuable in
denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof.
SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and
Dating.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, the
Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by
an Authorized Officer and may have the corporate seal of
the Company affixed thereto or reproduced thereon
attested by any other Authorized Officer or by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. The
signature of any or all of these officers on the Secu
rities may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile
signatures of individuals who were at the time of
execution Authorized Officers or the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company shall bind the
Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of
them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the
authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not
hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
Securities of a series, for original issue, at one time
or from time to time in accordance with the Company Order
referred to below, upon receipt by the Trustee of:
(a) the instrument or instruments establishing
the form or forms and terms of such series, as
provided in Sections 201 and 301;
(b) a Company Order requesting the
authentication and delivery of such Securities and,
to the extent that the terms of such Securities
shall not have been established in an indenture
supplemental hereto or in a Board Resolution, or in
an Officer's Certificate pursuant to a supplemental
indenture or Board Resolution, all as contemplated
by Sections 201 and 301, establishing such terms;
(c) the Securities of such series, executed on
behalf of the Company by an Authorized Officer;
(d) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that:
(i) the form or forms of such
Securities have been duly authorized by the
Company and have been established in conformity
with the provisions of this Indenture;
(ii) the terms of such Securities
have been duly authorized by the Company and
have been established in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture; and
(iii) such Securities, when
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and
issued and delivered by the Company in the
manner and subject to any conditions specified
in such Opinion of Counsel, will have been duly
issued under this Indenture and will constitute
valid and legally binding obligations of the
Company, entitled to the benefits provided by
this Indenture, and enforceable in accordance
with their terms, subject, as to enforcement,
to laws relating to or affecting generally the
enforcement of creditors' rights, including,
without limitation, bankruptcy and insolvency
laws and to general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
If the form or terms of the Securities of any
series have been established by or pursuant to a Board
Resolution or an Officer's Certificate as permitted by
Sections 201 or 301, the Trustee shall not be required to
authenticate such Securities if the issuance of such
Securities pursuant to this Indenture will materially or
adversely affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or
otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable
to the Trustee.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities,
each Security shall be dated the date of its
authentication.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, no
Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this
Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose
unless there appears on such Security a certificate of
authentication substantially in the form provided for
herein executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent
by manual signature of an authorized officer thereof, and
such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has
been duly authenticated and made available for delivery
hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any
Security shall have been authenticated and made available
for delivery hereunder to the Company, or any Person
acting on its behalf, but shall never have been issued
and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver
such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided
in Section 309 together with a written statement (which
need not comply with Section 102 and need not be
accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such
Security has never been issued and sold by the Company,
for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be
deemed never to have been authenticated and made
available for delivery hereunder and shall never be
entitled to the benefits hereof.
SECTION 304. Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive
Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and
upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and
make available for delivery, temporary Securities which
are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or
otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities
in lieu of which they are issued, with such appropriate
insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations
as the officers executing such Securities may determine,
as evidenced by their execution of such Securities;
provided, however, that temporary Securities need not
recite specific redemption, sinking fund, conversion or
exchange provisions.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series,
after the preparation of definitive Securities of such
series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be
exchangeable, without charge to the Holder thereof, for
definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of
such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the
Company maintained pursuant to Section 602 in a Place of
Payment for such Securities. Upon such surrender of
temporary Securities, the Company shall, except as
aforesaid, execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
make available for delivery in exchange therefor
definitive Securities of the same series, of authorized
denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal
amount.
Until exchanged in full as hereinabove
provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in
all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and
of like tenor authenticated and made available for
delivery hereunder.
SECTION 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and
Exchange.
The Company shall cause to be kept in one of
the offices designated pursuant to Section 602, with
respect to the Securities of each series, a register (the
register kept in accordance with this Section being
referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject
to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the
Company shall provide for the registration of Securities
of such series and the registration of transfer thereof.
The Company shall designate one Person to maintain the
Security Register for the Securities of each series, and
such Person is referred to herein, with respect to such
series, as the "Security Registrar." Anything herein to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may designate
one of its offices as the office in which the register
with respect to the Securities of one or more series
shall be maintained, and the Company may designate itself
the Security Registrar with respect to one or more of
such series. The Security Register shall be open for
inspection by the Trustee and the Company at all
reasonable times.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated
by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any
series, upon surrender for registration of transfer of
any Security of such series at the office or agency of
the Company maintained pursuant to Section 602 in a Place
of Payment for such series, the Company shall execute,
and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Securities of the same
series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated
by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any
series, any Security of such series may be exchanged at
the option of the Holder, for one or more new Securities
of the same series, of authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender
of the Securities to be exchanged at any such office or
agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for
exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and make available for delivery, the
Securities which the Holder making the exchange is
entitled to receive.
All Securities delivered upon any registration
of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid
obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as
the Securities surrendered upon such registration of
transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so
required by the Company, the Trustee or the Security
Registrar) be duly endorsed or shall be accompanied by a
written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company, the Trustee or the Security Registrar, as
the case may be, duly executed by the Holder thereof or
his attorney duly authorized in writing.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, no
service charge shall be made for any registration of
transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any registration of transfer or exchange
of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section
304, 406 or 1206 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required to execute or
to provide for the registration of transfer of or the
exchange of (a) Securities of any series during a period
of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is to be
given identifying the serial numbers of such series
called for redemption or (b) any Security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen
Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the
Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series, and of like
tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and
the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the
ownership of and the destruction, loss or theft of any
Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be
reasonably required by them to save each of them and any
agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of
notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security
is held by a Person purporting to be the owner of such
Security, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of
any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new
Security of the same series, and of like tenor and
principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case any such
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become
or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its
discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay
such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under
this Section, the Company may require the payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any
other reasonable expenses (including the fees and
expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any series issued
pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost
or stolen Security shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether
or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at
any time enforceable by anyone other than the Holder of
such new Security, and any such new Security shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally
and proportionately with any and all other Securities of
such series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive
and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other
rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Securities.
SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
Preserved.
Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series,
interest on any Security which is payable, and is
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name
that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record
Date for such interest.
Subject to Section 311, any interest on any
Security of any series which is payable, but is not
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest
Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall
forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the
related Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such
Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the
Company, at its election in each case, as provided in
clause (a) or (b) below:
(a) The Company may elect to make payment of
any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names
the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close
of business on a date (herein called a "Special
Record Date") for the payment of such Defaulted
Interest, which shall be fixed in the following
manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in
writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed
to be paid on each Security of such series and the
date of the proposed payment, and at the same time
the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount
of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to
be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or
shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
for such deposit on or prior to the date of the
proposed payment, such money when deposited to be
held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a
Special Record Date for the payment of such
Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15
days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of
the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after
the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the
proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify
the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the
name and at the expense of the Company, shall
promptly cause notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date
therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid,
to each Holder of Securities of such series at the
address of such Holder as it appears in the Security
Register, not less than 10 days prior to such
Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment
of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record
Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted
Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names
the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close
of business on such Special Record Date and shall be
no longer payable pursuant to the following clause
(b).
(b) The Company may make payment of any
Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which
such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice
as may be required by such exchange, if, after
notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the
proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such
manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the
Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this
Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under
this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in
exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry
the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue,
which were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 308. Persons Deemed Owners.
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the
Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name
such Security is registered as the absolute owner of such
Security for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to
Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Security
and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not
such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall
be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 309. Cancellation by Security Registrar.
All Securities surrendered for payment, re
demption, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Security
Registrar, be delivered to the Security Registrar and, if
not theretofore canceled, shall be promptly canceled by
the Security Registrar. The Company may at any time
deliver to the Security Registrar for cancellation any
Securities previously authenticated and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any
manner whatsoever or which the Company shall not have
issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be
promptly canceled by the Security Registrar. No
Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in
exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this
Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.
All canceled Securities held by the Security Registrar
shall be disposed of in accordance with a Company Order
delivered to the Security Registrar and the Trustee, and
the Security Registrar shall promptly deliver a
certificate of disposition to the Trustee and the Company
unless, by a Company Order, similarly delivered, the
Company shall direct that canceled Securities be returned
to it. The Security Registrar shall promptly deliver
evidence of any cancellation of a Security in accordance
with this Section 309 to the Trustee and the Company.
SECTION 310. Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated
by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on
the Securities of each series shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months.
SECTION 311. Extension of Interest Payment.
The Company shall have the right at any time, so
long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing with respect to the Securities of any series
hereunder, to extend interest payment periods on all
Securities of one or more series, if so specified as
contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such
Securities and upon such terms as may be specified as
contemplated by Section 301 with respect to such
Securities.
SECTION 312. Additional Interest.
So long as any Preferred Securities remain
outstanding, if the Trust which issued such Preferred
Securities shall be required to pay, with respect to its
income derived from the interest payments on the
Securities of any series, any amounts for or on account
of any taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges
of whatever nature imposed by the United States, or any
other taxing authority, then, in any such case, the
Company will pay as interest on such series such
additional interest ("Additional Interest") as may be
necessary in order that the net amounts received and
retained by such Trust after the payment of such taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges shall result
in such Trust's having such funds as it would have had in
the absence of the payment of such taxes, duties,
assessments or governmental charges.
SECTION 313. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing Securities of any series
may use a "CUSIP" number (if then generally in use) and,
if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP number in notices
of redemption or exchange as a convenience to the Holders
of the Securities of such series; provided, that any such
notice may state that no such representation is made as
to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number
printed in the notice or in the Securities of such
series, and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Securities of such
series.
ARTICLE FOUR
Redemption of Securities
SECTION 401. Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which are redeemable
before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in
accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities
of such series) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 402. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any
Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or an
Officer's Certificate. The Company shall, at least 45
days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company
(unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the
Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemp
tion Date and of the principal amount of such Securities
to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of
Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction
on such redemption provided in the terms of such
Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (b) pursuant
to an election of the Company which is subject to a
condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the
Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer's
Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction
or condition.
SECTION 403. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series
are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be
redeemed shall be selected by the Security Registrar from
the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously
called for redemption, by such method as shall be
provided for any particular series, or, in the absence of
any such provision, by such method of random selection as
the Security Registrar shall deem fair and appropriate
and which may, in any case, provide for the selection for
redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized
denomination for Securities of such series or any
integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of
Securities of such series of a denomination larger than
the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of
such series; provided, however, that if, as indicated in
an Officer's Certificate, the Company shall have offered
to purchase all or any principal amount of the Securities
then Outstanding of any series, and less than all of such
Securities as to which such offer was made shall have
been tendered to the Company for such purchase, the
Security Registrar, if so directed by Company Order,
shall select for redemption all or any principal amount
of such Securities which have not been so tendered.
The Security Registrar shall promptly notify
the Company and the Trustee in writing of the Securities
selected for redemption and, in the case of any
Securities selected to be redeemed in part, the principal
amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the
context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to
the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of
any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part,
to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities
which has been or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 404. Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given in the
manner provided in Section 106 to the Holders of the
Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than
60 days prior to the Redemption Date.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date,
(b) the Redemption Price,
(c) if less than all the Securities of any
series are to be redeemed, the identification of the
particular Securities to be redeemed and the portion
of the principal amount of any Security to be
redeemed in part,
(d) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption
Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to
the Redemption Date, will become due and payable
upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if
applicable, that interest thereon will cease to
accrue on and after said date,
(e) the place or places where such Securities
are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption
Price and accrued interest, if any, unless it shall
have been specified as contemplated by Section 301
with respect to such Securities that such surrender
shall not be required,
(f) that the redemption is for a sinking or
other fund, if such is the case, and
(g) such other matters as the Company shall
deem desirable or appropriate.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to any
Securities in accordance with Section 301, with respect
to any notice of redemption of Securities at the election
of the Company, unless, upon the giving of such notice,
such Securities shall be deemed to have been paid in
accordance with Section 701, such notice may state that
such redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt by
the Paying Agent or Agents for such Securities, on or
prior to the date fixed for such redemption, of money
sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any,
and interest, if any, on such Securities and that if such
money shall not have been so received such notice shall
be of no force or effect and the Company shall not be
required to redeem such Securities. In the event that
such notice of redemption contains such a condition and
such money is not so received, the redemption shall not
be made and within a reasonable time thereafter notice
shall be given, in the manner in which the notice of
redemption was given, that such money was not so received
and such redemption was not required to be made, and the
Paying Agent or Agents for the Securities otherwise to
have been redeemed shall promptly return to the Holders
thereof any of such Securities which had been surrendered
for payment upon such redemption.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be
redeemed at the election of the Company, and any notice
of non-satisfaction of a condition for redemption as
aforesaid, shall be given by the Company or, at the
Company's request, by the Security Registrar in the name
and at the expense of the Company. Notice of mandatory
redemption of Securities shall be given by the Security
Registrar in the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 405. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given as
aforesaid, and the conditions, if any, set forth in such
notice having been satisfied, the Securities or portions
thereof so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date,
become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein
specified, and from and after such date (unless, in the
case of an unconditional notice of redemption, the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption
Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities or
portions thereof, if interest-bearing, shall cease to
bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for
redemption in accordance with such notice, such Security
or portion thereof shall be paid by the Company at the
Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any,
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that no such
surrender shall be a condition to such payment if so
specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to
such Security; and provided, further, that except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to such Security, any installment of interest on
any Security the Stated Maturity of which installment is
on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to
the Holder of such Security, or one or more Predecessor
Securities, registered as such at the close of business
on the related Regular Record Date according to the terms
of such Security and subject to the provisions of Section
307.
SECTION 406. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon the surrender of any Security which is to
be redeemed only in part at a Place of Payment therefor
(with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due
endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly
executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing), the Company shall execute, and
the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder
of such Security, without service charge, a new Security
or Securities of the same series, of any authorized
denomination requested by such Holder and of like tenor
and in aggregate principal amount equal to and in
exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE FIVE
Sinking Funds
SECTION 501. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be
applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the
Securities of any series, except as otherwise specified
as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such
series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment
provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is
herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment",
and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided
for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein
referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If
provided for by the terms of Securities of any series,
the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may
be subject to reduction as provided in Section 502. Each
sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption
of Securities of the series in respect of which it was
made as provided for by the terms of such Securities.
SECTION 502. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with
Securities.
The Company (a) may deliver to the Trustee
Outstanding Securities (other than any previously called
for redemption) of a series in respect of which a
mandatory sinking fund payment is to be made and (b) may
apply as a credit Securities of such series which have
been redeemed either at the election of the Company
pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the
application of permitted optional sinking fund payments
pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in
satisfaction of all or any part of such mandatory sinking
fund payment; provided, however, that no Securities shall
be applied in satisfaction of a mandatory sinking fund
payment if such Securities shall have been previously so
applied. Securities so applied shall be received and
credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the
Redemption Price specified in such Securities for
redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the
amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be
reduced accordingly.
SECTION 503. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking
fund payment date for the Securities of any series, the
Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate specifying:
(a) the amount of the next succeeding
mandatory sinking fund payment for such series;
(b) the amount, if any, of the optional
sinking fund payment to be made together with such
mandatory sinking fund payment;
(c) the aggregate sinking fund payment;
(d) the portion, if any, of such aggregate
sinking fund payment which is to be satisfied by the
payment of cash;
(e) the portion, if any, of such mandatory
sinking fund payment which is to be satisfied by
delivering and crediting Securities of such series
pursuant to Section 502 and stating the basis for
such credit and that such Securities have not
previously been so credited, and the Company shall
also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered. If the Company shall not deliver such
Officer's Certificate, the next mandatory sinking
fund payment for such series shall be made entirely
in cash in the amount of the mandatory sinking fund
payment. Not less than 30 days before each such
sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select
the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund
payment date in the manner specified in Section 403
and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be
given in the name of and at the expense of the
Company in the manner provided in Section 404. Such
notice having been duly given, the redemption of
such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in
the manner stated in Sections 405 and 406.
ARTICLE SIX
Covenants
SECTION 601. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company shall pay the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any (including
Additional Interest), on the Securities of each series in
accordance with the terms of such Securities and this
Indenture.
SECTION 602. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain in each Place of
Payment for the Securities of each series an office or
agency where payment of such Securities shall be made,
where the registration of transfer or exchange of such
Securities may be effected and where notices and demands
to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and
this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and
any change in the location, of each such office or agency
and prompt notice to the Holders of any such change in
the manner specified in Section 106. If at any time the
Company shall fail to maintain any such required office
or agency in respect of Securities of any series, or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address
thereof, payment of such Securities shall be made,
registration of transfer or exchange thereof may be
effected and notices and demands in respect thereof may
be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent
for all such purposes in any such event.
The Company may also from time to time
designate one or more other offices or agencies with
respect to the Securities of one or more series, for any
or all of the foregoing purposes and may from time to
time rescind such designations; provided, however, that,
unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301
with respect to the Securities of such series, no such
designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency
for such purposes in each Place of Payment for such
Securities in accordance with the requirements set forth
above. The Company shall give prompt written notice to
the Trustee, and prompt notice to the Holders in the
manner specified in Section 106, of any such designation
or rescission and of any change in the location of any
such other office or agency.
Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, any office or agency required by this
Section may be maintained at an office of the Company, in
which event the Company shall perform all functions to be
performed at such office or agency.
SECTION 603. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in
Trust.
If the Company shall at any time act as its own
Paying Agent with respect to the Securities of any
series, it shall, on or before each due date of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any,
on any of such Securities, segregate and hold in trust
for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum
sufficient to pay the principal and premium or interest
so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such
Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided. The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any failure
by the Company (or any other obligor on such Securities)
to make any payment of principal of or premium, if any,
or interest, if any, on such Securities.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more
Paying Agents for the Securities of any series, it shall,
on or before each due date of the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such
Securities, deposit with such Paying Agents sums
sufficient (without duplication) to pay the principal and
premium or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held
in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such
principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying
Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify
the Trustee of any failure by it so to act.
The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for
the Securities of any series, other than the Company or
the Trustee, to execute and deliver to the Trustee an
instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with
the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section,
that such Paying Agent shall:
(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment
of the principal of and premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on such Securities in trust for
the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until
such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise
disposed of as herein provided;
(b) give the Trustee notice of any failure by
the Company (or any other obligor upon such
Securities) to make any payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such
Securities; and
(c) at any time during the continuance of any
failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (b),
upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such
Paying Agent and furnish to the Trustee such
information as it possesses regarding the names and
addresses of the Persons entitled to such sums.
The Company may at any time pay, or by Company
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all
sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent,
such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts
as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or
such Paying Agent and, if so stated in a Company Order
delivered to the Trustee, in accordance with the
provisions of Article Seven; and, upon such payment by
any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall
be released from all further liability with respect to
such money.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any
Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for
the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on any Security and remaining unclaimed
for two years after such principal and premium, if any,
or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to
the Company on Company Request, or, if then held by the
Company, shall be discharged from such trust; and, upon
such payment or discharge, the Holder of such Security
shall, as an unsecured general creditor and not as a
Holder of an Outstanding Security, look only to the
Company for payment of the amount so due and payable and
remaining unpaid, and all liability of the Trustee or
such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and
all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall
thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or
such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
payment to the Company, may at the expense of the Company
cause to be mailed, on one occasion only, notice to such
Holder that such money remains unclaimed and that, after
a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30
days from the date of such mailing, any unclaimed balance
of such money then remaining will be paid to the Company.
SECTION 604. Corporate Existence.
Subject to the rights of the Company under
Article Eleven, the Company shall do or cause to be done
all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force
and effect its corporate existence.
SECTION 605. Maintenance of Properties.
The Company shall cause (or, with respect to
property owned in common with others, make reasonable
effort to cause) all its properties used or useful in the
conduct of its business to be maintained and kept in good
condition, repair and working order and shall cause (or,
with respect to property owned in common with others,
make reasonable effort to cause) to be made all necessary
repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and
improvements thereof, all as, in the judgment of the
Company, may be necessary so that the business carried on
in connection therewith may be properly conducted;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall
prevent the Company from discontinuing, or causing the
discontinuance of, the operation and maintenance of any
of its properties if such discontinuance is, in the
judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its
business.
SECTION 606. Annual Officer's Certificate as to
Compliance.
Not later than June 30 in each year, commencing
June 30, 1997, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee
an Officer's Certificate which need not comply with
Section 102, executed by the principal executive officer,
the principal financial officer or the principal
accounting officer of the Company, as to such officer's
knowledge of the Company's compliance with all conditions
and covenants under this Indenture, such compliance to be
determined without regard to any period of grace or
requirement of notice under this Indenture.
SECTION 607. Waiver of Certain Covenants.
The Company may omit in any particular instance
to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth
in (a) any covenant or restriction specified with respect
to the Securities of any series, as contemplated by
Section 301 as being subject to waiver pursuant to this
Section 607, if before the time for such compliance the
Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series with
respect to which compliance with such covenant or
restriction is to be omitted, considered as one class,
shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such
compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance
with such term, provision or condition and (b) Section
604, 605 or Article Eleven if before the time for such
compliance the Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of Securities Outstanding under this
Indenture shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive
such compliance in such instance or generally waive
compliance with such term, provision or condition; but,
in the case of (a) or (b), no such waiver shall extend to
or affect such term, provision or condition except to the
extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall
become effective, the obligations of the Company and the
duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term,
provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect; provided, however, so long as a Trust holds
Securities of any series, such Trust may not waive
compliance or waive any default in compliance by the
Company with any covenant or other term contained in this
Indenture or the Securities of such series without the
approval of the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding
Preferred Securities issued by such Trust affected,
obtained as provided in the Trust Agreement pertaining to
such Trust.
SECTION 608. Restriction on Payment of Dividends.
The Company shall not (a) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of the Company's capital stock, or (b) make any
payment of principal of or, interest or premium, if any,
on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including other Securities) that rank pari passu with or
junior in interest to the Securities or make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing (other
than dividends or distributions in common stock of the
Company and payments under the Guarantee relating to any
Preferred Securities) if at such time (i) there shall
have occurred and be continuing a payment default
pursuant to Section 801(a) or 801(b) (whether before or
after expiration of any period of grace) or an Event of
Default hereunder, or (ii) the Company shall be in
default with respect to its payment or other obligations
under the Guarantee relating to such Preferred
Securities, or (iii) the Company shall have elected to
extend any interest payment period as provided in Section
311, and any such period, or any extension thereof, shall
be continuing.
SECTION 609. Maintenance of Trust Existence.
So long as Preferred Securities of any series
remain outstanding, the Company shall (a) maintain direct
or indirect ownership of all interests in the Trust which
issued such Preferred Securities, other than such
Preferred Securities, (b) not voluntarily (to the extent
permitted by law) dissolve, liquidate or wind up such
Trust, except in connection with a distribution of the
Securities to the holders of the Preferred Securities in
liquidation of such Trust, (c) remain the sole Depositor
under the Trust Agreement (the "Depositor") of such Trust
and timely perform in all material respects all of its
duties as Depositor of such Trust, and (d) use reasonable
efforts to cause such Trust to remain a business trust
and otherwise continue to be treated as a grantor trust
for Federal income tax purposes provided that any
permitted successor to the Company under this Indenture
may succeed to the Company's duties as Depositor of such
Trust; and provided further that the Company may permit
such Trust to consolidate or merge with or into another
business trust or other permitted successor under the
Trust Agreement pertaining to such Trust so long as the
Company agrees to comply with this Section 609 with
respect to such successor business trust or other
permitted successor.
SECTION 610. Rights of Holders of Preferred Securities.
The Company agrees that, for so long as any
Preferred Securities remain outstanding, its obligations
under this Indenture will also be for the benefit of the
holders from time to time of Preferred Securities, and
the Company acknowledges and agrees that if the Property
Trustee fails to enforce its rights with respect to the
Securities or the related Trust Agreement, a holder of
Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Company to enforce the Property
Trustee's rights with respect to the Securities or such
Trust Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
without first instituting any legal proceeding against
the Property Trustee or any other person or entity.
ARTICLE SEVEN
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 701. Satisfaction and Discharge of Securities.
Any Security or Securities, or any portion of
the principal amount thereof, shall be deemed to have
been paid for all purposes of this Indenture, and the
entire indebtedness of the Company in respect thereof
shall be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged, if
there shall have been irrevocably deposited with the
Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company), in
trust:
(a) money in an amount which shall be
sufficient, or
(b) in the case of a deposit made prior to the
Maturity of such Securities or portions thereof,
Government Obligations, which shall not contain
provisions permitting the redemption or other
prepayment thereof at the option of the issuer
thereof, the principal of and the interest on which
when due, without any regard to reinvestment
thereof, will provide moneys which, together with
the money, if any, deposited with or held by the
Trustee or such Paying Agent, shall be sufficient,
or
(c) a combination of (a) or (b) which shall be
sufficient,
to pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, due and to become due on such
Securities or portions thereof on or prior to Maturity;
provided, however, that in the case of the provision for
payment or redemption of less than all the Securities of
any series, such Securities or portions thereof shall
have been selected by the Security Registrar as provided
herein and, in the case of a redemption, the notice
requisite to the validity of such redemption shall have
been given or irrevocable authority shall have been given
by the Company to the Trustee to give such notice, under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee; and provided,
further, that the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee and such Paying Agent:
(x) if such deposit shall have been
made prior to the Maturity of such Securities,
a Company Order stating that the money and
Government Obligations deposited in accordance
with this Section shall be held in trust, as
provided in Section 703; and
(y) if Government Obligations shall
have been deposited, an Opinion of Counsel that
the obligations so deposited constitute
Government Obligations and do not contain
provisions permitting the redemption or other
prepayment at the option of the issuer thereof,
and an opinion of an independent public
accountant of nationally recognized standing,
selected by the Company, to the effect that the
requirements set forth in clause (b) above have
been satisfied; and
(z) if such deposit shall have been
made prior to the Maturity of such Securities,
an Officer's Certificate stating the Company's
intention that, upon delivery of such Officer's
Certificate, its indebtedness in respect of
such Securities or portions thereof will have
been satisfied and discharged as contemplated
in this Section.
Upon the deposit of money or Government Obli
gations, or both, in accordance with this Section,
together with the documents required by clauses (x), (y)
and (z) above, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a
Company Request, acknowledge in writing that the Security
or Securities or portions thereof with respect to which
such deposit was made are deemed to have been paid for
all purposes of this Indenture and that the entire
indebtedness of the Company in respect thereof has been
satisfied and discharged as contemplated in this Section.
In the event that all of the conditions set forth in the
preceding paragraph shall have been satisfied in respect
of any Securities or portions thereof except that, for
any reason, the Officer's Certificate specified in clause
(z), if required, shall not have been delivered, such
Securities or portions thereof shall nevertheless be
deemed to have been paid for all purposes of this
Indenture, and the Holders of such Securities or portions
thereof shall nevertheless be no longer entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture or of any of the covenants of
the Company under Article Six (except the covenants
contained in Sections 602 and 603) or any other covenants
made in respect of such Securities or portions thereof as
contemplated by Section 301, but the indebtedness of the
Company in respect of such Securities or portions thereof
shall not be deemed to have been satisfied and discharged
prior to Maturity for any other purpose, and the Holders
of such Securities or portions thereof shall continue to
be entitled to look to the Company for payment of the
indebtedness represented thereby; and, upon Company
Request, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing that
such Securities or portions thereof are deemed to have
been paid for all purposes of this Indenture.
If payment at Stated Maturity of less than all
of the Securities of any series is to be provided for in
the manner and with the effect provided in this Section,
the Security Registrar shall select such Securities, or
portions of principal amount thereof, in the manner
specified by Section 403 for selection for redemption of
less than all the Securities of a series.
In the event that Securities which shall be
deemed to have been paid for purposes of this Indenture,
and, if such is the case, in respect of which the
Company's indebtedness shall have been satisfied and
discharged, all as provided in this Section do not mature
and are not to be redeemed within the 60 day period
commencing with the date of the deposit of moneys or
Government Obligations, as aforesaid, the Company shall,
as promptly as practicable, give a notice, in the same
manner as a notice of redemption with respect to such
Securities, to the Holders of such Securities to the
effect that such deposit has been made and the effect
thereof.
Notwithstanding that any Securities shall be
deemed to have been paid for purposes of this Indenture,
as aforesaid, the obligations of the Company and the
Trustee in respect of such Securities under Sections 304,
305, 306, 404, 503 (as to notice of redemption), 602,
603, 907 and 915 and this Article Seven shall survive.
The Company shall pay, and shall indemnify the
Trustee or any Paying Agent with which Government
Obligations shall have been deposited as provided in this
Section against, any tax, fee or other charge imposed on
or assessed against such Government Obligations or the
principal or interest received in respect of such
Government Obligations, including, but not limited to,
any such tax payable by any entity deemed, for tax
purposes, to have been created as a result of such
deposit.
Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, (a) if, at any time after a Security
would be deemed to have been paid for purposes of this
Indenture, and, if such is the case, the Company's
indebtedness in respect thereof would be deemed to have
been satisfied or discharged, pursuant to this Section
(without regard to the provisions of this paragraph), the
Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall be
required to return the money or Government Obligations,
or combination thereof, deposited with it as aforesaid to
the Company or its representative under any applicable
Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
law, such Security shall thereupon be deemed
retroactively not to have been paid and any satisfaction
and discharge of the Company's indebtedness in respect
thereof shall retroactively be deemed not to have been
effected, and such Security shall be deemed to remain
Outstanding and (b) any satisfaction and discharge of the
Company's indebtedness in respect of any Security shall
be subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of
Section 603.
SECTION 702. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease
to be of further effect (except as hereinafter expressly
provided), and the Trustee, at the expense of the
Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) no Securities remain Outstanding
hereunder; and
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid
all other sums payable hereunder by the Company;
provided, however, that if, in accordance with the last
paragraph of Section 701, any Security, previously deemed
to have been paid for purposes of this Indenture, shall
be deemed retroactively not to have been so paid, this
Indenture shall thereupon be deemed retroactively not to
have been satisfied and discharged, as aforesaid, and to
remain in full force and effect, and the Company shall
execute and deliver such instruments as the Trustee shall
reasonably request to evidence and acknowledge the same.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge
of this Indenture as aforesaid, the obligations of the
Company and the Trustee under Sections 304, 305, 306,
404, 503 (as to notice of redemption), 602, 603, 907 and
915 and this Article Seven shall survive.
Upon satisfaction and discharge of this
Indenture as provided in this Section, the Trustee shall
assign, transfer and turn over to the Company, subject to
the lien provided by Section 907, any and all money,
securities and other property then held by the Trustee
for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities other
than money and Government Obligations held by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 703.
SECTION 703. Application of Trust Money.
Neither the Government Obligations nor the
money deposited pursuant to Section 701, nor the
principal or interest payments on any such Government
Obligations, shall be withdrawn or used for any purpose
other than, and shall be held in trust for, the payment
of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on the Securities or portions of principal amount
thereof in respect of which such deposit was made, all
subject, however, to the provisions of Section 603;
provided, however, that, so long as there shall not have
occurred and be continuing an Event of Default any cash
received from such principal or interest payments on such
Government Obligations, if not then needed for such pur
pose, shall, to the extent practicable, be invested upon
Company Request and upon receipt of the documents
referred to in clause (y) of Section 701 in Government
Obligations of the type described in clause (b) in the
first paragraph of Section 701 maturing at such times and
in such amounts as shall be sufficient together with any
other moneys and the principal of and interest on any
other Government Obligations then held by the Trustee to
pay when due the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, due and to become due on such
Securities or portions thereof on and prior to the
Maturity thereof, and interest earned from such
reinvestment shall be paid over to the Company as
received, free and clear of any trust, lien or pledge
under this Indenture except the lien provided by Section
907; and provided, further, that, so long as there shall
not have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default,
any moneys held in accordance with this Section on the
Maturity of all such Securities in excess of the amount
required to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, then due on such Securities shall be
paid over to the Company free and clear of any trust,
lien or pledge under this Indenture except the lien
provided by Section 907; and provided, further, that if
an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, moneys to be paid over to the Company
pursuant to this Section shall be held until such Event
of Default shall have been waived or cured.
ARTICLE EIGHT
Events of Default; Remedies
SECTION 801. Events of Default.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with
respect to Securities of any series, means any one or
more of the following events which has occurred and is
continuing:
(a) failure to pay interest, if any, including
any Additional Interest, on any Security of such
series within 60 days after the same becomes due and
payable (whether or not payment is prohibited by the
provisions of Article Fifteen hereof); provided,
however, that a valid extension of the interest
payment period by the Company as contemplated in
Section 311 of this Indenture shall not constitute a
failure to pay interest for this purpose; or
(b) failure to pay the principal of or
premium, if any, on any Security of such series
(whether or not payment is prohibited by the
provisions of Article Fifteen hereof) when due and
payable; or
(c) failure to perform or breach of any
covenant or warranty of the Company in this
Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a
default in the performance of which or breach of
which is elsewhere in this Section specifically
dealt with or which has expressly been included in
this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more
series of Securities other than such series) for a
period of 60 days after there has been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Company by the
Trustee, or to the Company and the Trustee by the
Holders of at least 33% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, a written
notice specifying such default or breach and
requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder, unless
the Trustee, or the Trustee and the Holders of a
principal amount of Securities of such series not
less than the principal amount of Securities the
Holders of which gave such notice, as the case may
be, shall agree in writing to an extension of such
period prior to its expiration; provided, however,
that the Trustee, or the Trustee and the Holders of
such principal amount of Securities of such series,
as the case may be, shall be deemed to have agreed
to an extension of such period if corrective action
is initiated by the Company within such period and
is being diligently pursued; or
(d) the entry by a court having jurisdiction
in the premises of (1) a decree or order for relief
in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Federal or State
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar law or (2) a decree or order adjudging the
Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
properly filed a petition by one or more Persons
other than the Company seeking reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in
respect of the Company under any applicable Federal
or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver,
liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other
similar official for the Company or for any
substantial part of its property, or ordering the
winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and any
such decree or order for relief or any such other
decree or order shall have remained unstayed and in
effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
(e) the commencement by the Company of a
voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable
Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or of any other
case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or
insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company
in a case or proceeding under any applicable Federal
or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law or to the commencement of any
bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against
it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or
consent seeking reorganization or relief under any
applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by
it to the filing of such petition or to the
appointment of or taking possession by a custodian,
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or similar official of the Company or
of any substantial part of its property, or the
making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its
inability to pay its debts generally as they become
due, or the authorization of such action by the
Board of Directors; or
(f) any other Event of Default specified with
respect to Securities of such series as contemplated
by Section 301.
SECTION 802. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and
Annulment.
If an Event of Default due to the default in
payment of principal of, or interest on, any series of
Securities or due to the default in the performance or
breach of any other covenant or warranty of the Company
applicable to the Securities of such series but not
applicable to all outstanding Securities shall have
occurred and be continuing, either the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 33% in principal amount of the
Securities of such series may then declare the principal
of all Securities of such series and interest accrued
thereon to be due and payable immediately (provided that
the payment of principal and interest on such Securities
shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in
Article Fifteen hereof). If the Trustee or the Holders of
not less than 33% in principal amount of the Securities
of such series fail to make such declaration, and the
Preferred Securities issued by the Trust to which such
series of Securities relate are still outstanding, then
the holders of not less than 33% in aggregate liquidation
preference of such series of Preferred Securities may
make such declaration. If an Event of Default due to
default in the performance of any other of the covenants
or agreements herein applicable to all Outstanding
Securities or an Event of Default specified in Section
801(d) or (e) shall have occurred and be continuing,
either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 33% in
principal amount of all Securities then Outstanding
(considered as one class), and not the Holders of the
Securities of any one of such series, may declare the
principal of all Securities and interest accrued thereon
to be due and payable immediately (provided that the
payment of principal and interest on such Securities
shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in the
Indenture).
At any time after such a declaration of
acceleration with respect to Securities of any series
shall have been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due shall have been obtained by the
Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the
Event or Events of Default giving rise to such
declaration of acceleration shall, without further act,
be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and
its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to
have been rescinded and annulled, if
(a) the Company shall have paid or deposited
with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay
(1) all overdue interest on all
Securities of such series;
(2) the principal of and premium, if
any, on any Securities of such series which
have become due otherwise than by such
declaration of acceleration and interest
thereon at the rate or rates prescribed
therefor in such Securities;
(3) to the extent that payment of
such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue
interest, if any, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities;
(4) all amounts due to the Trustee
under Section 907;
and
(b) any other Event or Events of Default with
respect to Securities of such series, other than the
non-payment of the principal of Securities of such
series which shall have become due solely by such
declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured
or waived as provided in Section 813.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Event of
Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 803. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
Enforcement by Trustee.
If an Event of Default described in clause (a)
or (b) of Section 801 shall have occurred and be con
tinuing, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee,
pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securi
ties of the series with respect to which such Event of
Default shall have occurred, the whole amount then due
and payable on such Securities for principal and premium,
if any, and interest, if any, and, to the extent per
mitted by law, interest on premium, if any, and on any
overdue principal and interest, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition
thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to
cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 907.
If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts
forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name
and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a
judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due
and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or
final decree and may enforce the same against the Company
or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the
moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner
provided by law out of the property of the Company or any
other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to
Securities of any series shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to
protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the
Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate
judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most ef
fectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether
for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement
in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power
granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
SECTION 804. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership,
insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial
proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor
upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of
such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee
(irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the
Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the
payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be
entitled and empowered, by intervention in such
proceeding or otherwise,
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole
amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the
Securities and to file such other papers or
documents as may be necessary or advisable in order
to have the claims of the Trustee (including any
claim for amounts due to the Trustee under Section
907) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial
proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any
such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each
Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the
event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the
Trustee any amounts due it under Section 907.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to
authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or
accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder
thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of
the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 805. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without
Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this
Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and
enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any
proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding
instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own
name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of
judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for
the ratable benefit of the Holders in respect of which
such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 806. Application of Money Collected.
Subject to the provisions of Article Fifteen,
any money collected by the Trustee with respect to a
particular series of Securities pursuant to this Article
shall be applied in the following order, at the date or
dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the
distribution of such money on account of principal or
premium, if any, or interest, if any, upon presentation
of the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit
of which such money shall have been collected and the
notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid
and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the
Trustee under Section 907;
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due
and unpaid upon the Securities for principal of and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of
which or for the benefit of which such money has
been collected, ratably, without preference or
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due
and payable on such Securities for principal,
premium, if any, and interest, if any, respectively;
and
Third: To the payment of the remainder, if
any, to the Company or to whomsoever may be lawfully
entitled to receive the same or as a court of
competent jurisdiction may direct.
SECTION 807. Limitation on Suits.
No Holder shall have any right to institute any
proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this
Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or
trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a) such Holder shall have previously given
written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event
of Default with respect to the Securities of such
series;
(b) the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of all series in respect of which an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, considered as one class, shall have made
written request to the Trustee to institute
proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in
its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders shall have offered
to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt
of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall
have failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such
written request shall have been given to the Trustee
during such 60-day period by the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of
which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, considered as one class;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of
such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever
by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this
Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of
any other of such Holders or to obtain or to seek to
obtain priority or preference over any other of such
Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture,
except in the manner herein provided and for the equal
and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
SECTION 808. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive
Principal,
Premium and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this
Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the
right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive
payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and
(subject to Section 307 and 311) interest, if any, on
such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities
expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemp
tion, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights
shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Any holder of related Preferred Securities shall have the
right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment to such holder with respect to Securities
relating to such Preferred Securities having a principal
amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference
amount of the related Preferred Securities held by such
holder.
SECTION 809. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any
proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this
Indenture and such proceeding shall have been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have
been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such
Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any
determination in such proceeding, the Company, and
Trustee and such Holder shall be restored severally and
respectively to their former positions hereunder and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and
such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding
had been instituted.
SECTION 810. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided in the last
paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein
conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the
Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or
remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent
permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every
other right and remedy given hereunder or now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The
assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder,
or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion
or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 811. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any
Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any
Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an
acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by
this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders
may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may
be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as
the case may be.
SECTION 812. Control by Holders of Securities.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing in respect of a series of Securities, the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series;
provided, however, that if an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one
series of Securities, the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of all such series, considered as one class, shall have
the right to make such direction, and not the Holders of
the Securities of any one of such series; and provided,
further, that
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict
with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and
could not involve the Trustee in personal liability
in circumstances where indemnity would not, in the
Trustee's sole discretion, be adequate; and
(b) the Trustee may take any other action
deemed proper by the Trustee which is not
inconsistent with such direction.
SECTION 813. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any
series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities
of such series waive any past default hereunder with
respect to such series and its consequences, except a
default
(a) in the payment of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any
Security of such series, or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision
hereof which under Section 1202 cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security of such series affected;
provided, however, that so long as a Trust holds the
Securities of any series, such Trust may not waive any
past default without the consent of at least a majority
in aggregate liquidation preference of the outstanding
Preferred Securities issued by such Trust affected,
obtained as provided in the Trust Agreement pertaining to
such Trust.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease
to exist, and any and all Events of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every
purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any
right consequent thereon.
SECTION 814. Undertaking for Costs.
The Company and the Trustee agree, and each
Holder by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have
agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in
any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under
this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee,
the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such
court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party
litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits
and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such
party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall
not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any
suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by
any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate
more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series in respect of which
such suit may be brought, considered as one class, or to
any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of
the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on any Security on or after the Stated
Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in
the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).
SECTION 815. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it
may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist
upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take
the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law
wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force,
which may affect the covenants or the performance of this
Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or
advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not
hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein
granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the
execution of every such power as though no such law had
been enacted.
ARTICLE NINE
The Trustee
SECTION 901. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event
of Default with respect to Securities of any series,
(1) the Trustee undertakes to
perform, with respect to Securities of such
series, such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture, and
no implied covenants or obligations shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
and
(2) in the absence of bad faith on
its part, the Trustee may, with respect to
Securities of such series, conclusively rely,
as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
upon certificates or opinions furnished to the
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of
this Indenture; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions which by any provision
hereof are specifically required to be
furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be
under a duty to examine the same to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements
of this Indenture (but need not confirm or
investigate the accuracy of mathematical
calculations or other facts stated therein).
(b) In case an Event of Default with respect
to Securities of any series shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Trustee shall exercise, with
respect to Securities of such series, such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture,
and use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his own
affairs.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be
construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for
its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own wilful misconduct, except that
(1) this subsection shall not be
construed to limit the effect of subsection (a)
of this Section;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable
for any error of judgment made in good faith by
a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be
proved that the Trustee was negligent in
ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable
with respect to any action taken or omitted to
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the direction of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of any one or more series, as provided herein,
relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any
trust or power conferred upon the Trustee,
under this Indenture with respect to the
Securities of such series; and
(4) no provision of this Indenture
shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its
own funds or otherwise incur any financial
liability in the performance of any of its
duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if it shall have
reasonable grounds for believing that repayment
of such funds or adequate indemnity against
such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so
provided, every provision of this Indenture relating
to the conduct or affecting the liability of or
affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject
to the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 902. Notice of Defaults.
The Trustee shall give notice of any default
hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series to
the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner
and to the extent required to do so by the Trust
Indenture Act, unless such default shall have been cured
or waived; provided, however, that in the case of any
default of the character specified in Section 801(c), no
such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 75
days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of
this Section, the term "default" means any event which
is, or after notice or lapse of time, or both, would
become, an Event of Default.
SECTION 903. Certain Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 901 and to
the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and
shall be protected in acting or refraining from
acting in good faith upon any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or
other paper or document reasonably believed by it to
be genuine and to have been signed or presented by
the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company
mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by
a Company Request or Company Order, or as otherwise
expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the
Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by
a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this
Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a
matter be proved or established prior to taking,
suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Trustee (unless other evidence be herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an
Officer's Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of
its selection and the written advice of such counsel
or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in
good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation
to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it
by this Indenture at the request or direction of any
Holder pursuant to this Indenture, unless such
Holder shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities which might be incurred by it in
compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in
any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction,
consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall
determine to make such further inquiry or
investigation, it shall (subject to applicable legal
requirements) be entitled to examine, during normal
business hours, the books, records and premises of
the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts
or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder
either directly or by or through agents or attorneys
and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or
attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
and
(h) the Trustee shall not be charged with
knowledge of any Event of Default with respect to
the Securities of any series for which it is acting
as Trustee unless either (1) a Responsible Officer
of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge of the
Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Event
of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by
the Company, any other obligor on such Securities or
by any Holder of such Securities.
SECTION 904. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
Securities.
The recitals contained herein and in the
Securities (except the Trustee's certificates of
authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the
Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating
Agent assumes responsibility for their correctness. The
Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be
accountable for the use or application by the Company of
Securities or the proceeds thereof.
SECTION 905. May Hold Securities.
Each of the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent,
any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other
agent of the Company or the Trustee, in its individual or
any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of
Securities and, subject to Sections 908 and 913, may
otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it
would have if it were not the Trustee, Authenticating
Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other
agent.
SECTION 906. Money Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder
need not be segregated from other funds, except to the
extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no
liability for interest on or investment of any moneys
received by it hereunder except as expressly provided
herein or otherwise agreed with, and for the sole benefit
of, the Company.
SECTION 907. Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company shall
(a) pay to the Trustee from time to time
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by
it hereunder (which compensation shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, reimburse the Trustee upon its request for
all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in
accordance with any provision of this Indenture
(including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of its agents and
counsel), except to the extent that any such
expense, disbursement or advance may be attributable
to its negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith;
and
(c) indemnify the Trustee for, and hold it
harmless from and against, any loss, liability or
expense reasonably incurred by it arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration
of the trust or trusts hereunder or the performance
of its duties hereunder, including the reasonable
costs and expenses of defending itself against any
claim or liability in connection with the exercise
or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder, except to the extent any such loss,
liability or expense may be attributable to its
negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith.
As security for the performance of the
obligations of the Company under this Section, the
Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon
all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee
as such other than property and funds held in trust under
Section 703 (except as otherwise provided in Section
703). "Trustee" for purposes of this Section shall
include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that
the negligence, wilful misconduct or bad faith of any
Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any
other Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 908. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee shall have or acquire any
conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust
Indenture Act, it shall either eliminate such conflicting
interest or resign to the extent, in the manner and with
the effect, and subject to the conditions, provided in
the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. For purposes
of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and to
the extent permitted thereby, the Trustee, in its
capacity as trustee in respect of the Securities of any
series, shall not be deemed to have a conflicting
interest arising from its capacity as trustee in respect
of the Securities of any other series. The Trust
Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement pertaining to each
Trust shall be deemed to be specifically described in
this Indenture for the purposes of clause (i) of the
first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
SECTION 909. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder
which shall be
(a) a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States, any State or
Territory thereof or the District of Columbia,
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or
examination by Federal or State authority, or
(b) if and to the extent permitted by the
Commission by rule, regulation or order upon
application, a corporation or other Person organized
and doing business under the laws of a foreign
government, authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000 or the Dollar
equivalent of the applicable foreign currency and
subject to supervision or examination by authority of
such foreign government or a political subdivision
thereof substantially equivalent to supervision or
examination applicable to United States institutional
trustees,
and, in either case, qualified and eligible under this
Article and the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of such supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this
Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condi
tion so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease
to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and
with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
SECTION 910. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of
Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee
and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to
this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in
accordance with the applicable requirements of
Section 911.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with
respect to the Securities of one or more series by
giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee
required by Section 911 shall not have been delivered
to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of
such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with
respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to
the Trustee and to the Company; provided that so long
as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, the
Trust which issued such Preferred Securities shall
not execute any Act to remove the Trustee without the
consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
liquidation preference of Preferred Securities issued
by such Trust outstanding, obtained as provided in
the Trust Agreement pertaining to such Trust.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with
Section 908 after written request therefor by the
Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide
Holder for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be
eligible under Section 909 and shall fail to resign
after written request therefor by the Company or by
any such Holder, or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of
acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent
or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property
shall be appointed or any public officer shall take
charge or control of the Trustee or of its property
or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (x) the Company by a Board
Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all
Securities or (y) subject to Section 814, any Holder who
has been a bona fide Holder for at least six months may,
on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and
the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or
become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall
occur in the office of Trustee for any cause (other
than as contemplated in clause (y) in subsection (d)
of this Section), with respect to the Securities of
one or more series, the Company, by a Board
Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of
that or those series (it being understood that any
such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect
to the Securities of one or more or all of such
series and that at any time there shall be only one
Trustee with respect to the Securities of any
particular series) and shall comply with the
applicable requirements of Section 911. If, within
one year after such resignation, removal or
incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series delivered to the Company
and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so
appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of
such appointment in accordance with the applicable
requirements of Section 911, become the successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series
and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee ap
pointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series shall have
been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and
accepted appointment in the manner required by
Section 911, any Holder who has been a bona fide
Holder of a Security of such series for at least six
months may, on behalf of itself and all others
similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.
(f) So long as no event which is, or after
notice or lapse of time, or both, would become, an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, and except with respect to a Trustee
appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, if the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee (i) a
Board Resolution appointing a successor Trustee,
effective as of a date specified therein, and (ii) an
instrument of acceptance of such appointment,
effective as of such date, by such successor Trustee
in accordance with Section 911, the Trustee shall be
deemed to have resigned as contemplated in subsection
(b) of this Section, the successor Trustee shall be
deemed to have been appointed by the Company pursuant
to subsection (e) of this Section and such
appointment shall be deemed to have been accepted as
contemplated in Section 911, all as of such date, and
all other provisions of this Section and Section 911
shall be applicable to such resignation, appointment
and acceptance except to the extent inconsistent with
this subsection (f).
(g) The Company shall give notice of each
resignation and each removal of the Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series and each
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any series by mailing written
notice of such event by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series
as their names and addresses appear in the Security
Register. Each notice shall include the name of the
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
such series and the address of its corporate trust
office.
SECTION 911. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
all series, every such successor Trustee so appointed
shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company
and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting
such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective and such successor Trustee, without any
further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested
with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company
or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee
shall, upon payment of all sums owed to it, execute
and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts
of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all
property and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a
successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more series shall
execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such
appointment and which (1) shall contain such
provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to
transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each
successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the
appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if
the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to
all Securities, shall contain such provisions as
shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm
that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of
that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee
is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the
retiring Trustee and (3) shall add to or change any
of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than
one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein
or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute
such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that
each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or
trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or
trusts hereunder administered by any other such
Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such
supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of
the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the
extent provided therein and each such successor
Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance,
shall become vested with all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with
respect to the Securities of that or those series to
which the appointment of such successor Trustee
relates; but, on request of the Company or any succes
sor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of
all sums owed to it, shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Trustee all property and
money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Securities of that or those series to
which the appointment of such successor Trustee
relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee,
the Company shall execute any instruments which fully
vest in and confirm to such successor Trustee all
such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
subsection (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case
may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its
appointment unless at the time of such acceptance
such successor Trustee shall be qualified and
eligible under this Article.
SECTION 912. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be
merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated,
or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion
or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party,
or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all
the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the
successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such
corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible
under this Article, without the execution or filing of
any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been
authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in
office, any successor by merger, conversion or
consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt
such authentication and deliver the Securities so
authenticated with the same effect as if such successor
Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 913. Preferential Collection of Claims Against
Company.
If the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of
the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities
(other than by reason of a relationship described in
Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), the Trustee
shall be subject to any and all applicable provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of
claims against the Company or such other obligor. For
purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) the term "cash transaction" means any
transaction in which full payment for goods or
securities sold is made within seven days after
delivery of the goods or securities in currency or
in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or
bankers and payable upon demand;
(b) the term "self-liquidating paper" means
any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or
obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or
incurred by the Company for the purpose of financing
the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment,
storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and
which is secured by documents evidencing title to,
possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or
merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising
from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise
previously constituting the security, provided the
security is received by the Trustee simultaneously
with the creation of the creditor relationship with
the Company arising from the making, drawing,
negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of
exchange, acceptance or obligation.
SECTION 914. Co-trustees and Separate Trustees.
At any time or times, for the purpose of
meeting the legal requirements of any applicable
jurisdiction, the Company and the Trustee shall have
power to appoint, and, upon the written request of the
Trustee or of the Holders of at least 33% in principal
amount of the Securities then Outstanding, the Company
shall for such purpose join with the Trustee in the
execution and delivery of all instruments and agreements
necessary or proper to appoint, one or more Persons
approved by the Trustee either to act as co-trustee,
jointly with the Trustee, or to act as separate trustee,
in either case with such powers as may be provided in the
instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or
Persons, in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title,
right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to
the other provisions of this Section. If the Company
does not join in such appointment within 15 days after
the receipt by it of a request so to do, or if an Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
Trustee alone shall have power to make such appointment.
Should any written instrument or instruments
from the Company be required by any co-trustee or
separate trustee so appointed to more fully confirm to
such co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title,
right or power, any and all such instruments shall, on
request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the
Company.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to
the extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be
appointed subject to the following conditions:
(a) the Securities shall be authenticated and
delivered, and all rights, powers, duties and
obligations hereunder in respect of the custody of
securities, cash and other personal property held
by, or required to be deposited or pledged with, the
Trustee hereunder, shall be exercised solely, by the
Trustee;
(b) the rights, powers, duties and obligations
hereby conferred or imposed upon the Trustee in
respect of any property covered by such appointment
shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or
performed either by the Trustee or by the Trustee
and such co-trustee or separate trustee jointly, as
shall be provided in the instrument appointing such
co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent
that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any
particular act is to be performed, the Trustee shall
be incompetent or unqualified to perform such act,
in which event such rights, powers, duties and
obligations shall be exercised and performed by such
co-trustee or separate trustee;
(c) the Trustee at any time, by an instrument
in writing executed by it, with the concurrence of
the Company, may accept the resignation of or remove
any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under
this Section, and, if an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, the Trustee shall have
power to accept the resignation of, or remove, any
such co-trustee or separate trustee without the
concurrence of the Company. Upon the written
request of the Trustee, the Company shall join with
the Trustee in the execution and delivery of all
instruments and agreements necessary or proper to
effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor
to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or
removed may be appointed in the manner provided in
this Section;
(d) no co-trustee or separate trustee
hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of
any act or omission of the Trustee, or any other
such trustee hereunder; and
(e) any Act of Holders delivered to the
Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to
each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
SECTION 915. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent
or Agents with respect to the Securities of one or more
series, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the
Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued
upon original issuance and upon exchange, registration of
transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to
Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be
valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated
by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in
this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of
Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of
authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include
authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication
executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating
Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to
the Company and shall at all times be a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United
States, any State or territory thereof or the District of
Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, authorized
under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a
combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000
and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or
State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or
to the requirements of said supervising or examining
authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the
combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as
set forth in its most recent report of condition so pub
lished. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of
this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in
this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating
Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which such
Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation
succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust
business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be
an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall
be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the
part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time
by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the
Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency
of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice
thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.
Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a
termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating
Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a
successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable
to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon
acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become
vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its
predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally
named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authen
ticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under
the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating
Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its
services under this Section.
The provisions of Sections 308, 904 and 905
shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.
If an appointment with respect to the Securities
of one or more series shall be made pursuant to this
Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed
thereon, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of
authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication
substantially in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series
designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned
Indenture.
Dated: The Bank of New York
As Trustee
By_____________________
As Authenticating Agent
By_____________________
Authorized Signatory
If all of the Securities of a series may not be
originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not
have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon
original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the
Company wishes to have Securities of such series
authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so
requested by the Company in writing (which writing need
not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by
an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint, in accordance with
this Section and in accordance with such procedures as
shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Authenticating
Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by
the Company with respect to such series of Securities.
ARTICLE TEN
Holders' Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company
SECTION 1001. Lists of Holders.
Semiannually, not later than December 31 and
June 30 in each year, commencing June 30, 1997, and at
such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Trustee information as to the names and addresses of the
Holders, and the Trustee shall preserve such information
and similar information received by it in any other
capacity and afford to the Holders access to information
so preserved by it, all to such extent, if any, and in
such manner as shall be required by the Trust Indenture
Act; provided, however, that no such list need be
furnished so long as the Trustee shall be the Security
Registrar.
SECTION 1002. Reports by Trustee and Company.
Not later than June 30 in each year, commencing
June 30, 1997, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders
and the Commission a report, dated as of the next
preceding April 30, with respect to any events and other
matters described in Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture
Act, in such manner and to the extent required by the
Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall transmit to the
Holders and the Commission, and the Company shall file
with the Trustee (within 30 days after filing with the
Commission in the case of reports which pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act must be filed with the Commission and
furnished to the Trustee) and transmit to the Holders,
such other information, reports and other documents, if
any, at such times and in such manner, as shall be
required by the Trust Indenture Act.
To the extent required by the Trust Indenture
Act, the Company shall file with the Trustee the following
documents and reports within 30 days after such documents
or reports (or consolidated documents or reports
containing such documents or reports) are filed with the
Commission:
(a) The Company's annual reports on Form 10-K;
(b) The Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q;
(c) The Company's current reports on Form 8-K; and
(d) Any other documents filed with the
Commission which are filed with or incorporated
by reference in the foregoing reports, related
to the Company, and have not previously been
filed with the Trustee.
To the extent that any of the foregoing documents or
reports are consolidated with similar documents or reports
filed by an affiliate, the Company may file such
consolidated document or report with the Trustee in lieu
of the separate document or report.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Other Transfer
SECTION 1101. Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on
Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge
into any other corporation, or convey or otherwise
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to any Person, unless
(a) the corporation formed by such
consolidation or into which the Company is merged or
the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer,
or which leases, the properties and assets of the Com
pany substantially as an entirety shall be a Person
organized and validly existing under the laws of the
United States, any State thereof or the District of
Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture
supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the
Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due
and punctual payment of the principal of and premium,
if any, and interest, if any, on all Outstanding
Securities and the performance of every covenant of
this Indenture on the part of the Company to be per
formed or observed;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such
transaction and treating any indebtedness for
borrowed money which becomes an obligation of the
Company as a result of such transaction as having
been incurred by the Company at the time of such
transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which,
after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be
continuing; and
(c) the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that such consolidation,
merger, conveyance, or other transfer or lease and
such supplemental indenture comply with this Article
and that all conditions precedent herein provided for
relating to such transactions have been complied
with.
SECTION 1102. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation by the Company with or
merger by the Company into any other corporation or any
conveyance, or other transfer or lease of the properties
and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in
accordance with Section 1101, the successor corporation
formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is
merged or the Person to which such conveyance, transfer or
lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for,
and may exercise every right and power of, the Company
under this Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and
thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor
Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants
under this Indenture and the Securities Outstanding
hereunder.
ARTICLE TWELVE
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 1201. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of
Holders.
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company
and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may
enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in
form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following
purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another
Person to the Company and the assumption by any such
successor of the covenants of the Company herein and
in the Securities, all as provided in Article Eleven;
or
(b) to add one or more covenants of the Company
or other provisions for the benefit of all Holders or
for the benefit of the Holders of, or to remain in
effect only so long as there shall be Outstanding,
Securities of one or more specified series, or to
surrender any right or power herein conferred upon
the Company; or
(c) to add any additional Events of Default
with respect to all or any series of Securities
Outstanding hereunder; or
(d) to change or eliminate any provision of
this Indenture or to add any new provision to this
Indenture; provided, however, that if such change,
elimination or addition shall adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of Securities of any series
Outstanding on the date of such indenture
supplemental hereto in any material respect, such
change, elimination or addition shall become
effective with respect to such series only pursuant
to the provisions of Section 1202 hereof or when no
Security of such series remains Outstanding; or
(e) to provide collateral security for the
Securities; or
(f) to establish the form or terms of
Securities of any series as contemplated by Sections
201 and 301; or
(g) to provide for the authentication and
delivery of bearer securities and coupons
appertaining thereto representing interest, if any,
thereon and for the procedures for the registration,
exchange and replacement thereof and for the giving
of notice to, and the solicitation of the vote or
consent of, the holders thereof, and for any and all
other matters incidental thereto; or
(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance
of appointment hereunder by a separate or successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more
series and to add to or change any of the provisions
of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide
for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the
requirements of Section 911(b); or
(i) to provide for the procedures required to
permit the Company to utilize, at its option, a non-
certificated system of registration for all, or any
series of, the Securities; or
(j) to change any place or places where (1) the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on all or any series of Securities shall be
payable, (2) all or any series of Securities may be
surrendered for registration of transfer, (3) all or
any series of Securities may be surrendered for
exchange and (4) notices and demands to or upon the
Company in respect of all or any series of Securities
and this Indenture may be served; or
(k) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or
supplement any provision herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision
herein, or to make any other changes to the
provisions hereof or to add other provisions with
respect to matters or questions arising under this
Indenture, provided that such other changes or
additions shall not adversely affect the interests of
the Holders of Securities of any series in any
material respect.
Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, if the Trust Indenture Act as in effect at the
date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture or at
any time thereafter shall be amended and
(x) if any such amendment shall
require one or more changes to any provisions
hereof or the inclusion herein of any additional
provisions, or shall by operation of law be
deemed to effect such changes or incorporate
such provisions by reference or otherwise, this
Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended
so as to conform to such amendment to the Trust
Indenture Act, and the Company and the Trustee
may, without the consent of any Holders, enter
into an indenture supplemental hereto to effect
or evidence such changes or additional
provisions; or
(y) if any such amendment shall
permit one or more changes to, or the
elimination of, any provisions hereof which, at
the date of the execution and delivery hereof or
at any time thereafter, are required by the
Trust Indenture Act to be contained herein, this
Indenture shall be deemed to have been amended
to effect such changes or elimination, and the
Company and the Trustee may, without the consent
of any Holders, enter into an indenture
supplemental hereto to evidence such amendment
hereof.
SECTION 1202. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of
Holders.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of all series then Outstanding under this Indenture,
considered as one class, by Act of said Holders delivered
to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when
authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto
for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing
in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of,
this Indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of
the Holders of Securities of such series under the
Indenture; provided, however, that if there shall be
Securities of more than one series Outstanding hereunder
and if a proposed supplemental indenture shall directly
affect the rights of the Holders of Securities of one or
more, but less than all, of such series, then the consent
only of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series so
directly affected, considered as one class, shall be
required; and provided, further, that no such supplemental
indenture shall:
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal
of, or any installment of principal of or interest on
(except as provided in Section 311 hereof), any
Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or
the rate of interest thereon (or the amount of any
installment of interest thereon) or change the method
of calculating such rate or reduce any premium
payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the
coin or currency (or other property), in which any
Security or any premium or the interest thereon is
payable, or impair the right to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment on or after the
Stated Maturity of any Security (or, in the case of
redemption, on or after the Redemption Date),
without, in any such case, the consent of the Holder
of such Security, or
(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount
of the Outstanding Securities of any series (or, if
applicable, in liquidation preference of any series
of Preferred Securities), the consent of the Holders
of which is required for any such supplemental in
denture, or the consent of the Holders of which is
required for any waiver of compliance with any
provision of this Indenture or of any default
hereunder and its consequences, or reduce the
requirements of Section 1304 for quorum or voting,
without, in any such case, the consent of the Holders
of each Outstanding Security of such series, or
(c) modify any of the provisions of this
Section, Section 607 or Section 813 with respect to
the Securities of any series, except to increase the
percentages in principal amount referred to in this
Section or such other Sections or to provide that
other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified
or waived without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, how
ever, that this clause shall not be deemed to require
the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in
the references to "the Trustee" and concomitant
changes in this Section, or the deletion of this pro
viso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections
911(b) and 1201(h).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any of the
Preferred Securities remain outstanding, the Trustee may
not consent to a supplemental indenture under this Section
1202 without the prior consent, obtained as provided in a
Trust Agreement pertaining to a Trust which issued such
Preferred Securities, of the holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate liquidation preference of all
Preferred Securities issued by such Trust affected,
considered as one class, or, in the case of changes
described in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above, 100% in
aggregate liquidation preference of all such Preferred
Securities then outstanding which would be affected
thereby, considered as one class. A supplemental
indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been
included solely for the benefit of one or more particular
series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the
Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such
covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect
the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of
Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders
under this Section to approve the particular form of any
proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be
sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance
thereof. A waiver by a Holder of such Holder's right to
consent under this Section shall be deemed to be a consent
of such Holder.
SECTION 1203. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts
created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this
Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created
by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to
receive, and (subject to Section 901) shall be fully
protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating
that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee
may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such
supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties, immunities or liabilities under this
Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 1204. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture
under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in
accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture
shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and
every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter
authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound
thereby. Any supplemental indenture permitted by this
Article may restate this Indenture in its entirety, and,
upon the execution and delivery thereof, any such
restatement shall supersede this Indenture as theretofore
in effect for all purposes.
SECTION 1205. Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant
to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the
Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
SECTION 1206. Reference in Securities to Supplemental
Indentures.
Securities of any series authenticated and
delivered after the execution of any supplemental
indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if
required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved
by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such
supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to
conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to
any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and
executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such
series.
SECTION 1207. Modification Without Supplemental
Indenture.
If the terms of any particular series of
Securities shall have been established in a Board
Resolution or an Officer's Certificate pursuant to a Board
Resolution as contemplated by Section 301, and not in an
indenture supplemental hereto, additions to, changes in or
the elimination of any of such terms may be effected by
means of a supplemental Board Resolution or Officer's
Certificate, as the case may be, delivered to, and
accepted by, the Trustee; provided, however, that such
supplemental Board Resolution or Officer's Certificate
shall not be accepted by the Trustee or otherwise be
effective unless all conditions set forth in this
Indenture which would be required to be satisfied if such
additions, changes or elimination were contained in a
supplemental indenture shall have been appropriately
satisfied. Upon the acceptance thereof by the Trustee,
any such supplemental Board Resolution or Officer's
Certificate shall be deemed to be a "supplemental
indenture" for purposes of Section 1204 and 1206.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
Meetings of Holders; Action Without Meeting
SECTION 1301. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.
A meeting of Holders of Securities of one or
more, or all, series may be called at any time and from
time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or
take any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this
Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of
Securities of such series.
SECTION 1302. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.
(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting
of Holders of Securities of one or more, or all,
series for any purpose specified in Section 1301, to
be held at such time and at such place in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Trustee
shall determine, or, with the approval of the
Company, at any other place. Notice of every such
meeting, setting forth the time and the place of such
meeting and in general terms the action proposed to
be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the
manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor
more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the
meeting.
(b) If the Trustee shall have been requested to
call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of one or
more, or all, series by the Company or by the Holders
of 33% in aggregate principal amount of all of such
series, considered as one class, for any purpose
specified in Section 1301, by written request setting
forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be
taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have
given the notice of such meeting within 21 days after
receipt of such request or shall not thereafter
proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided
herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities
of such series in the amount above specified, as the
case may be, may determine the time and the place in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in
such other place as shall be determined or approved
by the Company, for such meeting and may call such
meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as
provided in subsection (a) of this Section.
(c) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of one
or more, or all, series shall be valid without notice
if the Holders of all Outstanding Securities of such
series are present in person or by proxy and if rep
resentatives of the Company and the Trustee are
present, or if notice is waived in writing before or
after the meeting by the Holders of all Outstanding
Securities of such series, or by such of them as are
not present at the meeting in person or by proxy, and
by the Company and the Trustee.
SECTION 1303. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.
To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders
of Securities of one or more, or all, series a Person
shall be (a) a Holder of one or more Outstanding
Securities of such series, or (b) a Person appointed by an
instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of
one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such
Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled
to attend any meeting of Holders of Securities of any
series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such
meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the
Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the
Company and its counsel.
SECTION 1304. Quorum; Action.
The Persons entitled to vote a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of the series with respect to which a meeting shall have
been called as hereinbefore provided, considered as one
class, shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders
of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if
any action is to be taken at such meeting which this
Indenture expressly provides may be taken by the Holders
of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority,
in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series, considered as one class, the Persons entitled to
vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, considered as one
class, shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a
quorum within one hour of the time appointed for any such
meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of
Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In
any other case the meeting may be adjourned for such
period as may be determined by the chairman of the meeting
prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence
of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned
meeting may be further adjourned for such period as may be
determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the
adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Except as provided
by Section 1305(e), notice of the reconvening of any
meeting adjourned for more than 30 days shall be given as
provided in Section 1302(a) not less than 10 days prior to
the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be recon
vened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting
shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above,
of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
such series which shall constitute a quorum.
Except as limited by Section 1202, any
resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting
duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid
may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of the series with respect to which
such meeting shall have been called, considered as one
class; provided, however, that, except as so limited, any
resolution with respect to any action which this Indenture
expressly provides may be taken by the Holders of a
specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series, considered as one class, may be adopted at a
meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at
which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative
vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series, considered as one class.
Any resolution passed or decision taken at any
meeting of Holders of Securities duly held in accordance
with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of
Securities of the series with respect to which such
meeting shall have been held, whether or not present or
represented at the meeting.
SECTION 1305. Attendance at Meetings; Determination of
Voting Rights;
Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.
(a) Attendance at meetings of Holders of
Securities may be in person or by proxy; and, to the
extent permitted by law, any such proxy shall remain
in effect and be binding upon any future Holder of
the Securities with respect to which it was given
unless and until specifically revoked by the Holder
or future Holder (except as provided in Section
104(g)), of such Securities before being voted.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of
this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable
regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting
of Holders of Securities in regard to proof of the
holding of such Securities and of the appointment of
proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties
of inspectors of votes, the submission and
examination of proxies, certificates and other
evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters
concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall
deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or
required by any such regulations, the holding of
Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in
Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be
proved in the manner specified in Section 104. Such
regulations may provide that written instruments
appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be
presumed valid and genuine without the proof
specified in Section 104 or other proof.
(c) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in
writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting,
unless the meeting shall have been called by the
Company or by Holders as provided in Section 1302(b),
in which case the Company or the Holders of
Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the
case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary
chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent
secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of
the Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all
series represented at the meeting, considered as one
class.
(d) At any meeting each Holder or proxy shall
be entitled to one vote for each $1 principal amount
of Securities held or represented by him; provided,
however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any
meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not
Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting
to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting
shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a
Security or proxy.
(e) Any meeting duly called pursuant to Section
1302 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned
from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of all series represented at
the meeting, considered as one class; and the meeting
may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 1306. Counting Votes and Recording Action of
Meetings.
The vote upon any resolution submitted to any
meeting of Holders shall be by written ballots on which
shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders or of
their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts
and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities, of the
series with respect to which the meeting shall have been
called, held or represented by them. The permanent
chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of
votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or
against any resolution and who shall make and file with
the secretary of the meeting their verified written
reports of all votes cast at the meeting. A record of the
proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared
by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be
attached to said record the original reports of the
inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat
and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of
the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the
meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided
in Section 1302 and, if applicable, Section 1304. Each
copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the
permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one
such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another
to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter
to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive
evidence of the matters therein stated.
SECTION 1307. Action Without Meeting.
In lieu of a vote of Holders at a meeting as
hereinbefore contemplated in this Article, any request, de
mand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action may be made, given or taken by Holders by
written instruments as provided in Section 104.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Dire
ctors
SECTION 1401. Liability Solely Corporate.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
any Securities, or any part thereof, or for any claim
based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or of the
indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation,
covenant or agreement under this Indenture, against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such,
past, present or future of the Company or of any
predecessor or successor corporation (either directly or
through the Company or a predecessor or successor
corporation), whether by virtue of any constitutional pro
vision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of
any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly
agreed and understood that this Indenture and all the
Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no
personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be
incurred by, any incorporator, stockholder, officer or
director, past, present or future, of the Company or of
any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly
or indirectly through the Company or any predecessor or
successor corporation, because of the indebtedness hereby
authorized or under or by reason of any of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this
Indenture or in any of the Securities or to be implied
herefrom or therefrom, and that any such personal
liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the
execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the
Securities.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
Subordination of Securities
SECTION 1501. Securities Subordinate to Senior
Indebtedness.
The Company, for itself, its successors and
assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of the
Securities of each series, by its acceptance thereof,
likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly
subordinated and subject to the extent and in the manner
set forth in this Article, in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.
Each Holder of the Securities of each series, by
its acceptance thereof, authorizes and directs the Trustee
on its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in
this Article, and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-
fact for any and all such purposes.
SECTION 1502. Payment Over of Proceeds of Securities.
In the event (a) of any insolvency or bankruptcy
proceedings or any receivership, liquidation,
reorganization or other similar proceedings in respect of
the Company or a substantial part of its property, or of
any proceedings for liquidation, dissolution or other
winding up of the Company, whether or not involving
insolvency or bankruptcy, or (b) subject to the provisions
of Section 1503, that (i) a default shall have occurred
with respect to the payment of principal of or interest on
or other monetary amounts due and payable on any Senior
Indebtedness, or (ii) there shall have occurred a default
(other than a default in the payment of principal or
interest or other monetary amounts due and payable) in
respect of any Senior Indebtedness, as defined therein or
in the instrument under which the same is outstanding,
permitting the holder or holders thereof to accelerate the
maturity thereof (with notice or lapse of time, or both),
and such default shall have continued beyond the period of
grace, if any, in respect thereof, and, in the cases of
subclauses (i) and (ii) of this clause (b), such default
shall not have been cured or waived or shall not have
ceased to exist, or (c) that the principal of and accrued
interest on the Securities of any series shall have been
declared due and payable pursuant to Section 801 and such
declaration shall not have been rescinded and annulled as
provided in Section 802, then:
(1) the holders of all Senior
Indebtedness shall first be entitled to
receive payment of the full amount due
thereon, or provision shall be made for
such payment in money or money's worth,
before the Holders of any of the Securities
are entitled to receive a payment on
account of the principal of or interest on
the indebtedness evidenced by the
Securities, including, without limitation,
any payments made pursuant to Articles Four
and Five;
(2) any payment by, or distribution
of assets of, the Company of any kind or
character, whether in cash, property or
securities, to which any Holder or the
Trustee would be entitled except for the
provisions of this Article, shall be paid
or delivered by the person making such
payment or distribution, whether a trustee
in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating
trustee or otherwise, directly to the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness or
their representative or representatives or
to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture under which any instruments
evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, ratably according to
the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on
account of such Senior Indebtedness held or
represented by each, to the extent
necessary to make payment in full of all
Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or
distribution (or provision therefor) to the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before
any payment or distribution is made to the
Holders of the indebtedness evidenced by
the Securities or to the Trustee under this
Indenture; and
(3) in the event that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment
by, or distribution of assets of, the
Company of any kind or character, whether
in cash, property or securities, in respect
of principal of or interest on the
Securities or in connection with any
repurchase by the Company of the
Securities, shall be received by the
Trustee or any Holder before all Senior
Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision
is made for such payment in money or
money's worth, such payment or distribution
in respect of principal of or interest on
the Securities or in connection with any
repurchase by the Company of the Securities
shall be paid over to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness or their representative
or representatives or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture under which
any instruments evidencing any such Senior
Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably
as aforesaid, for application to the
payment of all Senior Indebtedness
remaining unpaid until all such Senior
Indebtedness shall have been paid in full,
after giving effect to any concurrent
payment or distribution (or provision
therefor) to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after
the 123rd day following the date of deposit of cash or
Government Obligations pursuant to Section 701 (provided
all conditions set out in such Section shall have been
satisfied), the funds so deposited and any interest
thereon will not be subject to any rights of holders of
Senior Indebtedness including, without limitation, those
arising under this Article Fifteen; provided that no event
described in clauses (d) and (e) of Section 801 with
respect to the Company has occurred during such 123-day
period.
For purposes of this Article only, the words
"cash, property or securities" shall not be deemed to
include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or
readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other
corporation provided for by a plan or reorganization or
readjustment which are subordinate in right of payment to
all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be
outstanding to the same extent as, or to a greater extent
than, the Securities are so subordinated as provided in
this Article. The consolidation of the Company with, or
the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the
conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or
substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon
the terms and conditions provided for in Article Eleven
hereof shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up,
liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this
Section 1502 if such other corporation shall, as a part of
such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply
with the conditions stated in Article Eleven hereof.
Nothing in Section 1501 or in this Section 1502 shall
apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or
pursuant to Section 907.
SECTION 1503. Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior
Indebtedness.
Any failure by the Company to make any payment
on or perform any other obligation in respect of Senior
Indebtedness, other than any indebtedness incurred by the
Company or assumed or guaranteed, directly or indirectly,
by the Company for money borrowed (or any deferral,
renewal, extension or refunding thereof) or any other
obligation as to which the provisions of this Section
shall have been waived by the Company in the instrument or
instruments by which the Company incurred, assumed,
guaranteed or otherwise created such indebtedness or
obligation, shall not be deemed a default under clause (b)
of Section 1502 if (i) the Company shall be disputing its
obligation to make such payment or perform such obligation
and (ii) either (A) no final judgment relating to such
dispute shall have been issued against the Company which
is in full force and effect and is not subject to further
review, including a judgment that has become final by
reason of the expiration of the time within which a party
may seek further appeal or review, or (B) in the event
that a judgment that is subject to further review or
appeal has been issued, the Company shall in good faith be
prosecuting an appeal or other proceeding for review and a
stay or execution shall have been obtained pending such
appeal or review.
SECTION 1504. Subrogation.
Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have
been paid in full unless the holders thereof shall have
received cash (or securities or other property
satisfactory to such holders) in full payment of such
Senior Indebtedness then outstanding. Subject to the
prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the
rights of the Holders of the Securities shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior
Indebtedness to receive any further payments or
distributions of cash, property or securities of the
Company applicable to the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness until all amounts owing on the Securities
shall be paid in full; and such payments or distributions
of cash, property or securities received by the Holders of
the Securities, by reason of such subrogation, which
otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of
such Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company,
its creditors other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, and the Holders, be deemed to be a payment
by the Company to or on account of Senior Indebtedness, it
being understood that the provisions of this Article are
and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the
relative rights of the Holders, on the one hand, and the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.
SECTION 1505. Obligation of the Company Unconditional.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere
in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or
shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other
than the holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders,
the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and
unconditional, to pay to the Holders the principal of and
interest on the Securities as and when the same shall
become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or
is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the
Holders and creditors of the Company other than the
holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein
or therein prevent the Trustee or any Holder from
exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable
law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the
rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of
Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or
securities of the Company received upon the exercise of
any such remedy.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets or
securities of the Company referred to in this Article, the
Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any
order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in
which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization proceedings are pending for the purpose of
ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and
other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed
thereon, and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this
Article.
SECTION 1506. Priority of Senior Indebtedness Upon
Maturity.
Upon the maturity of the principal of any Senior
Indebtedness by lapse of time, acceleration or otherwise,
all matured principal of Senior Indebtedness and interest
and premium, if any, thereon shall first be paid in full
before any payment of principal or premium, if any, or
interest, if any, is made upon the Securities or before
any Securities can be acquired by the Company or any
sinking fund payment is made with respect to the
Securities (except that required sinking fund payments may
be reduced by Securities acquired before such maturity of
such Senior Indebtedness).
SECTION 1507. Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall be entitled to all rights set
forth in this Article with respect to any Senior
Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as
any other holder of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this
Article shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as
such holder.
SECTION 1508. Notice to Trustee to Effectuate
Subordination.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article
or any other provision of the Indenture, the Trustee shall
not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any
facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of
moneys to or by the Trustee unless and until the Trustee
shall have received written notice thereof from the
Company, from a Holder or from a holder of any Senior
Indebtedness or from any representative or representatives
of such holder and, prior to the receipt of any such
written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled, subject to
Section 901, in all respects to assume that no such facts
exist; provided, however, that, if prior to the fifth
Business Day preceding the date upon which by the terms
hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose,
or in the event of the execution of an instrument pursuant
to Section 702 acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture, then if prior to the second Business Day
preceding the date of such execution, the Trustee shall
not have received with respect to such moneys the notice
provided for in this Section, then, anything herein
contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
may, in its discretion, receive such moneys and/or apply
the same to the purpose for which they were received, and
shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which
may be received by it on or after such date; provided,
however, that no such application shall affect the
obligations under this Article of the persons receiving
such moneys from the Trustee.
SECTION 1509. Modification, Extension, etc. of Senior
Indebtedness.
The holders of Senior Indebtedness may, without
affecting in any manner the subordination of the payment
of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on the Securities, at any time or from time to time
and in their absolute discretion, agree with the Company
to change the manner, place or terms of payment, change or
extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any
Senior Indebtedness, or amend or supplement any instrument
pursuant to which any Senior Indebtedness is issued, or
exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their
rights under the Senior Indebtedness including, without
limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, all without
notice to or assent from the Holders or the Trustee.
SECTION 1510. Trustee Has No Fiduciary Duty to Holders of
Senior Indebtedness.
With respect to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to
observe only such of its covenants and objectives as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied
covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture
against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to
owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, and shall not be liable to any such holders
if it shall mistakenly pay over or deliver to the Holders
or the Company or any other Person, money or assets to
which any holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled
by virtue of this Article or otherwise.
SECTION 1511. Paying Agents Other Than the Trustee.
In case at any time any Paying Agent other than
the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and
be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as used in
this Article shall in such case (unless the context shall
otherwise require) be construed as extending to and
including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully
for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were
named in this Article in addition to or in place of the
Trustee; provided, however, that Sections 1507, 1508 and
1510 shall not apply to the Company if it acts as Paying
Agent.
SECTION 1512. Rights of Holders of Senior Indebtedness
Not Impaired.
No right of any present or future holder of
Senior Indebtedness to enforce the subordination herein
shall at any time or in any way be prejudiced or impaired
by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or
by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms,
provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of
any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be
otherwise charged with.
SECTION 1513. Effect of Subordination Provisions;
Termination.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, other than as provided in the immediately
succeeding sentence, all the provisions of this Indenture
shall be subject to the provisions of this Article, so far
as the same may be applicable thereto.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, the provisions of this Article Fifteen shall be
of no further effect, and the Securities shall no longer
be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment
of Senior Indebtedness, if the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee a notice to such effect. Any
such notice delivered by the Company shall not be deemed
to be a supplemental indenture for purposes of Article
Twelve hereof.
_________________________
This instrument may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to
be an original, but all such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have
caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their
respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
By: /s/William J. Regan, Jr.
Vice President and Treasurer
ATTEST:
/s/ Christopher T. Screen
Assistant Secretary
[SEAL]
<PAGE>
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, Trustee
[SEAL] By: /s/ Nancy Gill
Assistant Treasurer
ATTEST:
/s/ Mary LaGumina
Assistant Vice President
<PAGE>
STATE OF LOUISIANA )
) ss.:
PARISH OF ORLEANS )
On the 12th day of July, 1996, before me
personally came William J. Regan, Jr., to me known, who,
being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is the
Vice President and Treasurer of Entergy Louisiana, Inc.,
one of the corporations described in and which executed
the foregoing instrument; that he knows the seal of said
corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is
such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority
of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he
signed his name thereto by like authority.
Denise Redmann Krouse
Notary Public
Parish of Orleans,
State of Louisiana
My Commission is Issued for Life
<PAGE>
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK )
On the 12th day of July, 1996, before me
personally came Nancy Gill, to me known, who, being by me
duly sworn, did depose and say that she is an Assistant
Treasurer of The Bank of New York, one of the corporations
described in and which executed the foregoing instrument;
that she knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal
affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it
was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of
said corporation, and that she signed her name thereto by
like authority.
____________________________________
William J. Cassels
Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01CA5027729
Qualified in Bronx County
Certificate Filed in New York County
Commission Expires May 16, 1998
Exhibit A-15(a)
No. R-1
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
9% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES, SERIES A,
DUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2045
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC., a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana (herein
referred to as the "Company", which term includes any successor
Person under the Indenture), for value received, hereby promises
to pay to THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Property Trustee of Entergy
Louisiana Capital I, or registered assigns, the principal sum of
SEVENTY-TWO MILLION ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED
FIFTY Dollars on September 30, 2045, and to pay interest on said
principal sum, from and including, July 16, 1996 or from, and
excluding, the most recent Interest Payment Date through which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly on March
31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year,
commencing September 30, 1996 at the rate of 9% per annum until
the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The
amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Interest on the Securities of this series will accrue from, and
including, July 16, 1996 through the first Interest Payment Date,
and thereafter will accrue, from, and excluding, the last
Interest Payment Date through which interest has been paid or
duly provided for. In the event that any Interest Payment Date
is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on
such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in
respect of such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in
the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the
same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided
for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such
Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or
one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which
shall be the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment
Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided
for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such
Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose
name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for
the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities
of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record
Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on
which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such
notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.
Payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of
the Company maintained for that purpose in The City of New York,
the State of New York in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for
payment of public and private debts, provided, however, that, at
the option of the Company, interest on this Security may be paid
by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto, as
such address shall appear on the Security Register.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of
this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further
provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set
forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has
been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by
manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any
benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any
purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this
instrument to be duly executed.
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
By: /s/ William J. Regan, Jr.
Vice President and Treasurer
ATTEST:
/s/ Christopher T. Screen
Assistant Secretary
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Dated: July 16, 1996
This is one of the Securities of the series designated
therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee
By: /s/ Nancy Gill
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
REVERSE OF 9% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE, SERIES A, DUE SEPTEMBER 30, 2045
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of
securities of the Company (herein called the "Securities"),
issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture,
dated as of July 1, 1996 (herein, together with any amendments
thereto, called the "Indenture", which term shall have the
meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company
and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee", which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture,
including the Board Resolutions and Officer's Certificate filed
with the Trustee on July 16, 1996 creating the series designated
on the face hereof, for a statement of the respective rights,
limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the
Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the
terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated
and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on
the face hereof, limited in aggregate principal amount to
$72,164,950.
The Securities of this series are subject to redemption
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice by mail, at
any time on or after July 16, 2001 as a whole or in part, at the
election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of
the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption
with accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest,
to, but not including, the redemption date, but interest
installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such
redemption date will be payable to the Holder of such Security,
or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of
business on the related Regular Record Date referred to on the
face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.
The Securities of this series will also be redeemable
at the option of the Company if a Tax Event or an Investment
Company Event shall occur and be continuing, in whole but not in
part on any date within 90 days of the occurrence of such Tax
Event or Investment Company Event, at a redemption price equal to
100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series
then Outstanding plus any accrued and unpaid interest, including
Additional Interest, if any, to the redemption date, upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice given as provided in
the Indenture. "Tax Event" means the receipt by Entergy
Louisiana Capital I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
"Trust") of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to
the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any
regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting
taxation, or as a result of any official administrative
pronouncement or decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of
original issuance of the 9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
Securities, Series A (the "Preferred Securities") under the Trust
Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the
Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date thereof, subject
to United States Federal income tax with respect to income
received or accrued on the Securities of this series, (ii)
interest payable by the Company on the Securities of this series
is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof will not be,
deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States
Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be
within 90 days of the date thereof, subject to more than a de
minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental
charges. "Investment Company Event" means the occurrence of a
change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court,
governmental agency or regulatory authority to the effect that
the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that
is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, which change in law becomes effective on or
after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities.
In the event of redemption of this Security in part
only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like
tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the
name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the
extent provided in the Indenture, subordinated and subject in
right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness, and this Security is issued subject to the
provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of
this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be
bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee
on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so
provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his acceptance
hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the
subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by
each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or
hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Holder upon
said provisions.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any
time of the entire indebtedness of this Security upon compliance
with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of
this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the
Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the
manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as
therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of
the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the
Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the
Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Securities at the time Outstanding of all series to be affected.
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of
specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of
each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of
all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past
defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such
consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be
conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu
hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made
upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the
Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right
to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for
the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy
thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the
Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less
than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of all series at the time Outstanding in respect of which an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing shall have
made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in
respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the
Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have
received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Securities of all series at the time Outstanding in
respect of which an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall
have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after
receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The
foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of
this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal
hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the
respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision
of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional,
to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this
Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.
So long as the Company is not in default under the
Indenture the Company has the right, at any time and from time to
time during the term of the Securities of this series, to extend
the interest payment period to a period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarters (an "Extended Interest Payment Period").
Prior to the termination of the Extended Interest Payment Period
the Company may, and at the end of such Extended Interest Payment
Period the Company shall, pay all interest then accrued and
unpaid (together with interest thereon at the annual rate of 9%
to the extent permitted by applicable law) and upon such payment
in full, such Extended Interest Payment Period shall terminate.
However, during such Extended Interest Payment Period the Company
shall not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with
respect to, any of its capital stock, or make any payment of
principal on, interest or premium if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any indebtedness that is pari passu with or junior in
interest to the Securities of this series (including other
Securities issued under the Indenture), or make any guarantee
payments with respect to the foregoing (other than dividends or
distributions in common stock of the Company and payments under
any Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any such Extended
Interest Payment Period, the Company may further extend the
interest payment period, provided that such Extended Interest
Payment Period, together with all such previous and further
extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or
extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Securities of this
series. Upon termination of any such Extended Interest Payment
Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest
then due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extended Interest
Payment Period, subject to the above requirements. No interest
shall be due and payable during an Extended Interest Payment
Period, except at the end thereof. The Company shall give the
Property Trustee, the administrative trustees named in the Trust
Agreement and the Trustee written notice of (i) any election by
the Company to initiate an Extended Interest Payment Period and
the duration thereof, (ii) any election by the Company to extend
an Extended Interest Payment Period beyond the date on which that
Extended Interest Payment Period is then scheduled to terminate
and the duration of such extension and (iii) any election by the
Company to make a full payment of interest accrued on the
Securities of this series on any date during an Extended Interest
Payment Period. The Company shall give such notice at least one
Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the date distributions
on the Preferred Securities are payable and (ii) the date the
Administrative Trustees are required to give notice to the New
York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory
organization or to holders of the Preferred Securities of the
record date or the date such distributions are payable, but in
any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record
date.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in
registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and any
integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and
subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of
this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor and of
authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering
the same.
As provided in the Indenture, the Company shall not be
required to make transfers or exchanges of Securities of this
series for a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date of
the mailing of any notice of redemption of such Securities and
the Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges
of any Securities of this series so selected for redemption in
whole or in part (except the unredeemed portion of thereof).
No service charge shall be made for any such
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company
or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security
is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes,
whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company,
the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the
contrary.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in
the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.
Exhibit A-16(a)
AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRUST AGREEMENT
among
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC., as Depositor
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Property Trustee
THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE), as Delaware Trustee
Steven C. McNeal,
William J. Regan, Jr.
and
Frank Williford IV, as Administrative Trustees
Dated as of July 16, 1996
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
Entergy Louisiana Capital I
Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating to
Sections 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Trust Agreement
Act Section Section
Section 310(a)(1) 8.07
(a)(2) 8.07
(a)(3) 8.09
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(b) 8.08
Section 311(a) 8.13
(b) 8.13
Section 312(a) 5.07
(b) 5.07
(c) 5.07
Section 313(a) 8.14(a)
(a)(4) 8.14(b)
(b) 8.14(b)
(c) 8.14(a)
(d) 8.14(a), 8.14(b)
Section 314(a) Not Applicable
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) Not Applicable
(c)(2) Not Applicable
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) Not Applicable
Section 315(a) 8.01
(b) 8.02, 8.14(b)
(c) 8.01(a)
(d) 8.01, 8.03
(e) Not Applicable
Section 316(a) Not Applicable
(a)(1)(A) Not Applicable
(a)(1)(B) Not Applicable
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) Not Applicable
(c) Not Applicable
Section 317(a)(1) Not Applicable
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) 5.09
Section 318(a) 10.10
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose,
be deemed to be a part of the Trust Agreement.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I.
Defined Terms
Section 1.01. Definitions 2
ARTICLE II.
Establishment of the Trust
Section 2.01. Name 11
Section 2.02. Office of the Delaware Trustee;
Principal Place of Business 11
Section 2.03. Initial Contribution of Trust
Property; Organizational Expenses 11
Section 2.04. Issuance of the Preferred
Securities 11
Section 2.05. Subscription and Purchase of
Debentures; Issuance of the
Common Securities 12
Section 2.06. Declaration of Trust; Appointment
of Additional Administrative
Trustees 12
Section 2.07. Authorization to Enter into Certain
Transactions 12
Section 2.08. Assets of Trust 16
Section 2.09. Title to Trust Property 16
ARTICLE III.
Payment Account
Section 3.01. Payment Account 17
ARTICLE IV.
Distributions; Redemption
Section 4.01. Distributions 17
Section 4.02. Redemption 18
Section 4.03. Subordination of Common Securities 20
Section 4.04. Payment Procedures 21
Section 4.05. Tax Returns and Reports 21
Section 4.06. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of
the Trust 21
Section 4.07. Payments under Subordinated
Indenture 21
ARTICLE V.
Trust Securities Certificates
Section 5.01. Initial Ownership 22
Section 5.02. The Trust Securities Certificates 22
Section 5.03. Execution and Delivery of Trust
Securities Certificates 22
Section 5.04. Registration of Transfer and
Exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates 22
Section 5.05. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or
Stolen Trust Securities
Certificates 23
Section 5.06. Persons Deemed Securityholders 24
Section 5.07. Access to List of Securityholders'
Names and Addresses 24
Section 5.08. Maintenance of Office or Agency 24
Section 5.09. Appointment of Paying Agent 25
Section 5.10. Ownership of Common Securities by
Depositor; Common
Securities Certificate 25
Section 5.11. Book-Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates 26
Section 5.12. Notices to Securities Depository 26
Section 5.13. Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates 26
Section 5.14. Rights of Securityholders 27
ARTICLE VI.
Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting
Section 6.01. Limitations on Voting Rights 27
Section 6.02. Notice of Meetings 29
Section 6.03. Meetings of Holders of Preferred
Securities 29
Section 6.04. Voting Rights 29
Section 6.05. Proxies, etc. 30
Section 6.06. Securityholder Action by Written
Consent 30
Section 6.07. Record Date for Voting and Other
Purposes 30
Section 6.08. Acts of Securityholders 30
Section 6.09. Inspection of Records 31
ARTICLE VII.
Representations and Warranties of the Property
Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Depositor
Section 7.01. Property Trustee 32
Section 7.02. Delaware Trustee 32
Section 7.03. Depositor 33
ARTICLE VIII.
The Trustees
Section 8.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities 33
Section 8.02. Certain Notices 35
Section 8.03. Certain Rights of Property Trustee 35
Section 8.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or
Issuance of Securities 38
Section 8.05. May Hold Securities 38
Section 8.06. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity. 38
Section 8.07. Certain Trustees Required;
Eligibility 39
Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests 40
Section 8.09. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee 40
Section 8.10. Resignation and Removal;
Appointment of Successor 41
Section 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by
Successor 43
Section 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation
or Succession to Business 43
Section 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims
Against Depositor or Trust 43
Section 8.14. Reports by Property Trustee 44
Section 8.15. Reports to the Property Trustee 44
Section 8.16. Evidence of Compliance With
Conditions Precedent 44
Section 8.17. Number of Trustees. 44
Section 8.18. Delegation of Power. 45
Section 8.19. Fiduciary Duty 45
Section 8.20. Voting 46
ARTICLE IX.
Termination, Liquidation and Merger
Section 9.01. Termination Upon Expiration Date 46
Section 9.02. Early Termination 46
Section 9.03. Termination 47
Section 9.04. Liquidation 47
Section 9.05. Mergers, Consolidations,
Amalgamations or Replacements of
the Trust 49
ARTICLE X.
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.01. Guarantee by the Depositor and
Assumption of Obligations 50
Section 10.02. Limitation of Rights of
Securityholders 50
Section 10.03. Amendment 51
Section 10.04. Separability 52
Section 10.05. Governing Law 52
Section 10.06. Successors 52
Section 10.07. Headings 52
Section 10.08. Notice and Demand 52
Section 10.09. Agreement Not to Petition 53
Section 10.10. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 53
Section 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust
Agreement, Guarantee and
Indenture 54
Section 10.12. Counterparts 54
EXHIBIT A Certificate of Trust of Entergy Louisiana
Capital I A-1
EXHIBIT B Certificate Evidencing Common Securities of
Entergy Louisiana Capital I B-1
EXHIBIT C Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities C-1
EXHIBIT D Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of Entergy Louisiana Capital I D-1
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of July
16, 1996, between (i) Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Depositor"), (ii) The Bank of New York, a
banking corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of
New York, as trustee (the "Property Trustee"), (iii) The Bank of
New York (Delaware), a banking corporation duly organized under
the laws of Delaware, as trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") and
(iv) Steven C. McNeal, William J. Regan, Jr. and Frank Williford
IV, each an individual, as trustee, and each of whose address is
c/o Entergy Louisiana, Inc., 639 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70113 (each, an "Administrative Trustee" and
collectively the "Administrative Trustees") (the Property
Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees
referred to collectively as the "Trustees") and (v) the several
Holders (as hereinafter defined).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee and William J. Regan, Jr., as Administrative
Trustee, have heretofore duly declared and established a business
trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act (as hereinafter
defined) by the entering into of that certain Trust Agreement,
dated as of April 30, 1996 (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and
by the execution by the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee
and William J. Regan, Jr., as Administrative Trustee and filing
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the
Certificate of Trust, filed on April 30, 1996, the form of which
is attached as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Property Trustee, Delaware
Trustee and William J. Regan, Jr., as Administrative Trustee,
desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its
entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things,
(i) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the
right, title and interest in the Debentures (as hereinafter
defined), (ii) the issuance of the Common Securities (as
hereinafter defined) by the Trust to the Depositor, (iii) the
issuance of the Preferred Securities (as hereinafter defined) by
the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as hereinafter
defined) and (iv) the appointment of additional Administrative
Trustees of the Trust;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and
obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable
consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the
benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the
Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:
<PAGE>
ARTICLE I.
Defined Terms
Section 1.01. (a) Definitions. For all purposes of
this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or
unless the context otherwise requires:
(b) the terms defined in this Article have the
meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural
as well as the singular;
(c) all other terms used herein that are defined
in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference
therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;
(d) unless the context otherwise requires, any
reference to an "Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or
a Section, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement; and
(e) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder"
and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement
as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
subdivision.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.08.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust
Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and for a given period,
the amount of additional interest accrued on interest in arrears
and paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Debentures for such
period.
"Administrative Trustee" means each of the individuals
identified as an "Administrative Trustee" in the preamble to this
Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Administrative
Trustees of the Trust created hereunder and not in their
individual capacities, or such trustee's successor in interest in
such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein
provided.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used
with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct
the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
(i) the entry of a decree or order by a court
having jurisdiction in the premises judging such Person
a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed
a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement,
adjudication or composition of or in respect of such
Person under Federal bankruptcy law or any other
applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee sequestrator or
other similar official of such Person or of any
substantial part of its property, or ordering the
winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the
continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in
effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(ii) the institution by such Person of
proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent,
or of the consent by it to the institution of
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the
filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking
reorganization or relief under Federal bankruptcy law
or any other applicable Federal or State law, or the
consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such
Person or of any substantial part of its property, or
the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its
inability to pay its debts generally as they become
due.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section
10.09.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Depositor to have been duly adopted by the Depositor's Board of
Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof or officers of
the Depositor to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of
Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force and effect
on the date of such certification, and delivered to the
appropriate Trustee.
"Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" mean
certificates representing Preferred Securities issued in global,
fully registered form to the Securities Depository (as
hereinafter defined) as described in Section 5.11.
"Business Day" means a day other than (x) a Saturday or
a Sunday, (y) a day on which banks in New York, New York are
authorized or obligated by law or executive order to remain
closed or (z) a day on which the Property Trustee's Corporate
Trust Office or the Debenture Trustee's principal corporate trust
office is closed for business.
"Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement
among the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company,
as the initial Securities Depository, dated as of the Closing
Date, relating to the Trust Securities Certificate, as the same
may be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Certificate of Trust" has the meaning specified in
Section 2.07(d).
"Closing Date" means the date of delivery of this Trust
Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the
Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this
instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the
body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Security" means an undivided beneficial
interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount
of $25 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust
Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a
Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate
evidencing ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the
form attached as Exhibit B.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate
trust office of the Property Trustee located in New York, New
York.
"Covered Person" means: (a) any officer, director,
shareholder, beneficial owner, partner, member, representative,
employee or agent of the Trust or the Trust's Affiliates; and (b)
any Holder of Trust Securities.
"Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of
Default" as defined in the Subordinated Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means "Redemption Date" as
defined in the Subordinated Indenture with respect to the
Debentures.
"Debenture Trustee" means The Bank of New York, a New
York banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of
New York and any successor thereto, as trustee under the
Subordinated Indenture.
"Debentures" means the $72,164,950 aggregate principal
amount of the Depositor's 9% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures, Series A, Due September 30, 2045, issued
pursuant to the Subordinated Indenture.
"Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means
Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully
registered form as provided in Section 5.13.
"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title
12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it
may be amended from time to time.
"Delaware Trustee" means the banking corporation
identified as the "Delaware Trustee" in the preamble to this
Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the
Trust formed hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its
successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee
appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble
to this Trust Agreement.
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in
Section 4.01(a).
"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the
Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.01.
"Early Termination Event" has the meaning specified in
Section 9.02.
"Event of Default" means any one of the following
events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether
it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation
of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court
or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):
(i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default;
or
(ii) default by the Trust in the payment of
any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and
continuation of such default for a period of 30 days;
or
(iii) default by the Trust in the payment of
any Redemption Price (as hereinafter defined) when it
becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach,
in any material respect of any covenant or warranty of
the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than a
covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or
breach is specifically dealt with in clause (ii) or
(iii), above) and continuation of such default or
breach for a period of 60 days after there has been
given, by registered or certified mail, to the
defaulting Trustee or Trustees by the Holders of at
least 10% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such
default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and
stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
hereunder; or
(v) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with
respect to the Trust.
"Exchange Act" has the meaning specified in Section
2.07(c)(iv).
"Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses
and Liabilities between the Depositor and the Trust,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C, as amended from
time to time.
"Expiration Date" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9.01.
"Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and
delivered by the Depositor and The Bank of New York, a New York
banking corporation, as trustee, contemporaneously with the
execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit
of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time
to time.
"Indemnified Person" means any Trustee, any Affiliate
of any Trustee, or any officer, director, shareholder, member,
partner, employee, representative or agent of any Trustee, or any
employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.
"Investment Company Event" means the occurrence of a
change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court,
governmental agency or regulatory authority to the effect that
the Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that
is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), which change in
law becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance
of the Preferred Securities.
"Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance,
mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest,
hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference,
priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement
of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of
Trust Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount
equal to the principal amount of Debentures to be
contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Subordinated
Indenture and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the
Redemption Price of such Trust Securities and (ii) with respect
to a distribution of Debentures to the Holders of Trust
Securities in connection with a termination and liquidation of
the Trust, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom
such Debentures are distributed.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per
Trust Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date on which Debentures
are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in
connection with a termination and liquidation of the Trust
pursuant to Section 9.04(a).
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in
Section 9.04(e).
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by
the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the
President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the
Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One of the
officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to
Section 8.16 shall be the principal executive, financial or
accounting officer of the Depositor. Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the
Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and
the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in
rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such
examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion,
is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed
opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each
such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied
with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of
counsel, who may be counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee,
the Delaware Trustee or the Depositor, but not an employee of the
Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the
Depositor, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property
Trustee.
"Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in
the recitals to this Trust Agreement.
"Outstanding," when used with respect to Preferred
Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Preferred
Securities theretofore delivered under this Trust Agreement,
except:
(i) Preferred Securities theretofore canceled by
the Property Trustee or delivered to the Property
Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Preferred Securities for whose payment
or redemption money in the necessary amount has been
theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any
Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred
Securities; provided that, if such Preferred Securities
are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been
duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(iii) Preferred Securities in exchange for or
in lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been
delivered pursuant to this Trust Agreement, including
pursuant to Sections 5.04, 5.05, 5.11 or 5.13;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the
requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred
Securities have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred
Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate
of the Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed
not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any
Trustee shall be protected in conclusively relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver, only Preferred Securities which such Trustee knows to be
so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not
apply at any time when all of the outstanding Preferred
Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the
Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so
owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the
Administrative Trustees the pledgee's right so to act with
respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not
the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner
of a Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in
the records of the Securities Depository or, if a Securities
Depository Participant is not the beneficial owner, then as
reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with
such Securities Depository (directly or indirectly), in
accordance with the rules of such Securities Depository.
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying
agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.09 and shall initially be
The Bank of New York.
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-
bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property
Trustee at The Bank of New York, or such other banking
institution as the Depositor shall select in its trust department
for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid
in respect of the Debentures will be held and from which the
Paying Agent, pursuant to Section 5.09, shall make payments to
the Securityholders in accordance with Sections 4.01 and 4.02.
"Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or
corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Preferred Security" means a cumulative quarterly
income preferred security representing an undivided beneficial
interest in the assets of the Trust having a Liquidation Amount
of $25 and having rights provided therefor in this Trust
Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions and a
Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate
evidencing ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in
the form attached as Exhibit D.
"Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust
company identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to
this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Property Trustee
of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its
individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such
capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust
Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or
pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided that each Debenture
Redemption Date and Maturity (as defined in the Subordinated
Indenture as hereinafter defined) of the Debentures shall be a
Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any
Redemption Date of any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of
such Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions
thereon to the Redemption Date and the related amount of the
premium, if any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent
redemption of a Like Amount of Debentures, allocated on a pro
rata basis (based on Liquidation Amount) among the Trust
Securities.
"Registrar" shall mean the registrar for the Preferred
Securities appointed by the Trust and shall be initially The Bank
of New York.
"Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 8.10.
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the
Property Trustee means an officer of the Property Trustee
assigned by the Property Trustee to administer its corporate
trust matters.
"Securities Depository" shall be The Depository Trust
Company, or a successor thereto.
"Securities Depository Participant" means an
institution which deposits securities with a Securities
Depository for holding thereby and for whom from time to time a
Securities Depository effects book-entry transfers and pledges of
such securities.
"Securities Register" shall mean the Securities
Register described in Section 5.04.
"Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose
name a Trust Security or Securities is registered in the
Securities Register; any such Person is a beneficial owner within
the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act.
"Special Event" means either a Tax Event or an
Investment Company Event.
"Subordinated Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as
of June 1, 1996, between the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee,
as trustee, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an
Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, or as a
result of any official administrative or judicial pronouncement
or decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations,
which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or
decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance
of the Preferred Securities under this Trust Agreement, there is
more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be
within 90 days of the date thereof, subject to United States
Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on
the Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Depositor on the
Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof, will
not be, deductible by the Depositor, in whole or in part, for
United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is,
or will be within 90 days of the date thereof, subject to more
than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
"Transfer Agent" shall mean one or more transfer agents
for the Preferred Securities appointed by the Administrative
Trustees on behalf of the Trust and shall be initially The Bank
of New York.
"Trust" means the Delaware business trust created by
the Original Trust Agreement and continued hereby and identified
on the cover page to this Trust Agreement.
"Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented
in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including
all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Amended
and Restated Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment
or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are
deemed to be a part of and govern this Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement,
respectively.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was
executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such
amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trust Property" means (i) the Debentures, (ii) any
cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account and (iii)
all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other
property and assets for the time being held by the Property
Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust Agreement.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities
or the Preferred Securities.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the
Common Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities
Certificates.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting
Agreement, dated as of July 10, 1996, among the Trust, the
Depositor and the underwriters named therein.
ARTICLE II.
Establishment of the Trust
Section II.01. Name. The Trust created hereby shall
be known as "Entergy Louisiana Capital I", as such name may be
modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees
following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and
the other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the
business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other
instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.
Section II.02. Office of the Delaware Trustee;
Principal Place of Business. The office of the Delaware Trustee
in the State of Delaware is White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark,
Delaware 19711, or at such other address in Delaware as the
Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the
Securityholders and the Depositor. The principal place of
business of the Trust is c/o Entergy Louisiana, Inc., 639 Loyola
Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113.
Section II.03. Initial Contribution of Trust Property;
Organizational Expenses. The Property Trustee acknowledges
receipt in trust from the Depositor in connection with the
Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constituted the
initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational
expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any
Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such expenses
paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the
Trust Property for the payment of such expenses.
Section II.04. Issuance of the Preferred Securities.
The Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, executed and delivered the
Underwriting Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution and
delivery of this Trust Agreement, one of the Administrative
Trustees, on behalf of the Trust in accordance with Section 5.02
and the Underwriting Agreement, shall execute manually and
deliver a Preferred Securities Certificate, registered in the
name of the nominee of the Securities Depository, in an aggregate
amount of 2,800,000 Preferred Securities having an aggregate
Liquidation Amount of $70,000,000 against receipt of the
aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of
$70,000,000, which amount such Administrative Trustee shall
promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.
Section II.05. Subscription and Purchase of
Debentures; Issuance of the Common Securities. Contemporaneously
with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the
Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe
to and purchase from the Depositor Debentures, registered in the
name of the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, and having
an aggregate principal amount equal to $72,164,950, and, in
satisfaction of the purchase price for such Debentures, (x) one
of the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall
execute and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities
Certificates in accordance with Section 5.02, registered in the
name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of 86,598 Common
Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $2,164,950,
and (y) the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust,
shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $70,000,000
representing the proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
Section II.06. Declaration of Trust; Appointment of
Additional Administrative Trustees. The exclusive purposes and
functions of the Trust are (i) to issue and sell Trust Securities
and invest the proceeds thereof in Debentures, and (ii) to engage
in those activities necessary or incidental thereto. The
Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of the Trust,
to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth
herein. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold
the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the conditions
set forth herein for the benefit of the Securityholders. The
Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth
herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to
accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. Anything in this Trust
Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding the Delaware Trustee
shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the
Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of
the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth
herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the Trustees of the
Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the
requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act.
Section II.07. Authorization to Enter into Certain
Transactions. (a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the
Trust in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement.
Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this
Section 2.07 and Article VIII and in accordance with the
following provisions (A) and (B), the Trustees shall have the
authority to enter into all transactions and agreements
determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the
authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees
under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in
furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following:
(A) As among the Trustees, the Administrative Trustees,
acting singly or jointly, shall have the power, duty and
authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the
following matters:
(i) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;
(ii) without the consent of any Person, to
cause the Trust to enter into and to execute, deliver
and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense
Agreement, and such agreements or other documents as
may be necessary or desirable in connection with the
purposes and function of the Trust;
(iii) to qualify the Trust to do business in
any jurisdiction as may be necessary or desirable;
(iv) to take all action that may be necessary
or appropriate for the preservation and continuation of
the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and
privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws
of the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction
in which such existence is necessary to protect the
limited liability of the Holders of Preferred
Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the
purposes for which the Trust was created;
(v) the registration of the Preferred Securities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under
state securities or blue sky laws, and the
qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust
indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(vi) the listing of the Preferred Securities
upon such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be
determined by the Depositor and the registration of the
Preferred Securities under the Exchange Act, and the
preparation and filing of all periodic and other
reports and other documents pursuant to the foregoing;
(vii) the appointments of a Paying Agent
(subject to Section 5.09), a Transfer Agent and a
Registrar in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(viii) registering transfers of the Trust
Securities in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(ix) to the extent provided in this Trust
Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and
liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution
and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(x) the taking of any action incidental to the
foregoing as the Administrative Trustees may from time
to time determine is necessary or advisable to protect
and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the
Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of
any such action on any particular Securityholder); and
(xi) the sending of notices (other than
notices of default) and other information regarding the
Trust Securities and the Debentures to the
Securityholders in accordance with this Trust
Agreement.
(B) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have
the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with
respect to the following ministerial matters:
(i) the establishment of the Payment Account;
(ii) the receipt of the Debentures;
(iii) the deposit of interest, principal and
any other payments made in respect of the Debentures in
the Payment Account;
(iv) the distribution of amounts owed to the
Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities in
accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(v) the sending of notices of default and other
information regarding the Trust Securities and the
Debentures to the Securityholders in accordance with
the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(vi) the distribution of the Trust Property
in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;
(vii) to the extent provided in this Trust
Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and
liquidation of the Trust; and
(viii) the taking of any ministerial action
incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may
from time to time determine is necessary or advisable
to protect and conserve the Trust Property for the
benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration
of the effect of any such action on any particular
Securityholder).
Subject to this Section 2.07(a)(B), the Property
Trustee shall have none of the duties, powers or authority of the
Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 2.07(a)(A) or the
Depositor set forth in Section 2.07(c). The Property Trustee
shall have the power and authority to exercise all of the rights,
powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the
Subordinated Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Property Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders
of the Trust Securities, in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the
rights of the Holders pursuant to the terms of this Trust
Agreement.
(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect,
the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall
not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as
expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular,
the Trustees shall not (i) acquire any investments or engage in
any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell,
assign, transfer, exchange, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose
of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to
Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take
any action that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify
as a "grantor trust" for United States Federal income tax
purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or (v)
take or consent to any action that would result in the placement
of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. To the extent required
under this Trust Agreement and the Trust Indenture Act, the
Property Trustee shall defend all claims and demands of all
Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust
Property adverse to the interests of the Trust or the
Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders. The
Administrative Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of
all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust
Property adverse to the interests of the Trust or the
Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders to the
extent not required to be done by the Property Trustee in the
preceding sentence.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the
Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and
responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on
behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the
Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of
this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all
respects):
(i) the preparation and filing by the Trust with
the Commission and the execution by the Trust of a
registration statement on Form S-3 in relation to the
Preferred Securities, the Debentures, the Guarantee and
certain related obligations, including any amendments
thereto;
(ii) the determination of the States in which
to take appropriate action to qualify or register for
sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and the
taking of any and all such acts, other than actions
which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and
the advising of the Trustees of actions they must take
on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for
execution and filing of any documents to be executed
and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as
the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in order to
comply with the applicable laws of any such States;
(iii) the preparation for filing by the Trust
and the execution by the Trust of an application to the
New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market for listing upon
notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities and to
file or cause the Administrative Trustees to file
thereafter with such exchange such notifications and
documents as may be necessary from time to time to
maintain such listing;
(iv) the preparation for filing by the Trust
with the Commission and the execution by the Trust of a
registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities under Section
12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), including any amendments
thereto;
(v) the selection of the investment banker or
bankers to act as underwriters with respect to the
offer and sale by the Trust of Preferred Securities and
the negotiation of the terms of and the execution and
delivery of on behalf of the Trust the Underwriting
Agreement and such other agreements as may be necessary
or desirable in connection with the consummation
thereof; and
(vi) the taking of any other actions
necessary or desirable to carry out any of the
foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that
the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company"
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act or
classified other than as a "grantor trust" for United States
Federal income tax purposes so that the Debentures will be
treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States
Federal income tax purposes. In this connection, subject to the
provisions of Section 10.03, the Depositor and the Administrative
Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with
applicable law, the certificate of trust filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Trust (as
amended or restated from time to time, the "Certificate of
Trust") or this Trust Agreement, that each of the Depositor and
the Administrative Trustees determines in its discretion to be
necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action
does not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities.
Section II.08. Assets of Trust. The assets of the
Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
Section II.09. Title to Trust Property. Legal title
to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and
administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the
Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III.
Payment Account
Section III.01. Payment Account.
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property
Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property
Trustee and the Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative
Trustees shall have exclusive control and sole right of
withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of
making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in
accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other
property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment
Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment
Account for the exclusive benefit of the Holders of Trust
Securities and for distribution as herein provided, including
(and subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment
Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal or
interest on, and any other payments or proceeds with respect to,
the Debentures. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be
invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.
ARTICLE IV.
Distributions; Redemption
Section IV.01. Distributions.
(a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be
cumulative, and will accumulate whether or not there are funds of
the Trust available for the payment of Distributions.
Distributions shall accrue from the Closing Date, and, except in
the event that the Depositor exercises its right to extend the
interest payment period for the Debentures pursuant to Section
311 of the Subordinated Indenture, shall be payable quarterly in
arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of
each year, commencing on September 30, 1996. If any date on
which Distributions are otherwise payable on the Trust Securities
is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution
shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day
(and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, payment of such distribution shall be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case,
with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each date
on which distributions are payable in accordance with this
Section 4.01(a) a "Distribution Date").
(b) Distributions payable on the Trust Securities
shall be fixed at a rate of 9% per annum of the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities. The amount of Distributions
payable for any full quarterly period shall be computed on the
basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year and for any
period shorter than a full month, on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed. If the interest payment period for the
Debentures is extended pursuant to Section 311 of the
Subordinated Indenture, then Distributions on the Preferred
Securities will be deferred for the period equal to the extension
of the interest payment period for the Debentures and the rate
per annum at which Distributions on the Trust Securities
accumulate shall be increased by an amount such that the
aggregate amount of Distributions that accumulate on all Trust
Securities during any such extended interest payment period is
equal to the aggregate amount of interest (including, to the
extent permitted by law, interest payable on unpaid interest at
the percentage rate per annum set forth above, compounded
quarterly) that accrues during any such extended interest payment
period on the Debentures. The amount of Distributions payable
for any period shall include the Additional Amounts, if any.
(c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be
made and shall be deemed payable on each Distribution Date only
to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and
immediately available in the Payment Account for the payment of
such Distributions.
(d) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect
to a Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as
they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities
on the relevant record date, which shall be one Business Day
prior to such Distribution Date; provided, however, that in the
event that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry
only form, the relevant record date shall be 15 days prior to the
relevant Distribution Date.
Section IV.02. Redemption.
(a) On each Debenture Redemption Date and at Maturity
for the Debentures, the Property Trustee will be required to
redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the
Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date
to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such
Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All notices
of redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price;
(iii) the CUSIP number;
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust
Securities are to be redeemed, the identification and
the total Liquidation Amount of the particular Trust
Securities to be redeemed; and
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption
Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust
Security to be redeemed and that interest thereon will
cease to accrue on and after said date.
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption
Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds
from the contemporaneous redemption of Debentures. Redemptions
of the Trust Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price
shall be deemed payable on each Redemption Date only to the
extent that the Trust has funds immediately available in the
Payment Account for such payment.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of
redemption in respect of any Preferred Securities, then, by 12:00
noon, New York time, on the Redemption Date, subject to Section
4.02(c), the Property Trustee will, so long as the Preferred
Securities are in book-entry only form, deposit with the
Securities Depository for the Preferred Securities funds
sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give
such Securities Depository irrevocable instructions and authority
to pay the applicable Redemption Price to the holders thereof.
If the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only
form, the Property Trustee, subject to Section 4.02(c), will
deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the
applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent
irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption
Price to the Holders thereof upon surrender of their Preferred
Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Distributions payable on or prior to the redemption date for any
Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the
Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities
Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record dates
for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption
shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then on
the Redemption Date, all rights of Securityholders holding Trust
Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right
of such Securityholders to receive the Redemption Price, but
without interest thereon, and such Trust Securities will cease to
be outstanding. In the event that any Redemption Date is not a
Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on
such date shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in
respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day
falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same
force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that
payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Trust
Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or
refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor
pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities
will continue to accrue, at the then applicable rate, from the
Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such
Trust Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually
paid, in which case the actual payment date will be deemed the
date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the
Redemption Price.
(e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust
Securities and any distribution of Debentures to the Holders
shall be made to the Holders as they appear on the Securities
Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date,
which shall be one Business Day prior to such Redemption Date;
provided, however, that in the event that the Preferred
Securities do not remain in book-entry only form, the relevant
record date shall be the fifteenth day prior to the relevant
Redemption Date.
(f) Subject to Section 4.03(a), if less than all the
Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption
Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities
to be redeemed shall be allocated 3% to the Common Securities and
97% to the Preferred Securities. The particular Preferred
Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the
Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for
redemption, by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem
fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for
a redemption of portions (equal to $25 or integral multiples
thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a
denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee shall
promptly notify the Transfer Agent and Registrar in writing of
the Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case
of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the
Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of
this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all
provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities
shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or
to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the Liquidation
Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be
redeemed.
Section IV.03. Subordination of Common Securities.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional
Amounts, if applicable) on, and the Redemption Price plus
accumulated and unpaid distributions of, the Trust Securities, as
applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any
Distribution Date or Redemption Date any Event of Default
resulting from a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including
Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of,
any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the
redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common
Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all
accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional
Amounts, if applicable) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities
for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or
in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of
such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities,
shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately
available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the
payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including
Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of,
Preferred Securities then due and payable.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of
Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default, the Holder
of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any such Event
of Default under this Trust Agreement until the effect of all
such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities
shall have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any
such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to
the Preferred Securities shall have been so cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on
behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not the
Holder of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of the
Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property
Trustee to act on their behalf.
Section IV.04. Payment Procedures. Payments of
Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) in
respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed
to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address
shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Preferred
Securities are held by a Securities Depository, such
Distributions shall be made to the Securities Depository, which
shall credit the relevant Persons' accounts at such Securities
Depository on the applicable distribution dates. Payments in
respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as
shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the
Holder of the Common Securities.
Section IV.05. Tax Returns and Reports. The
Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared),
at the Depositor's expense and direction, and file all United
States Federal, state and local tax and information returns and
reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. In
this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and
file (or cause to be prepared and filed) the Internal Revenue
Service Form 1041 (or any successor form) required to be filed in
respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the Trust and (b)
prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to
each Securityholder the related Internal Revenue Service Form
1099, or any successor form or the information required to be
provided on such form. The Administrative Trustees shall provide
the Depositor with a copy of all such returns and reports
promptly after such filing or furnishing. The Property Trustee
shall comply with United States Federal withholding and backup
withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with
respect to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust
Securities.
Section IV.06. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the
Trust. Upon receipt under the Debentures of Additional Interest
(as defined in the Subordinated Indenture), the Property Trustee
at the direction of an Administrative Trustee or the Depositor
shall promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental charges of
whatsoever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed on the
Trustee by the United States or any other taxing authority.
Section IV.07. Payments under Subordinated Indenture.
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred
Securities shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding
payment such Holder has directly received pursuant to Section 808
of the Subordinated Indenture. Notwithstanding the provisions
hereunder to the contrary, Securityholders acknowledge that any
Holder of Preferred Securities that receives payment under
Section 808 of the Subordinated Indenture may receive amounts
greater than the amount such Holder may be entitled to receive
pursuant to the other provisions of this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE V.
Trust Securities Certificates
Section V.01. Initial Ownership. Upon the creation of
the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor pursuant to
Section 2.03 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and
at any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the
Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.
Section V.02. The Trust Securities Certificates. The
Trust Securities Certificates shall be issued in denominations of
$25 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples thereof. Subject
to Section 2.04 relating to the original issuance of the
Preferred Securities Certificate registered in the name of the
nominee of the Securities Depository, the Trust Securities
Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual
or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee
and, if executed on behalf of the Trust by facsimile signature,
countersigned by a Transfer Agent or its agent. Trust Securities
Certificates bearing the manual signatures of individuals who
were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed,
authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust and, if executed on
behalf of the Trust by facsimile signature, countersigned by a
Transfer Agent or its agent, shall be validly issued and entitled
to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that
such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so
authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities
Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery
of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust
Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall
be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a
Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust
Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to
Section 5.04, 5.11 or 5.13.
Section V.03. Execution and Delivery of Trust
Securities Certificates. On the Closing Date, the Administrative
Trustees shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an
aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.04 and
2.05, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by at least one of
the Administrative Trustees, and in the case of Preferred
Securities executed by facsimile signature, countersigned by a
Transfer Agent or its agent, and delivered to or upon the written
order of the Depositor signed by its chairman of the board, any
of its vice presidents or its Treasurer, without further
corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations.
The Depositor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold each Transfer
Agent harmless against any and all costs and liabilities incurred
without negligence arising out of or in connection with any such
countersigning by it.
Section V.04. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of
Preferred Securities Certificates. The Registrar shall keep or
cause to be kept, at its principal corporate office, a Securities
Register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it
may prescribe, the Registrar shall provide for the registration
of Preferred Securities Certificates and registration of
transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as
herein provided.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any
Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, the Administrative Trustees,
or any one of them, shall execute on behalf of the Trust by
manual or facsimile signature and, if executed on behalf of the
Trust by facsimile signature, cause a Transfer Agent or its agent
to countersign and deliver, in the name of the designated
transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred Securities
Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate
Liquidation Amount. At the option of a Holder, Preferred
Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred
Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same
class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender
of the Preferred Securities Certificates to be exchanged at the
office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08.
Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Administrative Trustees and a Transfer Agent
duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly
authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be
canceled and subsequently disposed of by the Administrative
Trustees in accordance with customary practice. The Trust shall
not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of, or
exchange any Preferred Securities during a period beginning at
the opening of business 15 calendar days before the day of
mailing of a notice of redemption of any Preferred Securities
called for redemption and ending at the close of business on the
day of such mailing or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange
any Preferred Securities so selected for redemption, in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Preferred
Securities being redeemed in part.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of
transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but a
Transfer Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates.
Section V.05. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Trust Securities Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Trust
Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to a Transfer Agent,
or if a Transfer Agent shall receive evidence to its satisfaction
of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities
Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Transfer
Agent and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity
as may be required by them to save each of them and the Depositor
harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust
Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on
behalf of the Trust, shall execute by manual or facsimile
signature and, if executed on behalf of the Trust by facsimile
signature, cause a Transfer Agent or its agent to countersign and
deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new
Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and
denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust
Securities Certificate under this Section 5.05, the
Administrative Trustees or the Transfer Agent may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
Any duplicate Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to
this Section 5.05 shall constitute conclusive evidence of an
ownership interest in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether
or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate
shall be found at any time.
Section V.06. Persons Deemed Securityholders. Prior
to due presentation of a Trust Securities Certificate for
registration of transfer, the Trustees, the Paying Agent and the
Registrar shall be entitled to treat the Person in whose name any
Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the
Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities
Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for
all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Trustees nor the
Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.
Section V.07. Access to List of Securityholders' Names
and Addresses. The Administrative Trustees shall furnish or
cause to be furnished (x) to the Depositor, within 15 days after
receipt by any Administrative Trustee of a request therefor from
the Depositor in writing and (y) to the Property Trustee,
promptly after receipt by any Administrative Trustee of a request
therefor from the Property Trustee in writing in order to enable
the Property Trustee to discharge its obligations under this
Trust Agreement, a list, in such form as the Depositor or the
Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Securityholders as of the most recent record
date. If Holders of Trust Securities Certificates evidencing
ownership at such time and for the previous six months not less
than 25% of the outstanding aggregate Liquidation Amount apply in
writing to any Administrative Trustee, and such application
states that the applicants desire to communicate with other
Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Trust
Agreement or under the Trust Securities Certificates and such
application is accompanied by a copy of the communication that
such applicants propose to transmit, then the Administrative
Trustees shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of
such application, afford such applicants access during normal
business hours to the current list of Securityholders. Each
Holder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate,
shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold either the Depositor
or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the
disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from
which such information was derived.
Section V.08. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The
Depositor shall or shall cause the Transfer Agent to maintain in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or
offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities
Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Depositor
or the Transfer Agent in respect of the Trust Securities
Certificates may be served. The Depositor initially designates
The Bank of New York at its principal corporate trust office for
such purposes. The Depositor shall or shall cause the Transfer
Agent to give prompt written notice to the Property Trustee and
to the Securityholders of any change in any such office or
agency.
Section V.09. Appointment of Paying Agent. The Paying
Agent shall make Distributions to Securityholders from the
Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such
Distributions to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to
withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making
the Distributions referred to above. The Property Trustee shall
be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the Paying Agent
stating in effect the amount of such funds so to be withdrawn and
that same are to be applied by the Paying Agent in accordance
with this Section 5.09. The Administrative Trustees or any one
of them may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent in its
sole discretion. The Paying Agent may choose any co-paying agent
that is acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the
Depositor. The Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign upon 30
days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the
Depositor. In the event of the removal or resignation of the
Paying Agent, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a
successor that is reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee
and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank,
trust company or an Affiliate of the Depositor). The
Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent
or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative
Trustees to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in
which such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent
shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such
successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all
sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in
trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto
until such sums shall be paid to such Securityholders. The
Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property
Trustee and upon resignation or removal of a Paying Agent such
Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the
Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.01, 8.03 and 8.06
shall apply to the Paying Agent appointed hereunder, and the
Paying Agent shall be bound by the requirements with respect to
paying agents of securities issued pursuant to the Trust
Indenture Act. Any reference in this Trust Agreement to the
Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context
requires otherwise.
Section V.10. Ownership of Common Securities by
Depositor; Common Securities Certificate. On the Closing Date,
the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter retain, beneficial
and record ownership of the Common Securities. Any attempted
transfer of the Common Securities (other than a transfer in
connection with a merger or consolidation of the Depositor into
another corporation pursuant to Section 1101 of the Subordinated
Indenture) shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall
cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor
to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT
TRANSFERABLE". A single Common Securities Certificate
representing the Common Securities shall be issued to the
Depositor in the form of a definitive Common Securities
Certificate.
Section V.11. Book-Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates. The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon
original issuance, will be issued in the form of a typewritten
Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing
Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, to be delivered to
or held on behalf of The Depository Trust Company, the initial
Securities Depository, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Book-
Entry Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates shall
initially be registered on the Securities Register in the name of
Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Securities Depository, and
no beneficial owner will receive a Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificate representing such beneficial owner's
interest in such Preferred Securities, except as provided in
Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates have been issued to beneficial owners pursuant to
Section 5.13:
(a) the provisions of this Section 5.11 shall be in
full force and effect;
(b) the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Trustees
shall be entitled to deal with the Securities Depository for all
purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry
Preferred Securities Certificates (including the payment of the
Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry
Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of the Book-Entry
Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners
thereof;
(c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section
5.11 conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement,
the provisions of this Section 5.11 shall control; and
(d) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry
Preferred Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through
the Securities Depository and shall be limited to those
established by law and agreements between such Owners and the
Securities Depository and/or the Securities Depository
Participants. Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement,
unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are
issued pursuant to Section 5.13, the initial Securities
Depository will make book-entry transfers among the Securities
Depository Participants and receive and transmit payments on the
Preferred Securities to such Securities Depository. Any
Securities Depository designated pursuant hereto will not be
deemed an agent of the Trustees for any purpose.
Section V.12. Notices to Securities Depository. To
the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is
required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued pursuant
to Section 5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and
communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the
Securities Depository, and shall have no obligations to the
Owners.
Section V.13. Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates. If (a) the Depositor advises the Trustees in
writing that the Securities Depository is no longer willing or
able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to
the Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is
unable to locate a qualified successor, (b) the Depositor at its
option advises the Trustees in writing that it elects to
terminate the book-entry system through the Securities
Depository, or (c) after the occurrence of a Debenture Event of
Default, Owners of Preferred Securities Certificates representing
beneficial interests aggregating at least a majority of the
Liquidation Amount advise the Property Trustee in writing that
the continuation of a book-entry system through the Securities
Depository is no longer in the best interests of the Owners of
Preferred Securities Certificates, then the Property Trustee
shall notify the Securities Depository, and the Securities
Depository shall notify all Owners of Preferred Securities
Certificates, of the occurrence of any such event and of the
availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates
to Owners of such class or classes, as applicable, requesting the
same. Upon surrender to the Property Trustee of the typewritten
Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates representing the
Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates by the Securities
Depository, accompanied by registration instructions, the
Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with
the instructions of the Securities Depository. Neither the
Registrar nor the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in
delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and
shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the
issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the
Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates as Securityholders. The Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificates shall be printed, lithographed
or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as
evidenced by the execution thereof in accordance with Section
5.02.
Section V.14. Rights of Securityholders. The legal
title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property
Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section
2.09, and the Securityholders shall not have any right or title
therein other than an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities and they shall
have no right to call for any partition or division of property,
profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The
Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the
rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust
Agreement. The Preferred Securities shall have no preemptive or
similar rights and when issued and delivered to Preferred
Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor
will be fully paid and nonassessable interests in the Trust.
ARTICLE VI.
Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting
Section VI.01. Limitations on Voting Rights.
(a) Except as provided in this Section 6.01, in
Section 10.03 and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of
Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any
manner otherwise control the administration, operation and
management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto,
nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of
the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as to
constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or
members of an association. If the Property Trustee fails to
enforce its rights under the Debentures or this Trust Agreement,
a Holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Depositor to enforce the Property Trustee's
rights under the Debentures or this Trust Agreement, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, without first instituting any
legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, a Holder of Preferred Securities may directly
institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder
directly of principal of or interest on the Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference
amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder on or after the
due dates specified in the Debentures. So long as any Preferred
Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a Debenture Event of
Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less
than 33% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail
to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be
immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least 33% in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding
shall have such right by a notice in writing to the Depositor and
the Debenture Trustee; and upon any such declaration such
principal amount of and the accrued interest on all of the
Debentures shall become immediately due and payable, provided
that the payment of principal and interest on such Debentures
shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in the
Subordinated Indenture.
(b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Debenture Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred
on the Debenture Trustee with respect to such Debentures, (ii)
waive any past default which is waivable under Section 813 of the
Subordinated Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or
annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures
shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Subordinated Indenture or the
Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in
each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of a
majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent
under the Subordinated Indenture would require the consent of
each holder of Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall
be given by any Trustee without the prior written consent of each
holder of Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke
any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the
Preferred Securities, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of the
Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify all
Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default
received from the Debenture Trustee with respect to the
Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of
the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of
the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee shall, at the expense
of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in
such matters to the effect that the Trust will be classified as a
"grantor trust" and not as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes on
account of such action.
(c) Subject to Section 10.03(c), if any proposed
amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees
otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would materially
adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust
Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of
this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred
Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment
or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of the Holders of a majority in
Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. No
amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result of
such amendment, the Trust would not be classified as a "grantor
trust" but as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States Federal income tax purposes.
Section VI.02. Notice of Meetings. Notice of all
meetings of the Holders of Preferred Securities, stating the
time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the
Property Trustee pursuant to Section 10.08 to each Holder of a
Preferred Security, at his registered address, at least 15 days
and not more than 90 days before the meeting. At any such
meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so
considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting.
Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further
notice.
Section VI.03. Meetings of Holders of Preferred
Securities. No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to
be held. The Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a
meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written
request of the Holders of 25% of the then Outstanding Preferred
Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount) and
may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of Holders
of Preferred Securities to vote on any matters as to which the
Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote.
Holders of 50% of the then Outstanding Preferred
Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount),
present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting of Securityholders.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative
vote by the Holders of Preferred Securities present, in person or
by proxy, holding more than the lesser of (x) 66 2/3% of the then
Outstanding Preferred Securities (based upon their aggregate
Liquidation Amount) held by the Holders of then Outstanding
Preferred Securities present, either in person or by proxy, at
such meeting and (y) 50% of the Outstanding Preferred Securities
(based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount) shall constitute
the action of the Securityholders, unless this Trust Agreement
requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
Section VI.04. Voting Rights. Securityholders shall
be entitled to one vote for each $25 of Liquidation Amount
represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any matter as
to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote.
Section VI.05. Proxies, etc. At any meeting of
Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote thereat may
vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any
meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the
Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of
the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for
verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken.
Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When
Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of
them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of
such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be
present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint
owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be
cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust
Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of
a Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or
prior to its exercise, or, if earlier, until eleven months after
it is sent and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the
challenger.
Section VI.06. Securityholder Action by Written
Consent. Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a
meeting may be taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding
more than a majority of all Outstanding Trust Securities entitled
to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion
thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this
Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing (based
upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount).
Section VI.07. Record Date for Voting and Other
Purposes. For the purposes of determining the Securityholders
who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by
written consent, or to participate in any Distribution on the
Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not
otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the
purpose of any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from
time to time fix a date, not more than 90 days prior to the date
of any meeting of Securityholders or the payment of Distribution
or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the
determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record
for such purposes.
Section VI.08. Acts of Securityholders. Any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be
given, made or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and
evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar
tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent
duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, such action shall become effective when such
instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative
Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied
therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to
as the "Act" of the Securityholders signing such instrument or
instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a
writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any
purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 8.01)
conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner
provided in this Section 6.08.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any
such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a
witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public
or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgements of
deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or
writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such
execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his
individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also
constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date
of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the
authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in
any other manner which any Trustee deems sufficient.
The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved
by the Securities Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust
Security shall bind every future Securityholder of the same Trust
Security and the Securityholder of every Trust Security issued
upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor
or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or
suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance
thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such
Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder
entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to
any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any
part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one
or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to
such appointment with regard to all or any part of such
Liquidation Amount.
If any dispute shall arise between or among the
Securityholders and the Administrative Trustees with respect to
the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request,
demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of
such Securityholder or Trustee under this Article VI, then the
determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be
conclusive with respect to such matter.
A Securityholder may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Depositor under the Guarantee to enforce its
rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the
Guarantee), the Trust or any Person or entity.
Section VI.09. Inspection of Records. Subject to
Section 5.07 concerning access to the list of Securityholders,
upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the
Property Trustee, the other records of the Trust shall be open to
inspection by Securityholders during normal business hours for
any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder's interest
as a Securityholder.
ARTICLE VII.
Representations and Warranties of the Property
Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Depositor
Section VII.01. Property Trustee. The Property
Trustee hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Depositor and the Securityholders that:
(a) the Property Trustee is a banking corporation or
trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of New York;
(b) the Property Trustee has full corporate power,
authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all
necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Property Trustee and constitutes
the valid and legally binding agreement of the Property Trustee
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(d) the execution, delivery and performance by the
Property Trustee of this Trust Agreement will not violate,
conflict with or constitute a breach of the Property Trustee's
charter or by-laws; and
(e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery
by the Property Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the
consummation of any of the transactions by the Property Trustee
contemplated herein require the consent or approval of, the
giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any
other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency
under any existing Federal or New York law governing the banking
or trust powers of the Property Trustee.
Section VII.02. Delaware Trustee. The Delaware
Trustee hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Depositor and the Securityholders that:
(a) the Delaware Trustee is a banking corporation or
trust company duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;
(b) the Delaware Trustee has full corporate power,
authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all
necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee and constitutes
the valid and legally binding agreement of the Delaware Trustee
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;
(d) the execution, delivery and performance by the
Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement will not violate,
conflict with or constitute a breach of the Delaware Trustee's
charter or by-laws; and
(e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery
by the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the
consummation of any of the transactions by the Delaware Trustee
contemplated herein require the consent or approval of, the
giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any
other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency
under any existing Federal or Delaware law governing the banking
or trust powers of the Delaware Trustee.
Section VII.03. Depositor. The Depositor hereby
represents and warrants for the benefit of the Securityholders
that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued on the
Closing Date on behalf of the Trust have been duly authorized and
will have been duly and validly executed, issued and delivered by
the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms and provisions
of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust
Agreement and the Securityholders will be, as of such date,
entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental
charges payable by the Trust (or the Trustees) under the laws of
the State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in
connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of
this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII.
The Trustees
Section VIII.01. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees
shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of
the Property Trustee, the Trust Indenture Act, and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Trust Agreement
against any of the Trustees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
provision of this Trust Agreement shall require any of the
Trustees to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties
hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if
it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of
such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability
is not reasonably assured to it. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Trust Agreement to the contrary, the duties and
responsibilities of the Property Trustee under this Trust
Agreement shall be subject to the protections, exculpations and
limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under
the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act and, to the extent
applicable, Rule 3A-7 under the Investment Company Act or any
successor rule thereunder. Whether or not therein expressly so
provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the
conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to
the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section
8.01.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a
Paying Agent in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made
only from the income and proceeds from the Trust Property and
only to the extent that there shall be sufficient income or
proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee
or Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms
hereof. Each Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust
Security, agrees that it will look solely to the income and
proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent available for
distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are
not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in
respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in
respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.01(b) does not
limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere
in this Trust Agreement or, in the case of the Property Trustee,
in the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) All duties and responsibilities of the Property
Trustee contained in this Trust Agreement are subject to the
following:
(i) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect
to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation
of the Trust Property shall be to deal with such
property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee
deals with similar property for its own account,
subject to the protections and limitations on liability
afforded to the Property Trustee under this Trust
Agreement, the Trust Indenture Act and, to the extent
applicable, Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall have no duty
or liability for or with respect to the value,
genuineness, existence or sufficiency of the Trust
Property or the payment of any taxes or assessments
levied thereon or in connection therewith;
(iii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable
for any interest on any money received by it except as
it may otherwise agree with the Depositor. Money held
by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from
other funds held by it except in relation to the
Payment Account established by the Property Trustee
pursuant to this Trust Agreement and except to the
extent otherwise required by law; and
(iv) the Property Trustee shall not be
responsible for monitoring the compliance by the
Administrative Trustees or the Depositor with their
respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall
the Property Trustee be liable for the default or
misconduct of the Administrative Trustees or the
Depositor.
Section VIII.02. Certain Notices.
(a) Within five Business Days after the occurrence of
any Event of Default known to the Property Trustee, the Property
Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided
in Section 10.08, notice of any Event of Default to the
Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.
(b) Within five Business Days after receipt of notice
of the Depositor's exercise of its right to defer the payment of
interest on the Debentures pursuant to the Subordinated
Indenture, an Administrative Trustee shall transmit, in the
manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.08, notice of
such exercise to the Securityholders and the Property Trustee,
unless such exercise shall have been revoked.
Section VIII.03. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 and except as provided
by law:
(i) the Property Trustee may conclusively rely
and shall be protected in acting or refraining from
acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of
Counsel, certificate, written representation of a
Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any
other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper party or parties;
(ii) if (A) in performing its duties under
this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee is required
to decide between alternative courses of action or (B)
in construing any of the provisions in this Trust
Agreement the Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous
or inconsistent with any other provisions contained
herein or (C) the Property Trustee is unsure of the
application of any provision of this Trust Agreement,
then, except as to any matter as to which the Preferred
Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of
this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall
deliver a written notice to the Depositor requesting
written instructions of the Depositor as to the course
of action to be taken. The Property Trustee shall take
such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the
Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to
take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor;
provided, however, that if the Property Trustee does
not receive such instructions of the Depositor within
ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice,
or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in
such notice (which to the extent practicable shall not
be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be
under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such
action not inconsistent with this Trust Agreement as it
shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the
Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee
shall have no liability except for its own bad faith,
negligence or willful misconduct;
(iii) whenever in the administration of this
Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it
desirable that a matter be proved or established prior
to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder,
the Property Trustee (unless other evidence be herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, request and rely conclusively upon
an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor
or the Administrative Trustees;
(iv) the Property Trustee may consult with
counsel of its selection and the written advice of such
counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and
complete authorization and protection in respect of any
action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in
good faith and in reliance thereon;
(v) the Property Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or
direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to
this Trust Agreement, unless such Securityholders shall
have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) and
liabilities which might be incurred by it in complying
with such request or direction;
(vi) the Property Trustee shall not be bound
to make any investigation into the facts or matters
stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture,
note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine,
unless requested in writing to do so by one or more
Securityholders, but the Property Trustee, in its
discretion, may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see
fit, and, if the Property Trustee shall determine to
make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be
entitled to examine the books, records and premises of
the Depositor personally or by agent or attorney;
(vii) the Property Trustee may execute any of
the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties
hereunder either directly or by or through its agents
or attorneys, and the Property Trustee shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the
part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care
by it hereunder, provided that the Property Trustee
shall be responsible for its own negligence or
recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or
attorney appointed by it hereunder;
(viii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable
for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken
by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be
authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers
conferred upon it by this Trust Agreement;
(ix) the Property Trustee shall not be
charged with knowledge of any default or Event of
Default with respect to the Trust Securities unless
either (1) a Responsible Officer of the Property
Trustee shall have actual knowledge of the default or
Event of Default or (2) written notice of such default
or Event of Default shall have been given to the
Property Trustee by the Depositor, the Administrative
Trustees or by any Holder of the Trust Securities;
(x) no provision of this Trust Agreement shall be
deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Property
Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any
right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed
on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal,
or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified
or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such
right, power, duty or obligation; and no permissive or
discretionary power or authority available to the
Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty;
(xi) no provision of this Trust Agreement
shall require the Property Trustee to expend or risk
its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in
the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the
Property Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for
believing that the repayment of such funds or liability
is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
Trust Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk
or liability is not reasonably assured to it;
(xii) the Property Trustee shall have no duty
to see to any recording, filing or registration of any
instrument (including any financing or continuation
statement or any tax or securities) (or any
rerecording, refiling or registration thereof);
(xiii) the Property Trustee shall have the
right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Trust Agreement from any court
of competent jurisdiction; and
(xiv) whenever in the administration of this
Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it
desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
action hereunder the Property Trustee (i) may request
instructions from the Holders of the Trust Securities,
which instructions may only be given by the Holders of
the same proportion of Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property
Trustee under the terms of this Trust Agreement in
respect of such remedies, rights or actions, (ii) may
refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking
such other action until such instructions are received,
and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance
with such instructions.
Section VIII.04. Not Responsible for Recitals or
Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the
Trust Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of
the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for
their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to
the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part
thereof or as to the title of the Trust thereto or as to the
security afforded thereby or hereby, or as to the validity or
genuineness of any securities at any time pledged and deposited
with any Trustees hereunder, nor as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Trust Agreement or the Trust Securities. The
Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by
the Trust of the proceeds of the Trust Securities in accordance
with Section 2.05.
Section VIII.05. May Hold Securities. Any Trustee or
any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or
any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust
Securities and, except as provided in the definition of the term
"Outstanding" in Article I, may otherwise deal with the Trust
with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or
such other agent.
Section VIII.06. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity.
The Depositor agrees
(1) to pay to the Trustees from time to time
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the
Trustees hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited
by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or
made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of
this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation
and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and
counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance
as may be attributable to its negligence (gross negligence,
in the case of any Administrative Trustee), bad faith or
willful misconduct; and
(3) to indemnify each Trustee for, and to hold each
Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims,
liability or expense incurred without negligence (gross
negligence, in the case of any Administrative Trustee), bad
faith or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of this
Trust Agreement, including the reasonable costs and expenses
of defending itself against any claim or liability in
connection with the exercise or performance of any of its
powers or duties hereunder.
As security for the performance of the obligations of
the Depositor under this Section 8.06, each of the Trustees shall
have a lien prior to the Trust Securities upon all property and
funds held or collected by such Trustee as such, except funds
held in trust for the payment of Distributions on the Trust
Securities.
The provisions of this Section 8.06 shall survive the
termination of this Trust Agreement.
Section VIII.07. Certain Trustees Required;
Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee
hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property
Trustee shall be a Person that has a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for
the purposes of this Section 8.07(a), the combined capital and
surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital
and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition
so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect
to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 8.07(a), it shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter
specified in this Article VIII.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more
Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust
Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a
natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity
that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind
such entity.
(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee
with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall
either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age
and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity
with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware
that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law
and that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind
such entity.
Section VIII.08. Conflicting Interests.
If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a
conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture
Act, the Property Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or
resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject
to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust
Agreement. The Subordinated Indenture and the Guarantee
Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Trust Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section VIII.09. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, at any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the
legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any
jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may at the
time be located, the Depositor and the Property Trustee shall
have power to appoint, and upon the written request of the
Property Trustee, the Depositor shall for such purpose join with
the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery, and performance
of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint,
one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to
act as co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or
any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate trustee of
any such property, in either case with such powers as may be
provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such
Person or Persons in the capacity aforesaid, any property, title,
right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the
other provisions of this Section 8.09. If the Depositor does not
join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it
of a request so to do, or in case an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have
power to make such appointment.
Should any written instrument from the Depositor be
required by any co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for
more fully confirming to such co-trustee or separate trustee such
property, title, right, or power, any and all such instruments
shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged, and delivered by
the Depositor.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the
extent permitted by law, but to such extent only, be appointed
subject to the following terms, namely:
(1) The Trust Securities shall be executed and
delivered and all rights, powers, duties, and obligations
hereunder in respect of the custody of securities, cash and
other personal property held by, or required to be deposited
or pledged with, the Trustees designated for such purpose
hereunder, shall be exercised, solely by such Trustees.
(2) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby
conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of
any property covered by such appointment shall be conferred
or imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Property
Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee or
separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the
instrument appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee,
except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction
in which any particular act is to be performed, the Property
Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform such
act, in which event such rights, powers, duties, and
obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-
trustee or separate trustee.
(3) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument
in writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of
the Depositor, may accept the resignation of or remove any
co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section
8.09, and, in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to
accept the resignation of, or remove, any such co-trustee or
separate trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor.
Upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the
Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the
execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and
agreements necessary or proper to effectuate such
resignation or removal. A successor to any co-trustee or
separate trustee so resigned or removed may be appointed in
the manner provided in this Section 8.09.
(4) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall
be personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the
Trustee, or any other such trustee hereunder.
(5) The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason
of any act of a co-trustee or separate trustee.
(6) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property
Trustee shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such
co-trustee and separate trustee.
Section VIII.10. Resignation and Removal; Appointment
of Successor. No resignation or removal of any Trustee (as the
case may be, the "Relevant Trustee") and no appointment of a
successor Relevant Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor
Relevant Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements
of Section 8.11.
Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the
Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Securityholders. If the instrument of acceptance
by a successor Relevant Trustee required by Section 8.11 shall
not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days
after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning
Relevant Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
An Administrative Trustee may be removed by the Holder
of Common Securities at any time. Unless a Debenture Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be removed at any time by Act
of the Common Securityholder. If a Debenture Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, the Relevant Trustee may
be removed at such time by Act of the Securityholders of a
majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its
individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust).
If the Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or
become incapable of continuing to act as Relevant Trustee at a
time when no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common
Securityholder delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall
promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and
the retiring Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 8.11. If the Property Trustee or
Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of
continuing to act as the Relevant Trustee at a time when a
Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Preferred Securityholders, by Act of the Preferred
Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the
Outstanding Preferred Securities delivered to the retiring
Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant
Trustee or Trustees, and the Relevant Trustee shall comply with
the applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor
Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Common
Securityholders or the Preferred Securityholders and accepted
appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11, any
Securityholder who has been a Securityholder for at least six
months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly
situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
The retiring Relevant Trustee shall give notice of each
resignation and each removal of the Relevant Trustee and each
appointment of a successor Trustee to all Securityholders in the
manner provided in Section 10.08 and shall give notice to the
Depositor. Each notice shall include the name and address of the
successor Relevant Trustee and, in the case of the Property
Trustee, the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of
this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or
a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes
incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death,
incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (i) the unanimous act
of remaining Administrative Trustees if there are at least two of
them or (ii) otherwise by the Depositor (with the successor in
each case being an individual who satisfies the eligibility
requirements for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as
the case may be, set forth in Section 8.07). Additionally,
notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this
Trust Agreement, in the event the Depositor reasonably believes
that any Administrative Trustee who is a natural person has
become incompetent or incapacitated, the Depositor, by notice to
the remaining Trustees, may terminate the status of such Person
as an Administrative Trustee (in which case the vacancy so
created will be filled in accordance with the preceding
sentence).
Section VIII.11. Acceptance of Appointment by
Successor. In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor
Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each
successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto
wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such
appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall
be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest
in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect
to the Trust Securities and the Trust and (2) shall add to or
change any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the
trusts hereunder by more than one Relevant Trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall
constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees of the same trust
and that each such Relevant Trustee shall be trustee of a trust
or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts
hereunder administered by any other such Relevant Trustee and
upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation
or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor
Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance,
shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the
Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee such retiring Relevant
Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor
Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held
by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the
Trust Securities and the Trust.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee,
the retiring Relevant Trustee shall execute any and all
instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights,
powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding
paragraph, as the case may be.
No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its
appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor
Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this
Article VIII.
Section VIII.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
Succession to Business. Any Person into which the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee or
any Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which
such Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding
to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such
Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee
hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and
eligible under this Article VIII, without the execution or filing
of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties
hereto.
Section VIII.13. Preferential Collection of Claims
Against Depositor or Trust. If and when the Property Trustee
shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or
any other obligor upon the Debentures or the Trust Securities),
the Property Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Depositor or Trust (or any such other obligor).
Section VIII.14. Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) The Property Trustee shall transmit to
Securityholders such reports concerning the Property Trustee and
its actions under this Trust Agreement as may be required
pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the
manner provided pursuant thereto. Such of those reports as are
required to be transmitted by the Property Trustee pursuant to
Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be so transmitted
within 60 days after June 30 of each year, commencing June 30,
1997.
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of
such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee
with each stock exchange upon which the Trust Securities are
listed, with the Commission and with the Depositor. The
Depositor will notify the Property Trustee when any Trust
Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
Section VIII.15. Reports to the Property Trustee. The
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and
information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the
compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section VIII.16. Evidence of Compliance With
Conditions Precedent. Each of the Depositor and the
Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to
the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust
Agreement (including any covenants compliance with which
constitutes a condition precedent) that relate to any of the
matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer
pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act may be
given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
Section VIII.17. Number of Trustees.
(a) The number of Trustees shall be five, provided
that the Depositor, by written instrument may increase or
decrease the number of Administrative Trustees. The Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same person.
(b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason
and the number of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant
to Section 8.17(a), or if the number of Trustees is increased
pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy shall occur. The vacancy
shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with
Section 8.10.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal,
bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a
Trustee shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy
in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such
vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee
in accordance with Section 8.10, the Administrative Trustees in
office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement), shall have all the powers granted
to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties
imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
Section VIII.18. Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of
attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other
natural person over the age of 21 his or her power for the
purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
2.07(a), including any registration statement or amendment
thereto filed with the Commission, or making any other
governmental filing; and
(b) the Administrative Trustees shall have power to
delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of
such things and the execution of such instruments either in the
name of the Trust or the names of the Administrative Trustees or
otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may deem expedient, to
the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or
contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.
Section VIII.19. Fiduciary Duty.
(a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an
Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and
liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered
Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Trust Agreement
shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person
for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust
Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent
that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified
Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the
duties imposed on the Property Trustee under the Trust Indenture
Act), are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other
duties and liabilities of such Indemnified Person;
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein and
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act:
(i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or
arises between an Indemnified Person and any Covered
Person; or
(ii) whenever this Trust Agreement or any
other agreement contemplated herein or therein provides
that an Indemnified Person shall act in a manner that
is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable to
the Trust or any Holder of Trust Securities, the
Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of
interest, take such action or provide such terms,
considering in each case the relative interest of each
party (including its own interest) to such conflict,
agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits
and burdens relating to such interests, any customary
or accepted industry practices, and any applicable
generally accepted accounting practices or principles.
In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person,
the resolution, action or term so made, taken or
provided by the Indemnified Person shall not constitute
a breach of this Trust Agreement or any other agreement
contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the
Indemnified Person at law or in equity or otherwise;
and
(c) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein and
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, whenever in
this Trust Agreement an Indemnified Person is permitted or
required to make a decision
(i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of
similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be
entitled to consider such interests and factors as it
reasonably desires, including its own interests, and
shall have no duty or obligation to give any
consideration to any interest of or factors affecting
the Trust or any other Person; or
(ii) in its "good faith" or under another
express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act
under such express standard and shall not be subject to
any other or different standard imposed by this Trust
Agreement or by applicable law.
Section 8.20 Voting. Except as otherwise provided in
this Trust Agreement, the consent or vote of the Administrative
Trustees shall be approved by not less than a majority of the
Administrative Trustees.
ARTICLE IX.
Termination, Liquidation and Merger
Section IX.01. Termination Upon Expiration Date.
Unless terminated earlier, the Trust shall automatically
terminate on December 31, 2050 (the "Expiration Date") and the
Trust Property shall be distributed in accordance with Section
9.04.
Section IX.02. Early Termination. Upon the first to
occur of any of the following events (such first occurrence, an
"Early Termination Event"):
(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in
respect of, or the dissolution or liquidation of, the
Depositor;
(b) the delivery of written direction to the
Property Trustee to terminate the Trust (which
direction is optional and wholly within the discretion
of the Depositor);
(c) the redemption of all of the Preferred
Securities; and
(d) an order for judicial termination of the
Trust having been entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction;
the Trust shall automatically terminate and the Trustees shall
take such action as is required by Section 9.04.
Section IX.03. Termination. The respective
obligations and responsibilities of the Trust and the Trustees
created hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the
following: (i) the distribution by the Property Trustee to
Securityholders upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to
Section 9.04, or upon the redemption of all of the Trust
Securities pursuant to Section 4.02 or 9.04(d), of all amounts
required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of
the Trust Securities; (ii) the payment of any expenses owed by
the Trust; and (iii) the discharge of all administrative duties
of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any
tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the
Securityholders.
Section IX.04. Liquidation.
(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause
(a), (b) or (d) of Section 9.02 occurs or upon the Expiration
Date, after satisfaction of creditors of the Trust, if any, as
provided by applicable law, the Trust shall be liquidated by the
Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee
determines to be appropriate by distributing to each
Securityholder a Like Amount of Debentures, subject to Section
9.04(e). Notice of liquidation shall be given by the
Administrative Trustees by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
mailed not later than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the
Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such
Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All
notices of liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
(ii) state that from and after the
Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer
be deemed to be outstanding and any Trust Securities
Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be
deemed to represent a Like Amount of Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to
the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust
Securities Certificates for Debentures, or if Section
9.04(e) applies receive a Liquidation Distribution, as
the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee
shall deem appropriate.
(b) Except where Section 9.02(c) or Section 9.04(e)
applies, in order to effect any liquidation of the Trust
hereunder, and any resulting distribution of the Debentures to
Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record
date for such distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days
prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either itself acting as
exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange
agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem
appropriate to effect the distribution of Debentures in exchange
for the Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 9.02(c) or Section 9.04(e)
applies, after any Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities
will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates
(or, at the election of the Depositor, Debentures in global form,
subject to the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture)
representing a Like Amount of Debentures will be issued to
Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such
Trust Securities Certificates to the Administrative Trustees or
their agent for exchange, (iii) the Depositor shall use its
reasonable efforts to have the Debentures listed on the New York
Stock Exchange or on such other stock exchange or other
organization as the Preferred Securities are then listed or
traded, (iv) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered
for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of
Debentures, accruing interest at the rate provided for in the
Debentures from the last Distribution Date on which a
Distribution was made on such Trust Certificates until such Trust
Securities Certificates are so surrendered (and until such Trust
Securities Certificates are so surrendered, no payments or
interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities
Certificates with respect to such Debentures) and (v) all rights
of Securityholders holding Trust Securities will cease, except
the right of such Securityholders to receive Debentures upon
surrender of Trust Securities Certificates.
(d) If at any time, a Special Event shall occur and be
continuing, the Depositor has the right to redeem the Debentures
in whole but not in part and therefore cause a mandatory
redemption of all the Preferred Securities at the Redemption
Price within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special
Event. The Common Securities will be redeemed on a pro rata
basis with the Preferred Securities, except that if a Debenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Securities will have a priority over the Common Securities with
respect to payment of the Redemption Price.
(e) In the event that, notwithstanding the other
provisions of this Section 9.04, whether because of an order for
termination entered by a court of competent jurisdiction or
otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the manner provided
herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical,
the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be
dissolved, wound-up or terminated, by the Property Trustee in
such manner as the Property Trustee determines. In such event,
on the date of the dissolution, winding-up or other termination
of the Trust, Securityholders will be entitled to receive out of
the assets of the Trust available for distribution to
Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors
of the Trust, if any, as provided by applicable law, an amount
equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of
payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If,
upon any such dissolution, winding up or termination, the
Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the
Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the
aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next
succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the
Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon
Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of Common Securities will be
entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such
dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as
aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if
a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or if
a Debenture Event of Default has not occurred solely by reason of
a requirement that time lapse or notice be given, the Preferred
Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities.
Section IX.05. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations
or Replacements of the Trust.
The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate,
amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
corporation or other Person, except pursuant to this Trust
Agreement. At the request of the Depositor, with the consent of
the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Trust may merge with or
into, consolidate, amalgamate, be replaced by or convey, transfer
or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to a trust organized as such under the laws of any state;
provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly
assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the
Preferred Securities or (b) substitutes for the Preferred
Securities other securities having substantially the same terms
as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long
as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred
Securities rank in priority with respect to distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the
Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity
possessing substantially the same powers and duties as the
Property Trustee as the holder of the Debentures, (iii) the
Successor Securities are listed or traded, or any Successor
Securities will be listed or traded upon notification of
issuance, on any national securities exchange or other
organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed,
if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the
Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating
organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of
Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose
substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect, and (b) following such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor any successor entity
will be required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act and (viii) the Depositor or any permitted
successor or assignee owns all of the Common Securities of such
successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor
entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent
provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any other Person or permit any other Person to
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if
such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would
cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other
than a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
ARTICLE X.
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section X.01. Guarantee by the Depositor and
Assumption of Obligations. Subject to the terms and conditions
hereof, the Depositor irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees
to each Person to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes
indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries"), and agrees to assume
liability for, the full payment, when and as due, of any and all
Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As
used herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or
liabilities of the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to
pay to Holders or other similar interests in the Trust the
amounts due such Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred
Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be.
This guarantee and assumption is intended to be for the benefit,
of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or
not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
Section X.02. Limitation of Rights of Securityholders.
The death or incapacity of any Person having an interest,
beneficial or otherwise, in a Trust Security shall not operate to
terminate this Trust Agreement, nor entitle the legal
representatives or heirs of such Person or any Securityholder for
such Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any
proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of the
arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the
rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any
of them.
Section X.03. Amendment.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to
time by the Trust (on approval of a majority of the
Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of
any Securityholders), (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provision herein or therein which may be
inconsistent with any other provision herein or therein, or to
make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions
arising under this Trust Agreement, that shall not be
inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement,
(ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust
Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the
Trust will be classified for United States Federal income tax
purposes other than as a "grantor trust" and not as an
association taxable as a corporation at any time that any Trust
Securities are Outstanding or to ensure the Trust's exemption
from the status of an "investment company" under the Investment
Company Act, or (iii) to effect the acceptance of a successor
Relevant Trustee's appointment; provided, however, that, except
in the case of clause (ii), such action shall not adversely
affect in any material respect the interests of any
Securityholder and, in the case of clause (i), any amendments of
this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice thereof
is given to the Securityholders.
(b) Except as provided in Sections 6.01(c) and
10.03(c), any provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by
the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor with (i) the
consent of Holders of Trust Securities representing not less than
a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Outstanding
Trust Securities and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion
of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of
any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such
amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust
for United States Federal income tax purposes or the Trust's
exemption from status of an "investment company" under the
Investment Company Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other
provision in this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each
affected Securityholder (such consent being obtained in
accordance with Section 6.03 or 6.06), this Trust Agreement may
not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely
affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in
respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii)
restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, or (iii)
change the provisions of this Section 10.03(c).
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust
Agreement, no Trustee shall enter into or consent to any
amendment to this Trust Agreement which would cause the Trust to
fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status of an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act afforded by
Rule 3a-5 thereunder.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement
to the contrary, without the consent of the Depositor and the
Trustees, this Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner
which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor or any
Trustee.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust
Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees shall promptly
provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment.
(g) The Property Trustee is entitled to receive an
Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any amendment to
this Trust Agreement executed pursuant to this Section 10.03 is
authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
Section 10.03, has been duly authorized by and lawfully executed
and delivered on behalf of the other requisite parties, and that
it is proper for the Property Trustee under the provisions of
this Section 10.03 to join in the execution thereof.
Section X.04. Separability. In case any provision in
this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section X.05. Governing Law. This Trust Agreement and
the rights and obligations of each of the Securityholders, the
Trust and the Trustees with respect to this Trust Agreement and
the Trust Securities shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to
conflict of laws principles).
Section X.06. Successors. This Trust Agreement shall
be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor
to the Trust or the Relevant Trustees or any of them, including
any successor by operation of law.
Section X.07. Headings. The Article and Section
headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction of this Trust Agreement.
Section X.08. Notice and Demand. Any notice, demand
or other communication which by any provision of this Trust
Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or
upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served
in writing by deposit thereof, postage prepaid, in the United
States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each
case, addressed, (i) in the case of a Preferred Securityholder,
to such Preferred Securityholder as such Securityholder's name
and address may appear on the Securities Register and (ii) in the
case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Entergy
Louisiana, Inc., 639 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113,
Attention: Treasurer, facsimile no. (504) 576-4455, with a copy
to the Secretary, facsimile no. (504) 576-2106. Such notice,
demand or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall
be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all
purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any
provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be
given or served to or upon the Trust, the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be given in
writing addressed (until another address is published by the
Trust) as follows: (i) with respect to the Property Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, 101 Barclay Street, 21 West, New York, New
York 10286 marked "Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee
Administration" with a copy to: The Bank of New York (Delaware),
White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark, Delaware 19711 and (ii)
with respect to the Trust or the Administrative Trustees, at the
address above for notice to the Depositor, marked "Attention:
Administrative Trustees for Entergy Louisiana Capital I". Such
notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the
Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given
or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust or
the Property Trustee.
Section X.09. Agreement Not to Petition. Each of the
Trustees and the Depositor agrees for the benefit of the
Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after
the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX, it
shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the
Trust under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
insolvency, liquidation or other similar law (including, without
limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively,
"Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any
proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the
event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section
10.09, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of
Securityholders and at the expense of the Depositor, which
expense shall be paid prior to filing an answer, that it shall
file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly
contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the
Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense
that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action
and should be stopped and precluded therefrom and such other
defenses, if any, as counsel for the Property Trustee or the
Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.09 shall
survive the termination of this Trust Agreement.
Section X.10. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
(a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions
of the Trust Indenture Act that are required or deemed to be part
of this Trust Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be
governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee
which is a trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or
conflicts with another provision hereof which is required or
deemed to be included in this Trust Agreement by any of the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required or deemed
provision shall control.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this
Trust Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Trust
Securities as equity securities representing interests in the
Trust.
<PAGE>
Section 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement,
Guarantee and Indenture.
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST
THEREIN BY OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL
OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT,
SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY THE
SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST
AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER
TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE INDENTURE AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE
AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT
THOSE TERMS AND PROVISIONS SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND
EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH
OTHERS.
Section 10.12. Counterparts. This Trust Agreement may
be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so
executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Trust Agreement
to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above
written.
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
By: /s/ William J. Regan, Jr.
Name: William J. Regan, Jr.
Title: Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Property Trustee
By: /s/ Nancy B. Gill
Name: _Nancy B. Gill_____
Title: Assistant Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee
By: /s/ Joseph G. Ernst
Name: Joseph G. Ernst
Title: Assistant Vice President
/s/ Steven C. McNeal
Steven C. McNeal
solely in his capacity as
Administrative Trustee
/s/ William J. Regan, Jr.
William J. Regan, Jr.
solely in his capacity as
Administrative Trustee
/s/ Frank Williford IV
Frank Williford IV
solely in his capacity as
Administrative Trustee
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST of Entergy Louisiana Capital
I (the "Trust"), dated as of _____________ __, 1996, is being
duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as trustees, to
create a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12
Del. C. 3801, et seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust being created
hereby is Entergy Louisiana Capital I.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of
the trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in
the State of Delaware are The Bank of New York (Delaware), White
Clay Center, Route 273, Newark, Delaware 19711.
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be
effective as of its filing.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the only
trustees of the Trust, have executed this Certificate of Trust as
of the date first above written.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE) [_________________________],
not in its individual capacity not in his individual capacity
but solely as Trustee but solely as Trustee
By: By:
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
not in its individual capacity
but solely as Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
Certificate Number Number of Common
Securities
C-[ ]
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
9% Common Securities
(liquidation amount $25 per Common Security)
Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a statutory business trust
created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"),
hereby certifies that Entergy Louisiana, Inc. (the "Holder") is
the registered owner of ___________________ (______) common
securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the 9% Common
Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security) (the
"Common Securities"). In accordance with Section 5.10 of the
Trust Agreement (as defined below) the Common Securities are not
transferable and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void.
The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences
and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set
forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities
represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be
subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated
Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of July 16, 1996, as the
same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"),
including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities
as set forth therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust
Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to
the Trust at its principal place of business or registered
office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound
by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits
thereunder.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, an Administrative Trustee of the
Trust has executed this certificate for and on behalf of the
Trust this ____ day of _________, 199 .
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
By:
not in his (her) individual capacity,
but solely as Administrative Trustee
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
AGREEMENT dated as of ________ ___, 1996, between
Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation ("Entergy
Louisiana"), and Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a Delaware business
trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its Common
Securities (the "Common Securities") to and receive Debentures
from Entergy Louisiana and to issue its 9% Cumulative Quarterly
Income Preferred Securities, Series A (the "Preferred
Securities") with such powers, preferences and special rights and
restrictions as are set forth in the Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement of the Trust dated as of July 16, 1996 as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement");
WHEREAS, Entergy Louisiana will directly own all of the
Common Securities and will issue the Debentures;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by
each holder of the Preferred Securities, which purchase Entergy
Louisiana hereby agrees shall benefit Entergy Louisiana and which
purchase Entergy Louisiana acknowledges will be made in reliance
upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Entergy
Louisiana, including in its capacity as holder of the Common
Securities, and the Trust hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Section 1.01. Guarantee by Entergy Louisiana. Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, Entergy Louisiana hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees the full payment, when
and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined)
to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or hereafter
becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries"). As used
herein, "Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or
liabilities of the Trust, other than (i) obligations of the Trust
to pay to holders of any Preferred Securities or other similar
interests in the Trust the amounts due such holders pursuant to
the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar
interests, as the case may be and (ii) obligations arising out of
the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Trustees
of the Trust. This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit
of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or
not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
Section 1.02. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall
terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the date on
which there are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however,
that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of
Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment of
any sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any
Obligation, under the Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof
by Entergy Louisiana and The Bank of New York, as guarantee
trustee, or under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever. This
Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute.
Section 1.03. Waiver of Notice. Entergy Louisiana
hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of any
Obligation to which it applies or may apply, and Entergy
Louisiana hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, protest,
notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption
and all other notices and demands.
Section 1.04. No Impairment. The obligations,
covenants, agreements and duties of Entergy Louisiana under this
Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of
the happening from time to time of any of the following:
(a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust
of all or any portion of the Obligations or for the performance
of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection
with, the Obligations;
(b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence
on the part of the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise
any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the
Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations or any action on
the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind; or
(c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency,
bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors,
reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt
of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of
the assets of the Trust.
There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice
to, or obtain the consent of, Entergy Louisiana with respect to
the happening of any of the foregoing.
Section 1.05. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce
this Agreement directly against Entergy Louisiana and Entergy
Louisiana waives any right or remedy to require that any action
be brought against the Trust or any other person or entity before
proceeding against Entergy Louisiana.
ARTICLE II
Section 2.01. Binding Effect. All guarantees and
agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind the successors,
assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of Entergy
Louisiana and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries.
Section 2.02. Amendment. So long as there remains any
Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of any series are
outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in
any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the
Preferred Securities.
Section 2.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall
be given in writing by delivering the same against receipt
therefor by facsimile transmission (confirmed by mail), telex or
by registered or certified mail, addressed as follows (and if so
given, shall be deemed given when mailed or upon receipt of an
answer-back, if sent by telex), to wit:
Entergy Louisiana Capital I
c/o Steven C. McNeal, Administrative Trustee
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
Facsimile No.: (504) 576-4455
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
Facsimile No.: (504) 576-4455
Attention: Treasurer
Section 2.04 THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS
PRINCIPLES).
THIS EXPENSE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and
year first above
written.
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
By:
[_________________]
not in his individual
capacity, but solely
as Administrative Trustee
<PAGE>
[Securities Depository Legend]
EXHIBIT D
Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities
P- CUSIP NO.
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A
(liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security)
Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a statutory business trust
created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"),
hereby certifies that ____________ (the "Holder") is the
registered owner of _____ (_____) preferred securities of the
Trust representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Trust and designated the Entergy Louisiana Capital I 9%
Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A
(liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred
Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the
books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized
attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in
proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.04 or 5.11 of
the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations,
rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this
certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are
issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and
provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Trust dated as of July 16, 1996, as the same may be amended from
time to time (the "Trust Agreement"). The holder of this
certificate is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee
Agreement of Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation,
and The Bank of New York, as guarantee trustee, dated as of July
16, 1996 (the "Guarantee") to the extent provided therein. The
Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement and the
Guarantee to the holder of this certificate without charge upon
written request to the Trust at its principal place of business
or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the holder of this
certificate is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to
the benefits thereunder.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees
of the Trust has executed this certificate for and on behalf of
the Trust.
Dated:___________________________
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
By:_________________________________
[ ]
not in his (her)
individual capacity, but
solely as Administrative
Trustee
Countersigned by:
_________________________
Transfer Agent
<PAGE>
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and
transfers this Preferred Security to:
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
of the Preferred Securities represented by this Preferred
Securities Certificate and irrevocably appoints
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
attorney to transfer such Preferred Securities Certificate on the
books of the Trust. The attorney may substitute another to act for
him or her.
Date:__________________
Signature:________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Preferred Securities Certificate)
Signature:________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Preferred Securities Certificate)
<PAGE>
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK
CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS
REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT
IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY
AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR
OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS
WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS
AN INTEREST THEREIN.
Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities CUSIP NO.
P-1 2,800,000 29364A205
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A
(liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security)
Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a statutory business trust
created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"),
hereby certifies that CEDE & CO. (the "Holder") is the registered
owner of TWO MILLION AND EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND (2,800,000)
preferred securities of the Trust representing an undivided
beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the
Entergy Louisiana Capital I 9% Cumulative Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities, Series A (liquidation amount $25 per
Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred
Securities are transferable on the books and records of the
Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender
of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer
as provided in Section 5.04 or 5.11 of the Trust Agreement (as
defined below). The designations, rights, privileges,
restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and
the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall
in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of
July 16, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Trust Agreement"). The holder of this certificate is entitled
to the benefits of the Guarantee Agreement of Entergy Louisiana,
Inc., a Louisiana corporation, and The Bank of New York, as
guarantee trustee, dated as of July 16, 1996 (the "Guarantee") to
the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of
the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the holder of this
certificate without charge upon written request to the Trust at
its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the holder of this
certificate is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to
the benefits thereunder.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees
of the Trust has executed this certificate for and on behalf of
the Trust.
Dated: July 16, 1996
ENTERGY LOUISIANA CAPITAL I
By: /s/ Steven C. McNeal
Steven C. McNeal
not in his individual
capacity, but solely as
Administrative Trustee
Countersigned by:
/s/ Nancy Gill
Transfer Agent
<PAGE>
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and
transfers this Preferred Security to:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
of the Preferred Securities represented by this Preferred
Securities Certificate and irrevocably appoints
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
attorney to transfer such Preferred Securities Certificate on the
books of the Trust. The attorney may substitute another to act
for him or her.
Date:__________________
Signature:________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Preferred Securities Certificate)
Signature:________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this
Preferred Securities Certificate)
Exhibit A-19(a)
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
(as Guarantor)
and
The Bank of New York
(as Trustee)
dated as of
July 16, 1996
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
-----
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS 1
SECTION 1.01 Definitions 1
ARTICLE II TRUST INDENTURE ACT 4
SECTION 2.01 Trust Indenture Act; Application
SECTION 2.02 Lists of Holders of Preferred Securities 4
SECTION 2.03 Reports by the Guarantee Trustee 4
SECTION 2.04 Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee 4
SECTION 2.05 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
Precedent 5
SECTION 2.06 Events of Default; Waiver 5
SECTION 2.07 Event of Default; Notice 5
SECTION 2.08 Conflicting Interests 5
ARTICLE III POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE 5
SECTION 3.01 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee
Trustee 5
SECTION 3.02 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee 7
ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE TRUSTEE 9
SECTION 4.01 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility 9
SECTION 4.02 Compensation and Reimbursement 10
SECTION 4.03 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of
Guarantee Trustee 10
ARTICLE V GUARANTEE 11
SECTION 5.01 Guarantee 11
SECTION 5.02 Waiver of Notice and Demand 11
SECTION 5.03 Obligations Not Affected 12
SECTION 5.04 Rights of Holders 12
SECTION 5.05 Guarantee of Payment 13
SECTION 5.06 Subrogation 13
SECTION 5.07 Independent Obligations 13
ARTICLE VI SUBORDINATION 13
SECTION 6.01 Subordination 13
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION 14
SECTION 7.01 Termination 14
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS 14
SECTION 8.01 Successors and Assigns 14
SECTION 8.02 Amendments 15
SECTION 8.03 Notices 15
SECTION 8.04 Benefit 16
SECTION 8.05 Interpretation 16
SECTION 8.06 Governing Law 16
<PAGE>
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
Section of Section of
Trust Indenture Act Guarantee
of 1939, as amended Agreement
- ------------------- ------------------
310(a) 4.01(a)
310(b) 4.01(c), 2.08
310(c) Inapplicable
311(a) 2.02(b)
311(b) 2.02(b)
311(c) Inapplicable
312(a) 2.02(a)
312(b) 2.02(b)
313 2.03
314(a) 2.04
314(b) Inapplicable
314(c) 2.05
314(d) Inapplicable
314(e) 1.01, 2.05, 3.02
314(f) 2.01, 3.02
315(a) 3.01(d)
315(b) 2.07
315(c) 3.01
315(d) 3.01(d)
316(a) 5.04(a), 2.06
316(b) 5.03
316(c) 2.02
317(a) Inapplicable
317(b) Inapplicable
318(a) 2.01(b)
318(b) 2.01
318(c) 2.01(a)
_____________
* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the
Guarantee Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of
any of its terms or provisions.
<PAGE>
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("Guarantee Agreement"), dated
as of July 16, 1996, is executed and delivered by Entergy
Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Guarantor"), and
The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for
the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time
of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of Entergy
Louisiana Capital I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
"Issuer").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust
Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated as of July 16, 1996
between the Trustees of the Issuer named therein, Entergy
Louisiana, Inc., as Depositor, and the several Holders (as
defined therein) the Issuer is issuing as of the date hereof
2,800,000 of its 9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
Securities, Series A ($70,000,000 in aggregate liquidation
amount) (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the Issuer and having
the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities are to be issued by
the Issuer and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds
from the issuance of the Issuer's Common Securities (as defined
below), are to be used to purchase the Debentures (as defined in
the Trust Agreement) which will be deposited with The Bank of New
York, as Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement, as trust
assets; and
WHEREAS, in order to enhance the value of the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and
unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to
the Holders the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to
make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth
herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by
each Holder of the Preferred Securities, which purchase the
Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the
Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the
benefit of the Holders from time to time.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION I.01 Definitions. As used in this
Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the
context otherwise requires, have the following meanings.
Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with such specified
Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used
with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct
the management and policies of such Person, directly or
indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Common Securities" means the securities representing
common undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of
the Issuer.
"Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on
any of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee
Agreement.
"Guarantee Payments" shall mean the following payments
or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the
Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on
behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions
that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities but
only if and to the extent that the Property Trustee has available
in the Payment Account funds sufficient to make such payment,
(ii) the redemption price (the "Redemption Price"), and all
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption, with
respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption by the
Issuer but only if and to the extent that the Property Trustee
has available in the Payment Account funds sufficient to make
such payment, (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection
with a redemption of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser
of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all accrued
and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date
of payment, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining
available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the
Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").
"Guarantee Trustee" means The Bank of New York until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted
such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee
Trustee.
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the
books and records of the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities then
outstanding; provided, however, that in determining whether the
holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have
given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder"
shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor.
"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of July 1,
1996, among the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The Bank
of New York, as trustee, pursuant to which the Debentures are
issued.
"Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities" means a vote by Holders, voting separately as a
class, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount of
all Preferred Securities.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by
the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the
President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant
Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the
Guarantor, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers'
Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition
or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall
include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the
Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and
the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in
rendering the Officers' Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such
examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion,
is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed
opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each
such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied
with.
"Person" means any individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the
Guarantee Trustee, any vice-president, any assistant vice-
president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer,
any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust
officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of
the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any
other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that
officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular
subject.
"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as
Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION II.01 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required or deemed
to be part of this Guarantee Agreement and shall, to the extent
applicable, be governed by such provisions; and
(b) if and to the extent that any provision of this
Guarantee Agreement limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust
Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
SECTION II.02 Lists of Holders of Preferred
Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be
furnished to the Guarantee Trustee (a) semiannually, not later
than December 31 and June 30 in each year, a list, in such form
as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not
more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (b) at such
other times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such
request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days
prior to the time such list is furnished; provided that, the
Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders
at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most
recent List of Holders given to the Guarantee Trustee by the
Guarantor. The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders
previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its
obligations under Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
subject to the provisions of Section 311(b) and Section 312(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION II.03 Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
Within 60 days after December 31 of each year, commencing
December 31, 1996, the Guarantee Trustee shall provide to the
Holders such reports, if any, as are required by Section 313(a)
of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner provided
by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee
Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Sections
313(b), (c) and (d) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION II.04 Periodic Reports to Guarantee
Trustee. The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee
such documents, reports and information as required by Section
314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at
the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION II.05 Evidence of Compliance with
Conditions Precedent. The Guarantor shall provide to the
Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions
precedent provided for in this Guarantee Agreement as and to the
extent required by Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer
pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act may be
given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION II.06 Events of Default; Waiver. The
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of all of the Holders, waive
any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such
waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any
Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such
waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event
of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION II.07 Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after
the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first
class postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all Events of
Default known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have
been cured before the giving of such notice, provided that, the
Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice
if and so long as the board of directors, the executive
committee, or a trust committee of directors or Responsible
Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that
the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have
knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee
shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer
charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement shall have
obtained written notice, of such Event of Default.
SECTION II.08 Conflicting Interests. The Trust
Agreement and the Indenture shall be deemed to be specifically
described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause
(i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
ARTICLE III
POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION III.01 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee
Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the
Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the
Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement or
any rights hereunder to any Person except a Holder exercising his
or her rights pursuant to Section 5.04 or to a Successor
Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee
Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee.
The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such
vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant
to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of
any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of
Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only
such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee
Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
into this Guarantee Agreement against the Guarantee Trustee. In
case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or
waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in
its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(c) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be
construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its
own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its
own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing or waiving of all such
Events of Default that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of
the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely
by the express provisions of this Guarantee
Agreement, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable except for the performance of such duties
and obligations as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on
the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of
the statements and the correctness of the opinions
expressed therein, upon any certificates or
opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and
conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee
Agreement; but in the case of any such
certificates or opinions that by any provision
hereof are specifically required to be furnished
to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee
shall be under a duty to examine the same to
determine whether or not they conform to the
requirements of this Guarantee Agreement;
(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by
a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless
it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee or such
Responsible Officer was negligent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to
be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
direction of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee
Agreement shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal
financial liability in the performance of any of its
duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds
or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the
terms of this Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity
against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
SECTION III.02 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) the Guarantee Trustee may rely and
shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from
acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have
been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or
parties;
(ii) any direction or act of the
Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement
shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate;
(iii) whenever, in the administration of
this Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall
deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
established before taking, suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other
evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the
absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon
an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor;
(iv) the Guarantee Trustee may consult
with counsel of its choice, and the written advice or
opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters
shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such
advice or opinion; such counsel may be counsel to the
Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any
of its employees; the Guarantee Trustee shall have the
right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any
court of competent jurisdiction;
(v) the Guarantee Trustee shall be
under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the
request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder
shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such
adequate security and indemnity as would satisfy a
reasonable person in the position of the Guarantee
Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that
might be incurred by it in complying with such request
or direction, including such reasonable advances as may
be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided that,
nothing contained in this Section 3.02(a)(v) shall be
taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this
Guarantee Agreement;
(vi) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
bound to make any investigation into the facts or
matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture,
note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document reasonably believed by it to be genuine, but
the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
matters as it may see fit;
(vii) the Guarantee Trustee may execute
any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any
duties hereunder either directly or by or through
agents or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall
not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on
the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due
care by it hereunder;
(viii) whenever in the administration of
this Guarantee Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall
deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect
to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (1) may request
instructions from the Holders, (2) may refrain from
enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other
action until such instructions are received, and (3)
shall be protected in acting in accordance with such
instructions; and
(ix) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be
liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be
taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it
to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be
deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee
to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or
obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in
which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable
law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such
right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or
authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed
to be a duty.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
SECTION IV.01 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee
which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor;
and
(ii) be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States of America
or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of
Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an
institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act,
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at
least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal,
State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority.
If such corporation publishes reports of condition at
least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of the supervising or examining authority referred to
above, then, for the purposes of this Section
4.01(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital
and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published.
(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease
to be eligible to so act under Section 4.01(a), the Guarantee
Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the
effect set out in Section 4.03(c).
(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor
shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section
310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION IV.02 Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay the Guarantee Trustee from time to time
such reasonable compensation as the Guarantor and the Guarantee
Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services
rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited
by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon its request for all
reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made
by the Guarantee Trustee in accordance with the provisions of
this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and
expenses of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence
or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify each of the Guarantee Trustee and any
predecessor Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it harmless from
and against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or
expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon the income
of the Guarantee Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad
faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance of the administration of this Guarantee Agreement,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any
claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance
of any its powers or duties hereunder.
As security for the performance of the obligations of
the Guarantor under this Section, the Guarantee Trustee shall
have a lien prior to the Preferred Securities upon all the
property and funds held or collected by the Guarantee Trustee as
such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of,
and premium (if any) or interest on, particular obligations of
the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the
termination of this Guarantee Agreement.
SECTION IV.03 Appointment, Removal and
Resignation of Guarantee Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.03(b), unless an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by
the Guarantor.
(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted
such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall
hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Guarantee
Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or
subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by
the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which
resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee
Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning
Guarantee Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section
4.03 within 60 days after delivery to the Guarantor of an
instrument of resignation, the resigning Guarantee Trustee may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a
Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after
prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a
Successor Guarantee Trustee.
(e) The Guarantor shall give notice of each
resignation and each removal of the Guarantee Trustee and each
appointment of a successor Guarantee Trustee to all Holders in
the manner provided in Section 8.03 hereof. Each notice shall
include the name of the successor Guarantee Trustee and the
address of its Corporate Trust Office.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION V.01 Guarantee. The Guarantor
irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of
any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer
may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a
Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the
required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing
the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.
SECTION V.02 Waiver of Notice and Demand. The
Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee
Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a
proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before
proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment,
notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices
and demands.
SECTION V.03 Obligations Not Affected. The
obligation of the Guarantor to make the Guarantee Payments under
this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired
by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the
following:
(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or
otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of
any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or
condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be
performed or observed by the Issuer;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the
Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions,
Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums
payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the
extension of time for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the
Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for
payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or other sum payable that results from the
extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures
permitted by the Indenture);
(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence
on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise
any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the
Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities,
or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence
or extension of any kind;
(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership,
insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings
affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the
Preferred Securities;
(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation
guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or
(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might
otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or
defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section
5.03 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall
be absolute and unconditional under any and all
circumstances.
There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or
obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of
any of the foregoing.
SECTION V.04 Rights of Holders. The Guarantor
expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be
deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit
of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to
enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii)
the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee
Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (iv) any Holder may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to
enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer or any other
person or entity.
SECTION V.05 Guarantee of Payment. This
Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged
except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without
duplication).
SECTION V.06 Subrogation. The Guarantor shall
be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the
Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the
Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that
the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by
mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise
any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any
indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a
result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time
of any such payment, any amounts of Guarantee Payments are due
and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall
be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence,
the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders
and to pay over such amount to the Holders.
SECTION V.07 Independent Obligations. The
Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the
Preferred Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as
principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments
pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding
the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.03.
ARTICLE VI
SUBORDINATION
SECTION VI.01 Subordination. This Guarantee
Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Debt of the Guarantor (which is defined as
all obligations (other than non-recourse obligations and the
indebtedness issued under the Indenture) of, or guaranteed or
assumed by, the Guarantor for borrowed money, including both
senior and subordinated indebtedness for borrowed money (other
than the Debentures), or for the payment of money relating to any
lease which is capitalized on the consolidated balance sheet of
the Guarantor and its subsidiaries in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, or
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments, and in each case, amendments, renewals, extensions,
modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness or
obligations, whether existing as of the date of the Indenture or
subsequently incurred by the Guarantor unless, in the case of any
particular indebtedness, obligation, renewal, extension or
refunding, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the
assumption or guarantee of the same expressly provides that such
indebtedness, renewal, extension or refunding is not superior in
right of payment to or is pari passu with the Debentures;
provided that the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee or
any guarantee issued by the Guarantor on behalf of the holders of
Preferred Securities issued by Entergy Louisiana Capital II
and/or Entergy Louisiana Capital III shall not be deemed to be
Senior Debt of the Guarantor), and (ii) pari passu with any
similar guarantee now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor on
behalf of the holders of preferred securities issued by Entergy
Louisiana Capital II or Entergy Louisiana Capital III. Nothing
in this Section 6.01 shall apply to claims of, or payments to,
the Guarantee Trustee under or pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION VII.01 Termination. This Guarantee
Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect
upon: (i) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred
Securities, (ii) the distribution of Debentures to Holders in
exchange for all of the Preferred Securities or (iii) full
payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust
Agreement upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective
or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to the
Preferred Securities or under this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION VIII.01 Successors and Assigns. All
guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit
of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding.
Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale
involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article Eleven of
the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in
writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the
Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION VIII.02 Amendments. This Guarantee
Agreement may be amended only by an instrument in writing entered
into by the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee. Except with
respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will
be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with
the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of all the outstanding Preferred
Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
concerning meetings of Holders shall apply to the giving of such
approval. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require
that the Guarantee Trustee enter into any amendment of this
Guarantee Agreement.
SECTION VIII.03 Notices. Any notice, request or
other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder
shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice,
and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as
follows:
(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address set
forth below or such other address as the Guarantor may give
notice of to the Holders of the Preferred Securities:
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
Facsimile No: (504) 576-4455
Attention: Treasurer
(b) if given to the Issuer, in care of the
Administrative Trustees, at the Issuer's (and the
Administrative Trustee's) address set forth below or such
other address as the Administrative Trustees on behalf of
the Issuer may give notice of to the Holders:
Entergy Louisiana, Capital I
c/o Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113
Facsimile No: (504) 576-4455
Attention: Administrative Trustees
(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, to the address
set forth below or such other address as the Guarantee
Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities:
The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, 21 West
New York, New York 10286
Facsimile No: (212) 815-5915
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth
on the books and records of the Issuer.
All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been
given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed,
or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a
notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be
delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been
delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.
SECTION VIII.04 Benefit. This Guarantee Agreement
is solely for the benefit of the Holders and, subject to Section
3.01(a), is not separately transferable from the Preferred
Securities.
SECTION VIII.05 Interpretation. In this Guarantee
Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement
but not defined in the preamble hereto have the respective
meanings assigned to them in Section 1.01;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee
Agreement has the same meaning throughout;
(c) all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or
"this Guarantee Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement
as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;
(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to
Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this
Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified;
(e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the
same meaning when used in this Guarantee Agreement unless
otherwise defined in this Guarantee Agreement or unless the
context otherwise requires;
(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural
and vice versa; and
(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used
herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter
genders.
SECTION VIII.06 Governing Law. This Guarantee
Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
This instrument may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but
one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and
year first above written.
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
By: /s/ William J. Regan, Jr.
Name: William J. Regan, Jr.
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
The Bank of New York,
as Guarantee Trustee
By: /s/ Nancy Gill
Name: Nancy Gill
Title: Assistant Treasurer
Exhibit B-11(a)
2,800,000 Preferred Securities
Entergy Louisiana Capital I
9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A ("QUIPS"<FN1>)
(liquidation preference $25 per preferred security)
fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as set forth herein, by
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
July 10, 1996
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
As representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Entergy Louisiana Capital I (the
"Trust"), a statutory business trust created under the Business
Trust Act of the State of Delaware (Title 12, Chapter 38 of the
Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.) (the "Delaware
Act"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters," which term, when
the context permits shall also include any underwriters
substituted as hereinafter in Section 11 provided), for whom you
are acting as representatives (in such capacity, you shall
hereinafter be referred to as the "Representatives"), 2,800,000
of its 9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities,
Series A (liquidation preference $25 per preferred security),
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust (the "Preferred Securities"), as follows:
__________________________
<FN1> QUIPS is a servicemark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
<PAGE>
SECTION 1. Purchase and Sale. On the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Trust shall issue
and sell to each of the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
and each Underwriter shall purchase from the Trust at the time
and place herein specified, severally and not jointly, the number
of Preferred Securities set forth opposite the name of such
Underwriter in Schedule I hereto at a purchase price of $25.00
per Preferred Security.
The Company (as defined herein) (a) agrees to issue the
Company Securities (as defined herein) concurrently with the
issue and sale of the Preferred Securities as contemplated herein
and (b) guarantees the timely performance by the Trust of its
obligations under this Section 1. The Trust agrees to purchase
the Debentures (as defined herein) with the proceeds of the Trust
Securities as contemplated herein.
Because the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
Securities, together with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust
to the Company of the Common Securities, will be used to purchase
the Debentures, the Company hereby agrees to pay on the Closing
Date (as defined herein) to Goldman, Sachs & Co., for the
accounts of the several Underwriters, as compensation for their
arranging the investment therein of such proceeds, an amount
equal to $0.7875 per Preferred Security.
SECTION 2. Description of Preferred Securities. The
Preferred Securities will be guaranteed by Entergy Louisiana,
Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company" and, together with
the Trust, the "Offerors"), with respect to distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise (the
"Guarantee") pursuant to, and to the extent set forth in, the
Guarantee Agreement (the "Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of July
16, 1996, between the Company and The Bank of New York, as
trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"). Under an agreement as to
expenses and liabilities between the Company and the Trust,
pursuant to the Trust Agreement (as defined herein), dated as of
July 16, 1996 (the "Expense Agreement"), the Company will
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each person or
entity to whom the Trust becomes indebted or liable the full
payment of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the Trust,
subject to certain exceptions therein.
The proceeds from the sale of the Preferred Securities
will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to
the Company of its common securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common
Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the
"Trust Securities"), and will be used by the Trust to purchase
$72,164,950 aggregate principal amount of 9% Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series A, due September 30, 2045
issued by the Company (the "Debentures" and, together with the
Guarantee, the "Company Securities"). The Trust Securities will
be issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of
the Trust, dated as of July 16, 1996 (the "Trust Agreement"),
among the Company, as depositor, the Administrative Trustees (as
defined herein), The Bank of New York, as property trustee (the
"Property Trustee"), The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware
trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and the holders, from time to
time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust. The Debentures will be issued pursuant to an Indenture,
dated as of July 1, 1996, as supplemented by a supplemental
indenture, resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company
or in a certificate of an officer of the Company pursuant to such
supplemental indenture or resolutions (the "Indenture"), between
the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Corresponding Debenture Trustee"). The Preferred Securities and
the Company Securities are referred to herein as the
"Securities."
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties of the
Offerors. Each of the Offerors jointly and severally represents
and warrants to the several Underwriters, and covenants and
agrees with the several Underwriters, that:
(a) The Company is duly organized and validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Louisiana and has the necessary corporate power and authority to
conduct the business that it is described in the Prospectus (as
defined herein) as conducting, to own and operate the properties
owned and operated by it in such business, to issue the Company
Securities, to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Underwriting Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Indenture, the
Guarantee Agreement, the Expense Agreement and the Company
Securities, to purchase, own, and hold the Common Securities
issued by the Trust and to consummate the transactions herein and
therein contemplated.
(b) The Trust has been duly created and is validly
existing as a business trust in good standing under the Delaware
Act, has the power and authority to own its property, to conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus, to issue and sell
the Trust Securities, to enter into and perform its obligations
under this Underwriting Agreement and the Trust Securities and to
consummate the transactions herein contemplated; the Trust has no
subsidiaries and is duly qualified to transact business and in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a material
adverse effect on the Trust; the Trust has conducted and will
conduct no business other than the transactions contemplated by
this Underwriting Agreement and described in the Prospectus; the
Trust is not a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement other
than those described in the Prospectus, and is not a party to any
action, suit or proceeding of any nature; the Trust is not and
will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation
for United States federal income tax purposes; and the Trust is
and will be treated as a consolidated subsidiary of the Company
pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) The Offerors have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement
on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-3567 and 333-3567-01) for the
registration of $150,000,000 aggregate offering price of the
Company's and the Trust's securities, including the Securities,
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act") (all of which securities remain unsold), and such
registration statement has become effective. The Offerors
qualify for use of Form S-3 for the registration of the
Securities. The prospectus forming a part of the registration
statement, at the time such registration statement (or the most
recent amendment thereto filed prior to the time of effectiveness
of this Underwriting Agreement) became effective, including all
documents incorporated by reference therein at that time pursuant
to Item 12 of Form S-3, is hereinafter referred to as the "Basic
Prospectus". In the event that (i) the Basic Prospectus shall
have been amended, revised or supplemented (but excluding any
amendments, revisions or supplements to the Basic Prospectus
relating solely to securities other than the Securities) prior to
the time of effectiveness of the Underwriting Agreement,
including without limitation by any preliminary prospectus
supplement relating to the Securities, or (ii) the Company shall
have filed documents pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
after the time the registration statement became effective and
prior to the time of effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement
(but excluding documents incorporated therein by reference
relating solely to securities other than the Securities), which
documents are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Basic
Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, the term "Basic
Prospectus" as used herein shall also mean such prospectus as so
amended, revised or supplemented and reflecting such
incorporation by reference. The Registration Statement in the
form in which it became effective and as it may have been amended
by all amendments thereto as of the time of effectiveness of this
Underwriting Agreement (including, for these purposes, as an
amendment any document incorporated by reference in the Basic
Prospectus), and the Basic Prospectus as it shall be supplemented
to reflect the terms of the offering and sale of the Preferred
Securities and the Debentures by a prospectus supplement (a
"Prospectus Supplement") to be filed with, or transmitted for
filing to, the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act ("Rule 424(b)"), are hereinafter referred to as
the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus," respectively.
(d) (i) After the time of effectiveness of this
Underwriting Agreement and during the time specified in Section
6(d), the Offerors will not file any amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus (except
any amendment or supplement relating solely to securities other
than the Securities), and (ii) between the time of effectiveness
of this Underwriting Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company
will not file any document that is to be incorporated by
reference in, or any supplement to, the Prospectus, in either
case, without prior notice to the Underwriters and to Winthrop,
Stimson, Putnam & Roberts ("Counsel for the Underwriters"), or
any such amendment or supplement to which said Counsel shall
reasonably object on legal grounds in writing. For purposes of
this Underwriting Agreement, any document that is filed with the
Commission after the time of effectiveness of this Underwriting
Agreement and is incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
(except documents incorporated by reference relating solely to
securities other than the Securities) pursuant to Item 12 of Form
S-3 shall be deemed a supplement to the Prospectus.
(e) The Registration Statement, in the form in which
it became effective, and the Indenture, the Trust Agreement and
the Guarantee Agreement, at such time, fully complied, and the
Prospectus, when delivered to the Underwriters for their use in
making confirmations of sales of the Preferred Securities and at
the Closing Date, as it may then be amended or supplemented, will
fully comply, in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of the Securities Act, the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder or pursuant to said
rules and regulations did or will be deemed to comply therewith.
The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, on the date filed with the
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, fully complied or will
fully comply in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder or pursuant to said rules and
regulations did or will be deemed to comply therewith. On the
later of (i) the date the Registration Statement was declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act and (ii) the
date that the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K
was filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act (the date
described in either clause (i) or (ii) is hereinafter referred to
as the "Effective Date"), the Registration Statement did not, and
on the date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement became or becomes effective (but excluding any post-
effective amendment relating solely to securities other than the
Securities), the Registration Statement, as amended by any such
post-effective amendment, did not or will not, as the case may
be, contain any 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. At the time that
the Basic Prospectus relating to the Preferred Securities was
delivered to the Underwriters for their use in marketing the
Preferred Securities, such Basic Prospectus did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or 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 and, at such times, the documents then incorporated by
reference in such Basic Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form
S-3, when read together with such Basic Prospectus, did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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. At the time the Prospectus is delivered to
the Underwriters for their use in making confirmations of sales
of the Preferred Securities and at the Closing Date, the
Prospectus, as it may then be amended or supplemented, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading. The documents incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, on the date filed
with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, did not contain
an untrue statement of a material fact or 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. The foregoing representations and warranties in this
paragraph (e) shall not apply to statements or omissions made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Offerors by the Underwriters or on behalf of any
Underwriter specifically for use in connection with the
preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as
they may be then amended or supplemented, or to any statements in
or omissions from the statements of eligibility on Form T-1 of
the Property Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee and the Corresponding
Debenture Trustee, respectively, as they may be amended, filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement (the "Form T-1s").
(f) The Common Securities have been duly authorized by
the Trust Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Trust
to the Company against payment therefor as described in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, will constitute validly
issued undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
and be entitled to the benefits of the Trust Agreement; the
issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or
other similar rights; at the Closing Date, all of the Common
Securities will be directly owned by the Company free and clear
of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
claim or equity; and the Common Securities will conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(g) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by each of the Trust and the Company.
(h) The Trust Agreement has been duly qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act, has been duly authorized by the Company
and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and each of the Administrative Trustees,
and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Trust Agreement by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee,
will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company and
the Administrative Trustees, enforceable against the Company and
the Administrative Trustees in accordance with its terms, except
as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and by general equitable principles (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law); and the Trust Agreement will conform to the
description thereof in the Prospectus.
(i) The Guarantee Agreement has been duly qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act, and the Guarantee Agreement has
been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Date,
will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Guarantee Agreement by the Guarantee Trustee, will constitute a
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, except as limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law); and the Guarantee and the Guarantee Agreement will conform
to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(j) The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized
by the Trust Agreement and, when issued and delivered against
payment therefor in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement and the Trust Agreement, will constitute validly issued
and (subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement) fully paid and
non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust and be entitled to the benefits of the Trust Agreement;
the issuance of the Preferred Securities is not subject to
preemptive or other similar rights; holders of Preferred
Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for
profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware; and the Preferred Securities will conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(k) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act, has been duly authorized by the Company and,
at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered
by the Company, and assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery of the Indenture by the Corresponding Debenture Trustee,
will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights and by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law); and the Indenture will conform
to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(l) The Debentures have been duly authorized and, on
the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company
and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the
Indenture and delivered against payment therefor by the Trust as
described in the Prospectus, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except as limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or
other similar laws affecting creditors' rights and by general
equitable principles (regardless of whether enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and be entitled
to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Debentures will conform
to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(m) The Expense Agreement has been duly authorized by
the Company and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company, and will constitute a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, except as limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law); and the Expense Agreement will conform to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(n) William J. Regan, Jr., Steven C. McNeal and Frank
Williford IV, in their capacities as administrative trustees (the
"Administrative Trustees") under the Trust Agreement, are
employees of the Company and have been duly authorized by the
Company to execute and deliver the Trust Agreement.
(o) The Trust is not an "investment company" or a
company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(p) The Trust is not in violation of its Certificate
of Trust filed with the State of Delaware on April 30, 1996 or
the Trust Agreement; the execution, delivery and performance by
the Company and the Trust of their respective obligations under
this Underwriting Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Trust
Securities, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreement, the Company
Securities and the Expense Agreement will not result in a breach
of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement
or instrument to which the Company or the Trust is now a party.
(q) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does
business with the government of Cuba or with any person or
affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes.
(r) Except as set forth or contemplated in the
Prospectus, as it may then be amended or supplemented, the
Company possesses adequate franchises, licenses, permits, and
other rights to conduct its respective business and operations as
now conducted, without any known conflicts with the rights of
others that could have an adverse effect on the Company.
SECTION 4. Offering. The Offerors are advised by the
Representatives that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of their respective portions of the Preferred Securities
as soon after the effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement as
in their judgment the Underwriters deem advisable. The Offerors
are further advised by the Representatives that the Preferred
Securities will be offered to the public at the initial public
offering price specified in the Prospectus Supplement.
SECTION 5. Time and Place of Closing; Delivery to
Underwriters. Delivery of certificates for the Preferred
Securities and payment of the purchase price therefor by wire
transfer of immediately available funds shall be made at the
offices of Reid & Priest LLP, 40 West 57th Street, New York, New
York, at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on July 16, 1996, or at such
other time on the same or such other day as shall be agreed upon
by the Offerors and the Representatives, or as may be established
in accordance with Section 11 hereof. The hour and date of such
delivery and payment are herein called the "Closing Date."
Certificates for the Preferred Securities shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such
denominations as the Underwriters shall request not later than
two full business days prior to the Closing Date. The
certificates evidencing the Preferred Securities shall be
delivered to the Representatives through the facilities of The
Depository Trust Company in New York, New York ("DTC") for the
account of the Representatives with any transfer taxes payable in
connection with the transfer of the Preferred Securities duly
paid, against payment of the purchase price therefor.
On the Closing Date, the Company will pay, or cause to
be paid, the compensation payable at such time to the
Underwriters pursuant to Section 1 hereof by wire transfer in
immediately available funds to an account designated by Goldman,
Sachs & Co., for the accounts of the several Underwriters.
SECTION 6. Covenants of the Offerors. Each of the
Offerors jointly and severally covenants and agrees with the
several Underwriters that:
(a) Not later than the Closing Date, the Company will
deliver to the Representatives a copy of the Registration
Statement relating to the Securities as originally filed with the
Commission, and of all amendments or supplements thereto relating
to the Securities, or a conformed copy thereof, certified by an
officer of the Company to be in the form filed.
(b) The Company will deliver to the Underwriters as
many copies of the Prospectus (and any amendments or supplements
thereto) as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(c) The Company will cause the Prospectus to be filed
with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission pursuant to
and in compliance with Rule 424(b) and will advise the
Representatives promptly of the issuance of any stop order under
the Securities Act with respect to the Registration Statement or
the institution of any proceedings therefor of which either of
the Offerors shall have received notice. Each of the Offerors
will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
stop order and to secure the prompt removal thereof if issued.
(d) During such period of time as the Underwriters are
required by law to deliver a prospectus after this Underwriting
Agreement has become effective, if any event relating to or
affecting the Company or the Trust, or of which the Company or
the Trust shall be advised by the Representatives in writing,
shall occur which in the opinion of the Company should be set
forth in a supplement or amendment to the Prospectus in order to
make the Prospectus not misleading in the light of the
circumstances when it is delivered to a purchaser of the
Preferred Securities, the Company will amend or supplement the
Prospectus by either (i) preparing and filing with the Commission
and furnishing to the Underwriters a reasonable number of copies
of a supplement or supplements or an amendment or amendments to
the Prospectus, or (ii) making an appropriate filing pursuant to
Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act which will supplement
or amend the Prospectus, so that, as supplemented or amended, it
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading. Unless
such event relates solely to the activities of the Underwriters
(in which case the Underwriters shall assume the expense of
preparing any such amendment or supplement), the expenses of
complying with this Section 6(d) shall be borne by the Company
until the expiration of nine months from the time of
effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement, and such expenses
shall be borne by the Underwriters thereafter.
(e) The Company will, on behalf of the Trust, make
generally available to the Trust's security holders, as soon as
practicable, an earning statement (which need not be audited)
covering a period of at least twelve months beginning after the
"effective date of the registration statement" within the meaning
of Rule 158 under the Securities Act, which earning statement
shall be in such form, and be made generally available to
security holders in such a manner, as to meet the requirements of
the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
Rule 158 under the Securities Act.
(f) At any time within six months of the date hereof,
the Offerors will furnish such proper information as may be
lawfully required, and will otherwise cooperate in qualifying the
Preferred Securities and the Debentures for offer and sale, under
the blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives
may reasonably designate, provided that the Offerors shall not be
required to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in
securities, to file any consents to service of process under the
laws of any jurisdiction, or to meet any other requirements
deemed by the Offerors to be unduly burdensome.
(g) The Company will, except as herein provided, pay
all fees, expenses and taxes incident to the performance of each
Offeror's obligations under this Agreement including, but not
limited to, (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, (ii) the
printing, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the
Preferred Securities to the Underwriters, (iii) legal counsel
relating to the qualification of the Preferred Securities and the
Debentures under the blue sky laws of various jurisdictions, in
an amount not to exceed $6,000, (iv) the printing and delivery to
the Underwriters of reasonable quantities of copies of the
Registration Statement, the preliminary (or any supplemental)
blue sky survey, any preliminary prospectus supplement relating
to the Preferred Securities and the Prospectus and any amendment
or supplement thereto, except as otherwise provided in paragraph
(d) of this Section 6, (v) the rating of the Preferred Securities
and the Debentures by one or more nationally recognized
statistical rating agencies, (vi) filings or other notices (if
any) with or to, as the case may be, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") in connection with its
review of the terms of the offering, and (vii) the listing of the
Preferred Securities and, if applicable, the Debentures on the
New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and the registration thereof
under the Exchange Act in accordance with Section 6(i) hereof.
Except as provided above, the Company shall not be required to
pay any expenses of the Underwriters, except that, if this
Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 7, 8 or 12 hereof, the Company will
reimburse the Underwriters for (A) the reasonable fees and
expenses of Counsel for the Underwriters, whose fees and expenses
the Underwriters agree to pay in any other event, and (B)
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in contemplation of
the performance of this Underwriting Agreement. The Company
shall not in any event be liable to the Underwriters for damages
on account of loss of anticipated profits.
(h) Each of the Offerors will not offer, sell,
contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Preferred
Securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust, or any preferred securities or any other securities of the
Trust or the Company that are substantially similar to the
Preferred Securities, including any guarantee of such securities,
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or that
represent the right to receive securities, preferred securities
or any such substantially similar securities of either the Trust
or the Company, except for the Trust Securities and the
Guarantee, without the consent of the Representatives until the
earlier to occur of (i) thirty (30) days after the Closing Date
and (ii) the date of the termination of the trading restrictions
on the Preferred Securities, as determined by the Underwriters.
The Representatives agree to notify the Offerors of such
termination if it occurs prior to the Closing Date.
(i) The Offerors will use their best efforts to cause
the Preferred Securities to be duly authorized for listing on the
NYSE, subject to notice of issuance, and to be registered under
the Exchange Act; if the Preferred Securities are exchanged for
Debentures, the Company will use its best efforts to have the
Debentures listed on the exchange or other organization on which
the Preferred Securities were then listed, and to have the
Debentures registered under the Exchange Act.
SECTION 7. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.
The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the
Preferred Securities shall be subject to the accuracy on the date
hereof and on the Closing Date of the representations and
warranties made herein on the part of the Offerors and of any
certificates furnished by the Offerors on the Closing Date and to
the following conditions:
(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with, or
transmitted for filing to, the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
prior to 5:30 P.M., New York time, on the second business day
following the date of this Underwriting Agreement, or such other
time and date as may be agreed upon by the Offerors and the
Representatives.
(b) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall be in effect at or prior to the
Closing Date; no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending
before, or, to the knowledge of the Offerors or the Underwriters,
threatened by, the Commission on the Closing Date; and the
Underwriters shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing
Date and signed by the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer
or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company and an authorized
representative of the Trust, to the effect that no such stop
order has been or is in effect and that no proceedings for such
purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company or
the Trust, as the case may be, threatened by the Commission.
(c) At the Closing Date, there shall have been issued
and there shall be in full force and effect, to the extent
legally required for the issuance and sale of the Securities, an
order of the Commission under the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended (the "1935 Act"), authorizing the
issuance and sale of the Securities on the terms set forth in, or
contemplated by, this Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the
Trust Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement and the Prospectus.
(d) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from Denise C. Redmann, Esq., Senior Attorney --
Corporate and Securities of Entergy Services, Inc., and Reid &
Priest LLP, opinions, dated the Closing Date, substantially in
the forms set forth in Exhibits A and B hereto, respectively,
(i) with such changes therein as may be agreed upon by the
Offerors and the Representatives with the approval of Counsel for
the Underwriters, and (ii) if the Prospectus shall be
supplemented after being furnished to the Underwriters for use in
offering the Preferred Securities, with changes therein to
reflect such supplementation.
(e) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware
counsel for the Company and the Trust, an opinion, dated the
Closing Date, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C
hereto (i) with such changes therein as may be agreed upon by the
Offerors and the Representatives, with the approval of Counsel
for the Underwriters, and (ii) if the Prospectus shall be
supplemented after being furnished to the Underwriters for use in
offering the Preferred Securities, with changes therein to
reflect such supplementation.
(f) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, Counsel for
the Underwriters, an opinion, dated the Closing Date,
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit D hereto, with
such changes therein as may be necessary to reflect any
supplementation of the Prospectus prior to the Closing Date.
(g) On or prior to the effective date of this
Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received from
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., the Company's independent certified
public accountants (the "Accountants"), a letter dated the date
hereof and addressed to the Underwriters to the effect that (i)
they are independent certified public accountants with respect to
the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the
applicable published rules and regulations thereunder; (ii) in
their opinion, the financial statements and financial statement
schedules examined by them and included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published
rules and regulations thereunder; (iii) on the basis of
performing the procedures specified by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim financial
information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial
Information, on the latest unaudited financial statements, if
any, included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, a
reading of the latest available interim unaudited financial
statements of the Company, the minutes of the meetings of the
Board of Directors of the Company, the Executive Committee
thereof, if any, and the stockholder of the Company, since
December 31, 1995 to a specified date not more than five days
prior to the date of such letter, and inquiries of officers of
the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting
matters (it being understood that the foregoing procedures do not
constitute an examination made in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and they would not necessarily reveal
matters of significance with respect to the comments made in such
letter and, accordingly, that the Accountants make no
representations as to the sufficiency of such procedures for the
purposes of the Underwriters), nothing has come to their
attention which caused them to believe that, to the extent
applicable, (A) the unaudited financial statements of the Company
(if any) included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the
related published rules and regulations thereunder; (B) any
material modifications should be made to said unaudited financial
statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles; and (C) at a specified date not more than
five days prior to the date of the letter, there was any change
in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or
decrease in its net assets, in each case as compared with amounts
shown in the most recent balance sheet incorporated by reference
in the Prospectus, except in all instances for changes or
decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may
occur, for declarations of dividends, for the repayment or
redemption of long-term debt, for the amortization of premium or
discount on long-term debt, for the redemption or purchase of
preferred stock for sinking fund purposes, for any increases in
long-term debt in respect of previously issued pollution control,
solid waste disposal or industrial development revenue bonds, or
for changes or decreases as set forth in such letter, identifying
the same and specifying the amount thereof; and (iv) stating that
they have compared specific dollar amounts, percentages of
revenues and earnings and other financial information pertaining
to the Company (x) set forth in the Prospectus and (y) set forth
in documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13, 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act as specified in Exhibit E hereto, in
each case, to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages
and information may be derived from the general accounting
records of the Company, and excluding any questions requiring an
interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from
the application of specified readings, inquiries and other
appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an
examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards) set forth in the letter, and found them to be in
agreement.
(h) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the
President, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer of the Company, to the effect that (i) the
representations and warranties of the Company contained herein
are true and correct, (ii) the Company has performed and complied
with all agreements and conditions in this Underwriting Agreement
to be performed or complied with by the Company at or prior to
the Closing Date and (iii) since the most recent date as of which
information is given in the Prospectus, as it may then be amended
or supplemented, there has not been any material adverse change
in the business, property or financial condition of the Company
and there has not been any material transaction entered into by
the Company, other than transactions in the ordinary course of
business, in each case other than as referred to in, or
contemplated by, the Prospectus, as it may then be amended or
supplemented.
(i) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an
authorized representative of the Trust, to the effect that (i)
the representations and warranties of the Trust contained herein
are true and correct, (ii) the Trust has performed and complied
with all agreements and conditions in this Underwriting Agreement
to be performed or complied with by the Trust at or prior to the
Closing Date and (iii) since the most recent date as of which
information is given in the Prospectus, as it may then be amended
or supplemented, there has not been any material adverse change
in the business, property or financial condition of the Trust and
there has not been any material transaction entered into by the
Trust, other than transactions in the ordinary course of
business, in each case other than as referred to in, or
contemplated by, the Prospectus, as it may then be amended or
supplemented.
(j) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received duly executed counterparts of the Trust Agreement, the
Guarantee Agreement, the Expense Agreement and the Indenture.
(k) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from the Accountants a letter, dated the Closing Date,
confirming, as of a date not more than five days prior to the
Closing Date, the statements contained in the letter delivered
pursuant to Section 7(g) hereof.
(l) Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, no
event shall have occurred with respect to or otherwise affecting
the Company or the Trust that, in the reasonable opinion of the
Representatives, materially impairs the investment quality of the
Preferred Securities.
(m) Between the date hereof and the Closing Date
neither Moody's Investors Service, Inc. nor Standard & Poor's
shall have lowered its rating of any of the Company's outstanding
debt securities in any respect.
(n) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Underwriters
shall have received from the Company evidence reasonably
satisfactory to Goldman, Sachs & Co. that Moody's Investors
Service, Inc. and Standard & Poor's have publicly assigned to the
Preferred Securities ratings of Baa3 and BBB-, respectively,
which ratings shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
Date.
(o) On or prior to the Closing Date, (i) the Preferred
Securities shall have been duly listed, subject to notice of
issuance, on the NYSE and (ii) the Company's registration
statement on Form 8-A relating to the Preferred Securities shall
have become effective under the Exchange Act.
(p) All legal matters in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Preferred Securities shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to Counsel for the Underwriters.
(q) The Offerors will furnish the Underwriters with
additional conformed copies of such opinions, certificates,
letters and documents as may be reasonably requested.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7
shall not have been fulfilled, this Underwriting Agreement may be
terminated by the Underwriters upon notice thereof to the
Offerors. Any such termination shall be without liability of any
party to any other party, except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (g) of Section 6 and in Section 10.
SECTION 8. Conditions of Obligations of the Offerors.
The obligations of the Offerors hereunder shall be subject to the
following conditions:
(a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall be in effect at or prior to the
Closing Date, and no proceedings for that purpose shall be
pending before, or threatened by, the Commission on the Closing
Date.
(b) There shall have been issued and, at the Closing
Date, there shall be in full force and effect an order of the
Commission under the 1935 Act authorizing the issuance and sale
of the Securities on the terms set forth in, or contemplated by,
this Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the Trust Agreement,
the Guarantee Agreement and the Prospectus.
In case any of the conditions specified in this Section
8 shall not have been fulfilled, this Underwriting Agreement may
be terminated by the Offerors upon notice thereof to the
Representatives. Any such termination shall be without liability
of any party to any other party, except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (g) of Section 6 and in Section 10.
SECTION 9. Indemnification.
(a) The Offerors shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person who controls each
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which each Underwriter or any or all of them may become subject
under the Securities Act or any other statute or common law and
shall reimburse each Underwriter and any such controlling person
for any legal or other expenses (including to the extent
hereinafter provided, reasonable counsel fees) incurred by them
in connection with investigating any such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities or in connection with defending any actions,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or
actions arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Basic
Prospectus (if used prior to the date the Prospectus is filed
with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b)), or in the Prospectus, as each may be amended or
supplemented, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this paragraph shall not apply to any such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arising
out of, or based upon, any such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement, or any such omission or alleged omission, if
such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished herein or in writing to the
Offerors by any Underwriter specifically for use in connection
with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Basic
Prospectus (if used prior to the date the Prospectus is filed
with, or transmitted for filing to, the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b)) or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any thereof or arising out of, or based upon, statements in or
omissions from the Form T-1s; and provided further, that the
indemnity agreement contained in this subsection shall not inure
to the benefit of any Underwriter or to the benefit of any person
controlling any Underwriter on account of any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arising from
the sale of the Preferred Securities to any person in respect of
the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus as supplemented or
amended, furnished by any Underwriter to a person to whom any of
the Preferred Securities were sold (excluding in both cases,
however, any document then incorporated or deemed incorporated by
reference therein), insofar as such indemnity relates to any
untrue or misleading statement or omission made in the Basic
Prospectus or the Prospectus but eliminated or remedied prior to
the consummation of such sale in the Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto furnished on a timely basis by the Offerors
to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof,
respectively, unless a copy of the Prospectus (in the case of
such a statement or omission made in the Basic Prospectus) or
such amendment or supplement (in the case of such a statement or
omission made in the Prospectus) (excluding, however, any
amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus relating solely
to securities other than the Securities and any document then
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus or such amendment or supplement) is furnished by such
Underwriter to such person (i) with or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale involved or (ii) as soon as available
after such written confirmation (if it is made available to the
Underwriters prior to settlement of such sale).
(b) The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Trust against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities that may become due from the Trust under Section 9(a)
hereof.
(c) Each Underwriter shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Offerors, its directors and officers and each person
who controls the foregoing within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under
the Securities Act or any other statute or common law and shall
reimburse each of them for any legal or other expenses
(including, to the extent hereinafter provided, reasonable
counsel fees) incurred by them in connection with investigating
any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or in connection
with defending any action, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise out of or are
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, as amended
or supplemented, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Basic Prospectus (if used prior to the date
the Prospectus is filed with, or transmitted for filing to, the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)) or in the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein 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 each case, if, but only if,
such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished herein or in writing to the
Offerors by any Underwriter specifically for use in connection
with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Basic
Prospectus (if used prior to the date the Prospectus is filed
with or transmitted for filing to the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b)) or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(d) In case any action shall be brought, based upon
the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus or the
Prospectus (including amendments or supplements thereto), against
any party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
any of the preceding paragraphs, such party (hereinafter called
the indemnified party) shall promptly notify the party or parties
against whom indemnity shall be sought hereunder (hereinafter
called the indemnifying party) in writing, and the indemnifying
party shall have the right to participate at its own expense in
the defense or, if it so elects, to assume (in conjunction with
any other indemnifying party) the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses. If the
indemnifying party shall elect not to assume the defense of any
such action, the indemnifying party shall reimburse the
indemnified party for the reasonable fees and expenses of any
counsel retained by such indemnified party. Such indemnified
party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action in which the defense has been assumed by the indemnifying
party and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel has been
specifically authorized by the indemnifying party or (ii) the
named parties to any such action (including any impleaded
parties) include each of such indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and such indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that a conflict of interest between the
indemnifying party and such indemnified party may arise and for
this reason it is not desirable for the same counsel to represent
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party (it being
understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any one such action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for
the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
of attorneys for such indemnified party (plus any local counsel
retained by such indemnified party in its reasonable judgment).
The indemnified party shall be reimbursed for all such fees and
expenses as they are incurred. The indemnifying party shall not
be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without
its consent, but if any such action is settled with the consent
of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the
plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity has or could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party and any person
controlling any indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.
(e) If the indemnification provided for under
subsections (a), (b), (c) or (d) in this Section 9 is unavailable
to any extent to an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the Offerors and the
Underwriters from the offering of the Preferred Securities or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above 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 Offerors on the one
hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Offerors
on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed
to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the
offering (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions
but before deducting expenses) to the Offerors bear to the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover
page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Offerors on
the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Offerors or by any of the
Underwriters and such parties' relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
The Offerors and the Underwriters agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 9(e) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable to an indemnified party as
a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred
to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9(e), no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess
of the amount by which the total price at which the Preferred
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
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 Securities Act) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations
to contribute pursuant to this Section 9(e) are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not
joint. The obligations of the Company under this Section 9 shall
be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise
have.
SECTION 10. Survival of Certain Representations and
Obligations. Any other provision of this Underwriting Agreement
to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) the indemnity and
contribution agreements contained in Section 9 of, and the
representations and warranties and other agreements of the
Offerors contained in, this Underwriting Agreement shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or by or on
behalf of the Offerors or its directors or officers, or any of
the other persons referred to in Section 9 hereof and (ii)
acceptance of and payment for the Preferred Securities and (b)
the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 9
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
any termination of this Underwriting Agreement.
SECTION 11. Default of Underwriters. If any
Underwriter shall fail or refuse (otherwise than for some reason
sufficient to justify, in accordance with the terms hereof, the
cancellation or termination of its obligations hereunder) to
purchase and pay for the Preferred Securities that it has agreed
to purchase and pay for hereunder, and the aggregate amount of
Preferred Securities that such defaulting Underwriter agreed but
failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the
aggregate amount of the Preferred Securities, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the Preferred
Securities that such defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed or
refused to purchase; provided that in no event shall the amount
of Preferred Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to
purchase pursuant to Schedule I hereof be increased pursuant to
this Section 11 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such
amount of Preferred Securities without written consent of such
Underwriter. If any Underwriter shall fail or refuse to purchase
Preferred Securities and the aggregate amount of Preferred
Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than
one-tenth of the aggregate amount of the Preferred Securities,
the Offerors shall have the right (a) to require the non-
defaulting Underwriters to purchase and pay for the respective
aggregate amount of Preferred Securities that it had severally
agreed to purchase hereunder, and, in addition, the aggregate
amount of Preferred Securities that the defaulting Underwriter
shall have so failed to purchase up to an aggregate amount
thereof equal to one-ninth of the respective aggregate amount of
Preferred Securities that such non-defaulting Underwriters have
otherwise agreed to purchase hereunder, and/or (b) to procure one
or more others, members of the NASD (or, if not members of the
NASD, who are foreign banks, dealers or institutions not
registered under the Exchange Act and who agree in making sales
to comply with the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice), to purchase,
upon the terms herein set forth, the aggregate amount of
Preferred Securities that such defaulting Underwriter had agreed
to purchase, or that portion thereof that the remaining
Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase pursuant to the
foregoing clause (a). In the event the Offerors shall exercise
its rights under clause (a) and/or (b) above, the Offerors shall
give written notice thereof to the Representatives within 24
hours (excluding any Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday) of the
time when the Offerors learn of the failure or refusal of any
Underwriter to purchase and pay for its respective aggregate
amount of Preferred Securities, and thereupon the Closing Date
shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding three business
days, as the Offerors shall determine. In the event the Offerors
shall be entitled to but shall not elect (within the time period
specified above) to exercise its rights under clause (a) and/or
(b), the Offerors shall be deemed to have elected to terminate
this Underwriting Agreement. In the absence of such election by
the Offerors, this Underwriting Agreement will, unless otherwise
agreed by the Offerors and the non-defaulting Underwriters,
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
party except as otherwise provided in paragraph (g) of Section 6
and in Section 10. Any action taken under this paragraph shall
not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect
of its default under this Underwriting Agreement.
SECTION 12. Termination. This Underwriting Agreement
shall be subject to termination by notice given by written notice
from the Representatives to the Offerors if (a) after the
execution and delivery of this Underwriting Agreement and prior
to the Closing Date (i) trading of the Preferred Securities or
trading in securities generally shall have been suspended or
materially limited on the NYSE by The New York Stock Exchange,
Inc., the Commission or other governmental authority, (ii)
minimum or maximum ranges for prices shall have been generally
established on the NYSE by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the
Commission or other governmental authority, (iii) a general
moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall
have been declared by either Federal or New York State
authorities, or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or any calamity or crisis that, in the
judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and (b)
in the case of any of the events specified in clauses (a)(i)
through (iv), such event singly or together with any other such
event makes it, in the reasonable judgment of the
Representatives, impracticable to market the Preferred
Securities. This Underwriting Agreement shall also be subject to
termination, upon notice by the Representatives as provided
above, if, in the judgment of the Representatives, the subject
matter of any amendment or supplement (prepared by the Offerors)
to the Prospectus (except for information relating solely to the
manner of public offering of the Preferred Securities, to the
activity of the Underwriters or to the terms of any series of
securities of the Offerors other than the Preferred Securities)
filed or issued after the effectiveness of this Underwriting
Agreement by the Offerors shall have materially impaired the
marketability of the Preferred Securities. Any termination
hereof, pursuant to this Section 12, shall be without liability
of any party to any other party, except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (g) of Section 6 and in Section 10.
SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
SHALL BE A NEW YORK CONTRACT AND ITS VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. This
Underwriting Agreement shall become effective when a fully
executed copy thereof is delivered to the Offerors and to the
Representatives. This Underwriting Agreement may be executed in
any number of separate counterparts, each of which, when so
executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all
of which, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same
agreement. This Underwriting Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of each of the Offerors, the Underwriters and, with
respect to the provisions of Section 9, each director, officer
and other person referred to in Section 9, and their respective
successors. Should any part of this Underwriting Agreement for
any reason be declared invalid, such declaration shall not affect
the validity of any remaining portion, which remaining portion
shall remain in full force and effect as if this Underwriting
Agreement had been executed with the invalid portion thereof
eliminated. Nothing herein is intended or shall be construed to
give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of any
provision in this Underwriting Agreement. The term "successor"
as used in this Underwriting Agreement shall not include any
purchaser, as such purchaser, of any Preferred Securities from
the Underwriters.
SECTION 14. Notices. All communications hereunder
shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriters, shall be mailed
or delivered to Goldman, Sachs & Co. at the address set forth at
the beginning of this Underwriting Agreement (to the attention of
its General Counsel) or, if to the Offerors, shall be mailed or
delivered to it at 639 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana
70113, Attention: Treasurer, or, if to Entergy Services, Inc.,
shall be mailed or delivered to it at 639 Loyola Avenue, New
Orleans, Louisiana 70113, Attention: Treasurer.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your
understanding, please sign and return to us counterparts of this
Underwriting Agreement, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this Underwriting Agreement
and such acceptance hereof, shall constitute a binding agreement
among each of the Underwriters, the Company and the Trust. It is
understood that your acceptance of this Underwriting Agreement on
behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the
authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters,
the form of which shall be submitted to the Company and the Trust
for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
By:
Name:
Title:
Entergy Louisiana Capital I
By: Entergy Louisiana, Inc.,
as Depositor
By:
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date first above written:
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
As representatives of the other several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
By:
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
Entergy Louisiana Capital I
9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A
Number of
Underwriter Preferred Securities
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------
Goldman, Sachs & Co. 550,000
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. 550,000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. 550,000
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated 550,000
J.C. Bradford & Co. 30,000
EVEREN Securities, Inc. 30,000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated 30,000
Lehman Brothers Inc. 60,000
McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. 30,000
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. 30,000
Olde Discount Corporation 30,000
Prudential Securities Incorporated 60,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 30,000
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc. 30,000
Salomon Brothers Inc 60,000
Smith Barney Inc. 60,000
Stephens Inc. 60,000
Wheat, First Securities, Inc. 60,000
Total _________
2,800,000
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
[Letterhead of Entergy Services, Inc.]
July 16, 1996
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
As representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I to
the Underwriting Agreement referred
to below (the "Underwriters")
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I, together with Reid & Priest LLP, of New York, New
York, and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware,
have acted as counsel for Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana
corporation (the "Company"), and Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a
statutory business trust organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Trust"), in connection with the issuance and sale
by the Trust to the several Underwriters pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement, effective July 10, 1996 (the
"Underwriting Agreement"), among the Company, the Trust and you,
as the representatives of the several Underwriters, of 2,800,000
9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A
(liquidation preference $25 per preferred security) (the
"Preferred Securities"), guaranteed to the extent the Trust has
funds by the Company. This opinion is rendered to you at the
request of the Company and the Trust. Capitalized terms used
herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings ascribed to
such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
In my capacity as such counsel, I have either
participated in the preparation of or have examined and am
familiar with: (a) the Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws, each as amended; (b) the Underwriting
Agreement; (c) the Indenture; (d) the Trust Agreement; (e) the
Guarantee Agreement; (f) the Expense Agreement; (g) the
Registration Statement and Prospectus filed under the Securities
Act; (h) the records of various corporate proceedings relating to
the authorization, issuance and sale of the Company Securities
and the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture,
the Underwriting Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Expense
Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement; and (i) the proceedings
before and the order entered by the Commission under the 1935 Act
relating to the issuance and sale of the Securities. I have also
examined or caused to be examined such other documents and have
satisfied myself as to such other matters as I have deemed
necessary in order to render this opinion. I have not examined
the Debentures, except a specimen thereof, and I have relied upon
a certificate of the Corresponding Debenture Trustee as to the
authentication and delivery thereof.
In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me
as originals, the legal capacity of natural persons and the
conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to me as
copies. In making my examination of documents and instruments
executed or to be executed by persons other than the Company and
the Trust, I have assumed that each such other person had the
requisite power and authority to enter into and perform fully its
obligations thereunder, the due authorization by each such other
person for the execution, delivery and performance thereof by
such person, and the due execution and delivery by or on behalf
of such person of each such document and instrument. In the case
of any such other person that is not a natural person, I have
also assumed, insofar as it is relevant to the opinions set forth
below, that each such other person is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
in which such other person was created, and is duly qualified and
in good standing in each other jurisdiction where the failure to
be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a material
effect upon the ability of such other person to execute, deliver
and/or perform such other person's obligations under any such
document or instrument. I have further assumed that each
document, instrument, agreement, record and certificate reviewed
by me for purposes of rendering the opinions expressed below has
not been amended by oral agreement, conduct or course of dealing
of the parties thereto, although I have no knowledge of any facts
or circumstances that could give rise to such amendment.
As to questions of fact material to the opinions
expressed herein, I have relied upon certificates and
representations of officers of the Company and the Trust
(including but not limited to those contained in the Underwriting
Agreement, the Indenture, the Trust Agreement, the Expense
Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement and certificates delivered
at the closing of the sale of the Preferred Securities) and
appropriate public officials without independent verification of
such matters except as otherwise described herein.
Whenever my opinions herein with respect to the
existence or absence of facts are stated to be to my knowledge or
awareness, I intend to signify that no information has come to my
attention or the attention of any other attorneys acting for or
on behalf of the Company or the Trust or any of its affiliates
that have participated in the negotiation of the transactions
contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture, the
Trust Agreement, the Expense Agreement and the Guarantee
Agreement, in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus or in the preparation of this opinion letter that
would give me, or them, actual knowledge that would contradict
such opinions. However, except to the extent necessary in order
to give the opinions hereinafter expressed, neither I nor they
have undertaken any independent investigation to determine the
existence or absence of such facts, and no inference as to
knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts (except to
the extent necessary in order to give the opinions hereinafter
expressed) should be assumed.
Subject to the foregoing and to the further exceptions
and qualifications set forth below, I am of the opinion that:
(1) The Company is duly organized and validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Louisiana, has due corporate power and authority to conduct the
business that it is described as conducting in the Prospectus, to
own and operate the properties owned and operated by it in such
business, to issue the Company Securities, to enter into and
perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, the
Trust Agreement, the Indenture, the Expense Agreement, the
Guarantee Agreement and the Company Securities, to purchase, own,
and hold the Common Securities issued by the Trust and to
consummate the transactions therein contemplated, and is duly
qualified to conduct such business in the State of Louisiana.
(2) The statements made in the Prospectus under the
captions "Risk Factors", "Entergy Louisiana Capital I", "Certain
Terms of the Series A Preferred Securities", "Certain Terms of
the Series A Debentures", "The Issuers", "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures", "Description of Preferred Securities",
"Description of Guarantees", "Description of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures" and "Relationship Among the Preferred
Securities, the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and
the Guarantees" insofar as they purport to constitute summaries
of the documents referred to therein, constitute accurate
summaries of the terms of such documents in all material
respects.
(3) The Debentures have been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and by general equitable principles (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law), and are entitled to the benefits provided by the
Indenture.
(4) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company, is a
legal, valid and binding instrument of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and by general equitable principles (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law), and is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act,
and no proceedings to suspend such qualification have been
instituted or, to my knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(5) The Guarantee Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company, is a legal, valid and binding instrument of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights and by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law), and is duly qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act, and no proceedings to suspend such
qualification have been instituted or, to my knowledge,
threatened by the Commission.
(6) The Expense Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company and is a legal, valid and binding instrument of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights and by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(7) The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company; the Underwriting Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
on behalf of itself and as depositor under the Trust Agreement;
and the Preferred Securities have been duly executed and
delivered by an Administrative Trustee.
(8) The Trust Agreement is duly qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act, and no proceedings to suspend such
qualification have been instituted or, to my knowledge,
threatened by the Commission.
(9) The issuance and sale by the Company of the
Company Securities, the execution, delivery and performance by
the Company of the Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement, the
Trust Agreement, the Expense Agreement and the Guarantee
Agreement (a) will not violate any provision of the Company's
Restated Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, as amended, (b)
will not violate any provisions of, or constitute a default
under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance on or security interest in any of the
assets of the Company pursuant to the provisions of, any
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement or other undertaking
known to me (having made due inquiry with respect thereto) to
which the Company is a party or which purports to be binding upon
the Company or upon any of its assets, and (c) will not violate
any provision of any law or regulation applicable to the Company
or, to the best of my knowledge (having made due inquiry with
respect thereto), any provision of any order, writ, judgment or
decree of any governmental instrumentality applicable to the
Company (except that various consents of, and filings with,
governmental authorities may be required to be obtained or made,
as the case may be, in connection or compliance with the
provisions of the securities or blue-sky laws of any
jurisdiction).
(10) Except in each case as to the financial statements
and other financial data included or incorporated by reference
therein, upon which I do not pass, the Registration Statement, at
the time it became effective, and the Prospectus, as of its date,
complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and (except with respect to
the Form T-1s, upon which I do not pass) the Trust Indenture Act,
and the applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder or pursuant to said instructions, rules and
regulations are deemed to comply therewith; and, with respect to
the documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, such documents or
portions thereof, on the date they were first filed with the
Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the applicable
instructions, rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
or pursuant to said instructions, rules and regulations are
deemed to comply therewith; the Registration Statement has
become, and on the date hereof is, effective under the Securities
Act, and, to the best of my knowledge, no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose are pending or threatened
under Section 8(d) of the Securities Act.
(11) An appropriate order has been entered by the
Commission under the 1935 Act authorizing the issuance and sale
of the Securities; to the best of my knowledge, said order is in
full force and effect; no further approval, authorization,
consent or other order of any governmental body (other than
orders of the Commission under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act and the Trust Indenture Act, which have been duly obtained,
or in connection or compliance with the provisions of the
securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction) is legally
required to permit the issuance and sale of the Securities; and
no further approval, authorization, consent or other order of any
governmental body is legally required to permit the performance
by the Trust of its obligations with respect to the Preferred
Securities, or by the Company of its obligations with respect to
the Company Securities or under the Indenture, the Underwriting
Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Expense Agreement or the
Guarantee Agreement.
(12) All of the issued and outstanding Common
Securities of the Trust are owned of record by the Company.
In connection with the preparation by the Company and
the Trust of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, I
have had discussions with certain of the officers and
representatives of the Company and the Trust, with other counsel
for the Company and the Trust, and with the independent certified
public accountants of the Company who examined certain of the
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement. My examination of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and such discussions did not
disclose to me any information which gives me reason to believe
that (i) the Registration Statement, at the Effective Date,
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, as of its date and at the date hereof, contained or
contains any 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, and (ii) the documents
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12
of Form S-3, on the date first filed with the Commission pursuant
to the Exchange Act, contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted 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. I do not express any
opinion or belief as to the financial statements or other
financial data included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as to the Form T-1s or
as to the information contained in the Prospectus under the
caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations."
I have examined the portions of the information
contained in the Registration Statement that are stated therein
to have been made on my authority, and I believe such information
to be correct. I have examined the opinions of even date
herewith rendered to you by Reid & Priest LLP and Winthrop,
Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, and concur in the conclusions
expressed therein insofar as they involve questions of Louisiana
law.
I am a member of the Louisiana Bar and do not hold
myself out as an expert on the laws of any other state. As to
all matters of New York law, I have relied, with your approval,
upon the opinion of even date herewith addressed to you by Reid &
Priest LLP of New York, New York, and, as to all matters of
Delaware law, I have relied, with your approval, upon the opinion
of even date herewith addressed to you by Richards, Layton &
Finger, P.A., of Wilmington, Delaware.
The opinion set forth above is solely for the benefit
of the addressees of this letter in connection with the
Underwriting Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereunder and it may not be relied upon in any manner by any
other person or for any other purpose, without my prior written
consent, except that Reid & Priest LLP and Winthrop, Stimson,
Putnam & Roberts may rely on this opinion as to all matters of
Louisiana law in rendering their opinions required to be
delivered under the Underwriting Agreement.
Very truly yours,
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
[Letterhead of Reid & Priest LLP]
July 16, 1996
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
As representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I to
the Underwriting Agreement referred
to below (the "Underwriters")
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We, together with Denise C. Redmann, Esq., Senior
Attorney--Corporate and Securities of Entergy Services, Inc., and
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, have acted
as counsel for Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation
(the "Company"), and Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a statutory
business trust organized under the laws of the State of Delaware
(the "Trust"), in connection with the issuance and sale by the
Trust to the several Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement, effective July 10, 1996 (the "Underwriting
Agreement"), among the Company, the Trust and you, as the
representatives of the several Underwriters, of 2,800,000 9%
Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A
(liquidation preference $25 per preferred security) (the
"Preferred Securities"), guaranteed to the extent the Trust has
funds by the Company. This opinion is rendered to you at the
request of the Company and the Trust. Capitalized terms used
herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings ascribed to
such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
In our capacity as such counsel, we have either
participated in the preparation of or have examined and are
familiar with: (a) the Company's Restated Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws, each as amended; (b) the Underwriting
Agreement; (c) the Indenture; (d) the Trust Agreement; (e) the
Guarantee Agreement; (f) the Expense Agreement; (g) the
Registration Statement and Prospectus filed under the Securities
Act; (h) the records of various corporate proceedings relating to
the authorization, issuance and sale of the Company Securities
and the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture,
the Underwriting Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Expense
Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement; and (i) the proceedings
before and the order entered by the Commission under the 1935 Act
relating to the issuance and sale of the Securities. We have
also examined or caused to be examined such other documents and
have satisfied ourselves as to such other matters as we have
deemed necessary in order to render this opinion. In such
examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals,
and the conformity to the originals of the documents submitted to
us as certified or photostatic copies. We have not examined the
Debentures, except a specimen thereof, and we have relied upon a
certificate of the Corresponding Debenture Trustee as to the
authentication and delivery thereof.
Subject to the foregoing and to the further exceptions
and qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
(1) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company, is a
legal, valid and binding instrument of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and by general equitable principles (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law), and is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act,
and no proceedings to suspend such qualification have been
instituted or, to our knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(2) The Debentures have been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and by general equitable principles (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law), and are entitled to the benefits provided by the
Indenture.
(3) The Guarantee Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company, is a legal, valid and binding instrument of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights and by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law), and is duly qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act, and no proceedings to suspend such
qualification have been instituted or, to our knowledge,
threatened by the Commission.
(4) The Expense Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company and is a legal, valid and binding instrument of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights and by general equitable principles
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(5) The Trust Agreement is duly qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act, and no proceedings to suspend such
qualification have been instituted or, to our knowledge,
threatened by the Commission.
(6) The statements made in the Prospectus under the
captions "Risk Factors", "Entergy Louisiana Capital I", "Certain
Terms of the Series A Preferred Securities", "Certain Terms of
the Series A Debentures", "The Issuers", "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures", "Description of Preferred Securities",
"Description of Guarantees", "Description of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures" and "Relationship Among the Preferred
Securities, the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and
the Guarantees" insofar as they purport to constitute summaries
of the documents referred to therein, constitute accurate
summaries of the terms of such documents in all material
respects.
(7) The statements made in the Prospectus under the
caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations"
constitute a fair and accurate summary of the matters addressed
therein, based upon current law and the assumptions stated or
referred to therein.
(8) The Trust is not an "investment company" or a
company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(9) Except in each case as to the financial statements
and other financial data included or incorporated by reference
therein, upon which we do not pass, the Registration Statement,
at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus, as of its
date, complied as to form in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and (except with
respect to the Form T-1s, upon which we do not pass) the Trust
Indenture Act, and the applicable instructions, rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder or pursuant to said
instructions, rules and regulations are deemed to comply
therewith; and, with respect to the documents or portions thereof
filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12
of Form S-3, such documents or portions thereof, on the date they
were first filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange
Act and the applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder or pursuant to said instructions, rules and
regulations are deemed to comply therewith; the Registration
Statement has become, and on the date hereof is, effective under
the Securities Act and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose are pending
or threatened under Section 8(d) of the Securities Act.
(10) An appropriate order has been entered by the
Commission under the 1935 Act authorizing the issuance and sale
of the Securities; to the best of our knowledge, said order is in
full force and effect; no further approval, authorization,
consent or other order of any governmental body (other than
orders of the Commission under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act and the Trust Indenture Act, which have been duly obtained,
or in connection or compliance with the provisions of the
securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction) is legally
required to permit the issuance and sale of the Securities; and
no further approval, authorization, consent or other order of any
governmental body is legally required to permit the performance
by the Trust of its obligations with respect to the Preferred
Securities, or by the Company of its obligations with respect to
the Company Securities or under the Indenture, the Underwriting
Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the Expense Agreement or the
Guarantee Agreement.
In passing upon the forms of the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, we necessarily assume the correctness,
completeness and fairness of the statements made by the Company
and the Trust and information included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and
take no responsibility therefor, except insofar as such
statements relate to us and as set forth in paragraphs (6) and
(7) above. In connection with the preparation by the Company and
the Trust of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we
have had discussions with certain officers and representatives of
the Company and the Trust, with other counsel for the Company and
the Trust, and with the independent certified public accountants
of the Company who examined certain of the financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement. Our examination of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and such discussions did not disclose to us any
information which gives us reason to believe that the
Registration Statement, at the Effective Date, 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, as
of its date and at the date hereof, contained or contains any
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. We do not express any opinion or belief as
to the financial statements or other financial data included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or as to the Form T-1s.
We have examined the portions of the information
contained in the Registration Statement that are stated therein
to have been made on our authority, and we believe such
information to be correct. We are members of the New York Bar
and do not hold ourselves out as experts on the laws of any other
state. As to all matters of Louisiana law, we have, with your
consent, relied upon the opinion of even date herewith of Denise
C. Redmann, Esq., Senior Attorney--Corporate and Securities of
Entergy Services, Inc., counsel for the Company, and, as to all
matters of Delaware law, we have, with your consent, relied upon
the opinion of even date herewith of Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel for the
Offerors. We have not examined into and are not passing upon
matters relating to the incorporation of the Company.
The opinion set forth above is solely for the benefit
of the addressees of this letter in connection with the
Underwriting Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereunder and it may not be relied upon in any manner by any
other person or for any other purpose, without our prior written
consent, except that Denise C. Redmann, Esq., Senior Attorney--
Corporate and Securities of Entergy Services, Inc. may rely on
this opinion as to all matters of New York law in rendering her
opinion required to be delivered under the Underwriting
Agreement.
Very truly yours,
REID & PRIEST LLP
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
[Letterhead of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.]
July 16, 1996
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
As representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I
to the Underwriting Agreement
referred to below (the "Underwriters")
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Entergy
Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"), and
Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a Delaware business trust (the
"Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At
your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set
forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the
examination of originals or copies of the following:
(a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust, dated as of
April 30, 1996 (the "Certificate"), as filed in the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of
State") on April 30, 1996;
(b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of
April 30, 1996 among the Company, as depositor, and the trustees
of the Trust named therein;
(c) The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Trust, dated as of July 16, 1996 (including Exhibits A, B and D
thereto) (the "Trust Agreement"), among the Company, as
depositor, The Bank of New York, as property trustee, The Bank of
New York (Delaware), as Delaware trustee, William J. Regan, Jr.,
Steven C. McNeal and Frank Williford IV (each, an "Administrative
Trustee" and jointly, the "Administrative Trustees") and the
holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust;
(d) The Underwriting Agreement, dated July 10, 1996
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), among the Trust, the Company and
you, as Representatives of the several underwriters named in
Schedule I to the Underwriting Agreement;
(e) The Prospectus, dated July 3, 1996 (the
"Prospectus") and the Prospectus Supplement, dated July 10, 1996
(the "Prospectus Supplement"), relating to 2,800,000 9%
Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A, of
the Trust representing preferred undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Trust (each, a "Preferred Security" and
collectively, the "Preferred Securities"); and
(f) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust,
dated July __, 1996, obtained from the Secretary of State.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined
are used as defined in the Trust Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any
documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a)
through (f) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any
document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a)
through (f) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by
reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed
that there exists no provision in any document that we have not
reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein.
We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our
own, but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents,
the statements and information set forth therein and the
additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we
have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material
respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have
assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of
all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the
genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that
the Trust Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof,
including with respect to the creation, operation and termination
of the Trust, and that the Trust Agreement and the Certificate
are in full force and effect and have not been amended, (ii)
except to the extent provided in paragraph (1) below, the due
creation, due organization or due formation, as the case may be,
and valid existence in good standing of each party to the
documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction
governing its creation, organization or formation, (iii) the
legal capacity of each natural person who is a party to the
documents examined by us, (iv) except to the extent provided in
paragraph (2) below, that each of the parties to the documents
examined by us has the power and authority to execute and
deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents,
(v) except to the extent provided in paragraph (9) below, that
each of the parties to the documents examined by us has duly
authorized, executed and delivered such documents, (vi) the
receipt by each Person to whom a Preferred Security is to be
issued by the Trust (the "Preferred Security Holders") of a
Preferred Securities Certificate for the Preferred Security and
the payment for the Preferred Security acquired by it, in
accordance with the Trust Agreement, and as described in the
Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, (vii) that the
Preferred Securities are issued and sold to the Preferred
Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement, and as
described in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, (viii)
the receipt by the Person (the "Common Security Holder") to whom
a 9% Common Security of the Trust representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (each, a "Common
Security" and collectively, the "Common Securities") (the
Preferred Securities and the Common Securities being hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Trust Securities") is to be
issued by the Trust of a Common Securities Certificate for the
Common Security and the payment for the Common Security acquired
by it, in accordance with the Trust Agreement, and as described
in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, and (ix) that
the Common Securities are issued and sold to the Common Security
Holder in accordance with the Trust Agreement, and as described
in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement. We have not
participated in the preparation of the Prospectus or the
Prospectus Supplement and assume no responsibility for their
contents.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of
Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of
Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on
the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and
rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are
rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules,
regulations and orders thereunder that are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of
such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we
have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the
assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth
herein, we are of the opinion that:
(1) The Trust has been duly created and is validly
existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware
Business Trust Act, and all filings required under the Delaware
Business Trust Act with respect to the creation and valid
existence of the Trust as a business trust have been made.
(2) Under the Trust Agreement and the Delaware
Business Trust Act, the Trust has the trust power and authority
(i) to own property and conduct its business, all as described in
the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, (ii) to issue and
sell the Trust Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement,
and as described in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement,
and to perform its other obligations under the Trust Agreement,
the Underwriting Agreement and the Trust Securities, (iii) to
execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement, and (iv) to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting
Agreement.
(3) The Trust Agreement constitutes a valid and
binding obligation of the Company and the Administrative
Trustees, and is enforceable against the Company and the
Administrative Trustees, in accordance with its terms.
(4) The Common Securities have been duly authorized by
the Trust Agreement and are duly and validly issued undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
(5) The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized
by the Trust Agreement and are duly and validly issued and,
subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph (6) below,
fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust.
(6) The Preferred Security Holders, as beneficial
owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of
personal liability extended to stockholders of private
corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Preferred
Security Holders may be obligated, pursuant to the Trust
Agreement, (i) to provide indemnity and/or security in connection
with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from transfers
or exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates and the
issuance of replacement Preferred Securities Certificates, and
(ii) to provide security or indemnity in connection with requests
of or directions to the Property Trustee to exercise its rights
and powers under the Trust Agreement.
(7) Under the Trust Agreement and the Delaware
Business Trust Act, the issuance of the Trust Securities is not
subject to preemptive rights.
(8) The issuance and sale by the Trust of the Trust
Securities and the execution, delivery and performance by the
Trust of the Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement do not
violate (a) the Certificate or the Trust Agreement or (b) any
applicable Delaware law, rule or regulation.
(9) Under the Trust Agreement and the Delaware
Business Trust Act, (i) the issuance and sale by the Trust of the
Trust Securities and the execution and delivery by the Trust of
the Underwriting Agreement, and the performance by the Trust of
its obligations thereunder, have been duly authorized by all
necessary trust action on the part of the Trust and (ii) assuming
the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Underwriting
Agreement by the Company as depositor under the Trust Agreement
on behalf of the Trust and of the Preferred Securities
Certificates for the Preferred Securities by an Administrative
Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the Underwriting Agreement and
the Preferred Securities Certificates have been duly executed and
delivered by the Trust.
The opinion expressed in paragraph (3) above is
subject, as to enforcement, to the effect upon the Trust
Agreement of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
receivership, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance
and other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors generally, (ii) principles of equity,
including applicable law relating to fiduciary duties (regardless
of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at
law) and (iii) the effect of applicable public policy on the
enforceability of provisions relating to indemnification or
contribution.
We consent to your relying as to matters of Delaware
law upon this opinion in connection with the Underwriting
Agreement. We also consent to the reliance upon this opinion as
to matters of Delaware law by Denise C. Redmann, Esq., Senior
Attorney--Corporate and Securities of Entergy Services, Inc.,
Reid & Priest LLP, and Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, as if
it were addressed to each of them, in rendering their opinions to
you of even date herewith. Except as stated above, without our
prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or
quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose.
Very truly yours,
RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
[Letterhead of Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts]
July 16, 1996
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
As representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I to
the Underwriting Agreement referred
to below (the "Underwriters")
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for the several Underwriters
of 2,800,000 9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities,
Series A (liquidation preference $25 per preferred security) (the
"Preferred Securities"), issued by Entergy Louisiana Capital I, a
statutory business trust organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Trust"), pursuant to the agreement among you, as
the representatives of the several Underwriters, Entergy
Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the "Company"), and the
Trust effective July 10, 1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement").
We are members of the New York Bar and, for purposes of
this opinion, do not hold ourselves out as experts on the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the State of New York and the United
States of America. We have, with your consent, relied upon (i)
an opinion of even date herewith addressed to you of Denise C.
Redmann, Esq., Senior Attorney -- Corporate and Securities of
Entergy Services, Inc., counsel for the Company and the Trust, as
to the matters covered in such opinion relating to Louisiana law
and (ii) an opinion of even date herewith addressed to you of
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel for the
Company and the Trust, as to the matters covered in such opinion
relating to Delaware law. We have reviewed said opinions and
believe that they are satisfactory. We have also reviewed the
opinion of Reid & Priest LLP required by Section 7(d) of the
Underwriting Agreement, and we believe said opinion to be
satisfactory.
We have also examined such documents and satisfied
ourselves as to such other matters as we have deemed necessary in
order to enable us to express this opinion. As to various
questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon
representations of the Company and the Trust and statements in
the Registration Statement hereinafter mentioned. In such
examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals,
the conformity to the originals of the documents submitted to us
as certified or photostatic copies, and the correctness of all
statements of fact contained in all such original or copied
documents. We have not examined the certificates representing
the Preferred Securities or the Debentures except in each case
for specimens thereof, and we have relied upon a certificate of
the Corresponding Debenture Trustee as to the authentication and
delivery of the Debentures. Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined have the meanings ascribed to such terms in
the Underwriting Agreement.
Subject to the foregoing and to the further exceptions
and qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
(1) The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized
by the Trust Agreement and are duly and validly issued and fully
paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust. The holders of the Preferred Securities, as
beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same
limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of
private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the
holders of the Preferred Securities may be obligated, pursuant to
the Trust Agreement, (i) to provide indemnity and/or security in
connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising
from transfers or exchanges of Preferred Securities certificates
and the issuance of replacement Preferred Securities
certificates, and (ii) to provide security or indemnity in
connection with requests of or directions to the Property Trustee
to exercise its rights and powers under the Trust Agreement.
(2) The Indenture has been duly and validly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company, is a
legal, valid and binding instrument of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
and general equitable principles (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law), and, to the best of our knowledge, the Indenture is duly
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and no proceedings to
suspend such qualification have been instituted or threatened by
the Commission.
(3) The statements made in the Prospectus under the
captions "Certain Terms of the Series A Preferred Securities",
"Certain Terms of the Series A Debentures", "Underwriting",
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures", "Description of
Preferred Securities", "Description of Guarantees", "Description
of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures", "Relationship
Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees" and "Plan of
Distribution" insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of
the documents referred to therein, constitute accurate summaries
of the terms of such documents in all material respects.
(4) The Debentures have been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
and general equitable principles (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law), and are entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture.
(5) The Guarantee Agreement has been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company, has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the
Company, is a legal, valid and binding instrument of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights and general equitable principles (regardless of
whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
at law), and, to the best of our knowledge, the Guarantee
Agreement is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, and no
proceedings to suspend such qualification have been instituted or
threatened by the Commission.
(6) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(7) An appropriate order has been issued by the
Commission under the 1935 Act authorizing the issuance and sale
of the Securities, and to the best of our knowledge, such order
is in full force and effect; and no further approval,
authorization, consent or other order of any governmental body
(other than orders of the Commission under the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act, which have been
duly obtained, or in connection or compliance with the provisions
of the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction) is
legally required to permit the issuance and sale of the
Securities.
(8) Except in each case as to the financial statements
and other financial data included or incorporated by reference
therein, upon which we do not pass, the Registration Statement,
at the time it became effective, and the Prospectus, as of its
date, complied as to form in all material respects with the
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and (except with
respect to the Form T-1s, upon which we do not pass) the Trust
Indenture Act, and the applicable instructions, rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder or pursuant to said
instructions, rules and regulations are deemed to comply
therewith; and, with respect to the documents or portions thereof
filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12
of Form S-3, such documents or portions thereof, on the date they
were first filed with the Commission, complied as to form in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange
Act and the applicable instructions, rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder or pursuant to said instructions, rules and
regulations are deemed to comply therewith; to the best of our
knowledge, the Registration Statement has become, and on the date
hereof is, effective under the Securities Act and no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose are pending or
threatened under Section 8(d) of the Securities Act.
In passing upon the form of the Registration Statement
and the form of the Prospectus, we necessarily assume the
correctness, completeness and fairness of statements made by the
Company and the Trust and the information included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and take no responsibility therefor, except insofar as
such statements relate to us and as set forth in paragraph (3)
hereof. In connection with the preparation by the Company and
the Trust of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, we
had discussions with certain officers, employees and
representatives of the Company, the Trust and Entergy Services
Inc., with counsel for the Company and the Trust, and with your
representatives. Our review of the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, and such discussions, did not disclose to us any
information that gives us reason to believe that the Registration
Statement, at the Effective Date, 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, as of its date and at the
date hereof, contained or contains any 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.
We do not express any opinion or belief as to the financial
statements or other financial data included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, as to the
Form T-1s or as to the information contained in the Prospectus
under the caption "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations."
This opinion is solely for the benefit of the
addressees hereof in connection with the Underwriting Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereunder and may not be
relied upon in any manner by any other person or for any other
purpose, without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
WINTHROP, STIMSON, PUTNAM & ROBERTS
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E
ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 7(g)(iv) OF THE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT FOR INCLUSION IN THE
LETTER OF THE ACCOUNTANTS REFERRED TO THEREIN
Caption Page Items
- ----------------------------- ---- ----------------------------
Quarterly Report on Form 10-
Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1996
"MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL 4 The amounts of first
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, mortgage bonds and
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL preferred stock issuable
RESOURCES" by the Company at March
31, 1996 based upon the
Company's most
restrictive applicable
tests and the assumed
annual interest and
dividend rates stated
therein.
"MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL 29 The amounts of electric
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS, operating revenues (by
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" source) for the three
month periods ended March
31, 1996 and 1995.
Exhibit F-1(c)
[Letterhead of Entergy Services, Inc.]
July 24, 1996
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
With respect to (1) the Application-Declaration
("Application-Declaration") on Form U-1, as amended (File No.
70-8487), filed by Entergy Louisiana, Inc. (formerly Louisiana
Power & Light Company, and herein referred to as the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission") under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, as amended, contemplating, among other things, the
issuance and sale by the Company, through a special purpose
subsidiary, of one or more new series of such subsidiary's
preferred securities, as well as the issuance and sale of such
subsidiary's common securities to the Company, the guarantee
by the Company of such subsidiary's payment obligations under
said preferred securities, and the investment of the proceeds
from the issuance and sale of such subsidiary's preferred and
common securities in junior subordinated deferrable interest
debentures of the Company (collectively, the "Transactions");
(2) the Commission's order dated October 3, 1995 ("Order")
permitting the Application-Declaration, as amended, to become
effective with respect to said Transactions; and (3) the
issuance and sale by the Company's subsidiary, a Delaware
business trust, Entergy Louisiana Capital I (the "Trust"), on
July 16, 1996 of 2,800,000 9% Cumulative Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities, Series A ($70,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount) (the "Preferred Securities"), and of 86,598
9% Common Securities ($2,164,950 in aggregate principal
amount) (the "Common Securities") (the Preferred Securities
and the Common Securities, collectively referred to as the
"Securities"), the execution and delivery by the Company of a
guarantee of the Trust's payment obligations under the
Preferred Securities (the "Guarantee"), and the investment by
the Trust of the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the
Securities in $72,164,950 in aggregate principal amount of the
Company's 9% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures, Series A, due September 30, 2045 (the
"Debentures"), I advise you that in my opinion:
(a) the Company is a corporation duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of the
State of Louisiana;
(b) the issuance and sale of the Securities
and the Debentures and the execution and delivery of
the Guarantee have been consummated in accordance
with the Application-Declaration, as amended, and
the Order;
(c) all state laws that relate or are
applicable to the issuance and sale of the
Securities and the Debentures and the execution and
delivery of the Guarantee (other than so-called
"blue sky" or similar laws, with respect to which I
express no opinion) have been complied with;
(d) the Securities are valid and binding
obligations of the Trust and the Guarantee and the
Debentures are valid and binding obligations of the
Company, each in accordance with their terms, except
as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or other similar laws affecting enforcement of
mortgagees' and other creditors' rights; and
(e) the consummation of the issuance and sale
of the Securities and the Debentures and of the
execution and delivery of the Guarantee has not
violated the legal rights of the holders of any
securities issued by the Company or any associate
company thereof.
I am a member of the Louisiana Bar and do not hold
myself out as an expert on the laws of any other state. In
giving this opinion, I have relied, as to all matters governed
by the laws of any other state, upon the opinion of Reid &
Priest LLP, counsel for the Company, which is to be filed as
an exhibit to the Certificate pursuant to Rule 24.
My consent is hereby given to the use of this
opinion as an exhibit to the Certificate pursuant to Rule 24.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Denise C. Redmann
Denise C. Redmann
[Letterhead of Reid & Preist LLP]
New York, New York
July 24, 1996
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Ladies and Gentlemen:
With respect to (1) the Application-Declaration
("Application-Declaration") on Form U-1, as amended (File No.
70-8487), filed by Entergy Louisiana, Inc. (formerly Louisiana
Power & Light Company, and herein referred to as the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission") under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of
1935, as amended, contemplating, among other things, the
issuance and sale by the Company, through a special purpose
subsidiary, of one or more new series of such subsidiary's
preferred securities, as well as the issuance and sale of such
subsidiary's common securities to the Company, the guarantee
by the Company of such subsidiary's payment obligations under
said preferred securities, and the investment of the proceeds
from the issuance and sale of such subsidiary's preferred and
common securities in junior subordinated deferrable interest
debentures of the Company (collectively, the "Transactions");
(2) the Commission's order dated October 3, 1995 ("Order")
permitting the Application-Declaration, as amended, to become
effective with respect to said Transactions; and (3) the
issuance and sale by the Company's subsidiary, a Delaware
business trust, Entergy Louisiana Capital I (the "Trust"), on
July 16, 1996 of 2,800,000 9% Cumulative Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities, Series A ($70,000,000 in aggregate
principal amount) (the "Preferred Securities"), and of 86,598
9% Common Securities ($2,164,950 in aggregate principal
amount) (the "Common Securities") (the Preferred Securities
and the Common Securities, collectively referred to as the
"Securities"), the execution and delivery by the Company of a
guarantee of the Trust's payment obligations under the
Preferred Securities (the "Guarantee"), and the investment by
the Trust of the proceeds from the issuance and sale of the
Securities in $72,164,950 in aggregate principal amount of the
Company's 9% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures, Series A, due September 30, 2045 (the
"Debentures"), we advise you that in our opinion:
(a) the Company is a corporation duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of the
State of Louisiana;
(b) the issuance and sale of the Securities
and the Debentures and the execution and delivery of
the Guarantee have been consummated in accordance
with the Application-Declaration, as amended, and
the Order;
(c) all state laws that relate or are
applicable to the issuance and sale of the
Securities and the Debentures and the execution and
delivery of the Guarantee (other than so-called
"blue sky" or similar laws, with respect to which we
express no opinion) have been complied with;
(d) the Securities are valid and binding
obligations of the Trust and the Guarantee and the
Debentures are valid and binding obligations of the
Company, each in accordance with their terms, except
as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or other similar laws affecting enforcement of
mortgagees' and other creditors' rights; and
(e) the consummation of the issuance and sale
of the Securities and the Debentures and of the
execution and delivery of the Guarantee has not
violated the legal rights of the holders of any
securities issued by the Company or any associate
company thereof.
We are members of the New York Bar and do not hold
ourselves out as experts on the laws of any other state. In
giving this opinion, we have relied, as to all matters
governed by the laws of any other state, upon the opinion of
Denise C. Redmann, Esq., Senior Attorney -- Corporate and
Securities of Entergy Services, Inc., counsel for the Company,
which is to be filed as an exhibit to the Certificate pursuant
to Rule 24.
Our consent is hereby given to the use of this
opinion as an exhibit to the Certificate pursuant to Rule 24.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Reid & Priest LLP
REID & PRIEST LLP
