AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 30, 1997
REGISTRATION NOS. 333- 333- 333-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
-------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
-------------
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 58-0690070
DELAWARE APPLIED FOR
DELAWARE APPLIED FOR
(I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF NUMBER)
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
-------------
270 PEACHTREE STREET, N.W.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
(770) 393-0650
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
EACH REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
TOMMY CHISHOLM, SECRETARY
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
270 PEACHTREE STREET, N.W.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303
(770) 393-0650
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF EACH REGISTRANT)
-------------
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
W.L. WESTBROOK JOHN D. MCLANAHAN
FINANCIAL VICE PRESIDENT TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY 600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E., SUITE 5200
270 PEACHTREE STREET, N.W. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303 (404) 885-3000
(770) 393-0650
-------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [_]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
-------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROPOSED PROPOSED
AMOUNT MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF TO BE OFFERING PRICE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED PER UNIT(1) OFFERING PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Preferred Securities,
Liquidation Amount $25
per Preferred Security, 8,000,000
of Southern Company Preferred
Capital Trust III...... Securities $25 $200,000,000 $60,607
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Series C Junior
Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Notes of
Southern Company
Capital Funding,
Inc.(2)................
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Southern Company
Preferred Securities
Guarantee(2)(3)........
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Southern Company
Junior Subordinated
Notes Guarantee(2)(3)..
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(4)................ $200,000,000 $60,607
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Estimated for the sole purpose of computing the registration fee.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act, no separate fee is
payable with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee or the Junior Subordinated Notes Guarantee.
(3) Includes the rights of holders of Preferred Securities of Southern Company
Capital Trust III under the Trust Agreement, the rights of holders of
Junior Subordinated Notes under the Indenture, the rights of the holders
of such Preferred Securities under the Preferred Securities Guarantee, the
rights of holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes under the Notes
Guarantee and certain backup undertakings as described herein.
(4) Such amount represents the liquidation amount of the Southern Company
Capital Trust III Preferred Securities being registered hereunder and the
principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed to
holders of such Preferred Securities upon any liquidation of Southern
Company Capital Trust III.
-------------
THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR +
+THE SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF +
+ANY SUCH STATE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 30, 1997
8,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
% TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
[LOGO OF SOUTHERN COMPANY APPEARS HERE]
The % Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") offered
hereby evidence preferred undivided beneficial interests, representing 97%
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Southern Company Capital Trust
III, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware
(the "Trust"). Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Capital") and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of The Southern Company, a
Delaware corporation ("Southern"), will own all the common securities (the
"Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust
Securities") representing the remaining 3% undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust. The Trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing the
Preferred Securities and Common Securities and investing the proceeds thereof
in an equivalent amount of Capital's Series C % junior subordinated
deferrable interest notes due , 2037 (the "Junior Subordinated Notes").
Southern will irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual
payment of the Junior Subordinated Notes (the "Notes Guarantee"). See
"Description of the Notes Guarantee."
(Continued on next page)
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 12 FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION RELEVANT TO
AN INVESTMENT IN THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE PERIOD AND
CIRCUMSTANCES DURING AND UNDER WHICH PAYMENTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THE PREFERRED
SECURITIES MAY BE DEFERRED AND THE RELATED UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH DEFERRAL.
Application has been made to list the Preferred Securities on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE"). If approved, trading of the Preferred
Securities on the NYSE is expected to commence within a 30-day period after the
initial delivery of the Preferred Securities. See "Underwriting."
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
----------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
PUBLIC(1) DISCOUNT(2)(3) TRUST(2)(3)(4)
--------- -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Preferred Security.............. $ $ $
Total............................... $ $ $
</TABLE>
- -----
(1) Plus accrued distributions, if any, from the Issue Date.
(2) Southern, Capital and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) Because the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities will be
invested in Junior Subordinated Notes, Southern has agreed to pay to the
Underwriters, as compensation (the "Underwriters' Compensation") for
arranging the investment therein of such proceeds, $ per Preferred Security,
except for Preferred Securities sold to certain institutions, for which the
Underwriters' Compensation will be $ per Preferred Security. Therefore, to
the extent that Preferred Securities are sold to such institutions, the
actual amount of Underwriters' Compensation will be less than and the
Proceeds to Trust will be greater than the aggregate amounts specified
above. See "Underwriting."
(4) Expenses of the offering to be paid by Southern are estimated to be
approximately $ .
----------
The Preferred Securities are offered severally by the Underwriters, as
specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to
their right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that
delivery of the Preferred Securities will be made in book-entry only form
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about , 1997
(the "Issue Date").
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. LEHMAN BROTHERS
----------
The date of this Prospectus is , 1997.
<PAGE>
(Continued from the previous page)
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be unsecured obligations of Capital and
will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness
of Capital, as described herein. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated
Notes--Subordination." The Notes Guarantee will be an unsecured obligation of
Southern and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior
Indebtedness of Southern. See "Description of the Notes Guarantee." Holders of
the Preferred Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions
at the rate of % per annum (the "Securities Rate"), accruing from the date
of original issuance and payable, unless deferred, quarterly in arrears on
March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, a
"Distribution Date").
The Securities Rate and the Distribution Dates for the Preferred Securities
will correspond to the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on
the Junior Subordinated Notes, which will constitute substantially all the
assets of the Trust. As a result, if principal or interest is not paid on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, no amounts will be paid on the Preferred
Securities. CAPITAL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFER PAYMENTS OF INTEREST ON THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES BY EXTENDING THE INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD ON THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES, AT ANY TIME AND FROM TIME TO TIME, FOR UP TO 20
CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS (EACH, AN "EXTENSION PERIOD"). If interest payments are
so deferred, distributions on the Preferred Securities also will be deferred
and neither Southern nor Capital will be permitted, subject to certain
exceptions described herein, to declare or pay any dividend or distribution on
any of its capital stock or make any guarantee payments with respect to the
foregoing, or make any payment on any debt securities issued by it which rank
pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Notes
Guarantee. During any Extension Period, holders of Preferred Securities will
be required to include income in the form of original issue discount ("OID")
in their gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance
of the receipt of the cash payments attributable to such deferred interest.
See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Option to Extend Interest
Payment Period," "Risk Factors--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and
"Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations--Original Issue Discount" and "--
Market Discount." Deferred installments of interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes will bear interest, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to
the Securities Rate to the extent permitted by applicable law. The payment of
such deferred interest, together with interest thereon, will be distributed to
the holders of the Preferred Securities as received at the end of any
Extension Period.
The Trust Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment of
the Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or their earlier redemption. The
Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemable at the option of Capital (in whole or
in part), from time to time, on or after , 2002, or at any time in whole
upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or Investment Company Act Event (either, a
"Special Event"). Capital will have the right at any time to terminate the
Trust and cause the Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders
of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution." If the
Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Preferred
Securities, Southern and Capital will use their best efforts to have the
Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the NYSE or on such other exchange as the
Preferred Securities are then listed. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution" and "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes."
The payment of distributions on the Preferred Securities is guaranteed by
Southern under the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, but only to the
extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available therefor
(the "Preferred Securities Guarantee"). If Capital fails to make required
payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will not have sufficient
funds to pay such distributions, and the Preferred Securities Guarantee does
not cover the payment of distributions when the Trust does not have sufficient
funds legally available therefor. In such event, the remedy of a holder of
Preferred Securities is to enforce the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Notes
Guarantee. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes" and "Description
of the Notes Guarantee." Southern's obligations under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of its other
liabilities and will rank pari passu (equal in priority) with the most senior
preferred stock of Southern which may be issued. See "Description of the
Preferred
2
<PAGE>
Securities Guarantee." Southern and Capital have, through the Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Notes Guarantee, the Subordinated Note Indenture,
the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the Agreement as to
Expenses and Liabilities, fully and unconditionally guaranteed, subject to
certain subordination provisions, all the Trust's obligations with respect to
the Preferred Securities.
In the event of the redemption of the Junior Subordinated Notes or the
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust,
the holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive, for each
Preferred Security, a liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid
distributions thereon (including interest thereon) to the date of payment (the
"Redemption Price"), unless in connection with such dissolution, winding-up or
termination, the Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of
the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution."
The Preferred Securities initially will be represented by a global
certificate or certificates registered in the name of The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC") or its nominee. Beneficial interests in such Preferred
Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only
through, records maintained by Participants (as defined herein) in DTC. Except
as described herein, Preferred Securities in certificated form will not be
issued in exchange for the global certificates. See "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company."
----------------
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE PREFERRED
SECURITIES, INCLUDING BY ENTERING STABILIZING BIDS, PURCHASING PREFERRED
SECURITIES TO COVER SYNDICATE SHORT POSITIONS AND IMPOSING PENALTY BIDS. FOR A
DISCUSSION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING" HEREIN.
3
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Southern, Capital and the Trust have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a combined registration statement on Form S-3
(the "Registration Statement," which term encompasses any amendments thereof
and exhibits thereto) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act"). As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this
Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, to which
reference is hereby made.
Southern is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and in accordance therewith
files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission.
Such reports, proxy statements and other information may be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room
1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's
regional offices at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048 and Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material may also be obtained at
prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission
at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The Commission maintains a
Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants including Southern that file electronically
at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports and other material concerning
Southern may be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20
Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which Exchange the common stock of
Southern is listed.
No separate financial statements of Capital or the Trust have been included
herein. Southern, Capital and the Trust do not consider that such financial
statements would be material to holders of the Preferred Securities because
each of Capital and the Trust is a special purpose entity, has no operating
history or independent operations and is not engaged in and does not propose
to engage in any activity other than, in the case of Capital, obtaining
financing for Southern and direct and indirect subsidiaries of Southern other
than the operating affiliates (as defined herein) and, in the case of the
Trust, holding as trust assets the Junior Subordinated Notes, issuing the
Trust Securities and engaging in other activities as are necessary, advisable
or incidental thereto. See "Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc.," "Southern
Company Capital Trust III," "Description of the Preferred Securities,"
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes," "Description of the Notes
Guarantee," and "Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee." In
addition, Southern does not expect that Capital or the Trust will file
reports, proxy statements and other information under the 1934 Act with the
Commission.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents have been filed by Southern with the Commission
pursuant to the 1934 Act and are incorporated herein by reference and made a
part of this Prospectus:
(a)Southern's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996;
(b)Southern's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 1997; and
(c)Southern's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 12, 1997.
All documents filed by Southern with the Commission pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of this offering shall be deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Prospectus from the
respective dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this Prospectus.
SOUTHERN WILL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS PROSPECTUS
IS DELIVERED, ON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF ANY
OR ALL DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE (OTHER THAN THE EXHIBITS TO
SUCH DOCUMENTS UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE). SUCH REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO TOMMY CHISHOLM, SECRETARY, THE
SOUTHERN COMPANY, 270 PEACHTREE STREET, N.W., ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303,
TELEPHONE: (770) 393-0650.
4
<PAGE>
SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in
conjunction with, the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this
Prospectus or incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings assigned in the Glossary.
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
Southern was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945.
Southern is domesticated under the laws of Georgia and is qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation under the laws of Alabama. The principal
executive offices of Southern are located at 270 Peachtree Street, N.W.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303, and the telephone number is (770) 393-0650.
Southern owns all the outstanding common stock of Alabama Power Company
("ALABAMA"), Georgia Power Company ("GEORGIA"), Gulf Power Company ("GULF"),
Mississippi Power Company ("MISSISSIPPI") and Savannah Electric and Power
Company ("SAVANNAH") (ALABAMA, GEORGIA, GULF, MISSISSIPPI and SAVANNAH being
collectively referred to herein as the "operating affiliates"), each of which
is an operating public utility company, and of Southern Company Services, Inc.
(the system service company). ALABAMA and GEORGIA each owns 50% of the
outstanding common stock of Southern Electric Generating Company ("SEGCO"). The
operating affiliates supply electric service in the states of Alabama, Georgia,
Florida, Mississippi and Georgia, respectively, and SEGCO owns generating units
at a large electric generating station which supplies power to ALABAMA and
GEORGIA. Southern also owns all the outstanding common stock of Southern
Energy, Inc. ("Southern Energy"), The Southern Development and Investment
Group, Inc. ("Southern Development"), Southern Nuclear Operating Company, Inc.
("Southern Nuclear") and Southern Communications Services, Inc. ("Southern
Communications"). Southern Energy designs, builds, owns and operates power
production and delivery facilities and provides a broad range of technical
services to industrial companies and utilities in the United States and a
number of international markets. Southern Development explores, develops and
markets energy management services and other business lines relating to
Southern's core business of generating and distributing energy. Southern
Nuclear provides services to the Southern electric system's nuclear plants.
Southern Communications provides digital wireless communications services to
the operating affiliates and regional non-affiliates.
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TWELVE
MONTHS
ENDED
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, APRIL 30,
-------------------------------------- 1997(1)
1992 1993 1994(1) 1995(1) 1996(1) (UNAUDITED)
------ ------ ------ ------- ------- -----------
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Revenues......... $8,073 $8,489 $8,297 $9,180 $10,358 $10,576
Income Before Interest
Charges.................... $1,793 $1,827 $1,756 $1,900 $ 1,944 $ 1,951
Consolidated Net Income.... $ 953 $1,002 $ 989 $1,103 $ 1,127 $ 1,064
Earnings per Share of
Common Stock............... $ 1.51 $ 1.57 $ 1.52 $ 1.66 $ 1.68 $ 1.58
Dividends Paid per Share of
Common Stock............... $ 1.10 $ 1.14 $ 1.18 $ 1.22 $ 1.26 $ 1.27
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges (2)................ 3.23 3.41 3.63 3.75 3.68 3.42
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges Plus
Preferred Dividend
Requirements
(Pre-Income Tax Basis)
(3)....................... 2.66 2.84 3.01 3.13 3.12 2.95
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CAPITALIZATION AS OF
MARCH 31, 1997
------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED(4)
------- ----------------
(MILLIONS, EXCEPT
PERCENTAGES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock Equity.............................. $ 9,262 $ 9,262 43.4%
Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries.................. 833 833 3.9
Subsidiary Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable
Capital and Preferred Securities................. 1,354 1,554 7.3
Long-Term Debt................................... 9,700 9,700 45.4
------- -------- ------
Total, excluding amounts due within one year of
$583 million.................................... $21,149 $ 21,349 100.0%
======= ======== ======
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) "Income Before Interest Charges" and "Consolidated Net Income" for the
years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 and the twelve months ended
April 30, 1997 reflect charges of approximately $61,000,000, $17,000,000,
$53,000,000 and $39,000,000, respectively, after taxes relating to benefits
provided pursuant to work force reduction programs.
(2) This ratio is computed as follows: (i) "Earnings" have been calculated by
adding to "Income Before Interest Charges" all income taxes deducted
therefrom and the debt portion of allowance for funds used during
construction; and (ii) "Fixed Charges" consist of "Net Interest Charges"
plus the debt portion of allowance for funds used during construction.
(3) In computing this ratio, "Preferred Dividend Requirements" represent the
before-tax earnings necessary to pay such dividends, computed at the
effective tax rates for the applicable periods.
(4)Reflects the issuance of the Preferred Securities offered hereby.
6
<PAGE>
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
Capital was established to obtain financing for Southern and direct and
indirect subsidiaries of Southern other than the operating affiliates. Capital
does not and will not engage in business activities other than such financing.
Capital was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on January 24, 1997 and
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Holdings, Inc., which itself is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Southern. The principal executive offices of Capital are
located at 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, and the
telephone number is (770) 393-0650.
Structure of the Offering
The following illustrates in summary form the structure
of the offering made by this Prospectus.
[FLOW CHART APPEARS HERE]
----------------------
THE
SOUTHERN
COMPANY
----------------------
----------------------
SEI Holdings,
Inc.
----------------------
guarantee of
payments on
Junior ----------------------
Subordinated Southern Company
Notes. See Capital Funding, Inc.
"DESCRIPTION ----------------------
OF THE NOTES
GUARANTEE." Junior Proceeds guarantee of
Subordinated From distributions
Notes Offering on Preferred
Securities.
---------------------- See "DESCRIPTION
Southern Company OF THE PREFERRED
Capital Trust III SECURITIES
---------------------- GUARANTEE."
PREFERRED SECURITIES DISTRIBUTIONS
7
<PAGE>
THE OFFERING
The Trust................... Southern Company Capital Trust III is a statutory
business trust created under Delaware law solely
for the purpose of holding Capital's Junior Sub-
ordinated Notes and issuing Preferred Securities
and Common Securities evidencing the entire bene-
ficial interest therein (and engaging in activi-
ties necessary, appropriate, convenient or inci-
dental thereto).
The Trustees................ Bankers Trust Company will act as property
trustee (the "Property Trustee") of the Trust.
Two employees of a subsidiary of Southern also
will act as trustees (the "Administrative Trust-
ees") of the Trust. Bankers Trust (Delaware) will
be an additional trustee (the "Delaware Trustee")
of the Trust. Bankers Trust Company also will act
as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee") under the
Subordinated Note Indenture pursuant to which the
Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued and will
act as trustee under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee").
The Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee and Admin-
istrative Trustees are sometimes referred to as
the "Securities Trustees."
Preferred Securities The Trust will offer 8,000,000 Preferred Securi-
Offered.................... ties evidencing preferred undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust. Holders of
the Preferred Securities are entitled to receive
cumulative cash distributions at the Securities
Rate, accruing from the date of original issuance
and payable quarterly in arrears on March 31,
June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each
year, commencing on , 1997 (each, a "Distribu-
tion Date"). The Securities Rate and the Distri-
bution Dates for the Preferred Securities will
correspond to the interest rate and payment dates
on the Junior Subordinated Notes, which will con-
stitute substantially all the assets of the
Trust. As a result, if principal or interest is
not paid on the Junior Subordinated Notes, no
amounts will be paid on the Preferred Securities.
See "Description of the Preferred Securities"
herein.
Record Date................. The record date for each Distribution Date will
be the close of business on the 15th calendar day
prior to such Distribution Date.
Junior Subordinated Notes... The Trust will invest the proceeds from the issu-
ance of the Preferred Securities and Common Secu-
rities in an equivalent amount of Capital's Se-
ries C % junior subordinated deferrable inter-
est notes due , 2037. The Junior Subordinated
Notes will be subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all indebtedness for borrowed money
and other obligations of Capital included in the
definition of Senior Indebtedness. See "Descrip-
tion of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Subordina-
tion."
Preferred Securities
Guarantee and Notes The payment of distributions on the Preferred Se-
Guarantee.................. curities is guaranteed by Southern under the Pre-
ferred Securities Guarantee, but only
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<PAGE>
to the extent the Trust has funds legally and im-
mediately available to make such distributions.
If Capital does not make principal or interest
payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, the
Trust will not have sufficient funds to make dis-
tributions on the Preferred Securities, in which
event the Preferred Securities Guarantee will not
apply to such distributions until the Trust has
sufficient funds legally available therefor. In
such event, the remedy of a holder of Preferred
Securities is to enforce the Junior Subordinated
Notes and the Notes Guarantee. The obligations of
Southern under the Preferred Securities Guarantee
will be subordinate and junior in right of pay-
ment to all other liabilities of Southern and
will rank pari passu with the most senior pre-
ferred stock which may be issued by Southern. See
"Risk Factors--Ranking of and Rights Under the
Preferred Securities Guarantee."
Pursuant to the Subordinated Note Indenture,
Southern will irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantee the due and punctual payment of princi-
pal, premium, if any, and interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes when and as the same shall be-
come due and payable, whether at maturity, upon
redemption or otherwise. The Notes Guarantee will
be junior in right of payment to all present and
future Senior Indebtedness of Southern. See "De-
scription of the Notes Guarantee."
Southern and Capital have, through the Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Notes Guarantee, the
Subordinated Note Indenture, the Junior Subordi-
nated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the Agree-
ment as to Expenses and Liabilities, fully and
unconditionally guaranteed, subject to certain
subordination provisions, all the Trust's obliga-
tions with respect to the Preferred Securities.
Interest Deferral........... Capital has the right to defer payments of inter-
est on the Junior Subordinated Notes by extending
the interest payment period on the Junior Subor-
dinated Notes, at any time and from time to time,
for up to 20 consecutive quarters (each, an "Ex-
tension Period"). The only restrictions on Capi-
tal's ability to defer payments of interest are
that during the Extension Period neither Southern
nor Capital may, subject to certain exceptions
described herein, (i) pay dividends on or redeem
any of its capital stock or (ii) pay principal or
interest on any debt securities ranking pari
passu with or subordinate to the Junior Subordi-
nated Notes or the Notes Guarantee. There could
be multiple Extension Periods of varying lengths
throughout the term of the Junior Subordinated
Notes. See "Description of the Preferred Securi-
ties--Distributions" and "Description of the Ju-
nior Subordinated Notes--Option to Extend Inter-
est Payment Period."
If interest payments on the Junior Subordinated
Notes are deferred, distributions on the Pre-
ferred Securities will also be deferred. During
an Extension Period, holders of Preferred Securi-
ties will be required to include income in the
form of OID in their gross income for federal in-
come tax purposes in advance of the receipt of
the cash
9
<PAGE>
payments attributable to such deferred interest.
See "Description of the Junior Subordinated
Notes--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period"
and "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations--
Original Issue Discount" and "--Market Discount."
Deferred interest will bear interest, compounded
quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to the Secu-
rities Rate from the date of deferral to the date
of payment.
Redemption; Distribution.... The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory
redemption upon repayment of the Junior Subordi-
nated Notes at maturity or their earlier redemp-
tion. The Junior Subordinated Notes are redeem-
able by Capital (in whole or in part), from time
to time on or after , 2002, or at any time in
whole upon the occurrence of a Special Event. If
a partial redemption of the Junior Subordinated
Notes would result in the delisting of the Pre-
ferred Securities, Capital may only redeem the
Junior Subordinated Notes in whole. Any partial
redemption of the Junior Subordinated Notes will
be effected by the redemption of an equivalent
amount of Trust Securities, to be allocated ap-
proximately 97% to the Preferred Securities and
3% to the Common Securities. See "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Redemption" and "--Spe-
cial Event Redemption or Distribution."
Capital will have the right at any time to termi-
nate the Trust and cause the Junior Subordinated
Notes to be distributed to the holders of the
Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust.
This right is optional and wholly within the dis-
cretion of Capital. Circumstances under which
Capital may determine to exercise such right
could include the occurrence of an Investment
Company Act Event or a Tax Event, adverse tax
consequences to Southern, Capital or the Trust
that are not within the definition of a Tax Event
because they do not result from an amendment or
change described in such definition, and changes
in the accounting requirements applicable to the
Preferred Securities as described under "Account-
ing Treatment." See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribu-
tion."
Special Event............... A Special Event means a Tax Event or an Invest-
ment Company Act Event. A "Tax Event" means that
the Administrative Trustees, Southern and Capital
shall have received an opinion from independent
tax counsel experienced in such matters (which
may be counsel to Southern or Capital) to the ef-
fect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to,
or change (including any announced prospective
change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereun-
der) of the United States or any political subdi-
vision or taxing authority thereof or therein or
(b) any amendment to, or change in, an interpre-
tation or application of such laws or regula-
tions, there is more than an insubstantial risk
that (i) the Trust would be subject to United
States federal income tax with respect to income
accrued or received on the Junior Subordinated
Notes, (ii) interest payable to the Trust on the
Junior Subordinated Notes would not be deductible
by a member
10
<PAGE>
of Southern's consolidated tax group for United
States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the
Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis
amount of other taxes, duties or other governmen-
tal charges, which change or amendment becomes
effective on or after the Issue Date. An "Invest-
ment Company Act Event" means that the Adminis-
trative Trustees, Southern and Capital shall have
received an opinion of independent counsel (which
may be counsel to Southern or Capital) to the ef-
fect that, as a result of a change in law or reg-
ulation or a written change in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legisla-
tive body, court, governmental agency or regula-
tory authority after the Issue Date, there is
more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is
or will be considered an investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act").
Redemption Price............
In the event of the redemption of the Trust Secu-
rities or other termination of the Trust without
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes,
each Preferred Security shall be entitled to re-
ceive a liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued
and unpaid distributions thereon (including in-
terest thereon) to the date of payment.
11
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of Preferred Securities should carefully review the
information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and should consider
particularly the following matters:
RANKING OF AND RIGHTS UNDER THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE NOTES
GUARANTEE
No amounts will be available to make payments on the Preferred Securities
except from payments made on the Junior Subordinated Notes. The obligations of
Capital under the Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of Capital whenever incurred.
Capital currently has no Senior Indebtedness outstanding. The obligations of
Southern under the Notes Guarantee will be subordinate and junior to all
present and future Senior Indebtedness of Southern. At March 31, 1997, Senior
Indebtedness of Southern aggregated approximately $794,000,000. There are no
terms in the Preferred Securities, the Junior Subordinated Notes, the
Preferred Securities Guarantee or the Notes Guarantee that limit Southern's or
Capital's ability to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness
that ranks senior to the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Notes Guarantee. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee," "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes-- Subordination" and "Description of the Notes
Guarantee."
RANKING OF AND RIGHTS UNDER THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
Southern's obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee are
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all liabilities of Southern and
will be pari passu with the most senior preferred stock issued by Southern. If
Capital were to default in its obligation to pay amounts payable on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Trust would lack available funds for the payment of
distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Preferred Securities or
otherwise, and in such event holders of the Preferred Securities would not be
able to rely upon the Preferred Securities Guarantee for payment of such
amounts.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
Capital has the right under the Subordinated Note Indenture, and at any
time, and from time to time, to defer payments of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes for a period of up to 20 consecutive quarters (each, an
"Extension Period"), but not beyond the stated maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, Capital
may further defer payments of interest, provided that such Extension Period,
together with all such previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed
20 consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the
payment of all amounts then due, Capital may select a new Extension Period,
subject to the above requirements. There could be multiple Extension Periods
of varying lengths throughout the term of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
Deferred installments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes will bear
interest, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to the Securities
Rate to the extent permitted by applicable law. The payment of such deferred
interest, together with interest thereon, will be passed through to the
holders of the Preferred Securities as received at the end of any Extension
Period.
The only restrictions on Capital's ability to defer payments of interest are
that during any Extension Period neither Southern nor Capital may, subject to
certain exceptions described herein, (i) pay dividends on or redeem any of its
capital stock or (ii) pay principal or interest on any debt securities ranking
pari passu with or subordinate to the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Notes
Guarantee. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Distributions" and
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes-- Option to Extend Interest
Payment Period."
Should Capital exercise its rights to defer payments of interest, each
holder of Preferred Securities will be required to include income in the form
of OID in its gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in
respect of the deferred interest allocable to its Preferred Securities. As a
result, holders of Preferred Securities will recognize income for United
States federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash and will
not receive the cash from the Trust related to such income if such holders
dispose of their Preferred Securities
12
<PAGE>
prior to the record date for the date on which distributions of such amounts
are made. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Original Issue
Discount" and "-- Sale of Preferred Securities." INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT WITH
THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT
IN THE PREFERRED SECURITIES.
Capital has no current intention of exercising its right to defer payments
of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Junior
Subordinated Notes. However, should Capital determine to exercise such right
in the future, the market price of the Preferred Securities is likely to be
affected. A holder that disposes of its Preferred Securities during an
Extension Period, therefore, might not receive the same return on its
investment as a holder that continues to hold its Preferred Securities. In
addition, as a result of the existence of Capital's right to defer interest
payments, the market price of the Preferred Securities (which represent an
undivided beneficial interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes) may be more
volatile than other similar securities that do not have such rights.
SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION
If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, Capital will have the
option to redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes in cash (with the result that
the Preferred Securities shall be redeemed). In addition, Capital will have
the right at any time to terminate the Trust and cause the Junior Subordinated
Notes to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities in
liquidation of the Trust. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
Special Event Redemption or Distribution."
There can be no assurance as to the market price for the Junior Subordinated
Notes that may be distributed in exchange for Preferred Securities if a
termination or liquidation of the Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Junior
Subordinated Notes that the investor may receive on termination and
liquidation of the Trust may trade at a discount to the price that the
investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. See
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes."
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
On February 6, 1997, the revenue portion of President Clinton's fiscal 1998
budget proposal (the "Proposal") was released. The Proposal would, among other
things, generally deny interest deductions for interest on an instrument
issued by a corporation that has a maximum term of more than 15 years and that
is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer. If
the Proposal were to apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes, Southern would be
unable to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. As currently
drafted, however, the Proposal would be effective generally for instruments
issued on or after the date of first Congressional committee action and, as
such, is not expected to apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Southern
believes that, under current law, it will be able to deduct interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes. There can be no assurance, however, that current or
future legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability
of Southern to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. Such a change
could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit Capital to cause a
redemption of the Preferred Securities, as described more fully under
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or
Distribution."
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
Holders of Preferred Securities will have limited voting rights and, except
for the rights of holders of Preferred Securities to appoint a Substitute
Property Trustee upon the occurrence of certain events described herein, will
not be entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Securities Trustees,
which voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the Common
Securities.
TRADING CHARACTERISTICS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Preferred Securities are expected to be listed on the NYSE, subject to
official notice of issuance. The Preferred Securities are expected to trade at
a price that takes into account the value, if any, of accrued but unpaid
13
<PAGE>
distributions; thus, purchasers will not pay and sellers will not receive
accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the Preferred Securities that is
not included in the trading price thereof. If a Preferred Security is disposed
of prior to the occurrence of an Extension Period, any portion of the amount
received that is attributable to accrued interest will be treated as interest
income to a U.S. holder for tax purposes and will not be treated as part of
the amount realized for purposes of determining gain or loss on the
disposition of the Preferred Security. If an Extension Period occurs, interest
on the Junior Subordinated Notes will be included in the gross income of U.S.
holders of Preferred Securities as it accrues rather than when it is paid.
Should an Extension Period occur, a holder who disposes of his Preferred
Securities between record dates for payments of distributions thereon would be
required to include accrued but unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes through the date of disposition in income as OID, and to add such amount
to his adjusted tax basis in his pro rata share of the related Junior
Subordinated Notes deemed disposed of. To the extent the selling price is less
than the holder's adjusted tax basis, a holder generally will recognize a
capital loss. Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be
applied to offset ordinary income for United States federal income tax
purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations--Original Issue
Discount" and "--Sale of Preferred Securities."
The trading price of the Preferred Securities is likely to be sensitive to
the level of interest rates generally. If interest rates rise in general, the
trading price of the Preferred Securities may decline to reflect the
additional yield requirements of the purchasers. Conversely, a decline in
interest rates may increase the trading price of the Preferred Securities,
although any increase will be moderated by Capital's ability to call the
Junior Subordinated Notes at any time on or after , 2002 at a redemption
price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued but
unpaid interest. In addition, because holders of Preferred Securities will be
paid only from payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes and may receive
Junior Subordinated Notes upon the termination of the Trust, prospective
purchasers of Preferred Securities are making an investment decision with
regard to the Junior Subordinated Notes and should carefully review all the
information regarding the Junior Subordinated Notes contained herein. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or
Distribution," "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes" and "Description
of the Notes Guarantee."
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
Southern was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on November 9, 1945.
Southern is domesticated under the laws of Georgia and is qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation under the laws of Alabama. The principal
executive offices of Southern are located at 270 Peachtree Street, N.W.,
Atlanta, Georgia 30303, and the telephone number is (770) 393-0650.
Southern owns all the outstanding common stock of Alabama Power Company
("ALABAMA"), Georgia Power Company ("GEORGIA"), Gulf Power Company ("GULF"),
Mississippi Power Company ("MISSISSIPPI") and Savannah Electric and Power
Company ("SAVANNAH") (ALABAMA, GEORGIA, GULF, MISSISSIPPI and SAVANNAH being
collectively referred to herein as the "operating affiliates"), each of which
is an operating public utility company, and of Southern Company Services, Inc.
(the system service company). ALABAMA and GEORGIA each owns 50% of the
outstanding common stock of Southern Electric Generating Company ("SEGCO").
The operating affiliates supply electric service in the states of Alabama,
Georgia, Florida, Mississippi and Georgia, respectively, and SEGCO owns
generating units at a large electric generating station which supplies power
to ALABAMA and GEORGIA. Southern also owns all the outstanding common stock of
Southern Energy, Inc. ("Southern Energy"), The Southern Development and
Investment Group, Inc. ("Southern Development"), Southern Nuclear Operating
Company, Inc. ("Southern Nuclear") and Southern Communications Services, Inc.
("Southern Communications"). Southern Energy designs, builds, owns and
operates power production and delivery facilities and provides a broad range
of technical services to industrial companies and utilities in the United
States and a number of international markets. Southern Development explores,
develops and markets energy management services and other business lines
relating to Southern's core business of generating and distributing energy.
Southern Nuclear provides services to the Southern electric system's nuclear
plants. Southern Communications provides digital wireless communications
services to the operating affiliates and regional non-affiliates.
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<PAGE>
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
Capital was established to obtain financing for Southern and direct and
indirect subsidiaries of Southern other than the operating affiliates. Capital
does not and will not engage in business activities other than such financing.
Capital was incorporated under the laws of Delaware on January 24, 1997 and
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Holdings, Inc., which itself is a wholly-
owned subsidiary of Southern. The principal executive offices of Capital are
located at 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, and the
telephone number is (770) 393-0650.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant
to the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State
on May 23, 1997. The Trust's business is defined in a trust agreement,
executed by Capital, as Depositor, and Bankers Trust (Delaware), as the
Delaware Trustee thereunder. This trust agreement will be amended and restated
in its entirety on the Issue Date (the "Trust Agreement"). The Trust exists
for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (ii) investing the
gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Junior Subordinated Notes, and
(iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, appropriate,
convenient or incidental thereto. The Trust has a term of approximately 45
years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement.
Upon issuance of the Preferred Securities, the purchasers thereof will own
all of the Preferred Securities. Capital will acquire all of the Common
Securities, which will have an aggregate liquidation amount equal to
approximately 3% of the total capital of the Trust. The Common Securities will
rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the
Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of a
Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default, the rights of the holders of
Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of
the holders of the Preferred Securities.
The Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by the Securities
Trustees, which shall be appointed by Capital as the holder of the Common
Securities. Two employees of a subsidiary of Southern initially will serve as
Administrative Trustees. Bankers Trust Company will serve as Property Trustee
and will hold legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes issued by Capital
on behalf of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities. Bankers Trust
(Delaware) will serve as Delaware Trustee. In certain circumstances, the
holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities will
be entitled to appoint a Substitute Property Trustee. See "Description of the
Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights."
The Property Trustee will hold legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes
for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust Securities and will
have the power to exercise all rights, powers and privileges under the
Subordinated Note Indenture as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
The Property Trustee will make payments of distributions and payments on
liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the holders of the Trust Securities.
Subject to the right of the holders of the Preferred Securities to appoint a
Substitute Property Trustee in certain instances, Capital, as the holder of
all the Common Securities, will have the right to appoint, remove or replace
all the Securities Trustees.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will constitute substantially all of the
assets of the Trust. Other assets that may constitute "Trust Property" (as
that term is defined in the Trust Agreement) include any cash on deposit in,
or owing to, the payment account as established under the Trust Agreement, as
well as any other property or assets held by the Property Trustee pursuant to
the Trust Agreement. In addition, the Trust may, from time to time, receive
cash pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities.
15
<PAGE>
The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic
rights, rights to information and voting rights, are as set forth in the Trust
Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act, and the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). See "Description of the Preferred
Securities."
The Trust's office in the State of Delaware is c/o Bankers Trust (Delaware),
1001 Jefferson Street, Suite 550, Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1457. The
principal place of business of the Trust shall be c/o Southern, 270 Peachtree
Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, telephone (770) 393-0650, Attn:
Secretary.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
For financial reporting purposes, the Trust will be treated as a subsidiary
of Southern and, accordingly, the accounts of the Trust will be included in
the consolidated financial statements of Southern. The Preferred Securities
will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated balance sheet of
Southern, and appropriate disclosures concerning the Preferred Securities, the
Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Notes
Guarantee will be included in the notes to the consolidated financial
statements. For financial reporting purposes, Southern will record
distributions payable on the Preferred Securities as an expense.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Trust will invest all of the proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
Securities in the Junior Subordinated Notes. The proceeds from such investment
will be remitted to Southern and used by it to repay a portion of its
outstanding short-term debt which aggregated approximately $ million as of
, 1997.
RECENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
For the twelve months ended April 30, 1997, the unaudited amounts of
"Operating Revenues," "Income Before Interest Charges," "Consolidated Net
Income," "Earnings per Share of Common Stock" and "Dividends Paid per Share of
Common Stock" were $10,576,000,000, $1,951,000,000, $1,064,000,000, $1.58 and
$1.27, respectively. In the opinion of the management of Southern, the above
amounts for the twelve months ended April 30, 1997 reflect all adjustments
(which were only normal recurring adjustments, except as indicated in Note (1)
to the Selected Consolidated Financial Information under "Summary" above)
necessary to present fairly the results of operations for such period. The
"Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges" and the "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges Plus Preferred Dividend Requirements (Pre-Income Tax Basis)" for the
twelve months ended April 30, 1997 were 3.42 and 2.95, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Preferred Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Trust
Agreement. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the
1939 Act. The Property Trustee will act as the indenture trustee with respect
to the Trust, as well as the Preferred Securities Guarantee, for purposes of
compliance with the provisions of the 1939 Act. The terms of the Preferred
Securities will include those stated in the Trust Agreement, the Delaware
Business Trust Act, and those made part of the Trust Agreement by the 1939
Act. The following summary of the principal terms and provisions of the
Preferred Securities does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust Agreement, the form of
which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part, as well as the 1939 Act.
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<PAGE>
GENERAL
The Trust Agreement authorizes the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the
Trust, to issue the Preferred Securities, which represent preferred undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, and the Common Securities,
which represent common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust. All of the Common Securities will be owned by Capital. The Common
Securities rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon on a pro rata
basis, with the Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence of a
Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default, the rights of the holders of the
Common Securities to receive payment of periodic distributions and payments
upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights
of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Trust Agreement does not
permit the issuance by the Trust of any securities other than the Trust
Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness by the Trust. Pursuant to the
Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee will own and hold the Junior
Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the Trust and the holders of the Trust
Securities. The payment of distributions out of money held by the Trust, and
payments upon redemption of the Preferred Securities or liquidation of the
Trust, are guaranteed by Southern on a subordinated basis as and to the extent
described under "Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee." The
Preferred Securities Guarantee does not cover payment of distributions on the
Preferred Securities when the Trust does not have legally and immediately
available funds sufficient to make such distributions. In such event, the
remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is to direct the Property Trustee
to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, a
holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against Capital, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to
such holder of principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of
the Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in
the Junior Subordinated Notes. The above mechanisms and obligations, together
with Southern's obligations under the Notes Guarantee and the Agreement as to
Expenses and Liabilities, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by
Southern and Capital of payments due on the Preferred Securities. See "--
Voting Rights" below.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be fixed at the Securities
Rate and will accrue from the Issue Date and, except in the event of an
Extension Period, will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year. In the event that any date on which
distributions are to be made on the Preferred Securities is not a Business
Day, then payment of the distributions payable on such date will be made on
the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or
other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day
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 such date. A "Business Day" shall mean any day other than
a Saturday or Sunday, a day on which banks in New York City are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the
principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee or the Indenture
Trustee is closed for business.
Distributions payable on any Distribution Date will be payable to the
holders of record on the Record Date for such Distribution Date, which is the
close of business on the fifteenth calendar day preceding such Distribution
Date. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the
Trust Agreement, each such payment will be made as described under "--Book-
Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company" below. The amount of
distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-
day year of twelve 30-day months.
Capital has the right under the Subordinated Note Indenture to defer
payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the
interest payment period from time to time on the Junior Subordinated Notes
(each, an "Extension Period") which, if exercised, would defer quarterly
distributions on the Preferred Securities during any such extended interest
payment period. Deferred installments of interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes will bear interest, compounded quarterly, at a rate per annum equal to
the Securities Rate to the extent permitted by applicable law. If
distributions are deferred, the deferred distributions and accrued interest
thereon
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shall be paid, if funds are legally available therefor, to holders of record
of the Preferred Securities as they appear on the books and records of the
Trust on the Record Date next following the termination of such Extension
Period. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Interest" and "--
Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."
Distributions on the Preferred Securities must be paid on the Distribution
Dates to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available
for the payment of such distributions. The Trust's funds available for
distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities will be limited to
payments received under the Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes."
REDEMPTION
The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption upon repayment
of the Junior Subordinated Notes at maturity or their earlier redemption. The
Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on , 2037 and may be redeemed, in
whole or in part, at the option of Capital, at any time on or after ,
2002 or at any time in whole upon the occurrence of a Special Event. Upon the
repayment of the Junior Subordinated Notes, whether at maturity or upon
redemption, the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall simultaneously
be applied to redeem a like amount of Trust Securities upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days' notice, at the Redemption Price (as defined below). See
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Optional Redemption." If a
partial redemption of the Junior Subordinated Notes would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities, Capital may only redeem the Junior
Subordinated Notes in whole. In the event that fewer than all of the
outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the Preferred Securities to
be redeemed will be selected as described under "--Book-Entry Only Issuance--
The Depository Trust Company" below. If the Preferred Securities are no longer
in book-entry only form, the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be
selected by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and
appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions
(equal to $25 or integral multiples thereof) of the aggregate liquidation
amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25; provided;
however, that before undertaking the redemption of the Preferred Securities on
other than a pro rata basis, the Property Trustee shall have received an
opinion of counsel that the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for federal
income tax purposes would not be adversely affected.
The Redemption Price for each Preferred Security shall equal the stated
liquidation amount of $25 plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the
date of payment.
SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION
Upon the occurrence of a Special Event at any time, Capital will have the
option to redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes in whole (and thus cause the
redemption of the Preferred Securities in whole). A Special Event is either an
Investment Company Act Event or a Tax Event.
An "Investment Company Act Event" means that the Administrative Trustees,
Southern and Capital shall have received an opinion of independent counsel
(which may be counsel to Southern or Capital) to the effect that, as a result
of a change in law or regulation or a written change in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or regulatory authority after the Issue Date, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be considered an investment
company under the 1940 Act.
"Tax Event" means that the Administrative Trustees, Southern and Capital
shall have received an opinion from independent tax counsel experienced in
such matters (which may be counsel to Southern or Capital) to the effect that,
as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or
(b) any amendment to, or change in, an interpretation or application of such
laws or regulations,
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there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust would be subject
to United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued or received
on the Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) interest payable to the Trust on the
Junior Subordinated Notes would not be deductible by a member of Southern's
consolidated tax group for United States federal income tax purposes or (iii)
the Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes,
duties or other governmental charges, which change or amendment becomes
effective on or after the Issue Date. See "Risk Factors--Possible Tax Law
Changes."
Capital will have the right at any time to terminate the Trust and, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, if any, cause the
Junior Subordinated Notes to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred
Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Dissolution" below. This right is optional and wholly within the discretion of
Capital. Circumstances under which Capital may determine to exercise such
right could include the occurrence of an Investment Company Act Event or a Tax
Event, adverse tax consequences to Southern, Capital or the Trust that are not
within the definition of a Tax Event because they do not result from an
amendment or change described in such definition, and changes in the
accounting requirements applicable to the Preferred Securities as described
under "Accounting Treatment."
If Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Preferred
Securities, Southern and Capital will use their best efforts to have the
Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the NYSE or on such other exchange as the
Preferred Securities are then listed. After the date for any distribution of
Junior Subordinated Notes upon termination of the Trust, (i) the Preferred
Securities and the Preferred Securities Guarantee will no longer be deemed to
be outstanding, (ii) the depositary or its nominee, as the record holder of
the Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or
certificates representing the Junior Subordinated Notes to be delivered upon
such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing Preferred Securities
and the Preferred Securities Guarantee not held by the depositary or its
nominee will be deemed to represent Junior Subordinated Notes having an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount
of, with an interest rate identical to the Securities Rate of, and accrued and
unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, such Preferred
Securities, until such certificates are presented to Capital or its agent for
transfer or reissuance.
There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed in
exchange for the Preferred Securities if a termination and liquidation of the
Trust were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor
may purchase, or the Junior Subordinated Notes that the investor may receive
on termination and liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to the
price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered
hereby.
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
In the event that fewer than all of the Trust Securities are to be redeemed,
then the aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Securities to be redeemed
shall be allocated 97% to the Preferred Securities and 3% to the Common
Securities.
The Preferred Securities redeemed on each redemption date shall be redeemed
at the applicable Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Redemption Price of Preferred
Securities shall be deemed payable on each redemption date only to the extent
that the Trust has funds legally and immediately available for payment of such
Redemption Price.
If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of Preferred
Securities (which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 2:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the redemption date, subject to the immediately preceding
paragraph, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the securities
depositary, so long as the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form,
sufficient funds to pay the applicable Redemption Price. See""--Book-Entry
Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company" below. If the Preferred
Securities are not in book-entry only form, the Property Trustee, subject to
the immediately preceding paragraph, shall irrevocably
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deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable
Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions to
pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their
Preferred Securities certificates. If notice of redemption shall have been
given and funds deposited as required, then immediately prior to the close of
business on the date of such deposit, distributions will cease to accrue and
all rights of holders of such Preferred Securities so called for redemption
will cease, except the right of the holders of such Preferred Securities to
receive the applicable Redemption Price, but without interest on such
Redemption Price. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of Preferred
Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price 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 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 the event
that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred Securities is
improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by Southern
pursuant to the Preferred Securities Guarantee or the Notes Guarantee,
distributions on such Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then
applicable rate, from such redemption date originally established by the Trust
for such Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually
paid. See "--Events of Default" below, "Relationship Among the Preferred
Securities, the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Preferred Securities Guarantee
and the Notes Guarantee" and "Description of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee--Events of Default."
Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without
limitation, United States federal securities laws), Southern, Capital or any
of their affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase
outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private
agreement.
BOOK-ENTRY ONLY ISSUANCE--THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") will act as the initial securities
depositary for the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities will be
issued only as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede &
Co., DTC's nominee. One or more fully registered global Preferred Securities
certificates will be issued, representing in the aggregate the total number of
Preferred Securities, and will be deposited with DTC.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the 1934 Act. DTC
holds securities that its participants ("Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC
also facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities transactions,
such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic
computerized book-entry changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating
the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants
include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations ("Direct Participants"). DTC is
owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the NYSE, the American
Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as securities
brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain
a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or
indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to DTC and its
Participants are on file with the Commission.
Purchases of Preferred Securities within the DTC system must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Preferred
Securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser
of Preferred Securities ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the
Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the
Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased
Preferred Securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the Preferred
Securities are to be
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accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of
Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates
representing their ownership interests in Preferred Securities, except in the
event that use of the book-entry system for the Preferred Securities is
discontinued.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred
Securities. DTC's records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants
to whose accounts such Preferred Securities are credited, which may or may not
be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed
by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Preferred
Securities are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of the interest of
each Direct Participant in the Preferred Securities in accordance with its
procedures.
Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities is limited, in
those cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself
consent or vote with respect to Preferred Securities. Under its usual
procedures, DTC would mail an Omnibus Proxy to the Trust as soon as possible
after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or
voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Preferred
Securities are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached
to the Omnibus Proxy).
Distribution payments on the Preferred Securities will be made to DTC. DTC's
practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment
date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records
unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such
payment date. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed
by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with
securities held for the account of customers registered in "street name," and
will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the Trust, any
trustee, Capital or Southern, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions
to DTC is the responsibility of the Trust, disbursement of such payments to
Direct Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such
payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect
Participants.
Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner in a global Preferred Security
will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Preferred Securities.
Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to
exercise any rights under the Preferred Securities. The laws of some
jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair the ability to
transfer beneficial interests in a global Preferred Security.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the Preferred Securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to
the Trust. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities
depositary is not obtained, Preferred Securities certificates will be printed
and delivered to the holders of record. Additionally, Southern, Capital or the
Trust may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to the Preferred
Securities. In that event, certificates for the Preferred Securities will be
printed and delivered to the holders of record.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that Southern, Capital and the Trust believe to
be reliable, but Southern, Capital and the Trust take no responsibility for
the accuracy thereof. The Trust has no responsibility for the performance by
DTC or its
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Participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the
rules and procedures governing their respective operations.
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust shall terminate on December 31,
2042, or earlier upon (i) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event (as defined in
the Trust Agreement) in respect of Capital, dissolution or liquidation of
Capital, or dissolution of the Trust pursuant to a judicial decree; (ii) the
delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by Capital, as
Depositor, at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the
discretion of Capital, as Depositor) to terminate the Trust and distribute the
Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of the Trust Securities in
liquidation of the Trust (see "--Special Event Redemption or Distribution"
above); or (iii) the payment at maturity or redemption of all of the Junior
Subordinated Notes, and the consequent payment of the Trust Securities.
If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i) or (ii) above, the
Trust shall be liquidated, and the Property Trustee shall distribute to each
holder of Preferred Securities and Common Securities a like amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes, unless in the case of an event described in clause (i)
such distribution is determined by the Administrative Trustees not to be
practical, in which event such holders will be entitled to receive, out of the
assets of the Trust available for distribution to holders after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to the aggregate of the stated
liquidation preference of $25 per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid
distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution"). If such 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 directly by the Trust on the Trust Securities
shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The holder of the Common Securities will be
entitled to receive distributions upon any such dissolution pro rata with the
holders of the Preferred Securities, except that if a Subordinated Note
Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the holders of
Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the holders of Common
Securities.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under the
Trust Agreement ("Trust Agreement Event of Default") with respect to the Trust
Securities issued thereunder (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 an "Event of Default" as defined in Section 501 of
the Subordinated Note Indenture ("Subordinated Note Indenture Event of
Default") (see "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Events of
Default"); or
(ii) default by the Trust in the payment of any distribution when it
becomes due and payable, and the continuation of such default for a period
of 30 days; or
(iii) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any
Preferred Security or Common Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Securities Trustees in the Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or
warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is
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 such Securities 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" under the Trust
Agreement; or
(v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
respect to the Trust.
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Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Trust Agreement Event of Default,
the Property Trustee shall transmit notice of any default known to the
Property Trustee to the holders of Trust Securities, Southern and Capital,
unless such Trust Agreement Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.
If a Trust Agreement Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then,
pursuant to the Trust Agreement, holders of a majority in aggregate
liquidation amount of Preferred Securities have the right to direct the
exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the
Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee under the
Trust Agreement to exercise the remedies available to it as holder of the
Junior Subordinated Notes and the Notes Guarantee. If the Property Trustee
fails to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Notes
Guarantee, a holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, institute a legal proceeding directly against
Southern and Capital to enforce its rights under the Trust Agreement without
first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or the
Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against Southern and Capital, without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or
interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to
the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such
holder on or after the due dates specified in the Junior Subordinated Notes.
See "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Junior Subordinated
Notes, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Notes Guarantee" and
"Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee--Events of Default."
Unless a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, the Securities Trustees may be removed at any time by act
of the holder of the Common Securities. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Securities Trustee may be
removed at such time by act of the holders of a majority in liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the appropriate Securities Trustee
(in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). No resignation or
removal of any Securities Trustee and no appointment of a successor shall be
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in
accordance with the requirements of the Trust Agreement.
If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the holders of Preferred Securities shall have a preference over
the holders of Common Securities upon dissolution of the Trust as described
above. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution."
VOTING RIGHTS
Except as provided below and under "Description of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee--Amendments and Assignment" and as otherwise required by law and the
Trust Agreement, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting
rights.
If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the
Securities Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would
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 Trust Agreement, then the holders of outstanding Preferred
Securities will be entitled to vote as a class on such amendment or proposal
of the Securities Trustees, and such amendment or proposal shall not be
effective except with the approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in
liquidation amount of such outstanding Preferred Securities.
So long as any Junior Subordinated Notes are held by the Property Trustee,
the Securities Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee
(as defined herein), or executing any trust or power conferred on the
Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive
any past default which is waivable under the applicable provisions of the
Subordinated Note Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
due and payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination
of the Subordinated Note Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Notes, where
such consent shall be
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required, or to any other action, as the holder of the Junior Subordinated
Notes, under the Subordinated Note Indenture, without, in each case, obtaining
the prior approval of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of
the outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent
under the Subordinated Note Indenture would require the consent of each holder
of Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no such consent shall be given
by the Securities Trustees without the prior consent of each holder of
Preferred Securities. The Securities Trustees shall not revoke any action
previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred
Securities, except pursuant to a subsequent vote of such holders. The Property
Trustee shall notify all holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of
default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the
holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Securities Trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be
classified as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes on
account of such action.
Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a
separate meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose
or pursuant to written consent. The Administrative Trustees will cause a
notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to
vote to be given to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the
manner set forth in the Trust Agreement.
Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities that are owned by Southern, Capital, the Securities Trustees or any
affiliate of Southern, Capital or any Securities Trustee, shall, for purposes
of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
CO-PROPERTY TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
At any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of
the 1939 Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property
(as defined in the Trust Agreement) may at the time be located, the holder of
the Common Securities and the Property Trustee shall have power to appoint,
and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, Capital, as 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-property 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 such capacity, any
property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the
provisions of the Trust Agreement. If Capital, as Depositor, does not join in
such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do,
or in case a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such
appointment.
AMENDMENT OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT
The Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by Capital and the
Securities Trustees without the consent of the holders of the Trust Securities
(i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision therein which
may be inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Trust
Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of the
Trust Agreement, provided that the amendment does not adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of any holder of Trust Securities, or (ii) to
modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such
extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be classified
as other than a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes. Except as
provided in the succeeding paragraph, other amendments to the Trust Agreement
may be made (i) upon approval of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in
aggregate liquidation amount of the Trust Securities then outstanding and (ii)
upon receipt by the Securities Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect
that such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust or
the Trust's exemption from the 1940 Act.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of each affected holder
of Trust Securities, the 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
holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such date, or (iii) change the consent required to amend
the Trust Agreement.
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR AMALGAMATIONS
The Trust may not 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 corporation or other body, except as
described below. The Trust may at the request of Capital, with the consent of
the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of the
Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced
by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that (i)
such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes all of the obligations of
the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (y) substitutes for the
Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as
the Trust Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor
Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in priority with respect
to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii)
Capital expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the
same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the holder of the Junior
Subordinated Notes, (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities
are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of
issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which
the Preferred Securities are then listed, (iv) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement 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
or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
privileges of the holders of the Trust 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 or replacement, Southern has received an opinion
of counsel to the effect that (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges
of the holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in
any material respect, and (B) following such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will
be required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and
(viii) Southern guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the
Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Preferred
Securities Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not,
except with the consent of holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Trust
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any
other entity or permit any other entity 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 federal income tax purposes.
Any corporation or other body into which any of the Property Trustee, the
Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person
may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation or other body resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which any such Securities Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation or other body succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate
trust business of any such Securities Trustee, shall be the successor of such
Securities Trustee under the Trust Agreement, provided such corporation is
otherwise qualified and eligible under the Trust Agreement.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENT
So long as DTC is acting as securities depositary for the Preferred
Securities, payments in respect of the Preferred Securities in global form
shall be made to DTC, which is to credit the relevant accounts at DTC on the
applicable Distribution Dates. If the Preferred Securities are not held by
DTC, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of the holder
entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register
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(as such term is defined in the Trust Agreement). The Paying Agent shall
initially be the Property Trustee. The Paying Agent shall be permitted to
resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative
Trustees and Capital. In such event, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint
a successor to act as Paying Agent.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
It is anticipated that the Property Trustee, or one of its affiliates, will
act as registrar and transfer agent (the "Securities Registrar") for the
Preferred Securities.
Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment in respect of any tax or
other governmental charges which may be imposed in relation to it.
The Securities Registrar will not be required to register or cause to be
registered any transfer of Preferred Securities after they have been called
for redemption.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
The Property Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a Trust Agreement Event of
Default with respect to the Trust Securities, undertakes to perform only such
duties as are specifically set forth in the Trust Agreement and, after
default, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would
exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions,
the Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers
vested in it by the Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Preferred
Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.
Bankers Trust Company, the Property Trustee, also serves as Indenture
Trustee and Guarantee Trustee. Southern and certain of its subsidiaries
maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with Bankers Trust
Company. Bankers Trust Company serves as trustee under other indentures
pursuant to which securities of subsidiaries of Southern are outstanding.
GOVERNING LAW
The Trust Agreement and the Trust Securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware;
provided that the immunities and standard of care of the Property Trustee
shall be governed by New York law.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to operate the Trust
so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to
be registered under the 1940 Act or taxed as other than a grantor trust for
federal income tax purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be
treated as indebtedness of Capital for federal income tax purposes. In this
connection, the Administrative Trustees and Capital are authorized to take any
action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Trust's certificate of trust
or the Trust Agreement, that the Administrative Trustees and Capital determine
in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as
such action does not materially and adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Preferred Securities.
DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
Set forth below is a description of the terms of the Junior Subordinated
Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is
subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Subordinated
Note Indenture, dated as of , 1997, among Capital, Southern and Bankers
Trust Company, as trustee (the
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"Indenture Trustee"), as to be supplemented by a supplemental indenture
thereto (the Subordinated Note Indenture, as so supplemented, is hereinafter
referred to as the "Subordinated Note Indenture"), the forms of which are
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part. The Subordinated Note Indenture will be qualified as an indenture under
the 1939 Act. The terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes will include those
stated in the Subordinated Note Indenture and those made a part of the
Subordinated Note Indenture by reference to the 1939 Act. Certain capitalized
terms used herein are defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture.
GENERAL
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as a series of junior
subordinated notes under the Subordinated Note Indenture. The Junior
Subordinated Notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount to
$206,186,000, such amount being the approximate aggregate liquidation amount
of the Trust Securities.
The entire principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes will mature and
become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
including Additional Interest, if any, on , 2037. The Junior Subordinated
Notes are not subject to any sinking fund provision.
The terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes correspond to those of the
Preferred Securities, as described herein.
The Subordinated Note Indenture does not contain provisions that afford
holders of Junior Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly
leveraged transaction involving Southern or Capital.
SUBORDINATION
The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of Capital. No payment
of principal of (including redemption payments, if any), or premium, if any,
or interest on (including Additional Interest (as defined herein)) the Junior
Subordinated Notes may be made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when
due and any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended
with such default not being cured or waived or otherwise ceasing to exist, or
(b) the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a
default, or (c) notice has been given of the exercise of an option to require
repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise. Upon any payment or
distribution of assets of Capital to creditors upon any liquidation,
dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities, or any bankruptcy, insolvency
or similar proceedings of Capital, the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be
entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or
in respect of all Senior Indebtedness before the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive or retain any payment or
distribution. Subject to the prior payment of all Senior Indebtedness, the
rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to
the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments and
distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all amounts owing
on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full.
The term "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to any person, (i) any
payment due in respect of indebtedness of such person, whether outstanding at
the date of execution of the Subordinated Note Indenture or thereafter
incurred, created or assumed, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any
financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and
(b) evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar
instruments issued by such person that, by their terms, are senior or senior
subordinated debt securities; (ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all
obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all
conditional sale obligations and all obligations of such person under any
title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the
ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all
obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker's
acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all
obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other
persons the payment of which such person is responsible or liable as obligor,
guarantor or
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otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or
asset of such person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such
person), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms
subordinated to or pari passu with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any
unsecured indebtedness between or among such person or its affiliates. Such
Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled
to the benefits of the subordination provisions contained in the Subordinated
Note Indenture irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any
term of such Senior Indebtedness.
The Subordinated Note Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of
Senior Indebtedness that may be issued by Capital. Capital currently has no
Senior Indebtedness outstanding.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
Capital shall have the right to redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes, in
whole or in part, without premium, from time to time, on or after , 2002,
or at any time in whole upon the occurrence of a Special Event as described
under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or
Distribution," upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date. If a partial redemption of the Junior Subordinated Notes
would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, Capital may only
redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes in whole.
INTEREST
Each Junior Subordinated Note shall bear interest at the Securities Rate
from the Issue Date, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year to the person in whose name such
Junior Subordinated Note is registered at the close of business on the
fifteenth calendar day prior to such payment date. The amount of interest
payable will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 any 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 such date.
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
Capital shall have the right at any time, and from time to time, to defer
payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the
interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarters, but not beyond the
stated maturity date. At the end of an Extension Period, Capital shall pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid (including any Additional Interest) (together
with interest thereon at the Securities Rate compounded quarterly to the
extent permitted by applicable law); provided, that if Capital shall have
given notice of its election to select an Extension Period, subject to the
exceptions described under "--Certain Covenants" below, (a) neither Southern
nor Capital shall declare or pay any dividend or distribution on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its
capital stock or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing,
and (b) neither Southern nor Capital shall make any payment of interest,
principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities issued by it which rank pari passu with or junior to the Junior
Subordinated Notes or the Notes Guarantee. Prior to the termination of any
Extension Period, Capital may further defer payments of interest by extending
the interest payment period, provided that such Extension Period, together
with all such previous and further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20
consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the
payment of all amounts then due, Capital may select a new Extension Period,
subject to the above requirements. Capital has no present intention of
exercising its rights to defer payments of interest by extending the interest
payment period on the Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Certain Federal Income
Tax Considerations--Original Issue Discount."
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Capital shall give the holder or holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes
and the Indenture Trustee notice of its selection or extension of an Extension
Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the record date
relating to the interest payment date on which the Extension Period is to
commence or relating to the interest payment date on which an Extension Period
that is being extended would otherwise terminate or (ii) the date Capital or
the Trust is required to give notice to any applicable self-regulatory
organization of the record date or the date such distributions are payable.
ADDITIONAL INTEREST
"Additional Interest" is defined in the Subordinated Note Indenture as (i)
such additional amounts as may be required so that the net amounts received
and retained by a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes (if the holder is a
Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or
any other taxing authority will not be less than the amounts the holder would
have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments, or other governmental
charges been imposed; and (ii) any interest due and not paid on an interest
payment date, together with interest thereon from such interest payment date
to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each interest payment date.
NOTES GUARANTEE
Pursuant to the Subordinated Note Indenture, Southern will irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee the Junior Subordinated Notes as described under
"Description of the Notes Guarantee."
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Southern and Capital each covenants in the Subordinated Note Indenture, for
the benefit of the holders of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, that,
(i) if at such time Capital shall have given notice of its election to extend
an interest payment period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and
such extension shall be continuing, (ii) if at such time Southern shall be in
default with respect to its payment or other obligations under (A) the
Preferred Securities Guarantee with respect to the Trust Securities, if any,
related to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes or (B) the Notes
Guarantee, if any, related to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes, or
(iii) if at such time an Event of Default thereunder with respect to such
series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, (a)
neither Southern nor Capital shall declare or pay any dividend or make any
distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b) neither
Southern nor Capital shall make any payment of interest, principal or premium,
if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by it
which rank pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes or the
Notes Guarantee. None of the foregoing, however, shall restrict (i) any of the
actions described in the preceding sentence resulting from any
reclassification of Southern's or Capital's capital stock or the exchange or
conversion of one class or series of Southern's or Capital's capital stock for
another class or series of Southern's or Capital's capital stock, (ii) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of Southern's or Capital's capital
stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock
or the security being converted or exchanged, (iii) dividends, payments or
distributions payable in shares of capital stock, (iv) redemptions, purchases
or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock in connection with any
employment contract, incentive plan, benefit plan or other similar arrangement
of Southern or any of its subsidiaries or in connection with a dividend
reinvestment or stock purchase plan, or (v) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with implementation of any stockholders' rights plan, or the
issuance of rights, stock or other property under any such plan, or the
redemption, repurchase or other acquisition of any such rights pursuant
thereto.
The Subordinated Note Indenture further provides that, for so long as the
Trust Securities of any Trust remain outstanding, Capital covenants (i) to
directly or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities of
such Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of Capital or
Southern under the Subordinated Note Indenture may succeed to the Capital's
ownership of such Common Securities, and (ii) to use
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its reasonable efforts to cause such Trust (a) to remain a statutory business
trust, except in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes
to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of such Trust, the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities of such Trust, or certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the related Trust
Agreement, and (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust
for United States federal income tax purposes.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The Subordinated Note Indenture provides that any one or more of the
following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of
any series, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an "Event of
Default" with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series:
(a) failure for 10 days to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series, including any Additional Interest (as defined in clause
(ii) of the definition thereof in the Subordinated Note Indenture) in
respect thereof, when due on an Interest Payment Date other than at
maturity or upon earlier redemption; provided, however, that a valid
extension of the interest payment period by Capital shall not constitute a
default in the payment of interest for this purpose; or
(b) failure for 10 days to pay Additional Interest (as defined in clause
(i) of the definition thereof in the Subordinated Note Indenture); or
(c) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, or interest, including
Additional Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof in
the Subordinated Note Indenture), on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such
series when due at maturity or upon earlier redemption; or
(d) failure for three Business Days to deposit any sinking fund payment
when due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note of such series; or
(e) failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty in the
Subordinated Note Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty which has
expressly been included therein solely for the benefit of one or more
series of Junior Subordinated Notes other than such series) for 90 days
after written notice to Southern and Capital from the Indenture Trustee or
the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series; or
(f) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of
Southern or Capital.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series. If a Subordinated Note Indenture Event of Default occurs
and is continuing with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
then the Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series
may declare the principal amount thereof due and payable immediately by notice
in writing to Southern and Capital (and to the Indenture Trustee if given by
the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount shall become
immediately due and payable. At any time after such a declaration of
acceleration with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has
been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has
been obtained as provided in Article Five of the Subordinated Note Indenture,
the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may rescind and annul
such declaration and its consequences if the default has been cured or waived
and Southern or Capital has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest (including any
Additional Interest) and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and all
sums paid or advanced by the Indenture Trustee, including reasonable
compensation and expenses of the Indenture Trustee.
A holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against Southern and Capital, without first instituting a legal proceeding
against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity, for
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enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of or interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes of the related series having a principal amount
equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities
of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may, on behalf of the
holders of all the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, waive any past
default with respect to such series, except (i) a default in the payment of
principal or interest or (ii) a default in respect of a covenant or provision
which under Article Nine of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified
or amended thereunder without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Junior Subordinated Note of such series affected thereby.
BOOK-ENTRY AND ISSUANCE
If distributed to holders of Trust Securities in connection with the
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust,
the Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to be issued in the form of one or
more global certificates registered in the name of the securities depositary
or its nominee. In such event, the procedures applicable to the transfer and
payment of the Junior Subordinated Notes are expected to be substantially
similar to those described with respect to the Preferred Securities in
"Description of the Preferred Securities -- Book-Entry Only Issuance -- The
Depository Trust Company."
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Capital shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or
exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any series during a period of 15 days
immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series called for redemption, or (ii) register the
transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for
redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Junior
Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENT
Payment of principal of any Junior Subordinated Notes will be made only
against surrender to the Paying Agent of such Junior Subordinated Notes.
Principal of and interest on Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable,
subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the office of such Paying
Agent or Paying Agents as Capital may designate from time to time, except
that, at the option of Capital, payment of any interest may be made by wire
transfer or by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as
such address shall appear in the Security Register with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Payment of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any
interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the Junior
Subordinated Notes (or predecessor security) are registered at the close of
business on the Record Date for such interest payment (the fifteenth calendar
day before such interest payment date).
The Indenture Trustee will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Capital may at any time designate additional Paying Agents
or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or approve a change in the
office through which any Paying Agent acts.
All moneys paid by Capital to a Paying Agent for the payment of the
principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series which
remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal or interest
shall have become due and payable will be repaid to Capital, and the holder of
such Junior Subordinated Notes will thereafter look only to Capital for
payment thereof.
MODIFICATION
The Subordinated Note Indenture contains provisions permitting Capital,
Southern and the Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not
less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior
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Subordinated Notes of each series affected thereby, to modify the Subordinated
Note Indenture or the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent
of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected thereby,
(i) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of
principal of or interest on, any Junior Subordinated Note, or reduce the
principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (including Additional
Interest) thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or
change the method of calculating the rate of interest thereon, or impair the
right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after
the stated maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the
redemption date), or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the consent of whose
holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of
whose holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain
provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture or certain defaults thereunder
and their consequences) provided for in the Subordinated Note Indenture, or
(iii) modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture relating
to supplemental indentures, waiver of past defaults, or waiver of certain
covenants, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
other provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture cannot be modified or
waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Note affected thereby, or (iv) reduce any amount payable under,
delay or defer the required time of payment under, or impair the right to
institute suit to enforce any payment under the Notes Guarantee, or (v) modify
the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture with respect to the
subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Notes Guarantee in a
manner adverse to such holder.
In addition, Capital, Southern and the Indenture Trustee may execute,
without the consent of any holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, any
supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes, including the
creation of any new series of junior subordinated notes.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE
Neither Southern nor Capital shall consolidate with or merge into any other
corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any person, unless (1) such other corporation
or person is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and such other
corporation or person expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture executed
and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest (including Additional Interest) on all the
Junior Subordinated Notes and the performance of every covenant of the
Subordinated Note Indenture and the Notes Guarantee on the part of Southern or
Capital, as the case may be, to be performed or observed; (2) immediately
after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default, and no event
which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of
Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and (3) Southern or Capital,
as the case may be, has delivered to the Indenture Trustee an officers'
certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction
complies with the provisions of the Subordinated Note Indenture governing
consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and that all conditions
precedent thereto have been complied with.
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
The Indenture Trustee, prior to an Event of Default with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series, undertakes to perform, with respect to
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, only such duties as are specifically
set forth in the Subordinated Note Indenture and, in case an Event of Default
with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has occurred and is
continuing, shall exercise, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such
series, the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Indenture
Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by
the Subordinated Note Indenture at the request of any holder of Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series, unless offered reasonable indemnity by such
holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
thereby. The Indenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds
or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of its duties if
the Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that repayment or adequate indemnity
is not reasonably assured to it.
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Bankers Trust Company, the Indenture Trustee, also serves as Property
Trustee and as Guarantee Trustee. Southern and certain of its subsidiaries
maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with Bankers Trust
Company. Bankers Trust Company also serves as trustee under other indentures
pursuant to which securities of subsidiaries of Southern are outstanding.
GOVERNING LAW
The Subordinated Note Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State
of New York.
MISCELLANEOUS
Each of Southern and Capital will have the right at all times to assign any
of its rights or obligations under the Subordinated Note Indenture to a direct
or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Southern; provided, that, in the event
of any such assignment, Southern or Capital, as the case may be, will remain
primarily liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the
Subordinated Note Indenture will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the Preferred
Securities Guarantee that will be executed and delivered by Southern for the
benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities from time to time. The
Preferred Securities Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the
1939 Act. Bankers Trust Company will act as indenture trustee under the
Preferred Securities Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee") for purposes of the
1939 Act. The terms of the Preferred Securities Guarantee will be those set
forth therein and those made part thereof by the 1939 Act. The following
summary does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to the
provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, and the 1939
Act. The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be held by the Guarantee Trustee
for the benefit of holders of the Preferred Securities.
GENERAL
Pursuant to the Preferred Securities Guarantee, Southern will irrevocably
and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth therein, to pay in full, to
the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee Payments (as defined
herein), to the extent not paid by, or on behalf of, the Trust, regardless of
any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that Southern may have or assert
against any person. The following payments or distributions with respect to
the Preferred Securities to the extent not paid or made by, or on behalf of,
the Trust will be subject to the Preferred Securities Guarantee (without
duplication): (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on
the Preferred Securities but if and only if and to the extent that the Trust
has funds legally and immediately available therefor, (ii) the applicable
Redemption Price with respect to any Preferred Securities called for
redemption by the Trust, but if and only to the extent the Trust has funds
legally and immediately available therefor, and (iii) upon a dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Trust (other than in connection with the
distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities
or the 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, to the extent the Trust
has funds legally and immediately available therefor, and (b) the amount of
assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of
Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust (the "Guarantee Payments").
Southern's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct
payment of the required amounts by Southern to the holders of the Preferred
Securities or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
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The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be a guarantee of the Guarantee
Payments with respect to the Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of
the Preferred Securities, but will not apply to the payment of distributions
and other payments on the Preferred Securities when the Trust does not have
sufficient funds legally and immediately available to make such distributions
or other payments. IF CAPITAL DOES NOT MAKE INTEREST PAYMENTS ON THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES HELD BY THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE, THE TRUST WILL NOT MAKE
DISTRIBUTIONS ON THE PREFERRED SECURITIES.
SUBORDINATION
Southern's obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee to make the
Guarantee Payments will constitute an unsecured obligation of Southern and
will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other
liabilities of Southern, except those obligations or liabilities made pari
passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior
preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by Southern and with any
guarantee now or hereafter entered into by Southern in respect of any
preferred or preference securities of any affiliate of Southern, and (iii)
senior to all common stock of Southern. The terms of the Preferred Securities
will provide that each holder of Preferred Securities by acceptance thereof
agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of the Preferred
Securities Guarantee.
The Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment
and not of collection (that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the
guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other
person or entity).
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
Except with respect to any changes that do not materially and adversely
affect the rights of holders of the Preferred Securities (in which case no
consent will be required), the Preferred Securities Guarantee may be amended
only with the prior approval of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in
liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities. The manner of
obtaining any such approval of holders of the Preferred Securities is set
forth under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Voting Rights." All
guarantees and agreements contained in the Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
Southern and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the Preferred
Securities then outstanding.
TERMINATION
The Preferred Securities Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force
and effect as to the Preferred Securities upon full payment of the applicable
Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, upon distribution of Junior
Subordinated Notes to the holders of such Preferred Securities, or upon full
payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the Trust. The Preferred
Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as
the case may be, if at any time any holder of the Preferred Securities must
restore payment of any sums paid with respect to the Preferred Securities or
under the Preferred Securities Guarantee.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An event of default under the Preferred Securities Guarantee will occur upon
the failure by Southern to perform any of its payment obligations thereunder.
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 the
Preferred Securities Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Preferred Securities Guarantee.
Any holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against Southern to enforce its rights under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity. The holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the
holders of all the Preferred Securities, waive any past event of default and
its consequences.
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INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
The Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any event of default with
respect to the Preferred Securities Guarantee and after the curing or waiving
of all events of default with respect to the Preferred Securities Guarantee,
undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the
Preferred Securities Guarantee and, in case an event of default has occurred,
shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise
in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the
Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested
in it by the Preferred Securities Guarantee at the request of any holder of
the Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable indemnity against the
costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred thereby.
Bankers Trust Company, the Guarantee Trustee, also serves as Property
Trustee and as Indenture Trustee. Southern and certain of its subsidiaries
maintain deposit accounts and banking relationships with Bankers Trust
Company. Bankers Trust Company serves as trustee under other indentures
pursuant to which securities of subsidiaries of Southern are outstanding.
GOVERNING LAW
The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
THE AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
Pursuant to an Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities to be entered into
by Southern under the Trust Agreement, Southern will irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom the Trust becomes
indebted or liable the full payment of any indebtedness, expenses or
liabilities of the Trust, other than obligations of the Trust to pay to the
holders of the 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.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES GUARANTEE
Pursuant to the Subordinated Note Indenture, Southern will irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee the due and punctual payment of principal, premium,
if any, and interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes when and as the same
shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption or
otherwise. The Notes Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of
Southern and will rank subordinate and junior to all Senior Indebtedness that
may be issued by Southern. As of March 31, 1997, Senior Indebtedness of
Southern aggregated approximately $794,000,000. Since Southern is a holding
company, the right of Southern and, hence, the right of creditors of Southern
(including the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes) to participate in any
distribution of the assets of any subsidiary of Southern, whether upon
liquidation, reorganization or otherwise, is subject to prior claims of
creditors of each such subsidiary.
RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
THE SUBORDINATED NOTES, THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AND THE NOTES
GUARANTEE
As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, such payments will be sufficient to cover
distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities primarily because (i)
the aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes will be equal to
the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the Trust Securities;
(ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment dates on the Junior
Subordinated Notes will match the distribution rate and distribution and other
payment dates for the Preferred Securities; (iii) Southern shall pay for all
costs and expenses of the Trust pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and
Liabilities; and (iv) the Trust Agreement provides that the Securities
Trustees shall not cause or permit the Trust to, among other things, engage in
any activity that is not consistent with the purposes of the Trust.
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Payments of distributions (to the extent funds therefor are legally and
immediately available) and other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to
the extent funds therefor are legally and immediately available) are
guaranteed by Southern as and to the extent set forth under "Description of
the Preferred Securities Guarantee." If Capital does not make interest
payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes, it is not expected that the Trust
will have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the Preferred Securities.
The Preferred Securities Guarantee is a guarantee from the time of its
issuance, but does not apply to any payment of distributions unless and until
the Trust has sufficient funds legally and immediately available for the
payment of such distributions.
If Capital fails to make interest or other payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes when due (taking into account any Extension Period), the
Trust Agreement provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred
Securities may appoint a substitute Property Trustee. Such holders may also
direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Junior
Subordinated Notes and the Notes Guarantee, including proceeding directly
against Capital to enforce the Junior Subordinated Notes and Southern to
enforce the Notes Guarantee. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its
rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Notes Guarantee, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any holder of Preferred Securities
may institute a legal proceeding directly against Capital to enforce the
Property Trustee's rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes and against
Southern to enforce such rights under the Notes Guarantee without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of Preferred
Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against Southern and
Capital, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Property
Trustee or any other person or entity, for enforcement of payment to such
holder of principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities of such holder on or after the due dates specified in the
Junior Subordinated Notes.
If Southern fails to make payments under the Preferred Securities Guarantee,
the Preferred Securities Guarantee provides a mechanism whereby the holders of
the Preferred Securities may direct the Guarantee Trustee to enforce its
rights thereunder. In addition, any holder of Preferred Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against Southern to enforce the
Guarantee Trustee's rights under the Preferred Securities Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee or any
other person or entity.
The Notes Guarantee, the Preferred Securities Guarantee, the Subordinated
Note Indenture, the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust Agreement and the
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, as described above, constitute a
full and unconditional guarantee by Southern and Capital of the payments due
on the Preferred Securities.
Upon any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of
the Trust, unless the Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed in connection
therewith, the holders of Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive,
out of assets legally available for distribution to holders, the Liquidation
Distribution in cash. See "Description of the Preferred Securities --
Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution." Upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation or bankruptcy of Capital, the Property Trustee, as holder of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, would be a subordinated creditor of Capital,
subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness, but entitled to
receive payment in full of principal and interest, before any stockholders of
Capital receive payments or distributions. Because Southern is guarantor under
the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Notes Guarantee and has agreed to
pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust (other than the
Trust's obligations to holders of the Preferred Securities) pursuant to the
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, the positions of a holder of
Preferred Securities and a holder of Junior Subordinated Notes relative to
other creditors and to stockholders of Southern in the event of liquidation or
bankruptcy of Southern would be substantially the same.
A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness would not
constitute a default or Event of Default under the Subordinated Note
Indenture. However, in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration
of, Senior Indebtedness, the subordination provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Notes provide that no payments may be made in respect of the
Junior Subordinated Notes until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full
or
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any payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make
required payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes would constitute an Event
of Default under the Subordinated Note Indenture except that failure to make
interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes will not be an Event of
Default during an Extension Period; provided, however, that any Extension
Period may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the maturity of
the Junior Subordinated Notes.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain material United States federal income
tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Preferred Securities
and constitutes the opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP, counsel to Southern,
Capital and the Trust, insofar as it relates to matters of law and legal
conclusions. This summary deals only with Preferred Securities held as capital
assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended to the date hereof (the "Code"), by Holders (as defined
herein). Moreover, it does not discuss all of the tax consequences that may be
relevant to a Holder in light of his particular circumstances or to Holders
subject to special rules, such as certain financial institutions, insurance
companies, dealers in securities, individual retirement and certain tax
deferred accounts, and persons who engage in a straddle or a hedge relating to
a Preferred Security. Prospective investors should consult their own tax
advisors with regard to the application of the tax considerations discussed
below to their particular situations as well as the application of any state,
local or other tax laws. This summary is based on laws, existing and proposed
regulations, and applicable judicial and administrative determinations, all of
which are subject to change at any time, and any such changes may be
retroactively applied in a manner that could adversely affect Holders. As used
herein, the term "Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Preferred Security
that for United States federal income tax purposes is (i) a citizen or
resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any
political subdivision thereof, or (iii) a trust that is not a foreign trust or
an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income
taxation regardless of its source. Thus, the following summary does not
address any tax consequences that apply specifically to nonresident aliens or
foreign entities.
TREATMENT OF THE TRUST AND PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR FEDERAL INCOME TAX
PURPOSES
The Trust will be treated as a "grantor trust" and not as an association
taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Thus, for federal
income tax purposes, each Holder will be treated as the beneficial owner of a
pro rata undivided interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes and,
consequently, will be required to include in income the Holder's pro rata
share of the entire income from the Junior Subordinated Notes. Each Holder
generally will determine its net income or loss with respect to the Trust in
accordance with its own method of accounting, although income arising from
OID, if any, must be taken into account under the accrual method of accounting
even if the Holder otherwise would use the cash receipts and disbursements
method.
PAYMENTS OF INTEREST
Except as set forth below, stated interest on a Junior Subordinated Note
will generally be taxable to a Holder as ordinary income at the time it is
paid or accrued in accordance with the Holder's own method of accounting.
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
Under applicable income tax regulations, Southern and Capital believe that
the Junior Subordinated Notes will not be treated as issued with OID. It
should be noted that these regulations have not yet been addressed in any
rulings or other interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS").
Accordingly, it is possible that the IRS could take a position contrary to the
interpretations described herein.
The terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes permit Capital to defer the
payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes at any time and from time
to time by extending the interest payment period for up to 20
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consecutive quarters with respect to each Extension Period; provided, however,
that no Extension Period may extend beyond the stated maturity date of the
Junior Subordinated Notes. Should Capital exercise this option to defer
payments of interest, the Junior Subordinated Notes would at that time be
treated as reissued with OID and interest would be taxable on an economic
accrual basis. As a result, all Holders would, in effect, be required to
accrue interest income even if such Holders are on a cash method of
accounting. Consequently, in the event that the payment of interest is
deferred, a Holder could be required to include OID in income on an economic
accrual basis, notwithstanding that Capital will not make any interest
payments during such period on the Junior Subordinated Notes.
MARKET DISCOUNT
A purchaser of a Preferred Security at a discount from the liquidation
amount at maturity of such purchaser's pro rata share of the Junior
Subordinated Notes acquires such Preferred Security with "market discount."
However, market discount with respect to a Preferred Security will be
considered to be zero if it is de minimis. Market discount will be de minimis
with respect to a Preferred Security if it is less than the product of (i)
0.25% of the adjusted issue price of the purchaser's pro rata share of the
Junior Subordinated Notes multiplied by (ii) the number of complete years to
maturity of such Junior Subordinated Notes after the date of purchase. The
purchaser of a Preferred Security with more than a de minimis amount of market
discount generally will be required to treat any gain on the sale, exchange,
redemption or other disposition of all or part of the Preferred Securities (or
related Junior Subordinated Notes) as ordinary income to the extent of accrued
(but not previously taxed) market discount. Market discount generally will
accrue ratably during the period from the date of purchase of such Preferred
Security to the maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Notes, unless the
Holder irrevocably elects to accrue such market discount on the basis of a
constant interest rate.
A Holder who has acquired a Preferred Security at a market discount
generally will be required to defer any deductions of interest expense
attributable to any indebtedness incurred or continued to purchase or carry
the Preferred Security, to the extent such interest expense exceeds the
related interest income. Any such deferred interest expense generally will be
allowable as a deduction not later than the year in which the related market
discount income is recognized. As an alternative to the inclusion of market
discount in income upon disposition of all or a portion of a Preferred
Security or the related Junior Subordinated Notes (including redemptions
thereof), a Holder may make an election (which may not be revoked without the
IRS's consent) to include market discount in income as it accrues on all
market discount instruments acquired by the Holder during or after the taxable
year for which the election is made. In that case, the preceding deferral rule
for interest expense will not apply.
In lieu of the foregoing treatment of market discount and interest expense,
a Holder may elect to treat any market discount (including a de minimis
amount) as OID and accrue such discount on a constant-yield basis in the same
manner as the Holder accrues OID.
SALE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
Upon the sale, retirement (including redemption) or other taxable
disposition of all or part of a Preferred Security, a Holder thereof will
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on
such sale, retirement or other disposition and such Holder's adjusted tax
basis in the Preferred Security or part thereof. If the Holder disposes of a
Preferred Security prior to the occurrence of an Extension Period, any portion
of the amount received that is attributable to accrued interest will be
treated as interest income to the Holder and will not be treated as part of
the amount realized for purposes of determining gain or loss on the
disposition of the Preferred Security. Any recognized gain or loss will be
capital gain or loss, except to the extent of any accrued market discount (see
"Market Discount" above), and such capital gain or loss will be long-term if
the holding period for the Preferred Security is more than one year at the
time of sale, retirement or other disposition. A Holder's adjusted tax basis
in a Preferred Security acquired by purchase will equal the cost of such
Preferred Security to the Holder, increased by the amount of any related
accrued OID and market discount included in taxable income by the Holder and
reduced by any prior payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes which are
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not qualified stated interest. The redemption of only part of a Preferred
Security will require an allocation of the Holder's adjusted tax basis in his
pro rata share of the related Junior Subordinated Notes between the portion of
the Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed and retained by the Holder in order to
determine gain or loss.
RECEIPT OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST
As described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event
Redemption or Distribution," Junior Subordinated Notes may be distributed to
Holders in exchange for the Preferred Securities and in liquidation of the
Trust. Such a distribution would be treated as a non-taxable event to each
Holder and each Holder would receive an aggregate tax basis in the Holder's
Junior Subordinated Notes equal to the Holder's aggregate tax basis in its
Preferred Securities. A Holder's holding period with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes so received in liquidation of the Trust would include the
period for which the Preferred Securities were held by such Holder.
INFORMATION REPORTING TO HOLDERS
Income on the Preferred Securities will be reported to Holders on Form 1099,
which form should be mailed to Holders of Preferred Securities by January 31
following each calendar year.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
A Holder may be subject to "backup withholding" under certain circumstances.
Backup withholding applies to a Holder if the Holder, among other things, (i)
fails to furnish his social security number or other taxpayer identification
number ("TIN") to the payor responsible for backup withholding (for example,
the Holder's securities broker), (ii) furnishes such payor an incorrect TIN,
(iii) fails to provide such payor with a certified statement, signed under
penalties of perjury, that the TIN provided to the payor is correct and that
the Holder is not subject to backup withholding, or (iv) fails to report
properly interest and dividends on his tax return. Backup withholding,
however, does not apply to payments made to certain exempt recipients, such as
corporations and tax-exempt organizations. The backup withholding rate is 31%
of "reportable payments," which generally will include distributions of
interest and principal payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes.
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
On February 6, 1997, the revenue portion of President Clinton's fiscal 1998
budget proposal was released. The Proposal would, among other things,
generally deny interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a
corporation that has a maximum term of more than 15 years and that is not
shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer. If the
Proposal were to apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes, Southern would be
unable to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. As currently
drafted, however, the Proposal would be effective generally for instruments
issued on or after the date of first Congressional committee action and, as
such, is not expected to apply to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Southern
believes that, under current law, it will be able to deduct interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes. There can be no assurance, however, that current or
future legislative proposals or final legislation will not affect the ability
of Southern to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes. Such a change
could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit Capital to cause a
redemption of the Preferred Securities, as described more fully under
"Description of the Preferred Securities -- Special Event Redemption or
Distribution."
THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE TO A
HOLDER, DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER'S PARTICULAR SITUATION, AND THEREFORE EACH
HOLDER SHOULD CONSULT HIS TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE
EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAW.
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UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), the Trust has agreed to sell to the
Underwriters named below, and the Underwriters, for whom Goldman, Sachs & Co.
and Lehman Brothers Inc. are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives"), have severally agreed to purchase the number of Preferred
Securities set forth opposite their respective names below. In the
Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth therein, to purchase all of the Preferred Securities
offered hereby if any of the Preferred Securities are purchased.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
PREFERRED
NAME SECURITIES
---- ----------
<S> <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co. .............................................
Lehman Brothers Inc. .............................................
---------
Total......................................................... 8,000,000
=========
</TABLE>
The Underwriters have advised Southern, Capital and the Trust that they
propose to offer the Preferred Securities in part directly to the public at
the price to the public, as set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus,
and in part to certain securities dealers at such price less a concession not
in excess of $. per Preferred Security. The Underwriters may allow, and such
dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $. per Preferred Security
to certain other dealers. After the Preferred Securities are released for sale
to the public, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to
time be varied by the Underwriters.
The Preferred Securities are expected to be approved for listing on the
NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance. Trading of the Preferred
Securities on the NYSE is expected to commence within a 30-day period after
the initial delivery of the Preferred Securities. The Representatives have
advised Southern, Capital and the Trust that they intend to make a market in
the Preferred Securities prior to the commencement of trading on the NYSE. The
Representatives will have no obligation to make a market in the Preferred
Securities, however, and may cease market making activities, if commenced, at
any time.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Preferred
Securities. In order to meet one of the requirements for listing the Preferred
Securities on the NYSE, the Underwriters will undertake to sell lots of 100 or
more Preferred Securities to a minimum of 400 beneficial holders.
In connection with this offering and in compliance with applicable law and
industry practice, the Underwriters may over allot or effect transactions
which stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the
Preferred Securities at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in
the open market, including by entering stabilizing bids, purchasing Preferred
Securities to cover syndicate short positions and imposing penalty bids. A
stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting of any
purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a
security. Covering a syndicate short position means placing a bid or effecting
a purchase of a security on behalf of the underwriting syndicate to reduce a
short position created in connection with the offering. Imposing a penalty bid
means purchasing a security in the open market to reduce the
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underwriting syndicate's short position or to stabilize the price of the
security and in connection therewith reclaiming the amount of the selling
concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold such
securities as part of the offering.
In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to
reduce a syndicate short position could cause the price of the security to be
higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a
penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent
that it were to discourage resales of the security.
Neither Southern, Capital, the Trust nor any Underwriter makes any
representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect
that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Preferred
Securities. In addition, neither Southern, Capital, the Trust nor any
Underwriter makes any representation that the Underwriters will engage in such
transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be
discontinued without notice.
Southern, Capital and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the 1933 Act.
Certain of the Underwriters engage in transactions with, and, from time to
time, have performed services for, Southern and its affiliates in the ordinary
course of business.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred
Securities will be passed upon on behalf of Capital and the Trust by Richards,
Layton & Finger, Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to Capital and
the Trust. The validity of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee and the Notes Guarantee and certain matters relating
thereto will be passed upon on behalf of Southern and Capital by Troutman
Sanders LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Troutman Sanders LLP will also pass upon
certain matters relating to United States federal income tax considerations.
Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Dewey
Ballantine, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Southern included in
Southern's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996,
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by Arthur
Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports
with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the
authority of said firm as experts in giving said reports.
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GLOSSARY
1933 Act................. The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1934 Act................. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
1939 Act................. The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
1940 Act................. The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Additional Interest...... Amounts payable by Capital as defined under
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--
Additional Interest."
Administrative Wayne Boston and Richard A. Childs.
Trustees................
Agreement as to Expenses
and Liabilities.........
The agreement between Southern and the Trust
pursuant to which Southern has agreed to pay all
indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust,
other than the Trust's obligations to pay to the
holders of the Preferred Securities the amounts due
such holders pursuant to the terms thereof.
Capital.................. Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc.
Code..................... The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Common Securities........ The Trust Securities being sold to Capital.
Delaware Trustee......... Bankers Trust (Delaware).
DTC...................... The Depository Trust Company, a "clearing
corporation" that initially will hold (through its
agents) a global certificate evidencing the
Preferred Securities.
Distribution Dates....... March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of
each year.
Extension Period......... Any period during which interest is not paid on the
Junior Subordinated Notes (and, consequently, on
the Preferred Securities) at the election of
Capital to the extent permitted under the terms of
the Junior Subordinated Notes.
Guarantee Payments....... Payments required to be made pursuant to the
Preferred Securities Guarantee as described in
"Description of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee--General."
Guarantee Trustee........ The trustee under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee; initially, Bankers Trust Company.
Indenture Trustee........ The trustee under the Subordinated Note Indenture;
initially, Bankers Trust Company.
Issue Date............... The date set forth on the cover page on which the
Junior Subordinated Notes and Preferred Securities
are scheduled to be issued.
Investment Company Act An event of the type described in "Description of
Event................... the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption
or Distribution."
Junior Subordinated The Series C % junior subordinated deferrable
Notes................... interest notes of Capital due , 2037.
Notes Guarantee.......... The guarantee by Southern of the payments by Capital
on the Junior Subordinated Notes.
NYSE.....................
New York Stock Exchange.
Preferred Securities.....
The Trust Securities being offered to investors
pursuant to this Prospectus.
42
<PAGE>
Preferred Securities The guarantee by Southern of the payments by the
Guarantee............... Trust on the Preferred Securities from time to
time.
Property Trustee......... A trustee under the Trust designated to hold the
trust property; initially Bankers Trust Company.
Record Date.............. The close of business on the 15th calendar day
prior to a Distribution Date.
Redemption Price......... The stated liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred
Security, plus accrued and unpaid distributions
thereon (and interest thereon) to the date of
payment.
Securities Rate.......... The per annum interest rate expressed as a
percentage of the stated liquidation amount of $25
per Preferred Security, and set forth on the cover
page of this Prospectus.
Securities Trustees...... The Property Trustee, Administrative Trustees and
Delaware Trustee.
Senior Indebtedness...... Indebtedness described under "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes--Subordination."
Southern................. The Southern Company.
Special Event............ A Tax Event or Investment Company Act Event.
Subordinated Note The indenture pursuant to which Capital's Junior
Indenture............... Subordinated Notes will be issued.
Subordinated Note
Indenture Event of
Default................. As described under "Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes--Events of Default."
Tax Event................ An event of the type described in "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption
or Distribution."
Trust.................... Southern Company Capital Trust III, a Delaware
business trust that will issue the Trust
Securities.
Trust Agreement.......... The agreement pursuant to which the Trust is
organized as it may be amended and restated from
time to time.
Trust Agreement Event of
Default.................
As described under "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Events of Default."
Trust Securities......... The Preferred Securities and the Common Securities.
43
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED BY SOUTHERN, CAPITAL, THE TRUST OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER
THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AF-
FAIRS OF SOUTHERN, CAPITAL, OR THE TRUST SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPEC-
TUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION
IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON
MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO
WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
-----------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Available Information..................................................... 4
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference........................... 4
Summary................................................................... 5
Risk Factors.............................................................. 12
The Southern Company...................................................... 14
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. ................................... 15
Southern Company Capital Trust III........................................ 15
Accounting Treatment...................................................... 16
Use of Proceeds........................................................... 16
Recent Results of Operations.............................................. 16
Description of the Preferred Securities................................... 16
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes.............................. 26
Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee......................... 33
Description of the Notes Guarantee........................................ 35
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Notes, the
Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Notes Guarantee................... 35
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations................................. 37
Underwriting.............................................................. 40
Legal Matters............................................................. 41
Experts................................................................... 41
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
SOUTHERN COMPANY
CAPITAL TRUST III
% TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER
PREFERRED SECURITY)
FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED,
AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
LOGO
-----------
PROSPECTUS
, 1997
-----------
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
LEHMAN BROTHERS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission Fee................................. $60,607
Fees and Expense of Trustees........................................... *
Printing Expenses...................................................... *
Counsel Fees........................................................... *
Rating Agency Fees..................................................... *
Listing Fees........................................................... *
Accountant's Fees...................................................... *
Miscellaneous.......................................................... *
-------
Total.................................................................. $ *
=======
</TABLE>
* To be supplied by amendment
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of Title of the Delaware Code gives a corporation power to
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or
in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys" fees), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The same Section also
gives a corporation power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its
favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification
shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person
shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to
the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or
suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Also, the
Section states that, to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent
of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of
any such action, suit or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or
matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys'
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
The By-Laws of Southern provide in substance that no present or future
director or officer of Southern shall be liable for any act, omission, step or
conduct taken or had in good faith which is required, authorized or approved
by order issued pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935,
the Federal Power Act, or any state statute regulating Southern or its
subsidiaries by reason of their being public utility companies or public
utility holding companies, or any amendment to any thereof. In the event that
such provisions are found by a court not to constitute a valid defense, each
such director and officer shall be reimbursed for, or indemnified against, all
expenses and liabilities incurred by him or imposed on him in connection with,
or arising out of, any such action, suit or proceeding based on any act,
omission, step or conduct taken or had in good faith as in such By-Laws
described.
II-1
<PAGE>
The By-Laws of Southern further provide as follows:
"Each person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation and
who was or is a party or was or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact
that he is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee,
agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be indemnified by the
Corporation as a matter of right against any and all expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him and against any
and all claims, judgments, fines, penalties, liabilities and amounts paid
in settlement actually incurred by him in defense of such claim, action,
suit or proceeding, including appeals, to the full extent permitted by
applicable law. The indemnification provided by this Section shall inure to
the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by a director or officer of
the Corporation with respect to the defense of any such claim, action, suit
or proceeding may be advanced by the Corporation prior to the final
disposition of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by the
Board of Directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by
or on behalf of such person to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately
be determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by the
Corporation under this Section or otherwise; provided, however, that the
advancement of such expenses shall not be deemed to be indemnification
unless and until it shall ultimately be determined that such person is
entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation."
Southern has an insurance policy covering its liabilities and expenses which
might arise in connection with its lawful indemnification of its directors and
officers for certain of their liabilities and expenses and also covering its
officers and directors against certain other liabilities and expenses.
Paragraph 10 of the Certificate of Incorporation of Capital provides as
follows:
No director of the corporation shall be personally liable to the
corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for
acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law, or (iii) for any transaction from which the
director received an improper personal benefit.
Article VII of the By-laws of Capital provides in pertinent part:
Section 1. The corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of
the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person
acted in good faith in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the
person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation,
and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable
cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
II-2
<PAGE>
Section 2. The corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation
to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a
manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect
of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of
his or her duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the
Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the
Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 3. To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense
of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1. and 2., or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such individual shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.
Section 4. Any indemnification under Sections 1. and 2. (unless ordered
by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the
specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director,
officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she
has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1. and 2.
Such determination shall be made (1) by the board of directors by a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to
such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable,
or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
Section 5. Expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a
civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation
in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as
authorized by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of
an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such
amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that such individual is
entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this
Section. Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so
paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors
deems appropriate.
Section 6. The indemnification provided by this Article VII shall not be
exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be
entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise, both as to action in such individual's official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office,
and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer,
employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors
and administrators of such a person.
Section 7. The corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request
of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such in any such
capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify against such liability under
the provisions of this section.
II-3
<PAGE>
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
<C> <S>
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement*
4.1 Form of Subordinated Note Indenture of The Southern Company and
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. relating to the Junior
Subordinated Notes
4.2 Form of First Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Note Indenture of
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. and The Southern Company
relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes
4.3 Form of Certificate of Junior Subordinated Notes (included as Exhibit
A to Exhibit 4.2)
4.4 Certificate of Trust of Southern Company Capital Trust III
4.5 Trust Agreement of Southern Company Capital Trust III
4.6 Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Southern Company
Capital Trust III
4.7 Form of Preferred Security Certificate for Southern Company Capital
Trust III (included as Exhibit E to Exhibit 4.6)
4.8 Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee of The Southern Company
relating to the Preferred Securities
4.9 Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities (included as Exhibit
D to Exhibit 4.6)
5.1 Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP to Southern Company Capital Funding,
Inc. as to legality of the Junior Subordinated Notes
to be issued by Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc.*
5.2 Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware counsel, as to
legality of the Preferred Securities to be issued by Southern Company
Capital Trust III*
5.3 Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP to The Southern Company as to legality
of the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Notes Guarantee to be
issued by The Southern Company*
8.1 Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP, special tax counsel, as to certain
United States federal income tax matters*
12.1 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
12.2 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred
dividend requirements
21.1 List of Subsidiaries of The Southern Company (Designated in Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1996, File No. 1-3536, as Exhibit 21.)
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
23.2 Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
23.3 Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger (included in Exhibit 5.2)*
23.4 Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.3)*
23.5 Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)*
24.1 Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors of The Southern
Company
24.2 Resolution of The Southern Company re: Power of Attorney
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Bankers Trust Company
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be subsequently filed or incorporated by reference.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each
filing of a Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each
filing of an employee benefit
II-4
<PAGE>
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
each undersigned Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, each Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by each undersigned Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer of controlling person of each Registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, each Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by the controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrants hereby undertake that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
form of prospectus filed by the registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
(4) or 497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-5
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT,
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, A DELAWARE CORPORATION, CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE
GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3
AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY
THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, STATE OF
GEORGIA, ON THE 30TH DAY OF MAY, 1997.
The Southern Company
A. W. DAHLBERG
By: _________________________________
CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
By: /s/Wayne Boston
WAYNE BOSTON
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
OF THE SOUTHERN COMPANY IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATE INDICATED:
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
A. W. Dahlberg Chairman of the Board,
President, Chief
Executive Officer and
Director (Principal
Executive Officer)
W. L. Westbrook Financial Vice
President, Chief
Financial Officer and
Treasurer (Principal
Financial and
Accounting Officer)
John C. Adams
A. D. Correll
Paul J. DeNicola
Jack Edwards
H. Allen Franklin
Bruce S. Gordon
L. G. Hardman III Directors
Elmer B. Harris
William A. Parker, Jr.
William J. Rushton, Jr.
Gloria M. Shatto
Gerald J. St. Pe
Herbert Stockham
II-6
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
/S/Wayne Boston
- ------------------------------------- May 30, 1997
WAYNE BOSTON
Attorney-in-Fact
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT,
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION, CERTIFIES THAT
IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR
FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE
SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE
CITY OF ATLANTA, STATE OF GEORGIA, ON THE 30TH DAY OF MAY, 1997.
Southern Company Capital Funding,
Inc.
By: /s/W. L. Westbrook
W.L. WESTBROOK
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING DIRECTOR AND OFFICERS OF
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC. IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATE
INDICATED.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
By: /s/W.L. Westbrook President, Chief May 30,
W.L. WESTBROOK Executive Officer and 1997
Director (Principal
Executive Officer)
Vice President and Chief May 30,
By: /s/C.O. Rawlins Financial Officer 1997
C.O. RAWLINS (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, SOUTHERN COMPANY
CAPITAL TRUST III CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT
MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED,
THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, STATE OF GEORGIA, ON THE
30TH DAY OF MAY, 1997.
Southern Company Capital Trust III
By: Southern Company Capital Funding,
Inc., Depositor
By: /s/Wayne Boston
WAYNE BOSTON
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
II-7
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement*
4.1 Form of Subordinated Note Indenture of The Southern Company and
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. relating to the Junior
Subordinated Notes
4.2 Form of First Supplemental Indenture to Subordinated Note Indenture of
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. and The Southern Company
relating to the Junior Subordinated Notes
4.3 Form of Certificate of Junior Subordinated Notes (included as Exhibit
A to Exhibit 4.2)
4.4 Certificate of Trust of Southern Company Capital Trust III
4.5 Trust Agreement of Southern Company Capital Trust III
4.6 Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Southern Company
Capital Trust III
4.7 Form of Preferred Security Certificate for Southern Company Capital
Trust III (included as Exhibit E to Exhibit 4.6)
4.8 Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee of The Southern Company
relating to the Preferred Securities
4.9 Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities (included as Exhibit
D to Exhibit 4.6)
5.1 Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP to Southern Company Capital Funding,
Inc. as to legality of the Junior Subordinated Notes
to be issued by Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc.*
5.2 Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware counsel, as to
legality of the Preferred Securities to be issued by Southern Company
Capital Trust III*
5.3 Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP to The Southern Company as to legality
of the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Notes Guarantee to be
issued by The Southern Company*
8.1 Opinion of Troutman Sanders LLP, special tax counsel, as to certain
United States federal income tax matters*
12.1 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
12.2 Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred
dividend requirements
21.1 List of Subsidiaries of The Southern Company (Designated in Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1996, File No. 1-3536, as Exhibit 21.)
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
23.2 Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
23.3 Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger (included in Exhibit 5.2)*
23.4 Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 5.3)*
23.5 Consent of Troutman Sanders LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1)*
24.1 Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors of The Southern
Company
24.2 Resolution of The Southern Company re: Power of Attorney
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Bankers Trust Company
- --------
* To be subsequently filed or incorporated by reference.
Exhibit 4.1
TS DRAFT
5/29/97
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
AND
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
TO
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
TRUSTEE.
SUBORDINATED NOTE INDENTURE
DATED AS OF _________ 1, 1997
<PAGE>
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 AND
SUBORDINATED NOTE INDENTURE, DATED AS OF _________ 1, 1997
TRUST INDENTURE
ACT SECTION INDENTURE SECTION
(S) 310(a)(1)...........................................609
(a)(2).........................................609
(a)(3)..............................Not Applicable
(a)(4)..............................Not Applicable
(b)............................................608
...........................................................610
(S) 311(a)..............................................613
311(b)(4)........................................613(a)
(b)(6).......................................613(b)
(S) 312(a)..............................................701
........................................................702(a)
(c)..........................................702(b)
(S) 313(a)...........................................703(a)
313(b)...........................................703(b)
313(c)...........................................703(c)
...........................................................704
(d).........................................703(c)
(S) 314(a)........................................704, 1007
(b)..................................Not Applicable
(c)(1)..........................................102
(c)(2)..........................................102
(c)(3)...............................Not Applicable
(d)..................................Not Applicable
(e).............................................102
(S) 315(a)...........................................601(a)
(b).............................................602
(c)..........................................601(b)
(d)..........................................601(c)
(d)(1)....................................601(a)(1)
(d)(2)....................................601(c)(2)
(d)(3)....................................601(c)(3)
(e).............................................514
(S) 316(a)..............................................101
(a)(1)(A).......................................502
...........................................................512
(a)(1)(B).......................................513
(a)(2)...............................Not Applicable
(b).............................................508
(S) 317(a)(1)...........................................503
(a)(2)..........................................504
(b)............................................1003
(S) 318(a)..............................................107
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Parties..............................................................1
Recitals of the Company..............................................1
ARTICLE ONE..........................................................1
SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS...........................................1
Act.............................................................2
Additional Interest.............................................2
Affiliate.......................................................2
Authenticating Agent............................................2
Board Resolution................................................3
Business Day....................................................3
Certificate of a Firm of Independent Public Accountants.........3
Commission......................................................3
Company 3
Company Request or Company Order................................3
Corporate Trust Office..........................................3
Corporation.....................................................4
Defaulted Interest..............................................4
Depositary......................................................4
Event of Default................................................4
Global Security.................................................4
Guarantee Agreement.............................................4
Guarantor.......................................................4
Holder 4
Indenture.......................................................4
Interest Payment Date...........................................4
Junior Subordinated Note........................................5
Maturity 5
Notes Guarantee.................................................5
Officers' Certificate...........................................5
Opinion of Counsel..............................................5
Outstanding.....................................................5
Paying Agent....................................................6
Paying Agent....................................................6
Person 6
Predecessor Security............................................6
Property Trustee................................................6
Redemption Date.................................................6
Redemption Price................................................6
Regular Record Date.............................................7
Responsible Officer.............................................7
Securities Trust................................................7
Security Register and Security Registrar........................7
Special Record Date.............................................7
Stated Maturity.................................................8
Trust Agreement.................................................8
Trust Indenture Act.............................................8
Trust Securities................................................8
Trustee 8
Vice President..................................................8
SECTION 102. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS..................8
SECTION 102. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS..................8
SECTION 103. FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE................9
SECTION 104. ACTS OF HOLDERS.......................................9
SECTION 105. NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY................10
SECTION 106. NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES;
WAIVER...............................................11
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..................................12
SECTION 111. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE................................12
SECTION 112. GOVERNING LAW........................................12
SECTION 113. LEGAL HOLIDAYS.......................................13
ARTICLE TWO.........................................................13
SECTION 201. FORMS GENERALLY......................................13
SECTION 202. FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION......14
SECTION 203. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES ISSUABLE IN THE FORM OF A
GLOBAL SECURITY......................................14
ARTICLE THREE.......................................................16
SECTION 301. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.................16
SECTION 302. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.......18
SECTION 303. REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE..20
SECTION 304. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES...................................21
SECTION 305. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.......22
SECTION 307. CANCELLATION.........................................23
SECTION 308. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST..............................24
ARTICLE FOUR 24
SECTION 401. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE..............24
SECTION 402. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY...........................25
ARTICLE FIVE........................................................26
SECTION 501. EVENTS OF DEFAULT....................................26
SECTION 502. ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT...28
SECTION 503. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT
BY TRUSTEE...........................................29
SECTION 504. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.....................29
SECTION 505. TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF
JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES............................30
SECTION 506. APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.......................30
SECTION 507. LIMITATION ON SUITS..................................31
SECTION 508. UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL,
PREMIUM AND INTEREST.................................31
SECTION 509. RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES...................32
SECTION 510. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.......................32
SECTION 511. DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.........................32
SECTION 512. CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES......33
SECTION 513. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS..............................33
SECTION 514. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS................................34
SECTION 515. WAIVER OF STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS.....................34
ARTICLE SIX.........................................................34
SECTION 601. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES..................34
SECTION 602. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS...................................35
SECTION 603. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE............................36
SECTION 604. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES...................................37
SECTION 605. MAY HOLD JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES...................38
SECTION 606. MONEY HELD IN TRUST..................................38
SECTION 607. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.......................38
SECTION 608. DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS..............39
SECTION 609. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY..............39
SECTION 610. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR....39
SECTION 611. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR...............41
SECTION 612. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO
BUSINESS.............................................42
SECTION 613. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY....42
SECTION 614. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT..................43
ARTICLE SEVEN.......................................................44
SECTION 701. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF
HOLDERS..............................................44
SECTION 702. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO
HOLDERS..............................................45
SECTION 703. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE...................................45
SECTION 704. REPORTS BY COMPANY...................................45
ARTICLE EIGHT.......................................................46
SECTION 801. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.46
SECTION 802. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED....................47
ARTICLE NINE........................................................47
SECTION 901. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS...47
SECTION 902. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS......49
SECTION 903. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE..50
SECTION 904. EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.................50
SECTION 905. EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES....................50
SECTION 906. CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT..................51
SECTION 907. REFERENCE IN JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES TO
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES..............................51
ARTICLE TEN.........................................................51
SECTION 1001. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST...................51
SECTION 1002. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.....................51
SECTION 1003. MONEY FOR JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYMENTS TO BE
HELD IN TRUST.......................................52
SECTION 1004. ADDITIONAL INTEREST.................................53
SECTION 1005. CORPORATE EXISTENCE.................................54
SECTION 1006. LIMITATIONS ON DIVIDEND AND CERTAIN OTHER PAYMENTS..54
SECTION 1007. STATEMENT AS TO COMPLIANCE..........................55
SECTION 1008. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.........................55
SECTION 1009. COVENANTS REGARDING TRUST...........................55
ARTICLE ELEVEN......................................................56
SECTION 1101. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE............................56
SECTION 1102. ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE...............56
SECTION 1103. SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
TO BE REDEEMED......................................56
SECTION 1104. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION................................57
SECTION 1105. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.........................58
SECTION 1106. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION
DATE................................................58
SECTION 1107. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES REDEEMED IN PART..........58
ARTICLE TWELVE......................................................59
SECTION 1201. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE............................59
SECTION 1202. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES..................................59
SECTION 1203. REDEMPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES FOR SINKING
FUND................................................60
ARTICLE THIRTEEN....................................................60
SECTION 1301. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES SUBORDINATE TO SENIOR
INDEBTEDNESS........................................60
SECTION 1302. PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS UPON DISSOLUTION, ETC...........60
SECTION 1303. NO PAYMENT WHEN SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS IN DEFAULT......61
SECTION 1304. PAYMENT PERMITTED IF NO DEFAULT.....................62
SECTION 1305. SUBROGATION TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR
INDEBTEDNESS........................................62
SECTION 1306. PROVISIONS SOLELY TO DEFINE RELATIVE RIGHTS.........63
SECTION 1307. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION.................63
SECTION 1308. NO WAIVER OF SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS...............63
SECTION 1309. TRUST MONEYS NOT SUBORDINATED.......................64
SECTION 1310. NOTICE TO THE TRUSTEE...............................64
SECTION 1311. RELIANCE ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE OF
LIQUIDATING AGENT...................................65
SECTION 1312. TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF SENIOR
INDEBTEDNESS........................................65
SECTION 1313. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS HOLDER OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS;
PRESERVATION OF TRUSTEE'S RIGHTS....................66
SECTION 1314. ARTICLE APPLICABLE TO PAYING AGENTS.................66
SECTION 1315. RELIANCE BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS ON
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS............................66
ARTICLE FOURTEEN....................................................67
SECTION 1401. GUARANTEE...........................................67
SECTION 1402. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.........................67
SECTION 1403. GUARANTOR OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED..................67
SECTION 1404. FORM OF GUARANTEE...................................68
SECTION 1405. EXECUTION OF GUARANTEE..............................69
SECTION 1406. SUBROGATION.........................................70
SECTION 1407. INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.............................70
SECTION 1408. SUBORDINATION.......................................70
ARTICLE FIFTEEN.....................................................70
SECTION 1501. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS..........................71
SECTION 1502. SET-OFF.............................................71
SECTION 1503. ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT..........................71
SECTION 1504. ADDITIONAL INTEREST.................................72
<PAGE>
SUBORDINATED NOTE INDENTURE
THIS SUBORDINATED NOTE INDENTURE is made as of __________ 1, 1997,
among SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC., a corporation duly organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company"),
having its principal office at 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia
30303, THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Guarantor"), having its
principal office at 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, and
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a banking corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, having its principal corporate trust office
at Four Albany Street, New York, New York 10006, as Trustee (herein called the
"Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Subordinated Note Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time
of its unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness (herein called the "Junior Subordinated Notes"), to be issued in
one or more series as in this Subordinated Note Indenture provided; and
WHEREAS, the Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery
of this Subordinated Note Indenture to provide for the guarantee of the Junior
Subordinated Notes as herein provided; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Subordinated Note Indenture
a valid agreement of each of the Company and the Guarantor, in accordance with
its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the
purchase of the Junior Subordinated Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually
covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of
the Junior Subordinated Notes or of series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
OF GENERAL APPLICATION
SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS.
For all purposes of this Subordinated Note Indenture, except as
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned
to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the
singular;
(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the
meanings assigned to them therein;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America, 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 of America at the date of such
computation;
(4) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other
words of similar import refer to this Subordinated Note Indenture as a
whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
and
(5) Trust Securities related to a particular series of Junior
Subordinated Notes means the series of Trust Securities the proceeds of
the sale of which were loaned to the Company in exchange for such
series of Junior Subordinated Notes, and the guarantee agreement
related to such series of Trust Securities means the guarantee
agreement pursuant to which the Guarantor has guaranteed, to the extent
stated therein, the payment of distributions and certain other amounts
with respect to such series of Trust Securities.
Certain terms, used principally in Article Six, are defined in that
Article.
"Act" when used with respect to any Holder of a Junior Subordinated
Note, has the meaning specified in Section 104.
"Additional Interest" means (i) such additional amounts as may be
required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Holder (if the
Holder is a Securities Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or
governmental charges of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed
by the United States or any other taxing authority will not be less than the
amounts the Holder would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments,
or other governmental charges been imposed; and (ii) any interest due and not
paid on an Interest Payment Date, together with interest thereon from such
Interest Payment Date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, on each
Interest Payment Date.
"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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Securities Trust organized by the
Company shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor.
"Authenticating Agent" means any Person or Persons authorized by the
Trustee to authenticate one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes.
"Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company
or the Guarantor, as applicable, or any duly authorized committee of the
officers and/or directors of the Company or the Guarantor appointed by that
board.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or the Guarantor, as
applicable, to have been duly adopted by its Board of Directors and to be in
full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the
Trustee.
"Business Day" means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii)
a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to remain closed, or (iii) a day on which the Trustee's
Corporate Trust Office or Property Trustee's principal corporate trust office is
closed for business.
"Certificate of a Firm of Independent Public Accountants" means a
certificate signed by an independent public accountant or a firm of independent
public accountants who may be the independent public accountants regularly
retained by the Company or the Guarantor or who may be other independent public
accountants. Such accountant or firm shall be entitled to rely upon an Opinion
of Counsel as to the interpretation of any legal matters relating to such
certificate.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time
to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such
Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under
the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor corporation shall have become
such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Subordinated Note Indenture,
and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor corporation.
"Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or
a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee in the Borough
of Manhattan, New York City, at which at any particular time its corporate trust
business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Subordinated Note Indenture is located at Four Albany Street,
New York, New York 10006.
"Corporation" includes corporations, partnerships, limited liability
companies, associations, companies and business trusts.
"Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 305.
"Depositary" means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant
to either Section 203 or 301, with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series issuable or issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company,
New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other applicable
statute or regulation.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.
"Global Security" means, with respect to any series of Junior
Subordinated Notes issued hereunder, a Junior Subordinated Note that is executed
by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary
or pursuant to the Depositary's instruction, all in accordance with Section 203
of this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto.
"Guarantee Agreement" means a Guarantee Agreement, if any, executed and
delivered by the Guarantor for the benefit of the holders from time to time of
all or a portion of the Trust Securities of a Securities Trust.
"Guarantor" means the Person named as the "Guarantor" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor corporation shall have become
such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Subordinated Note Indenture,
and thereafter "Guarantor" shall mean such successor corporation.
"Holder", when used with respect to any Junior Subordinated Note, means
the Person in whose name the Junior Subordinated Note is registered in the
Security Register.
"Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or 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 the particular series of Junior Subordinated
Notes established as contemplated by Section 301.
"Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any series of Junior
Subordinated Notes, means the dates established for the payment of interest
thereon, as provided in the supplemental indenture for such series.
"Junior Subordinated Note" has the meaning stated in the first recital
of this Indenture and more particularly means any Junior Subordinated Notes
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
"Maturity", when used with respect to any Junior Subordinated Note,
means the date on which the principal of such Junior Subordinated Note or an
installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided,
whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for
redemption or otherwise.
"Notes Guarantee" means the agreement of the Guarantor set forth in Section
1401.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the 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 Company, and
delivered to the Trustee.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
counsel for the Company or the Guarantor, and who shall be acceptable to the
Trustee.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes,
means, as of the date of determination, all Junior Subordinated Notes
theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Junior Subordinated Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee
or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) Junior Subordinated Notes for whose payment or redemption
money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the
Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set
aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act
as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Junior Subordinated
Notes; provided that if such Junior Subordinated Notes are to be
redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to
this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has
been made;
(iii) Junior Subordinated Notes that have been paid or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Junior Subordinated Notes have
been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than
any such Junior Subordinated Notes in respect of which there shall have
been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Junior
Subordinated Notes are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands
such Junior Subordinated Notes are valid obligations of the Company;
and
(iv) Junior Subordinated Notes, or portions thereof, converted
into or exchanged for another security if the terms of such Junior
Subordinated Notes provide for such conversion or exchange;
provided, however, that in determining, during any period in which any Junior
Subordinated Notes of a series are owned by any Person other than the Company,
the Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof, whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series have
given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder, Junior Subordinated Notes of such series owned by the Company, the
Guarantor or any Affiliate thereof shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding. In determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying
upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver, only Junior Subordinated Notes that the Trustee knows to be so owned by
the Company, the Guarantor or an Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor in
the above circumstances shall be so disregarded. Junior Subordinated Notes so
owned that 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 Junior Subordinated Notes and that the pledgee is not
the Company, the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Company or the Guarantor.
"Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Junior Subordinated Notes
on behalf of the Company.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Junior Subordinated Note means
every previous Junior Subordinated Note evidencing all or a portion of the same
debt as that evidenced by such particular Junior Subordinated Note; and, for the
purposes of this definition, any Junior Subordinated Note authenticated and
delivered under Section 304 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Note shall be deemed to evidence
the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated
Note.
"Property Trustee", when used with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series, means the Person designated as such in the related Trust
Agreement.
"Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Junior Subordinated
Note to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to
this Indenture.
"Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Junior Subordinated
Note 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 Junior Subordinated Notes of any series means the date specified for
that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.
"Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
managing director, any vice president, any assistant vice president, any
assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, or any other officer of the
Corporate Trust and Agency Group of the 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 his knowledge of and familiarity with
the particular subject.
"Securities Trust" means any statutory business trust formed by the
Company or an Affiliate to issue Trust Securities, the proceeds of which will be
used to purchase Junior Subordinated Notes of one or more series.
"Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 303.
"Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any
payment due in respect of indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding at
the date of execution of this Subordinated Note Indenture or thereafter
incurred, created, or assumed, (a) in respect of money borrowed (including any
financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and (b)
evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments
issued by such Person which, by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated
debt securities including, without limitation, all obligations under its
indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all
obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all
conditional sale obligations and all obligations of such Person under any title
retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the
ordinary course of business and long-term purchase obligations); (iv) all
obligations for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, banker's acceptance,
security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of
the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons the
payment of which such Person is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
through (v) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset
of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person),
except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or
pari passu with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness
between or among the such Person or its Affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness
shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions
contained in Article Thirteen irrespective of any amendment, modification or
waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
"Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes of any series means a date fixed by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 305.
"Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Junior Subordinated
Note or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date
specified in such Junior Subordinated Note as the fixed date on which the
principal of such Junior Subordinated Note or such installment of principal or
interest is due and payable.
"Trust Agreement", when used with respect to a Securities Trust, means
the agreement or instrument that governs the affairs of such Securities Trust.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular
provision thereof shall mean such Trust Indenture Act or provision, as the case
may be, as amended or replaced from time to time.
"Trust Securities" means the securities issued by a Securities Trust
evidencing the entire beneficial interest therein.
"Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such
with respect to one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series.
"Vice President", when used with respect to the Company, the Guarantor
or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number
or a word or words added before or after the title "vice president."
SECTION 102. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to
the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if
any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action 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
(i) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or
opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein
relating thereto;
(ii) 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;
(iii) a statement that, in the opinion of each such
individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is
necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(iv) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
individual, 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 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 his certificate or opinion is 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.
SECTION 104. ACTS OF HOLDERS.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be 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 agent duly
appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action
shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the
Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders 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
Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and
the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(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. Where such
execution is by a signer 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 Junior Subordinated
Notes 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 the Holder of any Junior Subordinated Note
shall bind every future Holder of the same Junior Subordinated Note and the
Holder of every Junior Subordinated Note 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
Junior Subordinated Note.
(e) The fact and date of execution of any such instrument or writing
and the authority of the Person executing the same may also be proved in any
other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient; and the Trustee may in any
instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in
this Section.
(f) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series any Act, the Company may, at its option, by
Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders
of Junior Subordinated Notes entitled to take such Act, but the Company shall
have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the
Company's discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such Act may be sought or
given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of record at the
close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Junior
Subordinated Notes for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the
requisite proportion of Junior Subordinated Notes of such series Outstanding
have authorized or agreed or consented to such Act, and for that purpose the
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series Outstanding shall be computed as of
such record date.
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,
(1) the Trustee by any Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note or by
the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made,
given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its
Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group,
or
(2) the Company or the Guarantor by the Trustee or by any
Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless
otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed,
first-class postage prepaid, to the Company or the Guarantor addressed
to the attention of its Secretary, 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta,
Georgia 30303, with a copy to Southern Company Services, Inc., 270
Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Attention: Corporate
Finance Department, or at any other address previously furnished in
writing to the Trustee by the Company or the Guarantor.
SECTION 106. NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES; WAIVER.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, where this Indenture
provides for notice to Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage
prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address 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 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.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may
be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes 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 hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision
of the Trust Indenture Act that is required to be a part of and govern this
Indenture, such required provision shall control.
SECTION 108. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The Article and Section headings herein 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 the Junior Subordinated
Notes 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 111. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.
Nothing in this Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Notes, express or
implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their
successors hereunder and the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes and, to the
extent provided in Section 1403, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or Trust
Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Indenture.
SECTION 112. GOVERNING LAW.
THIS INDENTURE, THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES AND THE NOTES GUARANTEE
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTOR EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS
TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN
DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND ANY COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY
AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST IT AND
RELATED TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
THEREBY, AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY AND THE
GUARANTOR EACH HEREBY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A
DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT
IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, THAT THE SUIT,
ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, THAT THE VENUE OF THE
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER, OR THAT THIS INDENTURE OR ANY DOCUMENT
OR ANY INSTRUMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF MAY NOT BE
LITIGATED IN OR BY SUCH COURTS. THE COMPANY AND THE GUARANTOR EACH AGREES THAT
SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE UPON IT BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL TO THE
ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH IN THIS INDENTURE OR ANY METHOD AUTHORIZED BY THE
LAWS OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 113. LEGAL HOLIDAYS.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Junior Subordinated Note shall not be a Business Day, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Junior
Subordinated Notes) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need
not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day,
except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such
payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or
Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that 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.
ARTICLE TWO
FORMS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
SECTION 201. FORMS GENERALLY.
The Junior Subordinated Notes of each series shall be in substantially
the form appended to the supplemental indenture authorizing such series, 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 Junior Subordinated Notes, as evidenced by their
execution of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
The Junior Subordinated Notes of each series shall be issuable in
registered form without coupons.
The definitive Junior Subordinated Notes may be printed, typewritten,
lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any
other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Junior
Subordinated Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Junior Subordinated
Notes.
SECTION 202. FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.
The form of the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication for a series of
Junior Subordinated Notes shall be in substantially the form appended to the
Supplemental Indenture authorizing such series.
SECTION 203.JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES ISSUABLE IN THE FORM OF A GLOBAL SECURITY.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 301 that the
Junior Subordinated Notes of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall
execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 302 and the Company
Order delivered to the Trustee thereunder, authenticate and deliver such Global
Security or Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in
an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series to be represented by such Global Security or
Securities, (ii) may provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes represented thereby may from time to time be increased or
reduced to reflect exchanges, (iii) shall be registered in the name of the
Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, (iv) shall be
delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary's
instruction and (v) shall bear a legend in accordance with the requirements of
the Depositary.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 203 or of
Section 303, subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below, unless the terms
of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in
whole or in part for individual Junior Subordinated Notes, a Global Security may
be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section
303, only to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, or to the
Depositary, or to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or
approved by the Company, or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(c) (1) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security notifies
the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary for the
Junior Subordinated Notes for such series shall no longer be eligible
or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall
appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security. If
a successor Depositary for such Global Security is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or
becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company will execute, and the
Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and
delivery of individual Junior Subordinated Notes of such series in
exchange for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver
individual Junior Subordinated Notes of such series of like tenor and
terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global
Security.
(2) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion
determine that the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series issued or
issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer
be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the
Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company
Request for the authentication and delivery of individual Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series in exchange in whole or in part for
such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver individual Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive
form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of
such Global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange
for such Global Security or Securities.
(3) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 301 with
respect to Junior Subordinated Notes issued or issuable in the form of
a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global Security may
surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for
individual Junior Subordinated Notes of such series of like tenor and
terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company
and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, (A) to
each Person specified by such Depositary a new Junior Subordinated Note
or Notes of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any
authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate
principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial
interest in the Global Security; and (B) to such Depositary a new
Global Security of like tenor and terms and in an authorized
denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal
amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal
amount of Junior Subordinated Notes delivered to Holders thereof.
(4) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three
paragraphs, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate
and deliver individual Junior Subordinated Notes in definitive form in
authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of the entire principal
amount of a Global Security for individual Junior Subordinated Notes,
such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Except as
provided in the preceding paragraph, Junior Subordinated Notes issued
in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be
registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the
Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its
direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the
Trustee. Provided that the Company and the Trustee have so agreed, the
Trustee shall deliver such Junior Subordinated Notes to the Persons in
whose names the Junior Subordinated Notes are registered.
(5) Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the
amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the
rights of Holders, of Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes represented
thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as
shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered
pursuant to Section 302 with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions
of Section 302, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any such Global
Security in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or
Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a
Company Order pursuant to Section 302 has been, or simultaneously is,
delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to such Global
Security shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or
contained in an Officers' Certificate and need not be accompanied by an
Opinion of Counsel.
ARTICLE THREE
THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
SECTION 301. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.
The aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes which may
be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Junior Subordinated Notes may be issued in one or more series.
There may be established, pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental
hereto, prior to the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
(1) the title of the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series
(which shall distinguish the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series
from Junior Subordinated Notes of all other series);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes of the series which may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture (except for Junior Subordinated Notes
authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in
exchange for, or in lieu of, other Junior Subordinated Notes of the
series pursuant to Sections 203, 303, 304, 907 or 1107);
(3) the Person to whom interest on a Junior Subordinated Note
of the series shall be payable if other than the Person in whose name
that Junior Subordinated Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities)
is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Junior
Subordinated Notes of the series is payable, and the right, if any, to
extend or advance the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes
and the conditions to such extension;
(5) the rate or rates at which the Junior Subordinated Notes
of the series shall bear interest, if any, or any method by which such
rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such
interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such
interest shall be payable, the Regular Record Date for the interest
payable on Junior Subordinated Notes on any Interest Payment Date and
the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of
a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months;
(6) the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest, if any, on Junior Subordinated Notes of the series
shall be payable;
(7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
which and the terms and conditions upon which Junior Subordinated Notes
of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of
the Company;
(8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or
purchase Junior Subordinated Notes of the series pursuant to any
sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder
thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Junior Subordinated
Notes of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in
part, pursuant to such obligation;
(9) the denominations in which Junior Subordinated Notes of the
series shall be issuable;
(10) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium,
if any) or interest (including Additional Interest) on the Junior
Subordinated Notes of the series may be determined with reference to an
index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(11) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion
of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes of the series
which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 502;
(12) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the
Events of Default or covenants of the Company as provided herein
pertaining to the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series, and any
change in the rights of the Trustee or Holders of such series pursuant
to Section 901 or 902;
(13) any additions to the definitions currently set forth in this
Indenture with respect to such series;
(14) whether the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series shall
be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or
Securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global
Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for
certificated Junior Subordinated Notes of such series and of like tenor
of any authorized denomination and the circumstances under which such
exchange may occur, if other than in the manner provided for in Section
203; the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities; and the
form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such Global Security
in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in Section 203;
(15) the right, if any, of the Company to extend the interest
payment periods of such series of Junior Subordinated Notes, including
the maximum duration of any such extension or extensions, the
Additional Interest, if any, payable on such Junior Subordinated Notes
during any extension of the interest payment period and any notice
(which shall include notice to the Trustee) that must be given upon the
exercise of such right to extend interest payment periods;
(16) any restriction or condition on the transferability of such
Junior Subordinated Notes;
(17) the terms of any right to convert or exchange such Junior
Subordinated Notes into or for other securities or property of the
Company; and
(18) any other terms of the series.
All Junior Subordinated Notes of any one series shall be substantially
identical except as to the date or dates from which interest, if any, shall
accrue and denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in the terms of
such Junior Subordinated Notes determined or established as provided above. All
Junior Subordinated Notes of any one series need not be issued at the same time
and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of
additional Junior Subordinated Notes of such series.
SECTION 302. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.
The Junior Subordinated Notes shall be executed on behalf of the
Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice
Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Junior Subordinated Notes may be manual or facsimile.
Junior Subordinated Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of
individuals who were at the time relevant to the authorization thereof the
proper officers 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 Junior Subordinated Notes or did not hold
such offices at the date of such Junior Subordinated Notes.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Junior Subordinated Notes of any series
executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a
Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Junior Subordinated
Notes, and the Trustee, in accordance with the Company Order, shall authenticate
and deliver such Junior Subordinated Notes. If all of the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the supplemental
indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set
forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Junior
Subordinated Notes and determining the terms of particular Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series, such as interest rate, maturity date, date of issuance and
date from which interest shall accrue. In authenticating Junior Subordinated
Notes hereunder, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this
Indenture in relation to such Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in
relying upon:
(1) an Opinion of Counsel, to the effect that:
(a) the form and terms of such Junior
Subordinated Notes or the manner of determining such
terms have been established in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture; and
(b) such Junior Subordinated Notes, when
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued
by the Company in the manner and subject to any
conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will
constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
the Company, enforceable in accordance with their
terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights and to general
equity principles; and
(2) an Officers' Certificate stating, to the best knowledge of
each signer of such certificate, that no event which is, or after
notice or lapse of time would become, an Event of Default with respect
to any of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall have occurred and be
continuing.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Junior Subordinated Notes
if the issue of such Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to this Indenture will
affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Junior
Subordinated Notes and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
If all the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series are not to be issued
at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel and
Officers' Certificate at the time of issuance of each such Junior Subordinated
Note, but such opinion and certificate shall be delivered at or before the time
of issuance of the first Junior Subordinated Note of such series to be issued.
Each Junior Subordinated Note shall be dated the date of its
authentication.
No Junior Subordinated Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this
Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such
Junior Subordinated Note a certificate of authentication substantially in the
form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such
certificate upon any Junior Subordinated Note shall be conclusive evidence, and
the only evidence, that such Junior Subordinated Note has been duly
authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture.
SECTION 303. REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
The Company shall cause to be kept at the office of the Security
Registrar designated pursuant to this Section 303 or Section 1002 a register
(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 Junior Subordinated Notes and of transfers of Junior Subordinated Notes. The
Trustee is hereby initially appointed as Security Registrar for the purpose of
registering Junior Subordinated Notes and transfers of Junior Subordinated Notes
as herein provided.
Subject to Section 203, upon surrender for registration of transfer of
any Junior Subordinated Note of any series at the office or agency maintained
for such purpose for such series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Junior Subordinated Notes of the same series,
Stated Maturity and original issue date, of any authorized denominations and of
like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to Section 203, Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may be
exchanged, at the option of the Holder, for Junior Subordinated Notes of the
same series, Stated Maturity and original issue date, of any authorized
denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender
of the Junior Subordinated Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency.
Whenever any Junior Subordinated Notes are so surrendered for exchange,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the
Junior Subordinated Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to
receive.
All Junior Subordinated Notes issued upon any registration of transfer
or exchange of Junior Subordinated Notes shall be the valid obligations of the
Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture, as the Junior Subordinated Notes surrendered upon such registration
of transfer or exchange.
Every Junior Subordinated Note presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or
the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly
executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Junior Subordinated Notes, 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 907 or 1107
not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, to register the
transfer of or to exchange Junior Subordinated Notes of any series during a
period of 15 days immediately preceding the date notice is given identifying the
serial numbers of the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series called for
redemption, or (ii) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any
Junior Subordinated Notes so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any Junior Subordinated Note being redeemed in part.
None of the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or
the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect
of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
SECTION 304. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES.
If any mutilated Junior Subordinated Note is surrendered to the
Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver in exchange therefor a new Junior Subordinated Note of the same series,
Stated Maturity and original issue date, 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 (i) evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Junior
Subordinated Note and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be 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 Junior Subordinated
Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and
upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such
destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Note, a new Junior Subordinated
Note of the same series, Stated Maturity and original issue date, and of like
tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Junior
Subordinated Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company
in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Junior Subordinated Note, pay
such Junior Subordinated Note.
Upon the issuance of any new Junior Subordinated Note 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 expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected
therewith.
Every new Junior Subordinated Note of any series issued pursuant to
this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Note
shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company,
whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Note shall be
at any time enforceable by anyone, and any such new Junior Subordinated Note
shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with any and all other Junior Subordinated Notes of that 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 Junior Subordinated Notes.
SECTION 305. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect
to any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, interest (including Additional
Interest) on any Junior Subordinated Note that 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 Junior Subordinated Note (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.
Any interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior Subordinated
Note of any series that 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 relevant 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 (1) or (2)
below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted
Interest to the Persons in whose names the Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered
at the close of business on 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 Junior Subordinated Note
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 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 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes of such
series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at
the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer
be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest
(including Additional Interest, if any) on the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Junior
Subordinated Notes 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, each Junior
Subordinated Note delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer
of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Junior Subordinated Note shall
carry the rights to interest accrued (including Additional Interest, if any) and
unpaid, and to accrue (including Additional Interest, if any), which were
carried by such other Junior Subordinated Note.
SECTION 306. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.
Prior to due presentment of a Junior Subordinated Note for registration
of transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the
Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such
Junior Subordinated Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Junior
Subordinated Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and
premium, if any) and (subject to Section 305) interest (including Additional
Interest, if any) on such Junior Subordinated Note and for all other purposes
whatsoever, whether or not such Junior Subordinated Note be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, the
Guarantor or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 307. CANCELLATION.
All Junior Subordinated Notes surrendered for payment, redemption,
registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund
payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered
to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. The Company may
at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Junior Subordinated
Notes previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may
have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Junior Subordinated Notes so
delivered shall be canceled by the Trustee. No Junior Subordinated Notes shall
be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Junior Subordinated Notes
canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this
Indenture. All cancelled Junior Subordinated Notes held by the Trustee shall be
disposed of in accordance with a Company Order or, in the absence of such a
Company Order, in accordance with the Trustee's usual procedures and the Trustee
shall promptly deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company.
SECTION 308. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series, interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes of
each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months.
ARTICLE FOUR
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 401. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
This Indenture shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further
effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or
exchange of Junior Subordinated Notes herein expressly provided for) and the
Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(1) either
(A) all Junior Subordinated Notes theretofore
authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Junior
Subordinated Notes that have been destroyed, lost or stolen
and that have been replaced as provided for in Section 304 and
(ii) Junior Subordinated Notes for whose payment money has
theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in
trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or
discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(B) all such Junior Subordinated Notes not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have
become due and payable, or have been called for redemption,
and the Company, in the case of (B) above, has deposited or caused to
be deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust for the purpose
described above an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire
indebtedness on such Junior Subordinated Notes not theretofore
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium,
if any) and interest to the date of the Stated Maturity or Redemption
Date, as the case may be, or if later, the date of payment;
(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
In the event there are Junior Subordinated Notes of two or more series
hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with
respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of all series as to which it is Trustee and
if the other conditions thereto are met. In the event there are two or more
Trustees hereunder, then the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be
conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from all Trustees hereunder.
If, subsequent to the date a discharge is effected pursuant to this
Section 401, Additional Interest (in excess of that established as of the date
such discharge is effected) becomes payable in respect of the series of Junior
Subordinated Notes discharged, in order to preserve the benefits of the
discharge established hereunder, the Company shall irrevocably deposit or cause
to be irrevocably deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section
401, within ten Business Days prior to the date the first payment in respect of
any portion of such excess Additional Interest becomes due, such additional
funds as are necessary to satisfy the provisions of this Section 401 as if a
discharge were being effected as of the date of such subsequent deposit. Failure
to comply with the requirements of this paragraph shall result in the
termination of the benefits of the discharge established by this Section 401.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.
SECTION 402. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust
and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Junior Subordinated
Notes, and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying
Agent (including the Company or an Affiliate acting as its own Paying Agent) as
the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal
(and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been
deposited with the Trustee.
ARTICLE FIVE
REMEDIES
SECTION 501. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series, 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 or occasioned by the operation of Article
Thirteen):
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Junior
Subordinated Note of that series when it becomes due and payable on an
Interest Payment Date other than at Maturity, including Additional
Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof) in
respect thereof, and continuance of such default for a period of ten
(10) days; provided, however, that (i) a valid extension of the
interest payment period by the Company pursuant to the terms of a
supplemental indenture authorizing the Junior Subordinated Notes of
that series shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest
for this purpose and (ii) no such default shall be deemed to exist if,
on or prior to the date on which such interest became due, the
Guarantor shall have made a payment sufficient to pay such interest
pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement related to the Trust Securities of
the Securities Trust owning such series of Junior Subordinated Notes,
and shall have delivered a notice to the Trustee to that effect; or
(2) default in payment of Additional Interest (as defined in
clause (i) of the definition thereof) and the continuance of such
default for a period of ten (10) days; or
(3) default in the payment of the principal of, (or premium,
if any) or interest (including Additional Interest as defined in clause
(ii) of the definition thereof) on any Junior Subordinated Note of that
series at its Maturity; provided, however, that no such default in the
payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest (including
Additional Interest as defined in clause (ii) of the definition
thereof) shall be deemed to exist if, on or prior to the date such
principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional
Interest as defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof) became
due, the Guarantor shall have made a payment sufficient to pay such
principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional
Interest as defined in clause (ii) of the definition thereof) pursuant
to the Guarantee Agreement related to the Trust Securities of the
Securities Trust owning such series of Junior Subordinated Notes, and
shall have delivered a notice to the Trustee to that effect; or
(4) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when
and as due by the terms of a Junior Subordinated Note of that series
and continuance of such default for a period of 3 Business Days; or
(5) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or
warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or
warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach 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 Junior Subordinated Notes other than that series), and continuance
of such default or breach for a period of 90 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 25% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of that
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; or
(6) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises
of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or the
Guarantor in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable
federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company or the
Guarantor a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a
petition by one or more Persons other than the Company or the Guarantor
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in
respect of the Company or the Guarantor under any applicable federal or
state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, sequestrator or other similar official for the Company or the
Guarantor or for 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 for relief or any such other decree or order
unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
(7) the commencement by the Company or the Guarantor of a 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
the Company or the Guarantor to the entry of a decree or order for
relief in respect of it 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 the Guarantor 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 taking of corporate
action by the Company or the Guarantor in furtherance of any such
action; or
(8) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series in the supplemental indenture
authorizing such series.
SECTION 502. ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT.
If an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case
the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of that series may declare the principal
amount (or such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms
of that series) of all of the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series to be due
and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal
amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Junior Subordinated Notes of any series has been made and before a judgment or
decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as
hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of that series, by
written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such
declaration and its consequences if
(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue interest (including any Additional Interest)
on all Junior Subordinated Notes of that series,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any) any Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series which have become due
otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and
interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in
such Junior Subordinated Notes,
(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is
lawful, interest upon overdue interest (including any
Additional Interest) at the rate or rates prescribed therefor
in such Junior Subordinated Notes, and
(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee
hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and
counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under
Section 607; and
(2) all Events of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated
Notes of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of
Junior Subordinated Notes of that series which have become due solely
by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as
provided in Section 513.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
SECTION 503. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.
The Company covenants that if an Event of Default occurs under Section
501(1), (2), (3) or (4) with respect to any Junior Subordinated Notes the
Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Junior Subordinated Notes, the whole amount then due and payable
on such Junior Subordinated Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and
interest (including Additional Interest, if any) and, to the extent that payment
of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal
(and premium, if any) and on any overdue interest (including Additional
Interest, if any), at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Junior
Subordinated Notes, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section
607.
If the Company fails 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to
protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as
the Trustee shall deem most effectual 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 504. 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or
their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the
Junior Subordinated Notes 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,
(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of
principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes 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 the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under
Section 607) and of the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes allowed in
such judicial proceeding, and
(2) 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 of Junior Subordinated Notes 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 of Junior Subordinated Notes, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Trustee under Section 607.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Junior
Subordinated Note any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Junior Subordinated Notes or the rights of any Holder
thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note in any such proceeding.
SECTION 505. TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED NOTES.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Junior
Subordinated Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Junior Subordinated Notes 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 of the Junior
Subordinated Notes in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
SECTION 506. APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.
Any money collected by the Trustee 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, upon presentation of the Junior Subordinated Notes, 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 607; and
Second: Subject to Article Thirteen, to the payment of the
amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on the Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest
(including Additional Interest, if any), respectively; and
Third: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled
thereto.
SECTION 507. LIMITATION ON SUITS.
No Holder of any Junior Subordinated Note of any series 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:
(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the
Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series;
(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of
the Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of that series 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;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred in compliance with such request;
(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice,
request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such
proceeding; and
(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has
been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Junior Subordinated
Notes of that series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have
any right in any manner whatsoever 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 508. UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND
INTEREST.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture but subject to
Article Thirteen, (1) the Holder of any Junior Subordinated Notes shall have the
right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal
of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 305) interest (including any
Additional Interest) on such Junior Subordinated Note on the due dates expressed
in such Junior Subordinated Note (or, in the case of redemption, 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; and
(2) so long as the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series are held by a
Securities Trust, a registered holder of preferred or Preferred Securities
issued by such Securities Trust may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company (or against the Guarantor pursuant to the Notes Guarantee),
without first instituting a legal proceeding directly against or requesting or
directing that action be taken by the Property Trustee of such Securities Trust
or any other Person, for enforcement of payment to such registered holder of
principal of or interest on Junior Subordinated Notes of such series having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of such
preferred or Preferred Securities of such registered holder on or after the due
dates therefor specified or provided for in the Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series.
SECTION 509. RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.
If the Trustee or any Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note has
instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture
and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has
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, the
Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue
as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 510. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Junior Subordinated Notes in the last
paragraph of Section 304, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved
to the Trustee or to the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes 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 511. DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Junior
Subordinated Note to exercise any right or remedy 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 of Junior Subordinated Notes
may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by
the Trustee or by the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes.
SECTION 512. CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any 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 Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, provided
that
(1) 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 reasonable indemnity would
not be adequate, and
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the
Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
SECTION 513. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series may, on behalf of the
Holders of all the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, waive any past
default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a
default
(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any)
or interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior
Subordinated Note of such series, or
(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under
Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Junior Subordinated Note of such series
affected.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event
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 514. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Junior
Subordinated Note 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 or the Guarantor, 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 principal amount of the Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of any Junior Subordinated Note
for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest (including Additional Interest) on any Junior Subordinated Note on or
after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Junior Subordinated
Note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).
SECTION 515. 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 SIX
THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 601. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect
to Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform, with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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.
(b) In case an Event of Default with respect to Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise,
with respect to Junior Subordinated Notes 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 willful 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 Junior Subordinated Notes of any series 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 602. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the Trustee shall
transmit by mail to all Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes of such series
entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act, notice of all defaults hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default
shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of
a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
(including Additional Interest) on any Junior Subordinated Note of such series
or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series, the 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 Trustee in good
faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the
Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes of such series; and provided, further, that
in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(5) with
respect to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series, no such notice to Holders
shall be given until at least 45 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 with respect
to Junior Subordinated Notes of such series.
SECTION 603. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
Subject to the provisions of Section 601:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be 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 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
and a 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, rely upon an Officers'
Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the 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 of the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have
offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to
the Trustee 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 be entitled to examine 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes or by any Holder of such Junior
Subordinated Notes.
SECTION 604. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES.
The recitals contained herein and in the Junior Subordinated Notes
(except the Trustee's certificates of authentication) shall be taken as the
statements of the Company, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes
no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as
to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Junior Subordinated
Notes. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the
use or application by the Company of Junior Subordinated Notes or the proceeds
thereof.
The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of Trust Securities and shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it
of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of a Trust
Security to establish that such Person is such a holder. The Trustee may
conclusively rely on an Officers' Certificate as evidence that the holders of
the necessary percentage of liquidation preference of Trust Securities have
taken any action contemplated hereunder and shall have no duty to investigate
the truth or accuracy of any statement contained therein.
SECTION 605. MAY HOLD JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES.
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Junior Subordinated Notes and,
subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying
Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
SECTION 606. 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 any money received by it hereunder except as
otherwise agreed with the Company.
SECTION 607. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
The Company agrees
(1) to 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);
(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances 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 any such expense, disbursement or advance
as may be attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad
faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless
against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence,
willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the 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 Company under
this Section the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Junior Subordinated
Notes upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such,
except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on particular Junior Subordinated Notes.
SECTION 608. DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest, within
the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, it shall, within 90 days after
ascertaining that it has such conflicting interest, either eliminate such
conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and
subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.
SECTION 609. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America, any State 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, subject to supervision or examination by federal or
state authority and qualified and eligible under this Article and otherwise
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as Trustee under an Indenture
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. If such corporation 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 corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition 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 610. 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 611.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 611 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 Junior Subordinated Notes of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series
delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after
written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Junior
Subordinated Note who has been a Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note
for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609
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, (i) the Company, by a Board Resolution, may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Junior Subordinated Notes, or (ii) subject to
Section 514, any Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note who has been a bona fide
Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes 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, with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of one or more series, the Company, by
a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of that or those series (it being
understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes of one or more or all of such series and that at any
time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal
or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series shall be appointed by Act
of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes 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
611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by
the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders
of Junior Subordinated Notes and accepted appointment in the manner required by
Section 611, any Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note who has been a bona fide
Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note of such series 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 Trustee with respect
to the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series.
(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal
of the Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series and
each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail,
postage prepaid, to all Holders of such series of Junior Subordinated Notes as
their names and addresses appear in the Security Register.
SECTION 611. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Junior Subordinated Notes, 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 its charges, 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 Junior Subordinated Notes of one or more (but not all) series,
the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes, 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes
of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee
relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring
Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all
property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes 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 and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred
to in paragraph (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 612. 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes so authenticated
with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such
Junior Subordinated Notes.
SECTION 613. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Junior Subordinated Notes), the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of
claims against the Company (or any such other obligor). For purposes of Section
311(b)(4) and (6) of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) "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; and
(b) "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of exchange,
acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the
Company (or any such obligor) 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
(or any such obligor) arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring
of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.
SECTION 614. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.
At any time when any of the Junior Subordinated Notes remain
Outstanding the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with
respect to one or more series of Junior Subordinated Notes that shall be
authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial
redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 304, and Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 of America, any State thereof or the
District of Columbia, 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 published. 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 and shall mail written notice of
such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Junior
Subordinated Notes, if any, of the series with respect to which such
Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the
Security Register. 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 Authenticating 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 306, 604 and 605 shall be applicable to each
Authenticating Agent.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant
to this Section, the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series may have endorsed
thereon, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an
alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Junior Subordinated Notes of the series
designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
As Trustee
By
As Authenticating Agent
By
Authorized Signatory
ARTICLE SEVEN
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
SECTION 701. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(a) semi-annually, not later than June 1 and December 1, in
each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require,
containing all the information in the possession or control of the
Company, or any of its Paying Agents other than the Trustee, as to the
names and addresses of the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes as of
the preceding May 15 or November 15, as the case may be, and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a
list of similar form and content as of the most recent Regular Record
Date;
excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its
capacity as Security Registrar.
SECTION 702. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.
(a) The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed on it pursuant to
Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) Every Holder of Junior Subordinated Notes, by receiving and holding
the same, agrees with the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee that neither
the Company, the Guarantor nor the Trustee nor any agent of any of them shall be
held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the
names and addresses of the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes in accordance
with Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from
which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held
accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under
Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 703. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first
May 15 after the first issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to this
Indenture, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee
shall transmit a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the
events specified in such Section 313(a) that may have occurred since the later
of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.
(b) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(b)
of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.
(c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner
and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and (d) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION 704. REPORTS BY COMPANY.
The Company, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
shall:
(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is
required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual
reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies
of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from
time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may
be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; or,
if the Company is not required to file information, documents or
reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with
the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and
regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the
supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may
be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, in respect of a security listed and registered on a
national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in
such rules and regulations;
(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance
with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the
Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with
respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants
of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules
and regulations;
(3) transmit, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the
Trustee, to the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, in the manner and
to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act,
such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be
filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section
704 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the Commission; and
(4) notify the Trustee when and as the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series become admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange.
ARTICLE EIGHT
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
SECTION 801. COMPANY AND GUARANTOR MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.
Neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall consolidate with or merge
into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless
(1) in case the Company or the Guarantor shall consolidate
with or merge into another corporation or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the
corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company or
the Guarantor is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or
transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company or
the Guarantor substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America,
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
(including Additional Interest) on all the Junior Subordinated Notes
and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to be performed or
observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no
Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or
both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be
continuing; and
(3) the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, has
delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance,
transfer or lease complies with this Article and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been
complied with.
SECTION 802. SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.
Upon any consolidation by the Company or the Guarantor with or merger
by the Company or the Guarantor into any corporation or any conveyance, transfer
or lease of the properties and assets of the Company or the Guarantor
substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company or the
Guarantor is merged or 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 or the Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture with the
same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company or
the Guarantor, as the case may be, herein, and thereafter, except in the case of
a lease, the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and
covenants under this Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes.
ARTICLE NINE
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 901. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.
Without the consent of any Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, the
Company and the Guarantor, when authorized by a Board Resolution, 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:
(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the
Company or the Guarantor and the assumption by any such successor of
the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor herein and in the Junior
Subordinated Notes; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company or the Guarantor
for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Junior
Subordinated Notes (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of
less than all series of Junior Subordinated Notes, stating that such
covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such
series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the
Company or the Guarantor; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default; or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Indenture, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of
principal (or premium, if any) on Junior Subordinated Notes or to
permit the issuance of Junior Subordinated Notes in uncertificated
form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests
of the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series in any
material respect; or
(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Notes
theretofore unissued; or
(6) to secure the Junior Subordinated Notes; or
(7) to establish the form or terms of Junior Subordinated Notes
of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 611(b); or
(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any
provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision
herein, or to make provisions with respect to matters or questions
arising under this Indenture, provided such action shall not adversely
affect the interests of the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes of any
series or holders of outstanding Trust Securities in any material
respect; or
(10) subject to Section 903(a), to make any change in Articles
Thirteen and Fourteen that would limit or terminate the benefits
available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness under such Articles; or
(11) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this
Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the
qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or under
any similar federal statute hereafter enacted, and to add to this
Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly required by the
Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 902. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS.
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of each series
affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the
Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee, the Company and the Guarantor, 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
of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Junior Subordinated
Notes of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected thereby,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, any Junior Subordinated
Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest
(including Additional Interest) thereon or any premium payable upon the
redemption thereof, or change the method of calculating the rate of
interest thereon, or impair the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof
(or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the consent of
whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the
consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with
certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and
their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or
(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section
513 or Section 1008, except to increase any such percentage or to
provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be
modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Note affected thereby, provided,
however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of
any Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note with respect to changes in the
references to "the Trustee" and concomitant changes in this Section and
Section 1008, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the
requirements of Sections 611(b) and 901(8), or
(4) reduce any amount payable under, delay or defer the
required time of payment under, or impair the right to institute suit
to enforce any payment under the Notes Guarantee, or
(5) modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to
the subordination of the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Notes
Guarantee in a manner adverse to such Holder.
SECTION 903. GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.
(a) A supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 901 or
Section 902 may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under
Article Thirteen or Article Fourteen of any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the
Company or the Guarantor then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give a
consent) consent to such change.
(b) 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 Junior Subordinated Notes,
or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated
Notes of any other series.
(c) It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Junior
Subordinated Notes under this Section to approve the particular form of any
proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act or
action shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 904. 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 601) 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 905. 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 Junior Subordinated Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and
delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
SECTION 906. CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 907. REFERENCE IN JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series.
ARTICLE TEN
COVENANTS
SECTION 1001. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Junior Subordinated Notes that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest, including Additional Interest (subject to
the right of the Company to extend an interest payment period pursuant to the
terms of a supplemental indenture authorizing the Junior Subordinated Notes of
that series), on the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series in accordance with
the terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes and this Indenture.
SECTION 1002. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.
The Company or its Affiliate will maintain an office or agency where
Junior Subordinated Notes of each series may be presented or surrendered for
payment, where Junior Subordinated Notes of that series may be surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon
the Company in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series and this
Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the
Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or
agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required
office or agency in respect of any series of Junior Subordinated Notes or shall
fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and
surrenders of Junior Subordinated Notes of that series may be made and notices
and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive such
respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Junior Subordinated Notes of one or more series
may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time
to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice
to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the
location of any such other office or agency.
SECTION 1003. MONEY FOR JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.
If the Company or one of its Affiliates shall at any time act as its
own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Notes, it
will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on any of the Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit
of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and
premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest, if any) so becoming
due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as
herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so
to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any
series of Junior Subordinated Notes, it will, prior to each due date of the
principal of (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest,
if any) on any Junior Subordinated Notes of that series, deposit with a Paying
Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest
(including Additional Interest, if any) so becoming due, such sum to be held in
trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or
interest (including Additional Interest, if any), and (unless such Paying Agent
is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or
failure so to act.
The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Junior
Subordinated Notes other than 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 will:
(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal
of (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest, if
any) on Junior Subordinated Notes of that series 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;
(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or
any other obligor upon the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series) in
the making of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on the Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series; and
(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default,
upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee
all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, 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, 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 (including Additional Interest, if any) on any Junior
Subordinated Note of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such
principal (and premium, if any) or interest (including Additional Interest, if
any) 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 the
Holder of such Junior Subordinated Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured
general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, 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 repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be
published once, in a newspaper of general circulation in New York City notice
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 publication, any
unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 1004. ADDITIONAL INTEREST.
If the Junior Subordinated Notes of a series provide for the payment of
Additional Interest (for purposes of this Section 1004, as defined in clause (i)
of the definition thereof) to the Holders of such Junior Subordinated Notes,
then the Company shall pay to each Holder of such Securities the Additional
Interest as provided therein.
Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, if the
Junior Subordinated Notes of a series provide for the payment of Additional
Interest, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect
to that series of Junior Subordinated Notes upon which such Additional Interest
shall be payable (or, if the Junior Subordinated Notes of that series shall not
bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal
and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of
principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect
to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers' Certificate, the
Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company's Paying Agents, if other than
the Trustee or the Company, with an Officers' Certificate stating the amount of
the Additional Interest payable per minimum authorized denomination of such
Junior Subordinated Notes (and, if such Additional Interest is payable only with
respect to particular Junior Subordinated Notes, then the names of the Holders
of such Junior Subordinated Notes).
SECTION 1005. CORPORATE EXISTENCE.
Subject to Article Eight, each of the Company and the Guarantor will do
or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and
effect its corporate existence and its rights (charter and statutory) and
franchises; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall
be required to preserve any such right or franchise if its Board of Directors
shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the
conduct of its business, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any
material respect to the Holders.
SECTION 1006. LIMITATIONS ON DIVIDEND AND CERTAIN OTHER PAYMENTS.
The Company and the Guarantor each covenants, for the benefit of the
Holders of each series of Junior Subordinated Notes, that, subject to the next
succeeding sentence, (a) neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall declare or
pay any dividend or make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock,
and (b) neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities (including guarantees) issued by it which rank pari passu with
or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Notes Guarantee, (a) if at
such time the Company shall have given notice of its election to extend an
interest payment period for such series of Junior Subordinated Notes and such
extension shall be continuing, (b) if at such time the Guarantor shall be in
default with respect to its payment or other obligations under (A) the Guarantee
Agreement with respect to the series of Trust Securities, if any, related to
such series of Junior Subordinated Notes or (B) the Notes Guarantee related to
such series of Junior Subordinated Notes, or (C) if at such time an Event of
Default hereunder with respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall
have occurred and be continuing. The preceding sentence, however, shall not
restrict (i) any of the actions described in the preceding sentence resulting
from any reclassification of the Company's or the Guarantor's capital stock or
the exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's or the
Guarantor's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's or the
Guarantor's capital stock, (ii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares
of the Company's or the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or
exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or
exchanged, (iii) dividends, payments or distributions payable in shares of
capital stock, (iv) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of
capital stock in connection with any employment contract, incentive plan,
benefit plan or other similar arrangement of the Guarantor or any of its
subsidiaries or in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stock purchase
plan, or (v) any declaration of a dividend in connection with implementation of
any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other
property under any such plan, or the redemption, repurchase or other acquisition
of any such rights pursuant thereto.
SECTION 1007. STATEMENT AS TO COMPLIANCE.
(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the
end of each fiscal year, a written statement, which need not comply with Section
102, signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer
or the principal accounting officer of the Company, as to his or her knowledge
of the Company's compliance with all conditions and covenants under this
Indenture. For purposes of this Section 1007, such compliance shall be
determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under
this Indenture.
(b) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, no later than the
Business Day on which the event occurs, written notice of the liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of a Securities Trust if such liquidation, dissolution
or winding-up would occur earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Notes owned by such Securities Trust.
(c) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within five days after
the occurrence thereof, written notice of any event which after notice or lapse
of time or both would become an Event of Default pursuant to Section 501.
SECTION 1008. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.
The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any
term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 1005 and 1006 with respect to
the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series if before the time for such
compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of such series shall, by Act of such
Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive
compliance with such term, provision or condition, but 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.
SECTION 1009. COVENANTS REGARDING TRUST.
For so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company
covenants (i) to directly or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of the Common
Securities (as defined in the Trust Agreement relating to such securities) of
the Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company
hereunder may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities, and
(ii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory
business trust, except in connection with the distribution of Junior
Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the
Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities of the Trust, or certain
mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted under the Trust
Agreement, and (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE ELEVEN
REDEMPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
SECTION 1101. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.
Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes of any series) in accordance with this Article.
SECTION 1102. ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.
The election of the Company to redeem any Junior Subordinated Notes
shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the
election of the Company of all of the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series,
the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the
Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the
related Property Trustee), notify the Trustee and the related Property Trustee
in writing of such Redemption Date. In case of any redemption at the election of
the Company of less than all the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the
Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the
Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the
related Property Trustee), notify the Trustee and the related Property Trustee
in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption
of Junior Subordinated Notes (i) prior to the expiration of any restriction on
such redemption provided in the terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes or
elsewhere in this Indenture, or (ii) pursuant to an election of the Company
which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers'
Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.
SECTION 1103. SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES TO BE REDEEMED.
If the Junior Subordinated Notes are registered in the name of only one
Holder, any partial redemptions shall be pro rata. If the Junior Subordinated
Notes are held in definitive form by more than one Holder and if less than all
the Junior Subordinated Notes of any series are to be redeemed, the particular
Junior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Junior
Subordinated Notes of such series not previously called for redemption, by lot
or other such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which
may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum
authorized denomination for Junior Subordinated Notes of that series or any
integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes
of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination
for Junior Subordinated Notes of that series.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Junior
Subordinated Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any Junior
Subordinated Notes selected for partial redemption, 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 Junior Subordinated Notes
shall relate, in the case of any Junior Subordinated Notes redeemed or to be
redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Junior
Subordinated Notes which has been or is to be redeemed.
SECTION 1104. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section
106 to the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed not less than 30
nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price,
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes
of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case
of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Junior
Subordinated Notes to be redeemed,
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will
become due and payable upon each such Junior Subordinated Note to be
redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue
on and after said date,
(5) the place or places where such Junior Subordinated Notes are
to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, and
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the
case.
Notice of redemption of Junior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed at the
election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 1105. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.
Except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture pursuant to
Section 301, prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company or its Affiliate is acting as
its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003)
an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and accrued
interest, if any, on all the Junior Subordinated Notes which are to be redeemed
on that date.
SECTION 1106. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Junior
Subordinated Notes so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due
and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified together with any accrued
interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon, and from and after such
date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price
and accrued interest) such Junior Subordinated Notes shall cease to bear
interest. Upon surrender of any such Junior Subordinated Note for redemption in
accordance with such notice, such Junior Subordinated Note shall be paid by the
Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, and any
Additional Interest to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, except as
otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 301,
installments of interest on Junior Subordinated Notes whose Stated Maturity is
on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such
Junior Subordinated Notes, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as
such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their
terms and the provisions of Section 305.
If any Junior Subordinated Note called for redemption shall not be so
paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any)
shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed
therefor in the Junior Subordinated Note.
SECTION 1107. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES REDEEMED IN PART.
Any Junior Subordinated Note that is to be redeemed only in
part shall be surrendered at an office or agency of the Company 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), and
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Holder of such Junior Subordinated Note without service charge, a new Junior
Subordinated Note of the same series, Stated Maturity and original issue date of
any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Junior Subordinated Note so surrendered.
ARTICLE TWELVE
SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 1201. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Junior Subordinated Notes of a series except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Junior Subordinated Notes of such
series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior Subordinated Notes of any series is
herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the
terms of Junior Subordinated Notes of any series, the cash amount of any sinking
fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each
sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series as provided for by the terms of Junior Subordinated Notes of
such series.
SECTION 1202. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES.
The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes of a
series (other than any previously called for redemption), and (2) may apply as a
credit Junior Subordinated Notes of a series which have been redeemed either at
the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Junior Subordinated
Notes or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments
pursuant to the terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes, in each case in
satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes of such series required to be made pursuant to the
terms of such Junior Subordinated Notes as provided for by the terms of such
series; provided that such Junior Subordinated Notes have not been previously so
credited. Such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be received and credited for such
purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Junior
Subordinated Notes for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the
amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
SECTION 1203. REDEMPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES FOR SINKING FUND.
Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Junior Subordinated Notes, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund
payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Junior
Subordinated Notes of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and stating the basis
for such credit and that such Junior Subordinated Notes have not previously been
so credited and will also deliver to the Trustee any Junior Subordinated Notes
to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment
date the Trustee shall select the Junior Subordinated Notes to be redeemed upon
such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 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 1104. Such notice having been
duly given, the redemption of such Junior Subordinated Notes shall be made upon
the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 1301. JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES SUBORDINATE TO SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Junior
Subordinated Note, by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees,
that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article
(subject to Article Four), the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest (including Additional Interest) on each and all of the Junior
Subordinated Notes are hereby expressly made subordinate and subject in right of
payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Senior Indebtedness. The
term "Senior Indebtedness" when used in this Article Thirteen shall be deemed to
mean the Senior Indebtedness of the Company.
SECTION 1302. PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS UPON DISSOLUTION, ETC.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company to creditors
upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding-up, reorganization, assignment for
the benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or liabilities or any
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company (each such event,
if any, referred to as a "Proceeding"), the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall
be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due on or to become due on
or in respect of all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest accruing
thereon after the commencement of any such Proceeding, whether or not allowed as
a claim against the Company in such Proceeding), before the Holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes are entitled to receive any payment or distribution
(excluding any payment described in Section 1309) on account of the principal
of, premium, if any, or interest (including Additional Interest, if any) on the
Junior Subordinated Notes or on account of any purchase, redemption or other
acquisition of Junior Subordinated Notes by the Company (all such payments,
distributions, purchases, redemptions and acquisitions, whether or not in
connection with a Proceeding, herein referred to, individually and collectively,
as a "Payment").
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing shall be received by the
Trustee or the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes before all Senior
Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in
accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust
for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which
any instruments evidencing any such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as
their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for
application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the
extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in accordance with its
terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
For purposes of this Article, "assets of the Company" 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 of
reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to
the extent provided in this Article with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness that may at the time be
outstanding, provided, however, that (i) the Senior Indebtedness is assumed by
the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or
readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are
not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or
readjustment. 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 Eight hereof shall not be deemed a
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this
Section 1302 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article
Eight hereof. Nothing in Section 1303 or in this Section 1302 shall apply to
claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607.
SECTION 1303. NO PAYMENT WHEN SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS IN DEFAULT
No payment of any principal, including redemption payments, if any,
premium, if any, or interest on (including Additional Interest) the Junior
Subordinated Notes shall be made if
(i) any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due whether at
the stated maturity of any such payment or by call for redemption and
any applicable grace period with respect to such default has ended,
with such default remaining uncured and such default has not been
waived or otherwise ceased to exist;
(ii) the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated
because of a default; or
(iii) notice has been given of the exercise of an option to
require repayment, mandatory payment or prepayment or otherwise.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
make any Payment to the Trustee or any Holder prohibited by the foregoing
provisions of this Section, then in such event such Payment shall be held in
trust and paid over and delivered forthwith to the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness.
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any Payment with
respect to which Section 1302 hereof would be applicable.
SECTION 1304. PAYMENT PERMITTED IF NO DEFAULT.
Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
any of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall prevent the Company, at any time
except during the pendency of any Proceeding referred to in Section 1302 hereof
or under the conditions described in Section 1303 hereof, from making Payments.
Nothing in this Article shall have any effect on the right of the Holders or the
Trustee to accelerate the maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, but, in that event, no payment may be made in
violation of the provisions of this Article with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. If payment of the Junior Subordinated Notes is accelerated
because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify the holders of
the Senior Indebtedness (or their representatives) of such acceleration.
SECTION 1305. SUBROGATION TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS.
The rights of the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive
payments and distributions of cash, property and securities applicable to the
Senior Indebtedness until the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
(including Additional Interest) on the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be paid
in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which
the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Trustee would be entitled
except for the provisions of this Article, and no payments pursuant to the
provisions of this Article to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of
the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its
creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the
Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 1306. PROVISIONS SOLELY TO DEFINE RELATIVE RIGHTS.
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 Senior Indebtedness on the other hand. Nothing contained in this
Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Junior Subordinated Notes is
intended to or shall (a) impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than
holders of Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes,
the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional (and which,
subject to the rights under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness,
is intended to rank equally with all other general obligations of the Company),
to pay to the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest) on the Junior
Subordinated Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with their terms; or (b) affect the relative rights against the
Company of the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes and creditors of the
Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness; or (c) prevent the
Trustee or the Holder of any Junior Subordinated Note 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 to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable
or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder or, under the conditions specified
in Section 1303, to prevent any payment prohibited by such Section or enforce
their rights pursuant to the penultimate paragraph in Section 1303.
SECTION 1307. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION.
Each Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note by his acceptance thereof
authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such
purposes, including, in the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or
reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership
proceedings, or otherwise, the timely filing of a claim for the unpaid balance
of the indebtedness of the Company owing to such Holder in the form required in
such proceedings and the causing of such claim to be approved.
SECTION 1308. NO WAIVER OF SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to
enforce the subordination provisions provided herein shall at any time in any
way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the
Company or by any act or any failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder,
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.
Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph,
the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time,
without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes and without impairing or releasing the subordination
provided in this Article or the obligations hereunder of the Holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, do any one or
more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or
extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Indebtedness, or
otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Indebtedness or any
instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Indebtedness
is outstanding; (ii) permit the Company to borrow, repay and then reborrow any
or all of the Senior Indebtedness; (iii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise
deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior
Indebtedness; (iv) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of
Senior Indebtedness; (v) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against
the Company and any other Person; or (vi) apply any sums received by them to
Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 1309. TRUST MONEYS NOT SUBORDINATED.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments
from money held in trust by the Trustee under Article Four for the payment of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest)
on any series of Junior Subordinated Notes shall not be subordinated to the
prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions set
forth in this Article and no Holder of such Junior Subordinated Notes nor the
Trustee shall be obligated to pay over such amount to the Company, any holder of
Senior Indebtedness (or a designated representative of such holder) or any other
creditor of the Company.
SECTION 1310. NOTICE TO THE TRUSTEE.
The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer
of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making
of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Article. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Article or any other provision of this Indenture, the
Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that
would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes pursuant to the provisions of this
Article unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have
received written notice thereof at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee
from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any
trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the
Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be entitled in all
respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the
Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 1310 at
least two Business Days prior to the date upon which, by the terms hereof, any
money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the
payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Junior
Subordinated Note), then, anything herein contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such
money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and
shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it
within two Business Days prior to such date.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be
entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person
representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on
behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder
of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders. In
the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is
required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior
Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this
Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness
held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate
in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of
such Person under this Article, and if such evidence is not furnished the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
SECTION 1311. RELIANCE ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE OF LIQUIDATING AGENT.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to
in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601 hereof,
and the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes shall be entitled to rely upon
any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
Proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver,
liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or
other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to
the Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes, for the purpose of ascertaining the
Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of
the Senior Indebtedness, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or
amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to
this Article, provided that the foregoing shall apply only if such court has
been apprised of the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 1312. TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS.
Subject to the provisions of Section 601, 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 in good faith mistakenly pay over
or distribute to Holders of Junior Subordinated Notes or to the Company or to
any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior
Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.
SECTION 1313. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS HOLDER OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS;
PRESERVATION OF TRUSTEE'S RIGHTS.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which
may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior
Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of
its rights as such holder.
Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the
Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607 hereof.
SECTION 1314. ARTICLE APPLICABLE TO PAYING AGENTS.
In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee (or the
Company or an Affiliate of the Company) 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 otherwise requires) 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.
SECTION 1315. RELIANCE BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS ON SUBORDINATION
PROVISIONS.
Each Holder by accepting a Junior Subordinated Note acknowledges and
agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be,
an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Indebtedness,
whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the
issuance of the Junior Subordinated Notes, to acquire and continue to hold, or
to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of Senior
Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination
provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or to continue to hold, such
Senior Indebtedness.
ARTICLE FOURTEEN
NOTES GUARANTEE
SECTION 1401. GUARANTEE.
The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each
Holder of a Junior Subordinated Note of each series the due and punctual payment
of the principal of and any premium and interest (including Additional Interest)
on such Junior Subordinated Note when and as the same shall become due and
payable, whether at the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call
for redemption or otherwise, in accordance with the terms of such Junior
Subordinated Note and this Indenture, regardless of any defense, right of
set-off or counterclaim that the Guarantor may have or assert, except the
defense of payment. The Guarantor's obligation to make a payment under this
Article XIV may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the
Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Company to pay such amounts to the
Holders.
The Notes Guarantee set forth in this Section 1401 shall not be valid
or become obligatory for any purpose with respect to a Junior Subordinated Note
until the certificate of authentication on such Junior Subordinated Note shall
have been authenticated by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual signature.
SECTION 1402. WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.
The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Notes Guarantee
and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for
payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company 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 1403. GUARANTOR OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Article XIV 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 Company of any express or
implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Junior
Subordinated Notes to be performed or observed by the Company;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Company of
all or any portion of the interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes,
the Redemption Price or any other sums payable under the terms of the
Junior Subordinated Notes or the extension of time for the performance
of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with,
the Junior Subordinated Notes (other than an extension of time for
payment of interest or any other sums payable that results from the
extension of any interest payment period on the Junior Subordinated
Notes of any series permitted by this 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 Junior Subordinated Notes, or any action on the part of
the Company 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 Company or any of the assets of the Company;
(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Junior
Subordinated Notes;
(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
(other than payment of the underlying obligation), it being the intent
of this Article XIV 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 the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 1404. FORM OF GUARANTEE.
A notation of the Notes Guarantee shall be set forth on each Junior
Subordinated Note in substantially the following form:
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, a corporation duly organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Guarantor", which
term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to herein)
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of this Junior
Subordinated Note issued by Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. (the
"Company"), pursuant to the terms of the Notes Guarantee contained in Article
XIV of the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest) on this Junior
Subordinated Note, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at
the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or
otherwise, in accordance with the terms of this Junior Subordinated Note and the
Indenture.
The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Notes Guarantee and the
Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture, and reference
is hereby made to such Article and Indenture for the precise terms of the Notes
Guarantee.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Notes Guarantee, all
payments in respect of the Notes Guarantee are subordinate and subject in right
of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined
in the Indenture) of the Guarantor.
THIS NOTES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
The Notes Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication on the Junior Subordinated Note upon
which this notation of the Notes Guarantee is endorsed shall have been executed
by the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of its
authorized officers.
(SEAL) THE SOUTHERN COMPANY,
Attest:
By:
Name:
Title:
SECTION 1405. EXECUTION OF GUARANTEE.
To evidence the Notes Guarantee to the Holders specified in Section
1401, the Guarantor hereby agrees to execute the notation of the Notes
Guarantee, in substantially the form set forth in Section 1404, to be endorsed
on each Junior Subordinated Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. The
Guarantor hereby agrees that the Notes Guarantee set forth in Section 1401 shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each
Junior Subordinated Note a notation of the Notes Guarantee. Each such notation
of the Notes Guarantee shall be signed on behalf of the Guarantor, by a director
or officer, prior to the authentication of the Junior Subordinated Note on which
it is endorsed, and the delivery of such Junior Subordinated Note by the
Trustee, after the due authentication thereof by the Trustee hereunder, shall
constitute due delivery of the Notes Guarantee on behalf of the Guarantor. Such
signature upon the notation of the Notes Guarantee may be a manual or facsimile
signature of any such director or officer and may be imprinted or otherwise
reproduced below the notation of the Notes Guarantee, and in case any such
director or officer who shall have signed the notation of the Notes Guarantee
shall cease to be such director or officer before the Junior Subordinated Note
on which such notation is endorsed shall have been authenticated and delivered
by the Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Junior Subordinated Note
nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the
person who signed the notation of the Notes Guarantee had not ceased to be such
director or officer of the Guarantor.
SECTION 1406. SUBROGATION.
The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of the Holders
against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the
Guarantor under this Article XIV with respect to any series of Junior
Subordinated Notes; 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
Article XIV with respect to a series of Junior Subordinated Notes if, at the
time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under such series of
Junior Subordinated Notes. 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 1407. INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.
The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Company with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as
debtor hereunder to make payments pursuant to the terms of the Notes Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 1403 hereof.
SECTION 1408. SUBORDINATION.
The Guarantor covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Junior
Subordinated Note, by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees,
that, to the same extent and in the same manner set forth in Article XIII with
respect to subordination and relative rights of the Junior Subordinated Notes,
all payments in respect of the Notes Guarantee are hereby expressly made
subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash
of all Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor.
ARTICLE FIFTEEN
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 1501. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS.
An incorporator or any past, present or future director, officer,
employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company or the Guarantor shall not have
any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantor under the
Junior Subordinated Notes or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in
respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a
Junior Subordinated Note, each Holder shall waive and release all such
liability. Such waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the
issue of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
SECTION 1502. SET-OFF.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or in any
Junior Subordinated Note of any series, prior to the dissolution of any
Securities Trust that has issued Trust Securities related to a series of Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Company shall have the right to set-off and apply
against any payment it is otherwise required to make hereunder or thereunder
with respect to the principal of or interest (including any Additional Interest)
on the Junior Subordinated Notes of such series with and to the extent the
Company has theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment
making, a payment with respect to the Trust Securities of the series related to
such series of Junior Subordinated Notes under the applicable Guarantee.
Contemporaneously with, or as promptly as practicable after, any such payment
under such Guarantee, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate (upon which the Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively
without any requirement to investigate the facts contained therein) to the
effect that such payment has been made and that, as a result of such payment,
the corresponding payment under the related series of Junior Subordinated Notes
has been set-off in accordance with this Section 1502.
SECTION 1503. ASSIGNMENT; BINDING EFFECT.
The Company shall have the right at all times to assign any of its
rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment,
the Company shall remain primarily liable for the performance of all such
obligations. This Indenture may also be assigned by the Company in connection
with a transaction described in Article Eight. This Indenture shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, the Trustee, the Holders, any
Security Registrar, Paying Agent, and Authenticating Agent and, to the extent
specifically set forth herein, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and their
respective successors and assigns. The provisions of clause (2) of Section 508
and Section 1006 are for the benefit of the holders of the series of Trust
Securities referred to therein and, prior to the dissolution of the related
Securities Trust, may be enforced by such holders. A holder of a Trust Security
shall not have the right, as such a holder, to enforce any other provision of
this Indenture.
SECTION 1504. ADDITIONAL INTEREST.
Whenever there is mentioned in this Indenture, in any context, the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or in respect of,
any Junior Subordinated Note of any series, such mention shall be deemed to
include mention of the payment of Additional Interest provided for by the terms
of such series of Junior Subordinated Notes to the extent that, in such context,
Additional Interest is, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to
such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any
provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in
those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
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.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
By
Vice President
Attest:
Assistant Secretary
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By
Financial Vice President
Attest:
Assistant Secretary BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Trustee
By
Attest:
<PAGE>
STATE OF GEORGIA )
) SS.:
COUNTY OF FULTON )
On the _____ day of __________, 1997, before me personally came Charles
N. Eldred, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he
is Vice President of Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., one of the
corporations described herein 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.
Notary Public
[SEAL]
My Commission Expires:
STATE OF GEORGIA )
) SS.:
COUNTY OF FULTON )
On the ___ day of ____________, 1997, before me personally came W.L.
Westbrook, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he
is Financial Vice President of The Southern Company, one of the corporations
described herein 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.
Notary Public
[SEAL]
My Commission Expires:
<PAGE>
STATE OF NEW YORK )
) SS.:
CITY OF NEW YORK )
On the ____ day of ___________, 1997, before me personally came
__________________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say
that he is a __________________ of Bankers Trust Company, one of the
corporations described herein 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.
Notary Public
[SEAL]
My Commission Expires:
EXHIBIT 4.2
DRAFT
5/29/97
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
AND
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
TO
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
TRUSTEE.
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
DATED AS OF _________, 1997
$206,186,000
SERIES C ______% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
DUE ________ 1, 20__
<PAGE>
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS1
ARTICLE 1............................................................1
SECTION 101. Establishment...........................................1
SECTION 102. Definitions.............................................2
SECTION 103. Payment of Principal and Interest.......................3
SECTION 104. Deferral of Interest Payments...........................4
SECTION 105. Denominations...........................................5
SECTION 106. Global Securities.......................................5
SECTION 107. Transfer................................................5
SECTION 108. Redemption..............................................6
[SECTION 109. Right to Advance Stated Maturity.....................6
ARTICLE 2............................................................6
SECTION 201. Recitals by Company.....................................7
SECTION 202. Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture....7
SECTION 203. Executed in Counterparts................................7
SECTION 204. Listing of Notes........................................7
1 This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture or have any
bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.
<PAGE>
THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is made as of the ____ day
of ________, 1997, by and among SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC., a
Delaware corporation, 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (the
"Company"), THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, 270 Peachtree Street,
N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303 (the "Guarantor"), and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a New
York banking corporation, Four Albany Street, New York, New York 10006 (the
"Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Company and the Guarantor have heretofore entered into a
Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of _________ 1, 1997 (the "Original
Indenture"), with Bankers Trust Company;
WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this reference
and the Original Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental
Indenture, is herein called the "Indenture";
WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of Junior Subordinated
Notes may at any time be established by the Board of Directors of the Company in
accordance with the provisions of the Original Indenture and the terms of such
series may be described by a supplemental indenture executed by the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee;
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to create under the Indenture a new series of
Junior Subordinated Notes;
WHEREAS, additional Junior Subordinated Notes of other series hereafter
established, except as may be limited in the Original Indenture as at the time
supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to the
Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified; and
WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery
of this First Supplemental Indenture and to make it a valid and binding
obligation of the Company have been done or performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Series C Junior Subordinated Notes
SECTION 101. Establishment. There is hereby established a new series of
Junior Subordinated Notes to be issued under the Indenture, to be designated as
the Company's Series C _____% Junior Subordinated Notes due _______ 1, 20__ (the
"Series C Notes").
There are to be authenticated and delivered $206,186,000 principal
amount of Series C Notes, and no further Series C Notes shall be authenticated
and delivered except as provided by Sections 203, 303, 304, 907 or 1107 of the
Original Indenture. The Series C Notes shall be issued in definitive fully
registered form.
The Series C Notes shall be in substantially the form set out in
Exhibit A hereto. The entire principal amount of the Series C Notes shall
initially be evidenced by one certificate issued to the Property Trustee of
Southern Company Capital Trust III.
The form of the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication for the Series
C Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto. A
notation of the Notes Guarantee shall be set forth on each Series C Note in
substantially the form set forth in Section 1404 of the Original Indenture.
Each Series C Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof
and shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof or from the
most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for.
SECTION 102. Definitions. The following defined terms used herein
shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below.
Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture.
"Deferred Interest" means each installment of interest not paid during
any Extension Period, and interest thereon. Deferred installments of interest
shall bear interest at the rate of _____% per annum from the applicable Interest
Payment Date to the date of payment, compounded quarterly, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.
"Extension Period" means any period during which the Company has
elected to defer payments of interest, which deferral may be for a period of up
to twenty (20) consecutive quarters.
"Interest Payment Dates" means March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year.
"Investment Company Act Event" means that the Company shall have
received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence
of a change in law or regulation or a written change in interpretation or
application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental
agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the Securities Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is
required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
which change becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date.
"Original Issue Date" means ___________, 1997.
"Regular Record Date" means, with respect to each Interest Payment
Date, the close of business on the 15th calendar day preceding such Interest
Payment Date.
"Securities Trust" means Southern Company Capital Trust III, a
statutory business trust formed by the Company under Delaware law to issue Trust
Securities, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase Series C Notes.
"Special Event" means an Investment Company Act Event or Tax Event.
"Stated Maturity" means _________ 1, 20__.
"Tax Event" means that the Company shall have received an Opinion of
Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, laws
(or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (b) any amendment to, or
change in, an interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there
is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Securities Trust would be
subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued or
received on the Series C Notes, (ii) interest payable to the Securities Trust on
the Series C Notes would not be deductible by a member of the Guarantor's
consolidated tax group for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii)
the Securities Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis amount of other
taxes, duties or other governmental charges, which change or amendment becomes
effective on or after the Original Issue Date.
SECTION 103. Payment of Principal and Interest. The unpaid principal
amount of the Series C Notes shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum
until paid or duly provided for. Interest shall be paid quarterly in arrears on
each Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name the Series C Notes are
registered on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment Date, provided
that interest payable at the Stated Maturity of principal or on a Redemption
Date as provided herein will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.
So long as an Extension Period is not occurring, any such interest that is not
so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to
the Holders on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person or
Persons in whose name the Series C Notes are registered at the close of business
on a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed
by the Trustee ("Special Record Date"), notice whereof shall be given to Holders
of the Series C Notes not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record
Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with
the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Series C Notes
shall be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange,
all as more fully provided in the Original Indenture.
Payments of interest on the Series C Notes will include interest
accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest
payments for the Series C Notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on the Series C Notes is not a Business Day, then a payment
of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day, except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on the date the payment was originally payable.
Payment of the principal, premium, if any, and interest (including
Additional Interest, if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of
the Series C Notes shall be made upon surrender of the Series C Notes at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts. Payments of interest (including interest on any
Interest Payment Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable,
at the option of the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person
entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii)
by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in
the United States as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least
sixteen (16) days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.
The Company shall pay, as additional interest on the Series C Notes,
when due to the United States or any other taxing authority, the amounts set
forth in clause (i) of the definition of Additional Interest.
SECTION 104. Deferral of Interest Payments. The Company has the right
at any time and from time to time to extend the interest payment period of the
Series C Notes for up to twenty (20) consecutive quarters (each, an "Extension
Period"), but not beyond the Stated Maturity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company has no right to extend its obligation to pay such amounts as are defined
in clause (i) of the definition of Additional Interest. Prior to the termination
of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend the interest
payment period, provided that such Extension Period, together with all such
previous and further extensions of that Extension Period, shall not exceed
twenty (20) consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any
Additional Interest then due, the Company may select a new Extension Period,
subject to the above limitations and requirements.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period, which termination shall
be on an Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest on
the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name the Series
C Notes are registered on the Regular Record Date for such Interest Payment
Date, provided that Deferred Interest payable at Stated Maturity or on any
Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.
The Company shall give the Holder or Holders of the Series C Notes and
the Trustee notice, as provided in Sections 105 and 106, respectively, of the
Original Indenture, of its selection or extension of an Extension Period at
least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the Regular Record Date
relating to the Interest Payment Date on which the Extension Period is to
commence or relating to the Interest Payment Date on which an Extension Period
that is being extended would otherwise terminate, or (ii) the date the Company
or Securities Trust is required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or
other applicable self-regulatory organization of the record date or the date
such distributions are payable. The Company shall cause the Securities Trust to
give notice of the Company's selection of such Extension Period to Holders of
the Trust Securities. The month in which any notice is given pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence of this Section shall constitute the first month
of the first quarter of the twenty (20) quarters, which comprise the Maximum
Extension Period.
At any time any of the foregoing notices are given to the Trustee, the
Company shall give to the Paying Agent for the Series C Notes such information
as said Paying Agent shall reasonably require in order to fulfill its tax
reporting obligations with respect to such Series C Notes.
SECTION 105. Denominations. The Series C Notes may be issued in the
denominations of $25, or any integral multiple thereof.
SECTION 106. Global Securities. If the Series C Notes are distributed
to Holders of the Trust Securities of the Securities Trust in liquidation of
such Holders' interests therein, the Series C Notes will be issued in the form
of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary (which
shall be The Depository Trust Company) or its nominee. Except under the limited
circumstances described below, Series C Notes represented by the Global Security
will not be exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, Series C
Notes in definitive form. The Global Securities described above may not be
transferred except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a
nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary
or to a successor Depositary or its nominee.
Owners of beneficial interests in such a Global Security will not be
considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and no
Global Security representing a Series C Note shall be exchangeable, except for
another Global Security of like denomination and tenor to be registered in the
name of the Depositary or its nominee or to a successor Depositary or its
nominee. The rights of Holders of such Global Security shall be exercised only
through the Depositary.
A Global Security shall be exchangeable for Series C Notes registered
in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee only if (i) the
Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
Depositary for such Global Security and no successor Depositary shall have been
appointed, or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, at a time when
the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such Depositary and no
successor Depositary shall have been appointed, (ii) the Company in its sole
discretion determines that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable, or
(iii) there shall have occurred an Event of Default with respect to the Series C
Notes. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall be exchangeable for Series C Notes registered in such names as
the Depositary shall direct.
SECTION 107. Transfer. No service charge will be made for any transfer
or exchange of Series C Notes, but payment will be required of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
therewith.
The Company shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange
any Series C Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen
(15) days before the day of the mailing of a notice identifying the serial
numbers of the Series C Notes to be called for redemption, and ending at the
close of business on the day of the mailing, or (b) to transfer or exchange any
Series C Notes theretofore selected for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any Series C Note redeemed in part.
SECTION 108. Redemption. The Series C Notes shall be subject to
redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, without premium or
penalty, at any time or from time to time on or after ____________ , 2002, at a
Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus
accrued but unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the
Redemption Date; provided, however, that if a redemption in part shall result in
the delisting of the Preferred Securities issued by the Securities Trust, the
Company may only redeem the Series C Notes in whole. In addition, upon the
occurrence of a Special Event at any time, the Company may, within ninety (90)
days following the occurrence thereof and subject to the terms and conditions of
the Indenture, elect to redeem the Series C Notes, in whole, at a price equal to
100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any accrued but unpaid interest
(including Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date.
In the event of redemption of the Series C Notes in part only, a new
Series C Note or Notes for the unredeemed portion will be issued in the name or
names of the Holders thereof upon the surrender thereof.
The Series C Notes will not have a sinking fund.
Notice of redemption shall be given as provided in Section 1104 of the
Original Indenture.
Any redemption of less than all of the Series C Notes shall, with
respect to the principal thereof, be divisible by $25.
SECTION 109. Right to Advance Stated Maturity.
If a Tax Event occurs, the Company will have the right (a) prior to the
dissolution of the Securities Trust, to advance the Stated Maturity of the
Series C Notes to the minimum extent required, but not less than 19 and one-half
years from the Original Issue Date, or (b) to direct the Property Trustee to
dissolve the Securities Trust (if not previously dissolved) and advance the
Stated Maturity of the Series C Notes to the minimum extent required, but not
less than 19 and one-half years from the Original Issue Date, in each case such
that in the Opinion of Counsel to the Company experienced in such matters, after
advancing the Stated Maturity, interest paid on the Series C Notes will be
deductible for federal income tax purposes.]
ARTICLE 2
Miscellaneous Provisions
SECTION 201. Recitals by Company. The recitals in this First
Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company only and not by the Trustee, and
all of the provisions contained in the Original Indenture in respect of the
rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be
applicable in respect of Series C Notes and of this First Supplemental Indenture
as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.
SECTION 202. Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture. As
supplemented hereby, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified and
confirmed, and the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented and modified,
and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one
and the same instrument.
SECTION 203. Executed in Counterparts. This First Supplemental
Indenture may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together
constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 204. Listing of Notes. If the Series C Notes are to be issued
as a Global Security in connection with the distribution of the Series C Notes
to the Holders of the Preferred Securities issued by the Securities Trust, the
Company will use its best efforts to list such Series C Notes on the New York
Stock Exchange or any such other exchange on which such Preferred Securities are
then listed and traded.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this
instrument to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officers,
all as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHERN COMPANY
CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
ATTEST:
By:____________________________ By:_____________________________
ATTEST: THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By:____________________________ By:_____________________________
ATTEST: BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
By:____________________________ By:_____________________________
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF SERIES C NOTE
<PAGE>
NO. 1 CUSIP NO.
THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED BY THIS SECURITY IS, TO THE EXTENT PROVIDED IN THE
INDENTURE, SUBORDINATE AND SUBJECT IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE PRIOR PAYMENT IN
FULL OF ALL SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS OF THE COMPANY AND THIS SECURITY IS ISSUED
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDENTURE WITH RESPECT THERETO.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
SERIES C _____% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE
DUE ______ 1, 20__
Principal Amount: $_________
Regular Record Date: 15th calendar day prior to Interest Payment Date
Original Issue Date: __________, 1997
Stated Maturity: __________, 20__
Interest Payment Dates: March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31
Interest Rate: ____% per annum
Authorized Denomination: $25
Initial Redemption Date: __________ 1, 2007
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture
referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay
to _____________________________________, or registered assigns, the principal
sum of _________ DOLLARS ($__________) on the Stated Maturity shown above (or
upon earlier redemption [and subject to the right of the Company, under certain
conditions, to advance the Stated Maturity pursuant to the Indenture]), and to
pay interest thereon from the Original Issue Date shown above, or from the most
recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided
for, quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date as specified above,
commencing on the Interest Payment Date next succeeding the Original Issue Date
shown above and on the Stated Maturity (or upon earlier redemption [and subject
to the aforementioned right of the Company to advance the Stated Maturity]) at
the rate per annum shown above until the principal hereof is paid or made
available for payment and on any overdue principal and on any overdue
installment of interest. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly
provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date
that is the Stated Maturity or on a Redemption Date) will, as provided in such
Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (the "Note") is
registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date as specified
above next preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided that any interest
payable at Stated Maturity or on any Redemption Date will be paid to the Person
to whom principal is payable. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any
such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease
to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid
to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on
a Special Record Date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by
the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Notes of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes of this series shall be listed,
and upon such notice as may be required by any such exchange, all as more fully
provided in the Indenture.
Payments of interest on this Note will include interest accrued to but
excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. Interest payments for this Note
shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Note is
not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, except that, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment shall be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which
banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law or
executive order to remain closed or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee or the principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee of
the Securities Trust are closed for business.
The Company shall have the right at any time and from time to time
during the term of this Note to extend the interest payment period of such Note
for up to 20 consecutive quarters but not beyond the Stated Maturity of this
Note (each, an "Extension Period"), during which periods unpaid interest
(together with interest thereon) will compound quarterly at the Interest Rate
("Deferred Interest"). Upon the termination of each Extension Period, which
shall be an Interest Payment Date, the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest
on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date to the Person in whose name this
Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such
Interest Payment Date, provided that any Deferred Interest payable at Stated
Maturity or on any Redemption Date will be paid to the Person to whom principal
is payable. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company
may extend the interest payment period, provided that such Extension Period
together with all such previous and further extensions thereof shall not exceed
20 consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period, and
the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then
due, the Company may select a new Extension Period, subject to the above
requirements. If the Company shall have given notice of its election to select
any Extension Period, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture,
neither the Company nor the Guarantor referred to herein shall (i) declare or
pay any dividend or distribution on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, or make any
guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities issued by it that rank pari passu with or junior to this Note or
the Notes Guarantee referred to herein. The Company shall give the Holder of
this Note and the Trustee notice of its selection or extension of an Extension
Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the Regular Record
Date relating to the Interest Payment Date on which the Extension Period is to
commence or relating to the Interest Payment Date on which an Extension Period
that is being extended would otherwise terminate or (ii) the date the Company or
Securities Trust is required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or
other applicable self-regulatory organization of the record date or the date
distributions are payable.
The Company also shall be obligated to pay when due and without
extension all additional amounts as may be required so that the net amount
received and retained by the Holder of this Note (if the Holder is a Securities
Trust) after paying taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature (other than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States or
any other taxing authority will not be less than the amounts such Holder would
have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments, or other governmental
charges been imposed.
Payment of the principal of and interest (including Additional
Interest, if any) due at the Stated Maturity or earlier redemption of the Series
C Notes shall be made upon surrender of the Series C Notes at the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts. Payment of interest (including interest on an Interest Payment
Date) will be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, at the option of
the Company, (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto
as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer
at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States
as may be designated in writing to the Trustee at least 16 days prior to the
date for payment by the Person entitled thereto.
The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company,
and this Note is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect
thereto. Each Holder of this Note, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and
shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his
behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination so provided, and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his acceptance hereof, waives
all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein
and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such
holder upon said provisions.
REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE SET
FORTH ON THE REVERSE HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES
HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit
under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: ________ __, 19__.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL
FUNDING, INC.
By:
Vice President
Attest:
Assistant Secretary
(Seal of SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC. appears here)
NOTES GUARANTEE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, a corporation duly organized
and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Guarantor", which
term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to herein)
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Holder of this Junior
Subordinated Note issued by Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc. (the
"Company"), pursuant to the terms of the Notes Guarantee contained in Article
XIV of the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest (including Additional Interest) on this Junior
Subordinated Note, when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at
the Stated Maturity, by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or
otherwise, in accordance with the terms of this Junior Subordinated Note and the
Indenture.
The obligations of the Guarantor to the Holders of the Junior
Subordinated Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to the Notes Guarantee and the
Indenture are expressly set forth in Article XIV of the Indenture, and reference
is hereby made to such Article and Indenture for the precise terms of the Notes
Guarantee.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Notes Guarantee, all
payments in respect of the Notes Guarantee are subordinate and subject in right
of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined
in the Indenture) of the Guarantor.
This Notes Guarantee shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
The Notes Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication on the Junior Subordinated Note upon
which this notation of the Notes Guarantee is endorsed shall have been executed
by the Trustee under the Indenture by the manual signature of one of its
authorized officers.
(SEAL) THE SOUTHERN COMPANY,
Attest:
By:
Name:
Title
<PAGE>
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:
Authorized Officer
<PAGE>
(Reverse Side of Note)
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Junior Subordinated
Notes of the Company (the "Notes"), issued and issuable in one or more series
under a Subordinated Note Indenture, dated as of ________ 1, 1997, as
supplemented (the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Guarantor and Bankers
Trust Company, Trustee (the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures incidental thereto
reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of
rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Guarantor, the
Trustee and the Holders of the Notes issued thereunder and of the terms upon
which said Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is
one of the series designated on the face hereof as Series C ____% Junior
Subordinated Notes due ___________ 1, 20__ (the "Series C Notes") in the
aggregate principal amount of up to $206,186,000. Capitalized terms used herein
for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in
the Indenture.
The Company shall have the right, subject to the terms and conditions
of the Indenture, to redeem this Note at any time on or after _______ 1, 2002,
at the option of the Company, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part,
at a Redemption Price, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal
amount to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional
Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date . Upon the occurrence of a Special
Event (as defined below) at any time, the Company may, within 90 days following
the occurrence thereof and subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture,
redeem this Note without premium or penaly, in whole, at a Redemption Price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus any accrued and unpaid
interest, including Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date. A
Special Event may be a Tax Event or an Investment Company Act Event. "Tax Event"
means that the Company shall have received an Opinion of Counsel experienced in
such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein or (b) any amendment to, or change in, an
interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) the related Securities Trust would be subject to
United States federal income tax with respect to income accrued or received on
the Series C Notes, (ii) interest payable to the related Securities Trust would
not be deductible by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes,
or (iii) the related Securities Trust would be subject to more than a de minimis
amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges, which change or
amendment becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date. "Investment
Company Act Event" means that the Company shall have received an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or
regulation or a written change in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the related Securities
Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" which is required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which change
becomes effective on or after the Original Issue Date.
In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes
of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of
the Holder hereof upon the surrender hereof. The Notes will not have a sinking
fund.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the
conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Notes of each
series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the Notes of each series at the time Outstanding
of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting
the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes at the
time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes of such series, to waive
compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain
past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such
Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether
or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at
the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Security Register,
upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly
authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of this series, of
authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal
amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service
charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the
Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor
or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the
owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by
notice to the contrary.
The Notes of this Series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided
in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of
this Series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of
this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder
surrendering the same upon surrender of the Note or Notes to be exchanged at the
office or agency of the Company.
This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
internal laws of the State of New York.
<PAGE>
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this
instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according
to applicable laws or regulations:
<PAGE>
TEN COM- as tenants in UNIF GIFT MIN ACT- _______ Custodian ________
common (Cust) (Minor)
TEN ENT- as tenants by the
entireties under Uniform Gifts to
JT TEN- as joint tenants Minors Act
with right of
survivorship and ________________________
not as tenants (State)
in common
Additional abbreviations may also be used
though not on the above list.
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s) and transfer(s) unto
(please insert Social Security or other identifying number of assignee)
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF
ASSIGNEE
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and
appointing
agent to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of
substitution in the premises.
Dated:
NOTICE: The signature to this
assignment must correspond with the
name as written upon the face of the
within instrument in every
particular without alteration or
enlargement, or any change whatever.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee
By:
Authorized Officer
Exhibit 4.4
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST of Southern Company Capital Trust III (the
"Trust"), dated May 23, 1997, is being duly executed and filed by the
undersigned, as trustee of the Trust, to form a business trust under the
Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq.).
1. Name. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is Southern
Company Capital Trust III.
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 Bankers
Trust (Delaware), 1001 Jefferson Street, Suite 550, Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective as of its
filing.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the
Trust, has executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
not in its individual capacity but solely
as Delaware Trustee of the Trust
By:
Name: M. Lisa Wilkins
Title: Assistant Secretary
EXHIBIT 4.5
TRUST AGREEMENT
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT is made as of May 23, 1997, by and between
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as Depositor
(the "Depositor"), and Bankers Trust (Delaware), duly organized and existing in
the State of Delaware, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The Depositor and the Trustee
hereby agree as follows:
1. The trust created hereby shall be known as "Southern Company Capital
Trust III", in which name the Trustee, or the Depositor to the extent provided
herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts, and
sue and be sued.
2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to
the Trustee the sum of $10. The Trustee hereby acknowledges receipt of such
amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the initial
trust estate. The Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the trust estate in
trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the
Trust created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12 of
the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss. 3801, et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and
that this document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust. The Trustee
is hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust
with the Delaware Secretary of State substantially in the form attached hereto
or in such other form as the Trustee may approve.
3. The Depositor and the Trustee and certain other parties will enter
into an amended and restated Trust Agreement satisfactory to each such party and
substantially in the form included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
on Form S-3 (the "1933 Act Registration Statement") referred to below, or in
such other form as the Trustee and the Depositor may approve, to provide for the
contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of the
Preferred Securities and Common Securities referred to therein. Prior to the
execution and delivery of such amended and restated Trust Agreement, the Trustee
shall not have any duty or obligation hereunder or with respect of the trust
estate, except as otherwise required by applicable law or as may be necessary to
obtain prior to such execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals
required by applicable law or otherwise. However, notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Trustee may take all actions deemed proper as are necessary to effect the
transactions contemplated herein.
4. The Depositor and the Trustee hereby authorize and direct the
Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and execute, in the case of the 1933 Act
Registration Statement and 1934 Act Registration Statement (as herein defined),
on behalf of the Trust, (a) the 1933 Act Registration Statement including
pre-effective or post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement,
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), of the Preferred Securities of the Trust, (b) any preliminary
prospectus or prospectus or supplement thereto relating to the Preferred
Securities required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, and (c)
a Registration Statement on Form 8-A or other appropriate form (the "1934 Act
Registration Statement") (including all pre-effective and post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities of
the Trust under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; (ii) to file with the New York Stock Exchange and execute on behalf of
the Trust a listing application and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on the New York Stock
Exchange; (iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications,
reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for
service of process and other papers and documents as shall be necessary or
desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities or "Blue
Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may
deem necessary or desirable; (iv) to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of
the Trust an underwriting agreement with the Depositor and the underwriter or
underwriters of the Preferred Securities of the Trust; and (v) to execute on
behalf of the Trust any and all documents, papers and instruments as may be
desirable in connection with any of the foregoing. The Trustee further hereby
ratifies and approves all actions having previously been taken with respect to
the foregoing. In the event that any filing referred to in clauses (i)-(iii)
above is required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, the New York
Stock Exchange or state securities or Blue Sky laws to be executed on behalf of
the Trust by the Trustee, Bankers Trust (Delaware), in its capacity as Trustee
of the Trust, is hereby authorized and directed to join in any such filing and
to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing, it being
understood that Bankers Trust (Delaware) in its capacity as Trustee of the Trust
shall not be required to join in any such filing or execute on behalf of the
Trust any such document unless required by the rules and regulations of the
Commission, the New York Stock Exchange or state securities or Blue Sky laws.
5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.
6. The number of Trustees initially shall be one (1) and thereafter the
number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a
written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase or decrease the
number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent required by the
Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware. Subject to the
foregoing the Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any
Trustee at any time. Any Trustee may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to
the Depositor.
7. This Trust Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the internal laws of the State of Delaware.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.,
as Depositor
By:
Name: Richard Childs
Title: Assistant Secretary
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
as Trustee
By:
Name: M. Lisa Wilkins
Title: Assistant Secretary
DRAFT 5/29/97
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRUST AGREEMENT
among
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL FUNDING, INC., as Depositor,
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Property Trustee,
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE), as Delaware Trustee,
and
WAYNE BOSTON AND RICHARD A. CHILDS,
as Administrative Trustees
Dated as of ________ 1, 1997
<PAGE>
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
Certain Sections of this Trust Agreement relating
to Sections 310 through 318 of the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Act Section Trust Agreement 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)...........................................................8.15
(b)...................................................Not Applicable
(c)(1)....................................................8.15, 8.16
(c)(2)..........................................................8.16
(c)(3)..........................................................8.16
(d)...................................................Not Applicable
(e).............................................................8.16
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).......................................................8.19
(a)(1)(B).......................................................8.19
(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 Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Trust Agreement
and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I.............................................................2
Section 1.01 Definitions..............................................2
ARTICLE II...........................................................10
Section 2.01 Name....................................................10
Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees;
Principal Place of Business.....................................10
Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust
Property; Organizational Expenses...............................10
Section 2.04 Issuance of the Preferred Securities....................10
Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior
Subordinated Notes; Issuance of the
Common Securities...........11
Section 2.06 Declaration of Trust....................................11
Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into
Certain Transactions............................................11
Section 2.08 Assets of Trust.........................................15
Section 2.09 Title to Trust Property.................................15
Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of
the Trust.......................................................15
ARTICLE III..........................................................17
Section 3.01 Payment Account.........................................17
ARTICLE IV...........................................................17
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
ARTICLE V............................................................21
Section 5.01 Initial Ownership.......................................21
Section 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates.......................21
Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust
Securities Certificates.........................................21
Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and
Exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates....................................................22
Section 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or
Stolen Trust Securities Certificates............................22
Section 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders..........................23
Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders'
Names and Addresses.............................................23
Section 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency.........................24
Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent.............................24
Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities
by Depositor....................................................24
Section 5.11 Book-Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates; Common Securities Certificate.....................25
Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency..............................25
Section 5.13 Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates....................................................26
Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders...............................26
ARTICLE VI...........................................................26
Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights............................26
Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings......................................27
Section 6.03 Meetings of Preferred Securityholders...................27
Section 6.04 Voting Rights...........................................28
Section 6.05 Proxies, etc............................................28
Section 6.06 Securityholder Action by
Written Consent.................................................28
Section 6.07 Record Date for Voting
and Other Purposes..............................................28
Section 6.08 Acts of Securityholders.................................28
Section 6.09 Inspection of Records...................................29
ARTICLE VII..........................................................30
Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties
of the Trustees.................................................30
ARTICLE VIII.........................................................31
Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.....................31
Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults......................................32
Section 8.03 Certain Rights of Property Trustee......................32
Section 8.04 Not Responsible for Recitals
or Issuance of Securities.......................................33
Section 8.05 May Hold Securities.....................................33
Section 8.06 Compensation; Fees; Indemnity...........................33
Section 8.07 Trustees Required; Eligibility..........................34
Section 8.08 Conflicting Interests...................................34
Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee........................35
Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal;
Appointment of Successor........................................36
Section 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor..................37
Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation
or Succession to Business.......................................38
Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of
Claims Against Depositor or Trust...............................38
Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee.............................38
Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee.........................39
Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with
Conditions Precedent............................................39
Section 8.17 Number of Trustees......................................39
Section 8.18 Delegation of Power.....................................39
Section 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property
Trustee by Securityholders......................................40
ARTICLE IX...........................................................40
Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date........................40
Section 9.02 Early Termination.......................................40
Section 9.03 Termination.............................................41
Section 9.04 Liquidation.............................................41
Section 9.05 Bankruptcy..............................................42
ARTICLE X............................................................43
Section 10.01 Expense Agreement......................................43
Section 10.02 Limitation of Rights of Securityholders................43
Section 10.03 Amendment..............................................43
Section 10.04 Separability...........................................44
Section 10.05 Governing Law..........................................44
Section 10.06 Successors.............................................44
Section 10.07 Headings...............................................44
Section 10.08 Notice and Demand......................................44
Section 10.09 Agreement Not to Petition..............................45
Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act......................45
EXHIBIT A [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED]
EXHIBIT B [INTENTIONALLY RESERVED]
EXHIBIT C Form of Common Securities Certificate
EXHIBIT D Form of Expense Agreement
EXHIBIT E Form of Preferred Securities Certificate
<PAGE>
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT is made as of ______ 1, 1997,
by and among (i) Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Depositor" or the "Company"), (ii) Bankers Trust Company, a banking
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of New York, as trustee
(the "Property Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its
capacity as Property Trustee, the "Bank"), (iii) Bankers Trust (Delaware), a
banking corporation duly organized under the laws of Delaware, as Delaware
trustee (the "Delaware Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not
in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, the "Delaware Bank"), (iv) Wayne Boston, an
individual, and Richard A. Childs, an individual, as administrative trustees
(each an "Administrative Trustee" and together 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.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore duly
declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business
Trust Act by the entering into that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of May 23,
1997 (the "Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing by the
Delaware Trustee with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of the
Certificate of Trust, dated May 23, 1997; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend and restate the Original
Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other
things, (i) the addition of the Bank, Wayne Boston and Richard A. Childs as
trustees of the Trust, (ii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of
all of the right, title and interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the
issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, and (iv) the
issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties
and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the
Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:
ARTICLE IARTICLE I
Defined Terms
Section 1.01 Definitions. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except
as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in
this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein;
(c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article" or
a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Trust
Agreement; and
(d) the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.08.
"Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given
Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, an amount equal to the Additional
Interest (as defined in clause (ii) of the definition of "Additional Interest"
in the Subordinated Indenture) paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes 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 formed and continued
hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or such trustee's successor(s)
in interest in such capacity, or any successor "Administrative 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.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement.
"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 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 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, or the taking
of action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.
"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 and
to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered
to the Trustees.
"Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means certificates
representing Preferred Securities issued in global, fully registered form to the
Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11.
"Business Day" means a day other than (i) a Saturday or a Sunday, (ii)
a day on which banks in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or
executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust
Office or the Indenture Trustee's principal corporate trust office is closed for
business.
"Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement among the Trust,
the Property Trustee and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing
Agency, dated ___________, 1997, relating to the Preferred Securities
Certificates, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing
agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing
Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time
to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 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 ownership 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 a Common Security or Securities, substantially in the form attached
as Exhibit C.
"Company" means Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, its successors and assigns.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property Trustee at
which its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
"Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or both (as
the context requires) of (i) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in
certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.11(a) and (ii)
Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form
as provided in Section 5.13.
"Delaware Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
Agreement.
"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 commercial bank or trust company or any
other Person identified as the "Delaware Trustee" and has the meaning specified
in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as Delaware
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
Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" means Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, in its capacity as "Depositor" under this Trust Agreement, its
successors and assigns.
"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.
"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 an Indenture 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
of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(iv) default in the performance, or breach, 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 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 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.
"Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
between the Guarantor and the Trust, substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit D, as amended from time to time.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Guarantee" means the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement executed
and delivered by the Guarantor and Bankers Trust Company, as Guarantee 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.
"Guarantor" means The Southern Company, a Delaware corporation, its
successors and assigns.
"Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the
Subordinated Indenture.
"Indenture Redemption Date" means "Redemption Date," as defined in the
Subordinated Indenture.
"Indenture Trustee" means the trustee under the Subordinated Indenture.
"Issue Date" means the date of the delivery of the Trust Securities.
"Junior Subordinated Notes" means the $206,186,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Depositor's Series C _____% Junior Subordinated Notes due ________
1, 20__, issued pursuant to the Subordinated Indenture.
"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) Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount
equal to the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Notes 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) Junior Subordinated Notes having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Junior
Subordinated Notes are distributed.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date on which Junior Subordinated Notes
are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a
dissolution and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.04.
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.05.
"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. An 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 is necessary, in such officer's opinion, 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 Trustees, the Guarantor or the Depositor, but not an
employee of the Trust or the Trustees, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to
the Property Trustee. Any Opinion of Counsel pertaining to federal income tax
matters may rely on published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service.
"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
authenticated and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
(i) Preferred Securities theretofore canceled by the Administrative
Trustees or delivered to the Administrative Trustees 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 authenticated and delivered
pursuant to this Trust Agreement;
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, the Holder of the Common
Securities, the Guarantor, any Administrative Trustee or any Affiliate of the
Depositor, the Guarantor or any Administrative Trustee shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee
shall be protected in 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, the Holder of the Common Securities, the Guarantor, one or
more Administrative 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, the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Depositor or
the Guarantor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry
Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing
Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected
in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency
(directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed
pursuant to Section 5.09 and shall initially be the Property Trustee.
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate
trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the
Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Junior Subordinated
Notes will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make payments to
the Securityholders in accordance with Section 4.01.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership 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 a Preferred Security or Securities, substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit E.
"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 "Property Trustee" 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 Indenture Redemption Date shall be a Redemption
Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any date fixed for redemption
of any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus
accrued and unpaid Distributions to such date.
"Relevant Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.10.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time, or any successor legislation.
"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" are 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.
"Subordinated Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture, dated
as of __________ 1, 1997, among the Depositor, the Guarantor and the Indenture
Trustee, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture.
"Supplemental Indenture" means the First Supplemental Indenture, dated
as of ___________, 1997, by and among the Depositor, the Guarantor and the
Indenture Trustee.
"Trust" means the Delaware business trust 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 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.
"Trustees" means the Persons identified as "Trustees" in the preamble
to this Trust Agreement solely in their capacities as Trustees of the Trust
formed and continued hereunder and not in their individual capacities, or their
successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor trustee appointed as
herein provided.
"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 Junior Subordinated Notes, (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 or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to this
Trust Agreement.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred
Securities.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated
____________, 1997, among the Depositor, the Guarantor, the Trust and the
Underwriters named therein.
ARTICLE II
Establishment of the Trust
Section 2.01 Name. The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "Southern
Company Capital Trust III", 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. The Administrative Trustees may change the name of
the Trust from time to time following written notice to the Holders.
Section 2.02 Offices of the Trustees; Principal Place of Business. The
address of the Property Trustee is Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany Street,
New York, New York 10006, or at such other address as the Property Trustee may
designate by written notice to the Securityholders, the Depositor and the
Guarantor. The principal place of business of the Delaware Trustee is 1001
Jefferson Street, Suite 550, Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1457, or at such other
address in Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by notice to the
Depositor and the Guarantor. The address of the Administrative Trustees is c/o
The Southern Company, 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303,
Attention: Secretary. The principal place of business of the Trust is c/o The
Southern Company, 270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30308. The
Depositor may change the principal place of business of the Trust at any time by
giving notice thereof to the Trustees.
Section 2.03 Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational
Expenses. The Delaware 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 the Trustees,
promptly reimburse the Trustees for any such expenses paid by the Trustees. The
Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such
expenses.
Section 2.04 Issuance of the Capital Securities. Contemporaneously with the
execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees, on
behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Underwriters named in the
Underwriting Agreement Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the name
of the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, in an aggregate amount of
8,000,000 Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of
$200,000,000 (the "Preferred Securities"), against receipt of the aggregate
purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $200,000,000, which amount the
Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.
Section 2.05 Subscription and Purchase of Junior Subordinated Notes;
Issuance of the Common Securities. Contemporaneously with
the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, the Administrative Trustees,
on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Depositor Common
Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an
aggregate amount of 227,440 Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation
Amount of $6,186,000, against payment by the Depositor of such amount.
Contemporaneously therewith, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the
Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Junior Subordinated
Notes, registered in the name of the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust
and the Holders, and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $206,186,000,
and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Junior Subordinated Notes,
the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the
sum of $206,186,000.
Section 2.0 Declaration of Trust. The exclusive purposes and functions of
the Trust are (i) to issue and sell the Trust Securities and use the proceeds
from such sale to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes, and (ii) to engage in
those activities necessary, incidental, appropriate or convenient thereto. The
Depositor hereby appoints each of the Bank, the Delaware Bank, Wayne Boston and
Richard A. Childs 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 Trust and 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. 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 for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the
requirements of the Delaware Business Trust Act.
Section 2.07 Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions. 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 C of this
Section, and in accordance with the following paragraphs 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 (in the case of the Property Trustee) 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 exclusive power, duty and authority to act on behalf of
the Trust with respect to the following matters:
(i) to acquire the Junior Subordinated Notes with the proceeds
of the sale of the Trust Securities; provided, however, the
Administrative Trustees shall cause legal title to all of the Junior
Subordinated Notes to be vested in, and the Junior Subordinated Notes
to be held of record in the name of, the Property Trustee for the
benefit of the Trust and Holders of the Trust Securities;
(ii) to give the Depositor and the Property Trustee prompt
written notice of the occurrence of any Special Event (as defined in
the Supplemental Indenture) and to take any ministerial actions in
connection therewith; provided, that the Administrative Trustees shall
consult with the Depositor and the Property Trustee before taking or
refraining to take any ministerial action in relation to a Special
Event;
(iii) to establish a record date with respect to all actions
to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established,
including for the purposes of ss. 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act and
with respect to Distributions, voting rights, redemptions, and
exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to Holders of the Trust
Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates;
(iv) to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate,
resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or
against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to Section
2.07(B)(v), the Property Trustee has the power to bring such Legal
Action;
(v) to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who
may be designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors,
advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such
services;
(vi) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations
under the Trust Indenture Act;
(vii) to give the certificate to the Property Trustee required
by ss. 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act, which certificate may be
executed by any Administrative Trustee;
(viii) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be
required of the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms of this
Trust Agreement;
(ix) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate
for the preservation and the 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 the Trust Securities or to enable
the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust has been created;
(x) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax
returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with
respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the
Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust;
(xi) to issue and sell the Trust Securities;
(xii) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute,
deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the Expense Agreement and
the Certificate Depository Agreement and such other agreements as may
be necessary or desirable in connection with the consummation hereof;
(xiii) to assist in the registration of the Preferred
Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under
state securities or blue sky laws, and the qualification of this Trust
Agreement as a trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(xiv) to assist in the listing of the Preferred Securities
upon such securities exchange or exchanges, if any, as shall be
determined by the Depositor and, if required, 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;
(xv) to send notices (other than notices of default) and other
information regarding the Trust Securities and the Junior Subordinated
Notes to the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(xvi) to appoint a Paying Agent (subject to Section 5.09),
authenticating agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this
Trust Agreement;
(xvii) to register transfers of the Trust Securities in
accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(xviii) to assist in, to the extent provided in this Trust
Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and termination of the
Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of
cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and
(xix) to take any action incidental to the foregoing as the
Administrative Trustees may from time to time determine is necessary,
appropriate, convenient 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).
B. The Property Trustee shall:
(i) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be
necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Trust
Securities to the extent the Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemed or
mature;
(ii) upon notice of distribution issued by the Administrative
Trustees in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement, engage
in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to
effect the distribution pursuant to terms of this Trust Agreement of
Junior Subordinated Notes to Holders of Trust Securities;
(iii) subject to the terms hereof, take any Legal Action which
arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of which a
Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge or the
Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this Trust Agreement or
the Trust Indenture Act; and
(iv) take all actions and perform such duties as may be
specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of
this Trust Agreement.
C. 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, (v) take or consent to
any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust
Property, (vi) issue any securities other than the Trust Securities, or (vii)
have any power to, or agree to any action by the Depositor that would, vary the
investment (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-4(c)) of
the Trust or of the Securityholders. The Trustees shall defend all claims and
demands of all Persons at any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust
Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Securityholders in their
capacity as Securityholders.
D. 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) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a
registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act in relation
to the Preferred Securities, including any amendments thereto;
(ii) to determine the states in which to take appropriate
action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred
Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which
must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and advise the Trustees of
actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and prepare for
execution and filing 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) to prepare for filing by the Trust 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;
(iv) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a
registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the
Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including
any amendments thereto;
(v) to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting Agreement
providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities and to
execute, deliver and perform the Underwriting Agreement on behalf
of the Trust; and
(vi) any other actions necessary, incidental, appropriate or
convenient to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
E. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative
Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to
operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment
company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, or taxed as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income
tax purposes and so that the Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as
indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes. In
this connection, the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to
take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust
or this Trust Agreement, that each of the Depositor and the Administrative
Trustees determines in its discretion to be necessary or desirable for such
purposes, as long as such action does not materially and adversely affect the
interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.
Section 2.08 Assets of Trust. The assets of the Trust shall consist of the
Trust Property.
Section 2.09 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 and the Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement. The
right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the Junior Subordinated
Notes shall vest automatically in each Person who may thereafter be appointed as
Property Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Such vesting and cessation
of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been
executed and delivered.
Section 2.10 Mergers and Consolidations of the Trust. The Trust may not
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
corporation or other body, except as described below or otherwise provided in
this Trust Agreement. The Trust may at the request of the Company, with the
consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of
the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided,
that (i) such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (y) substitutes
for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same
terms as the Trust Securities (herein referred to as the "Successor Securities")
so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank
in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly appoints a trustee of such
successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee
as the holder of legal title to the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the
Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor
Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national
securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are
then listed, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement 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 or replacement does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Trust
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, or replacement,
the Company and the Property Trustee have received an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the
Trust Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect,
and (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement,
neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and (viii) the
Company 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 Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity 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 federal
income tax purposes.
ARTICLE III
Payment Account
Section 3.01 Payment Account.
(a) On or prior to the Issue Date, the Property Trustee shall establish
the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and an agent of the Property Trustee
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 Securityholders and for distribution as herein provided, including (and
subject to) any priority of payments provided for herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly
upon receipt, all payments of principal or interest on, and any other payments
or proceeds with respect to, the Junior Subordinated Notes. Amounts held in the
Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending
distribution thereof.
ARTICLE IV
Distributions; Redemption
Section 4.01 Distributions.
(a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative and
accrue from the Issue Date and, except in the event that the Depositor exercises
its right to extend the interest payment period for the Junior Subordinated
Notes pursuant to Section 104 of the Supplemental Indenture, shall be payable
quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each
year, commencing on ______________, 1997. 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 which 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 such date, a "Distribution Date").
(b) Distributions payable on the Trust Securities shall be fixed at a
rate of 8.19% 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. If the interest payment
period for the Junior Subordinated Notes is extended pursuant to Section 104 of
the Supplemental Indenture (an "Extension Period"), then 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 Extension Period is equal to the aggregate
amount of interest (including interest payable on unpaid interest at the
percentage rate per annum set forth above, compounded quarterly, to the extent
permitted by applicable law) that accrues during any such Extension Period on
the Junior Subordinated Notes. The payment of such deferred interest, together
with interest thereon, will be distributed to the Holders of the Trust
Securities as received at the end of any Extension Period. 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
legally and immediately available funds in the Payment Account for the payment
of such Distributions.
(d) Distributions, including Additional Amounts, if any, on the Trust
Securities on each 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 the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day
prior to the relevant Distribution Date.
Each Trust Security upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for
or in lieu of any other Trust Security shall carry the rights of Distributions
accrued (including Additional Amounts, if any) and unpaid, and to accrue
(including Additional Amounts, if any), which were carried by such other Trust
Security.
Section 4.02 Redemption.
(a) On each Redemption Date with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Notes, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at
the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed,
at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities 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 total Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities to be redeemed; and
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will
become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and
that Distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after such 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 Junior Subordinated Notes. 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 legally and
immediately available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption
Price.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of
any Preferred Securities, then, by 2:00 p.m. 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, irrevocably deposit with the
Clearing Agency for the Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the
applicable Redemption Price. If the Preferred Securities are not in book-entry
only form, the Property Trustee, subject to Section 4.02(c), shall irrevocably
deposit with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption
Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions 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 upon the date of such deposit, all rights
of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so called for redemption will cease,
except the right of such Securityholders to receive the Redemption Price, but
without interest, and such Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event
that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day,
then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date shall be made on the
next succeeding day which 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 Redemption Price shall 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 Trust Securities is improperly withheld or
refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Guarantor pursuant to the
Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust Securities will continue to accrue at the
then applicable rate, from such Redemption Date originally established by the
Trust for such Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is
actually paid.
(e) 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, with such adjustments that each amount so allocated
shall be divisible by $25. 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 multiple thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of
Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25; provided, however, that
before undertaking redemption of the Preferred Securities on other than a pro
rata basis, the Property Trustee shall have received an Opinion of Counsel that
the status of the Trust as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes would
not be adversely affected. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the
Securities 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.
(f) Subject to the foregoing provisions of Section 4.02 and to
applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities
laws), the Company, the Guarantor or their Affiliates may, at any time and from
time to time, purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open
market or by private agreement.
Section 4.03 Subordination of Common Securities.
(a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if
applicable) on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust Securities, as
applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption
Date an Indenture 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 Indenture 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 have been cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated. Until any such Events of Default under this Trust
Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities 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 4.04 Payment Procedures. Payments in respect of the Preferred
Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the
Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions shall be
made to the Clearing Agency, which shall credit the relevant Persons' accounts
at such Clearing Agency on the applicable distribution dates. Payments in
respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be
mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common
Securities.
Section 4.05 Tax Returns and Reports. The Administrative Trustee(s) shall
prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor's expense, and file all
United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports
required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. The Administrative
Trustee(s) shall provide or cause to be provided on a timely basis to each
Holder any Internal Revenue Service form required to be so provided in respect
of the Trust Securities.
ARTICLE V
Trust Securities Certificates
Section 5.01 Initial Ownership. Upon the creation of the Trust by 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 5.02 The Trust Securities Certificates. Each of the Preferred and
Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $25
and integral multiples in excess thereof. The Trust Securities Certificates
shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at
least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the
manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such
signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust,
shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so
authorized prior to the authentication and delivery of such Trust Securities
Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of authentication and
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.
Section 5.03 Authentication of Trust Securities Certificates. On the Issue
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, authenticated and delivered to or upon the
written order of the Depositor signed by its Chairman of the Board, its
President or any Vice President, without further corporate action by the
Depositor, in authorized denominations. No Trust Securities Certificate shall
entitle its holder to any benefit under this Trust Agreement, or shall be valid
for any purpose, unless there shall appear on such Trust Securities Certificate
a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit E
or Exhibit C, as applicable, executed by at least one Administrative Trustee by
manual signature; such authentication shall constitute conclusive evidence that
such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder. All Trust Securities Certificates shall be dated the date
of their authentication.
Section 5.04 Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Capital Securities
Certificates. The Securities Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the
office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, a Securities Register in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the
Securities Registrar shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities
Certificates and the Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in
the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers
and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The
Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities Registrar.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities
Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.08, the
Administrative Trustees shall execute, authenticate and deliver in the name of
the designated transferee or transferees one or more new Preferred Securities
Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount
dated the date of authentication by the Administrative Trustee or Trustees. The
Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of any
Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At the option of a
Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred
Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same class and of a
like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities
Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to
Section 5.08.
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
the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly
authorized in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be canceled and subsequently disposed
of by the Securities Registrar in accordance with its customary practice.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar or
the Administrative Trustees 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 5.05 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities
Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be
surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall
receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any
Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities
Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice
that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them on behalf of the Trust
shall execute and authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for
or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities
Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and
denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities
Certificate under this Section, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities
Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate
Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute
conclusive evidence of an 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 5.06 Persons Deemed Securityholders. Prior to due presentation of a
Trust Securities Certificate for registration of transfer, the Trustees or the
Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities
Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such
Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions (subject
to Section 4.01(d)) and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the
Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the
contrary.
Section 5.07 Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses. The
Administrative Trustees shall furnish or cause to be furnished to (i) the
Depositor and the Property Trustee semi-annually, not later than June 1 and
December 1 in each year, and (ii) the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the
case may be, within 30 days after receipt by any Administrative Trustee of a
request therefor from the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as the case may be,
in writing, a list, in such form as the Depositor or the Property Trustee, as
the case may be, may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Securityholders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list
is furnished; provided, that the Administrative Trustees shall not be obligated
to provide such list at any time such list does not differ from the most recent
list given to the Depositor and the Property Trustee by the Administrative
Trustees or at any time the Property Trustee is the Securities Registrar. If
three or more Securityholders or one or more Holders of Trust Securities
Certificates evidencing not less than 25% of the outstanding Liquidation Amount
apply in writing to the Administrative Trustees, 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 5.08 Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Administrative Trustees
shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, 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 Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served.
The Administrative Trustees initially designate Bankers Trust Company, Four
Albany Street, New York, New York 10006, as its principal agency for such
purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the
Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the
Securities Register or any such office or agency.
Section 5.09 Appointment of Paying Agent. The Paying Agent shall make
Distributions and other payments provided hereby to Securityholders from the
Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions and payments
to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall
have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the
purpose of making the Distributions and payments provided hereby. The
Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if
such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall
have failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement in any material
respect. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and it may
choose any co-paying agent that is acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and
the Depositor. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as
Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the
Depositor. In the event that a Paying Agent shall resign or be removed, the
Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the
Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). The
Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying Agent or any
additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to execute and
deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent or
additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such
successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any,
held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the
Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such
Securityholders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the
Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also
return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of
Sections 8.01, 8.03 and 8.06 shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its
role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying
Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed
hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any
co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.
Section 5.10 Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor. On the Issue
Date, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter retain, beneficial and record
ownership of the Common Securities. Any attempted transfer of the Common
Securities, except for transfers by operation of law or to an Affiliate of the
Guarantor or the Depositor or a permitted successor under Section 801 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 EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THE TRUST
AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN".
Section 5.11 Book-Entry Capital Securities Certificates; Common Securities
Certificate.
(a) The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original issuance, will
be issued in the form of a typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or
Certificates representing Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, to be
delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or
on behalf of, the Trust. Such Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates
shall initially be registered on the Securities Register in the name of Cede &
Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, and no Owner will receive a
definitive Preferred Securities Certificate representing such 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 Owners pursuant to Section 5.13:
(i) the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in full force
and effect;
(ii) the Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be
entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this
Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates (including the payment of principal of and interest on the
Book-Entry Preferred Securities and the giving of instructions or
directions to Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities) as the sole
Holder of Book-Entry Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations
to the Owners thereof;
(iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section
conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the
provisions of this Section shall control; and
(iv) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred
Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing
Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements
between such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency
Participants. Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless
and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued
pursuant to Section 5.13, the Clearing Agency will make book-entry
transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and
transmit payments on the Preferred Securities to such Clearing Agency
Participants.
(b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common
Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common
Securities Certificate.
Section 5.12 Notices to Clearing Agency. To the extent a notice or other
communication to the Owners is required under this Trust Agreement, unless and
until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued to
Owners pursuant to Section 5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and
communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency,
and shall have no obligations to the Owners.
Section 5.13 Definitive Capital Securities Certificates. If (i) the
Depositor advises the Trustees in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer
willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities with respect to the
Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is unable to locate a
qualified successor, or (ii) the Depositor at its option advises the Trustees in
writing that it elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing
Agency, then the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Clearing Agency and
Holders of the Preferred Securities. Upon surrender to the Administrative
Trustees of the typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates
representing the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates by the Clearing
Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees or
any one of them shall execute and authenticate the Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing
Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall be liable for
any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and
shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the
Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Securityholders.
The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be printed, lithographed
or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable
to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the execution thereof by the
Administrative Trustees or any one of them.
Section 5.14 Rights of Securityholders. 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 the beneficial ownership interest in the
assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities, and they shall have no
right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of
the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal
property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust
Agreement. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or other similar rights
and when issued and delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase
price therefor, except as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and
Section 10.01 hereof, will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. Except
as otherwise provided in the Expense Agreement and Section 10.01 hereof, the
Holders of the Trust Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of
personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VI
Acts of Securityholders; Meetings; Voting
Section 6.01 Limitations on Voting Rights.
(a) Except as provided in this Section, in Section 8.10 or Section
10.03 of this Trust Agreement, in the Subordinated Indenture, and as otherwise
required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote
or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management
of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein
set forth, or contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be
construed so as to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners
or members of an association.
(b) So long as any Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Indenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee with respect to
such Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable
under Section 513 of the Subordinated Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated
Notes shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or
termination of the Subordinated Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Notes,
where such consent shall be required, or to any other action, as holder of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, under the Subordinated Indenture, without, in each
case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in
Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a
consent under the Subordinated Indenture would require the consent of each
holder of Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby, no such consent shall be
given by the Trustees without the prior written consent of each Holder of
Preferred Securities. The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously
authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities, except
pursuant to a subsequent vote of the Holders of Preferred Securities. The
Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any
notice of default received from the Indenture Trustee with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion
of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes on account of such action.
(c) If any proposed amendment to this Trust Agreement provides for, or
the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely
affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities,
whether by way of amendment to this Trust Agreement or otherwise, or (ii) the
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the
terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred
Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and
such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of
the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion
of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes on account of such action.
Section 6.02 Notice of Meetings. Notice of all meetings of the Preferred
Securityholders, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be
given by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to Section 10.08 to each Preferred
Securityholder of record, at his registered address, at least 15 days and not
more than 90 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly
before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of
the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further
notice.
Section 6.03 Meetings of Capital Securityholders. No annual meeting of
Securityholders is required to be held. The Administrative Trustees, however,
shall call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written
request of the Preferred Securityholders of record of 25% of the Preferred
Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees
or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of
Preferred Securityholders to vote on any matters as to which Preferred
Securityholders are entitled to vote.
Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% of the Preferred Securities
(based upon their 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
Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding more
than 66-2/3% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount)
held by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, either in person or by
proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders,
unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
Section 6.04 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 6.05 Proxies, etc. At any meeting of Securityholders, any
Securityholder entitled to vote may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall
be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the
Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the
Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which
such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee,
proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more
officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be
entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any
one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such
Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting
in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present
disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect
of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its
exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No
proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution.
Section 6.06 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 at least 66-2/3% of all outstanding Trust Securities
entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such other proportion thereof as
shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall
consent to the action in writing (based upon their Liquidation Amount).
Section 6.07 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 6.08 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 appointed in writing; and,
except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become
effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the
Administrative Trustees. 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.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing,
or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any
other manner which the Trustees deem sufficient.
The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities
Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future
Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust
Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange
therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to
be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not
notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to
take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so
with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security
or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such
appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.
If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders of Trust
Securities and the Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or
Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any
request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such
Securityholder or Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such
matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
Section 6.09 Inspection of Records. Upon reasonable notice to the Trustees,
the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders during
normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such
Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder.
ARTICLE VII
Representations and Warranties of the
Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee
Section 7.01 Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee. The
Trustee that acts as initial Property Trustee represents and warrants to the
Trust and to the Depositor at the date of this Trust Agreement, and each
Successor Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Depositor at the time of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Property Trustee that:
(a) the Property Trustee is a New York banking corporation with trust
powers and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its
obligations under the terms of, this Trust Agreement;
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Property Trustee. This Trust Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Property Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Property Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of
whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law);
(c) The execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement by
the Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
charter or by-laws of the Property Trustee; and
(d) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any New York State or federal banking authority is required for the
execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee of this Trust
Agreement.
Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trusteeranties of Delaware Trustee
The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Depositor at the date of this Trust Agreement,
and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Depositor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Delaware Trustee that:
(a) The Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with trust power and
authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations
under the terms of, this Trust Agreement;
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of the Delaware Trustee. This Trust Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Delaware Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of
whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law);
(c) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery
or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement; and
(d) The Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the
State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal
place of business in the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VIII
The Trustees
Section 8.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The rights, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust
Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or
otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their
duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they
shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
them. 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.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee 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 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.
Section 8.02 Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any
Event of Default, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the
extent provided in Section 10.08, notice of any Event of Default known to the
Property Trustee to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees, the
Guarantor and the Depositor, unless such Event of Default shall have been cured
or waived.
Section 8.03 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, consent, order, appraisal, bond or other paper
or document 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 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) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection
and the 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;
(iv) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise
any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust
Agreement at the request or direction of any of the
Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such
Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance
with such request or direction;
(v) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any
investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond or
other document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or
more Securityholders; and
(vi) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or
by or through its agents or attorneys, provided that the
Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own negligence
or recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or
attorney appointed by it hereunder.
Section 8.04 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 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.
The Property Trustee may conclusively assume that any funds held by it
hereunder are legally available unless a Responsible Officer shall have received
written notice from the Company, any Holder or any other Trustee that such funds
are not legally available.
Section 8.05 May Hold Securities. Except as provided in the definition of
the term "Outstanding" in Article I, any Trustee or any other agent of the
Trustees or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the
owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and may otherwise deal with the Trust with
the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent.
Section 8.06 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
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 their agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their willful misconduct,
negligence or bad faith; and
(3) to indemnify the Trustees for, and to hold the Trustees harmless
against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without
willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith on their part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust Agreement,
including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers
or duties hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 8.06 shall survive the termination of
this Trust Agreement.
Section 8.07tion 8Trustees Required; Eligibility.gibility
(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, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to
be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of
this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees
hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee
shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal
entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind 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 authorized to conduct a trust business and with its principal place
of business in the State of Delaware that shall act through one or more persons
authorized to bind such entity.
Section 8.08 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. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Property
Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being
trustee under the Guarantee.
Section 8.09 Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.
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 Holder of the Common Securities 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 Trust 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. 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 Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such
appointment. Any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this
Section shall satisfy the requirements of Section 8.07.
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:
(i) The Trust Securities shall be executed, 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 Trustees
hereunder, shall be exercised, solely by the Trustees.
(ii) 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.
(iii) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in
writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor,
may accept the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate
trustee appointed under this Section, and, in case an Indenture 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.
(iv) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be
personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property
Trustee, or any other such trustee hereunder.
(v) The Trustees shall not be liable by reason of any act of a
co-trustee or separate trustee.
(vi) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee
shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and
separate trustee.
Section 8.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. No resignation
or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and no appointment of a
successor 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.
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.
Unless an Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Relevant Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holder
of the Common Securities. If an Indenture 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 in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred
Securities Certificates, 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 Trustee at a time when no Indenture Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities, by Act of
the Holder of the Common Securities 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 Relevant Trustee shall resign, be removed or become
incapable of continuing to act as the Relevant Trustee at a time when an
Indenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of
Preferred Securities, by Act of the Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities then outstanding delivered to the retiring
Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or
Trustees, and the Relevant Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements
of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed
in accordance with this Section 8.10 and accepted appointment in the manner
required by Section 8.11, any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder of
Trust Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all
others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
The 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 of the
successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it
is the Property Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is
a natural person dies or becomes incompetent or incapacitated or resigns, the
vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity or resignation may be
filled by (i) the act of the remaining Administrative Trustee or (ii) otherwise
by the Depositor (with the successor in each case being an individual who
satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees set forth in
Section 8.07). Additionally, notwithstanding the foregoing or any other
provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event the Depositor believes that any
Administrative Trustee 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 8.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. In case of the
appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, every such successor
Relevant Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the
Trust and to the retiring Relevant Trustee an instrument accepting such
appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant
Trustee shall become effective and 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 the request
of the Depositor or the successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant
Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument
transferring to such successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers and
trusts of the retiring Relevant Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all property and money held by such
retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts
referred to in the preceding paragraph.
No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified
and eligible under this Article.
Section 8.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any Person into which the Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee which 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, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on
the part of any of the parties hereto.
Section 8.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust.
If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor
or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the Junior Subordinated Notes 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). For purposes of Section 311(b)(4) and (6)
of the Trust Indenture Act:
(a) "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; and
(b) "self-liquidating paper" means any draft, bill of exchange,
acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the
Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) 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 Property
Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the
Depositor or the Trust (or any such obligor) arising from the making, drawing,
negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or
obligation.
Section 8.14 Reports by Property Trustee.
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with May 15,
1998, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property
Trustee shall transmit a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to
any of the events specified in such Section 313(a) that may have occurred since
the later of the date of this Trust Agreement or the preceding May 15.
(b) The Property Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders the reports
required by Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified
therein.
(c) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner
and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and (d) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
Section 8.15 Reports to the Property Trustee. The Depositor and the
Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property
Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of
the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and, within 120 days after the end of each
fiscal year of the Depositor, the compliance certificate required by Section
314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form and in the manner required by
Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 8.16 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Each of the
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide
to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions
precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate to any of
the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
certificate or opinion required to be given pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the
Trust Indenture Act shall comply with Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 8.17 Number of Trustees.
(a) The number of Trustees shall initially be four, provided that the
Depositor by written instrument may increase or decrease the number of
Administrative Trustees.
(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 Trust Agreement), shall have all powers granted to the
Administrative Trustees and shall discharge the duties imposed upon the
Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
Section 8.18 Delegation of Power.
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent
with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his
or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
2.07(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 8.19 Enforcement of Rights of Property Trustee by Securityholders.
If (i) the Trust fails to pay Distributions in full on the Preferred Securities
for more than 20 consecutive quarterly distribution periods, or (ii) an Event of
Default occurs and is continuing, then the Holders of Preferred Securities will
rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights against the
Company and the Guarantor as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes. In
addition, the Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the time, method, and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee or
to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee
under this Trust Agreement, including the right to direct the Property Trustee
to exercise the remedies available to it as a holder of the Junior Subordinated
Notes, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of
law or with this Trust Agreement, and could not involve the Property Trustee in
personal liability in circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be
adequate. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Junior
Subordinated Notes, a Holder of Preferred Securities may, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, institute a legal proceeding against the Company or
the Guarantor or both to enforce its rights under this Trust Agreement without
first instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
Person, including the Trust; it being understood and intended that no one or
more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of,
or by availing of, any provision of this Trust Agreement 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 Trust Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for
the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Company or the Guarantor or both, without first instituting
a legal proceeding against or requesting or directing that action be taken by
the Property Trustee or any other Person, for enforcement of payment to such
Holder of principal of or interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities of such Holder on or after the due dates therefor specified
or provided for in the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Company or the Guarantor
shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders of Preferred Securities in
respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Company or the Guarantor
pursuant to this Section.
ARTICLE IX
Termination and Liquidation
Section 9.01 Termination Upon Expiration Date. The Trust shall
automatically terminate on December 31, 20__ (the "Expiration Date") or earlier
pursuant to Section 9.02.
Section 9.02 Early Termination. Upon the first to occur of any of the
following events (such first occurrence, an "Early Termination Event"), the
Trust shall be dissolved and terminated in accordance with the terms hereof:
(i) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of the
Depositor, dissolution or liquidation of the Depositor, or the
dissolution of the Trust pursuant to judicial decree;
(ii) the delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee
by the Depositor at any time (which direction is optional and wholly
within the discretion of the Depositor) to terminate the Trust and
distribute of the Junior Subordinated Notes to Securityholders as
provided in Section 9.04; and
(iii) the payment at maturity or redemption of all of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, and the consequent payment of the Preferred
Securities.
Section 9.03 Termination. The respective obligations and responsibilities
of the Trust and the Trustees created hereby shall terminate upon the latest to
occur of the following: (a) 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, of
all amounts or instruments required to be distributed hereunder upon the final
payment of the Trust Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the
Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative
Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with
respect to the Trust or the Securityholders.
Section 9.04 Liquidation.
(a) If any Early Termination Event specified in clause (ii) of Section
9.02 occurs, the Trust shall be liquidated and the Property Trustee shall
distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as provided in
this Section 9.04.
(b) In connection with a distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes,
each Holder of Trust Securities shall be entitled to receive, after the
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (as evidenced by a
certificate of the Administrative Trustees), a Like Amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes. Notice of liquidation shall be given by the 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 Junior Subordinated Notes; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics
by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Junior
Subordinated Notes as the Administrative Trustees or the Property
Trustee shall deem appropriate.
(c) In order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of
the Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Junior
Subordinated Notes in exchange for the Outstanding Trust Securities
Certificates.
(d) After the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer
be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of
Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued to Holders of Trust Securities
Certificates, upon surrender of such certificates to the Administrative Trustees
or their agent for exchange, (iii) any Trust Securities Certificates not so
surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Junior
Subordinated Notes, accruing interest at the rate provided for in the Junior
Subordinated Notes from the last Distribution Date on which a Distribution was
made on such Trust Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and
until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal
will be made to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates with respect to such
Junior Subordinated Notes) and (iv) all rights of Securityholders holding Trust
Securities will cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive
Junior Subordinated Notes upon surrender of Trust Securities Certificates.
(e) The Depositor will use its best efforts to have the Junior
Subordinated Notes that are distributed in exchange for the Preferred Securities
to be listed on such securities exchange as the Preferred Securities are then
listed. The Depositor may elect to have the Junior Subordinated Notes issued in
book-entry form to the Clearing Agency or its nominee.
Section 9.05tion 9Bankruptcy. If an Early Termination Event specified in clause
(i) of Section 9.02 has occurred, the Trust shall be liquidated. The Property
Trustee shall distribute the Junior Subordinated Notes to the Securityholders as
provided in Section 9.04, unless such distribution is determined by the
Administrative Trustees not to be practical, in which event the Holders will be
entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to
Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal
to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation
Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part
because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate
Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the
amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata
basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will
be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such dissolution,
winding-up or termination pro rata (determined as aforesaid) with Holders of
Preferred Securities, except that, if an Indenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the
Common Securities.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.01 Expense Agreement. The Depositor shall cause the Guarantor,
contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, to
execute and deliver the Expense Agreement.
Section 10.02 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 and
for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor
otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto
or any of them.
Section 10.03 Amendment.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) to
cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be
inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions
with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which
shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement,
provided, however, that any such amendment shall not adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of any Securityholder or (ii) to modify,
eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as
shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will not be classified as other than
a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes at any time that
any Trust Securities are outstanding; 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 Section 10.03(c) hereof, any provision in
this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trust or the Trustees with (i) the
consent of Trust Securityholders representing not less than 66-2/3% (based upon
Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then Outstanding and (ii) receipt
by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or
the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such
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 of 1940, as amended.
(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 hereof), this
Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of
any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a
specified date, (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 consent required pursuant to Section 10.03.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the
Trustees shall not 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 of 1940, as amended, afforded by Rule 3a-5 thereunder.
(e) Without the consent of the Depositor, this Trust Agreement may not
be amended in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor.
In executing any amendment permitted by this Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall
be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected
in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such
amendment is authorized or permitted by this Trust Agreement. Any Trustee may,
but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which affects such
Trustee's own rights, duties, immunities or liabilities under this Trust
Agreement or otherwise.
(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.
Section 10.04 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 10.05 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 INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE;
PROVIDED THAT THE IMMUNITIES AND STANDARD OF CARE OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY NEW YORK LAW.
Section 10.06 Successors. This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of any successor to both the Trust and the Trustees,
including any successor by operation of law.
Section 10.07 Headings. The Article and Section headings are for convenience
only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.08 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, first-class 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 appear on the Securities Register and
(ii) in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Southern
Company Capital Funding, Inc., c/o The Southern Company, 270 Peachtree Street,
N.W., Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Attention: Secretary, Facsimile No. (404)
506-0808, with a copy to Southern Company Services, Inc., 270 Peachtree Street,
N.W., Suite 2000, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Attention: Corporate Finance
Department, Facsimile No. (404) 506-0674. 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 or the Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another
address is published by the Trust) as follows: (i) with respect to the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, Bankers Trust Company, Four Albany Street, New
York, New York, 10006, Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group, Manager
Public Utilities Group; Bankers Trust (Delaware), 1001 Jefferson Street, Suite
550, Wilmington, Delaware 19801-1457, Attention: Lisa Wilkins, as the case may
be; and (ii) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address
above for notices to the Depositor, marked Attention: Administrative Trustees of
Southern Company Capital Trust III c/o Secretary. Such notice, demand or other
communication to or upon the Trust or the Trustees shall be deemed to have been
sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the
applicable Trustee.
Section 10.09 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, 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 Trustees or the Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section
10.09 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.10 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
(a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trustee Agreement and shall,
to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a Trustee for
the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another
provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by any
of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall
control.
(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 undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
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
SUBORDINATED INDENTURE AND 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.
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Trust
Agreement or have caused this Trust Agreement to be executed on their behalf,
all as of the day and year first above written.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL
FUNDING, INC.,
as Depositor
By:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee
By:
Title:
BANKERS TRUST (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee
By:
Title:
Wayne Boston,
as Administrative Trustee
Richard A. Childs,
as Administrative Trustee
<PAGE>
[EXHIBITS A AND B ARE INTENTIONALLY RESERVED]
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT
REFERRED TO HEREIN
Certificate Number Number of Common Securities
C-1 ________
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
Southern Company Capital Trust III
Common Securities
(liquidation amount $25 per Common Security)
Southern Company Capital Trust III, a statutory business trust created
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
Southern Company Capital Funding, 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 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, except by operation of law,
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 __________ 1, 1997, 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, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have
executed this certificate this ____ day of ________, 19__.
Southern Company Capital Trust III
By:
Wayne Boston,
as Administrative Trustee
By:
Richard A. Childs,
as Administrative Trustee
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Common Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Trust Agreement.
as Administrative Trustee
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
THIS AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES (this "Agreement") is
made as of ____________ 1, 1997, between The Southern Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Southern Company Capital Trust III, a Delaware
business trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the "Common
Securities") to and receive Junior Subordinated Notes from Southern Company
Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation and an indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company, and to issue and sell Southern Company Capital Trust
III _____% Preferred Securities (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 ______________ 1, 1997 as
the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the Company is the guarantor of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Company hereby agrees shall benefit the
Company and which purchase the Company acknowledges will be made in reliance
upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company and the Trust
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Section 1.01. Guarantee by the Company. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, the Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees
to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or hereafter becomes indebted
or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment, when and as due, of any and
all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such Beneficiaries. As used herein,
"Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust,
other than obligations of the Trust to pay to holders of any Preferred
Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such holders
pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar
interests, as the case may be. This Agreement is intended to be for the benefit
of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such
Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.
Section 1.02. 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 Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the Company and Bankers
Trust Company, 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. The Company hereby waives notice of
acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to which it applies or may
apply, and the Company 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 the Company 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, the Company with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
Section 1.05. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement
directly against the Company and the Company waives any right or remedy to
require that any action be brought against the Trust or any other person or
entity before proceeding against the Company.
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 the Company 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:
Southern Company Capital Trust III
c/o Bankers Trust Company
Four Albany Street
New York, New York 10006
Facsimile No.: (212) 250-6725
Attention: Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Manager Public Utilities Group
The Southern Company
270 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Facsimile No.: (404) 506-0808
Attention: Secretary
Section 2.04. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
<PAGE>
THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the date and year first above written.
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By:
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
By:
Wayne Boston, as
Administrative Trustee
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of
The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to Southern
Company Capital Trust III 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 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 thereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
Certificate Number Number of Preferred Securities
P-1 CUSIP NO. _____ _______
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
Southern Company Capital Trust III
_____% Preferred Securities
(Liquidation amount $25 per Preferred Security)
Southern Company Capital Trust III, 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 _____ MILLION (_______)
Preferred Securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust and designated the Southern Company Capital Trust III
____% Preferred Securities (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 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 __________ 1, 1997, as the same may be
amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the designation of
the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The holder of this
certificate is entitled to the benefits of a guarantee by The Southern Company,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), pursuant to a Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement between the Company and Bankers Trust Company, as guarantee
trustee, dated as of __________ 1, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a
copy of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the holder 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Administrative Trustees of the Trust have
executed this certificate this ____ day of ________, 19__.
SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III
By:
Wayne Boston,
as Administrative Trustee
By:
Richard A. Childs,
as Administrative Trustee
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Trust Agreement.
as Administrative Trustee
<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)
and irrevocably appoints
agent to transfer this Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the
Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date:
Signature:
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred
Securities Certificate)
Exhibit 4.8
DRAFT
5/29/97
PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
Between
The Southern Company
(as Guarantor)
and
Bankers Trust Company
(as Trustee)
dated as of
_________ 1, 1997
<PAGE>
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE1
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)
315(e).........................................Inapplicable
316(a)........................................5.04(i), 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)
2This 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>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I...........................................................1
SECTION 1.01. Definitions...........................................1
ARTICLE II..........................................................3
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application......................3
SECTION 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities........................4
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee................................4
SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee...........................4
SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent......4
SECTION 2.06. Events of Default; Waiver.............................5
SECTION 2.07. Event of Default; Notice..............................5
SECTION 2.08. Conflicting Interests.................................5
ARTICLE III.........................................................5
SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee......................5
SECTION 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee.............................7
SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity.........................8
ARTICLE IV..........................................................9
SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility..................................9
SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee.......9
ARTICLE V..........................................................10
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee............................................10
SECTION 5.02. Waiver of Notice and Demand..........................10
SECTION 5.03. Obligations Not Affected.............................10
SECTION 5.04. Rights of Holders....................................11
SECTION 5.05. Guarantee of Payment.................................11
SECTION 5.06. Subrogation..........................................11
SECTION 5.07. Independent Obligations..............................12
ARTICLE VI.........................................................12
SECTION 6.01. Subordination........................................12
ARTICLE VII........................................................12
SECTION 7.01. Termination..........................................12
ARTICLE VIII.......................................................12
SECTION 8.01. Successors and Assigns...............................12
SECTION 8.02. Amendments...........................................13
SECTION 8.03. Notices..............................................13
SECTION 8.04. Benefit..............................................14
SECTION 8.05. Interpretation.......................................14
SECTION 8.06. Governing Law........................................14
<PAGE>
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
This PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("Guarantee Agreement"),
dated as of _______ 1, 1997, between THE SOUTHERN COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation (the "Guarantor"), and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, a New York banking
corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as
defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined
herein) of SOUTHERN COMPANY CAPITAL TRUST III, a Delaware statutory business
trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the
"Trust Agreement"), dated as of _______ 1, 1997, among the Trustee, the other
Trustees named therein, Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), as Depositor, and the holders of undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing as of
___________, 1997 $200,000,000 aggregate liquidation amount of its ____%
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and having the terms
set forth in the Trust Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Trust and the
proceeds thereof will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Notes (as
defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Company, which will be held by the Trust
as trust assets; and
WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase 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 payment for Preferred
Securities by each Holder (as defined herein) thereof, which payment 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 of the Preferred Securities.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. 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 interests in the assets of the Trust.
"Event of Default" means a failure by the Guarantor to perform any of
its payment 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 Trust: (i) any accrued and
unpaid distributions that are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities
but if and only if and to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately
available therefor to make such payment; (ii) the redemption price, including
all accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption
Price"), with respect to the Preferred Securities called for redemption by the
Trust but if and only if and to the extent that the Trust has funds legally and
immediately available therefor sufficient to make such payment; and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust
(other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to
the holders of Trust Securities or the 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, to the extent the Trust has funds legally and immediately available
therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for
distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust (in either case, the
"Liquidation Distribution").
"Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records
of the Trust, of any Preferred Securities; 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, the Company or any Affiliate of the Guarantor
or the Company.
"Indenture" means the Subordinated Note Indenture dated as of _______
1, 1997, among the Company, as Subordinated Note Issuer, the Guarantor, as
guarantor, and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee, as supplemented by the First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of __________, 1997, by and among the Company,
the Guarantor and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee.
"Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities" means a vote
by Holder(s) of Preferred Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than
50% of the liquidation amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding at the
time of determination.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the 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 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, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any managing
director, any vice president, any assistant vice president, any assistant
secretary, any assistant treasurer, or any other officer of the Corporate Trust
and Agency Group of the 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 Trustee" means a successor Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Trustee under Section 4.01.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
"Trustee" means Bankers Trust Company until a Successor Trustee has
been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Trustee.
ARTICLE II
TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION 2.01. Trust Indenture Act; Application.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required 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 2.02. Lists of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee
(a) semiannually, not later than June 1 and December 1 in each year, a list, in
such form as the 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
time such list is furnished, and (b) at such other times as the 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 Trustee by the Guarantor or at
any time the Trustee is the Securities Registrar under the Trust Agreement. The
Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a
new List of Holders.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with its obligations under Sections
311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.03. Reports by the Trustee. Within 60 days after May 15 of
each year commencing May 15, 1998, the Trustee shall provide to the Holders of
the Preferred Securities such reports as are required by Section 313(a) of the
Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section
313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall also comply with the other
requirements of Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 2.04. Periodic Reports to Trustee. The Guarantor shall provide
to the Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) in the form, in the manner and at the
times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, and shall provide,
within 120 days after the end of each of its fiscal years, the compliance
certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form
and in the manner required by such Section.
SECTION 2.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. The
Guarantor shall provide to the Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that
relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to
Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.
SECTION 2.06. 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 2.07. Event of Default; Notice.
(a) The 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 Trustee, unless such defaults have
been cured before the giving of such notice, provided that the 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 and/or Responsible
Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the Holders.
(b) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of
Default unless the 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 2.08. Conflicting Interests. The Trust Agreement 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 TRUSTEE
SECTION 3.01. Powers and Duties of the Trustee.
(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders, and the Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee
Agreement to any Person except the Trustee shall assign rights hereunder to a
Holder to the extent such assignment is necessary to exercise such Holder's
rights pursuant to Section 5.04 or to a Successor Trustee upon acceptance by
such Successor Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Trustee. The
right, title and interest of the Trustee shall automatically vest in any
Successor 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 Trustee.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders.
(c) The Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and
after the curing or waiving 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 shall be read into this
Guarantee Agreement against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default has
occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.06), the
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.
(d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to
relieve the 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 Trustee shall
be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Guarantee Agreement, and the 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
Trustee, the 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
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 Trustee, the 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 Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless it
shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;
(iii) 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 liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities 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
Guarantee Agreement; and
(iv) no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require
the 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 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 3.02. Certain Rights of Trustee.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.01:
(i) the Trustee may conclusively 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 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 Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved
or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action
hereunder, the 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 Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice, and
the 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 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 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 Trustee reasonable security and indemnity satisfactory
to the 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 Trustee; provided that nothing contained in
this Section 3.02(a)(v) shall be taken to relieve the 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 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;
(vii) 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
(viii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee
Agreement the Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions
with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
action hereunder, the Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
Holders, (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.
(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose
any duty or obligation on the 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 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 Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.
SECTION 3.03. Compensation; Fees; Indemnity.
The Guarantor agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by the Trustee 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
Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this
Guarantee Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement
or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold the Trustee harmless
against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense incurred without
negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the
acceptance or 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 of its powers or duties hereunder.
The provisions of this Section 3.03 shall survive the termination of this
Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.01. Trustee; Eligibility.
(a) There shall at all times be a Trustee which shall:
(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Company; 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 Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act
under Section 4.01(a), the Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and
with the effect set out in Section 4.02(c).
(c) If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest"
within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and
Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the rights of the Trustee under the
penultimate paragraph thereof.
SECTION 4.02. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 4.02(b), the Trustee may be appointed or removed
without cause at any time by the Guarantor.
(b) The Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.
(c) The Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor
Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The
Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting)
by an instrument in writing executed by the Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Trustee has
been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing
executed by such Successor Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the
resigning Trustee.
(d) If no Successor Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted
appointment as provided in this Section 4.02 within 60 days after delivery to
the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Trustee may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor
Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it
may deem proper, appoint a Successor Trustee.
ARTICLE V
GUARANTEE
SECTION 5.01. Guarantee. The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication
of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Trust), as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Guarantor
may have or assert against any Person. 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 Trust to pay such amounts to the
Holders.
SECTION 5.02. 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 Trust 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 5.03. 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 Trust of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed
or observed by the Trust;
(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust 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 Junior Subordinated Notes 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 Trust 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 Trust or any of the assets of the
Trust;
(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 5.04. Rights of Holders. The Guarantor expressly acknowledges
that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Trustee to be held
for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the 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 Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or
power conferred upon the Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement, provided that
such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this
Guarantee Agreement, and could not involve the Trustee in personal liability in
circumstances where reasonable indemnity would not be adequate; 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 or requesting or directing that action be taken by the
Trustee or any other Person; it being understood and intended that no one or
more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of,
or by availing of, any provision of this Guarantee Agreement 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 Guarantee Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and
for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.
SECTION 5.05. 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) or upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to the
Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities.
SECTION 5.06. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if
any) rights of the Holders against the Trust 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 5.07. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that
its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Trust 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 hereof.
ARTICLE VI
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 6.01. 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 other liabilities of the Guarantor, including
the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those obligations or liabilities made pari
passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior
preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with
any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any
preferred or preference securities of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii)
senior to all common stock of the Guarantor.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION
SECTION 7.01. 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 Junior Subordinated Notes
to the 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 Trust. 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 Preferred Securities or under this Guarantee Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01. 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, conveyance, transfer, or lease
involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article Eight of the Indenture,
the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 8.02. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes which do
not materially and 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 66-2/3% in
liquidation amount of all the outstanding Preferred Securities. The provisions
of Article Six of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings of Holders shall apply
to the giving of such approval.
SECTION 8.03. 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 Trustee and the
Holders:
The Southern Company
270 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Facsimile No.: (404) 506-0808
Attn: Secretary
with copy to:
Southern Company Services, Inc.
270 Peachtree Street, N.W., Suite 2000
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Facsimile No.: (404) 506-0674
Attention: Corporate Finance Department
(b) if given to the Trust, in care of the Trustee, or to the Trustee at
the Trust's (and the Trustee's) address set forth below or such other address as
the Trustee on behalf of the Trust may give notice to the Holders:
Southern Company Capital Trust III
c/o Bankers Trust Company
Four Albany Street
New York, New York 10006
Attn: Corporate Trust and Agency Group
Manager Public Utilities Group
with a copy, in the case of a notice to the Trust (other than a notice from
the Guarantor), to the Guarantor;
(c) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Trust.
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 8.04. 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 8.05. 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 8.06. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK. THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION
OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK AND
ANY COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK IN
ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT AGAINST IT AND RELATED TO OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
THEREBY, AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE GUARANTOR HEREBY
WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT BY WAY OF MOTION, AS A DEFENSE OR OTHERWISE IN
ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT
TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS, THAT THE SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS
BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM, THAT THE VENUE OF THE SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER, OR THAT THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY DOCUMENT OR ANY
INSTRUMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF MAY NOT BE LITIGATED
IN OR BY SUCH COURTS. THE GUARANTOR AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE
UPON IT BY CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL TO THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH IN
THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT OR ANY METHOD AUTHORIZED BY THE LAWS 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.
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By:
Name: W.L. Westbrook
Title: Financial Vice President
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
5/30/97
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the
the five years ended December 31, 1996
and the twelve months ended April 30, 1997
Twelve
Months
Ended
Year ended December 31, April 30,
=========================================================================
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
-----------------------------Thousands of Dollars-------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income Before Interest Charges $ 1,792,538 $1,826,864 $1,756,149 $1,900,288 $1,944,144 $1,951,259
Currently payable federal & state income taxes 393,006 484,926 685,047 656,519 651,213 624,880
Deferred federal & state income taxes, net 220,577 209,376 (3,881) 86,938 56,603 51,932
Other income taxes, net (5,704) (17,535) 4,145 25,194 49,802 45,042
AFUDC - Debt funds 11,922 13,251 18,123 20,267 19,073 17,885
------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
Earnings as defined $ 2,412,339 $2,516,882 $2,459,583 $2,689,206 $2,720,835 $2,690,998
============ ============ =========== ========== =========== ===========
FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K:
Interest on long-term debt $ 683,057 $594,746 $ 567,120 $ 557,199 $ 530,067 $ 561,950
Interest on interim obligations 15,650 29,831 33,401 62,693 107,008 104,300
Amort of debt discount, premium & expense, net 14,231 26,295 29,911 43,960 33,184 28,266
Other interest charges 34,222 87,086 46,945 52,712 68,099 93,378
------------ ----------- ----------- ---------------------- -----------
Fixed charges as defined $ 747,160 $737,958 $ 677,377 $ 716,564 $ 738,358 $ 787,894
============ =========== =========== ====================== ===========
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 3.23 3.41 3.63 3.75 3.68 3.42
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
5/30/97
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges plus preferred
dividend requirements for the five years ended December 31, 1996
and the twelve months ended April 30, 1997
Twelve
Months
Ended
Year ended December 31, April 30,
==========================================================================
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997
---------------------------Thousands of Dollars---------------------------
EARNINGS AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K:
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income Before Interest Charges $1,792,538 $1,826,864 $1,756,149 $1,900,288 $1,944,144 $1,951,259
Currently payable federal & state income taxes 393,006 484,926 685,047 656,519 651,213 624,880
Deferred federal & state income taxes, net 220,577 209,376 (3,881) 86,938 56,603 51,932
Other income taxes, net (5,704) (17,535) 4,145 25,194 49,802 45,042
AFUDC - Debt funds 11,922 13,251 18,123 20,267 19,073 17,885
----------- --------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------
Earnings as defined $2,412,339 $2,516,882 $2,459,583 $2,689,206 $2,720,835 $2,690,998
=========== ========= ========== =========== =========== ==========
FIXED CHARGES AS DEFINED IN ITEM 503 OF REGULATION S-K:
Interest on long-term debt $ 683,057 594,746 $ 567,120 $ 557,199 $ 530,067 $ 561,950
Interest on interim obligations 15,650 29,831 33,401 62,693 107,008 104,300
Amort of debt discount, premium & expense, net 14,231 26,295 29,911 43,960 33,184 28,266
Other interest charges 34,222 87,086 46,945 52,712 68,099 93,378
----------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ---------
Fixed charges as defined 747,160 737,958 677,377 716,564 738,358 787,894
Tax deductible preferred dividends 4,217 4,069 3,775 3,775 3,775 3,775
----------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------
751,377 742,027 681,152 720,339 742,133 791,669
----------- --------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------
Non-tax deductible preferred dividends 99,771 89,398 83,614 84,482 80,841 73,883
Ratio of net income before taxes to net income x 1.575 x 1.614 x 1.625 x 1.638 x 1.619 x1.611
----------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------
Pref dividend requirements before income taxes 157,139 144,288 135,873 138,382 130,882 119,026
----------- --------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------
Fixed charges plus pref dividend requirements $ 908,516 $886,315 $ 817,025 $ 858,721 $ 873,015 $ 910,695
=========== ========= =========== =========== =========== ==========
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES PLUS
PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS 2.66 2.84 3.01 3.13 3.12 2.95
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
</TABLE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
Arthur Andersen LLP
Consent of Independent Public Accountants
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement on Form S-3 (relating to Southern
Company Capital Trust III Preferred Securities, Southern Company Capital
Funding, Inc. Series C Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes, The
Southern Company Preferred Securities Guarantee and The Southern Company Junior
Subordinated Notes Guarantee) of our reports dated February 12, 1997 on the
financial statements of The Southern Company and the related financial statement
schedule included in The Southern Company's Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 and to all references to our Firm included in this
registration statement.
/s/Arthur Andersen LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
May 30, 1997
Exhibit 24.1
December 16, 1996
A. W. Dahlberg, W. L. Westbrook, Tommy Chisholm, and Wayne Boston
Dear Sirs:
The Southern Company proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission a registration statement or statements under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, with respect to preferred securities of a statutory business
trust or trusts (or other special purpose entity or entities), debt instruments
of a financing subsidiary or subsidiaries and the related guarantee or
guarantees of the Company in an aggregate amount of up to $600,000,000.
The Southern Company and the undersigned directors and officers of said
Company, individually as a director and/or as an officer of the Company, hereby
make, constitute and appoint each of you our true and lawful Attorney for each
of us and in each of our names, places and steads to sign and cause to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the foregoing
such registration statement or statements and appropriate amendment or
amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, to be accompanied by a
prospectus or prospectuses and any appropriately amended or supplemented
prospectus or prospectuses and any necessary exhibits.
Yours very truly,
THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By /s/ A. W. Dahlberg
A. W. Dahlberg
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
- 2 -
- ----/s/ John C. Adams------- -/s/ William A. Parker, Jr.-
John C. Adams William A. Parker, Jr.
- ----/s/ A. D. Correll------- ----/s/ William J. Rushton, III
A. D. Correll William J. Rushton, III
- ----/s/ A. W. Dahlberg------ -------/s/ Gloria M. Shatto
A. W. Dahlberg Gloria M. Shatto
- -----/s/ Paul J. DeNicola--- ------/s/ Gerald J. St. Pe'--
Paul J. DeNicola Gerald J. St. Pe'
- ----/s/ Jack Edwards-------- -----/s/ Herbert Stockham--
Jack Edwards Herbert Stockham
- -----/s/ H. Allen Franklin ------/s/ W. L. Westbrook---
H. Allen Franklin W. L. Westbrook
- ----/s/ Bruce S. Gordon---- --------/s/ Tommy Chisholm--
Bruce S. Gordon Tommy Chisholm
- -----/s/ L. G. Hardman III -------/s/ W. Dean Hudson---
L. G. Hardman III W. Dean Hudson
- -----/s/ Elmer B. Harris----
Elmer B. Harris
Exhibit 24.2
Extract from minutes of meeting of the board of directors of The Southern
Company.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
RESOLVED FURTHER: That for the purpose of signing the registration statement or
statements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to be filed with the
Commission with respect to preferred securities of a statutory business trust or
trusts (or other special purpose entity or entities) and the related guarantee
or guarantees and debt instruments of The Southern Company and of remedying any
deficiencies with respect thereto by appropriate amendment or amendments
(including post-effective amendments), this Company, the members of its Board of
Directors, and it officers are authorized to give their several powers of
attorney to A. W. Dahlberg, W. L. Westbrook, Tommy Chisholm and Wayne Boston.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The undersigned officer of The Southern Company does hereby certify
that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly and regularly
adopted at a meeting of the board of directors of The Southern Company, duly
held on December 16, 1996, at which a quorum was in attendance and voting
throughout, and that said resolution has not since been rescinded but is still
in full force and effect.
Dated May 30, 1997 THE SOUTHERN COMPANY
By /s/ Tommy Chisholm
Tommy Chisholm
Secretary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION
DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) ___________
------------------------------
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
NEW YORK 13-4941247
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or (I.R.S. Employer
organization if not a U.S. national bank) Identification no.)
FOUR ALBANY STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10006
(Address of principal (Zip Code)
executive offices)
Bankers Trust Company
Legal Department
130 Liberty Street, 31st Floor
New York, New York 10006
(212) 250-2201
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
---------------------------------
The Southern Company
Southern Company Capital Funding, Inc.
Southern Company Capital Trust III
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 58-0690070
Delaware Applied For
Delaware Applied For
(State or other (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of idenification No.)
Incorporation or
organization)
270 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30303
(770) 393-0650
(Address, including zip code of principal executive offices)
Preferred Securities of Southern Company Capital Trust III
Item 1. General Information.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee.
(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority
to which it is subject.
Name Address
Federal Reserve Bank (2nd District) New York, NY
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Washington, D.C.
New York State Banking Department Albany, NY
(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
Yes.
Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.
If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each
such affiliation.
None.
Item 3. -15. Not Applicable
Item 16. List of Exhibits.
Exhibit 1 - Restated Organization Certificate of
Bankers Trust Company dated August 7, 1990,
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization
Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated
June 21, 1995 - Incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1
Statement, Registration No. 33-65171, and
Certificate of Amendment of the Organization
Certificate of Bankers Trust Company dated
March 20, 1996, copy attached.
Exhibit 2 - Certificate of Authority to commence
business - Incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1 Statement,
Registration No.
33-21047.
Exhibit 3 - Authorization of the Trustee to exercise
corporate trust powers Incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form
T-1 Statement, Registration No. 33-21047.
Exhibit 4 - Existing By-Laws of Bankers Trust
Company, as amended on September 17, 1996
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
4 filed with Form T-1 Statement,
Registration No. 333-15263.
-2-
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5 - Not applicable.
Exhibit 6 - Consent of Bankers Trust Company
required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
4 filed with Form T-1 Statement,
Registration No. 22-18864.
Exhibit 7 - A copy of the latest report of condition of
Bankers Trust Company dated as of
September 30, 1996.
Exhibit 8 - Not Applicable.
Exhibit 9 - Not Applicable.
-3-
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, Bankers Trust Company, a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement
of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 30th day
of May, 1997.
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
By: James C. McDonough
James C. McDonough
Vice President
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<PAGE>
Legal Title of Bank:Bankers Trust Company Call Date:93096 ST-BK:36-4840FFIEC 031
Address: 130 Liberty Street Vendor ID:D CERT: 00623 Page RC-1
City, State ZIP: New York, NY 10006 11
FDIC Certificate No.: 0 0 6 2 3
Consolidated Report of Condition for Insured Commercial
and State-Chartered Savings Banks September 30, 1996
All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, reported the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.
Schedule RC--Balance Sheet
---------------
C400
Dollar Amounts in Thousands RCFD Bil Mil Thou
ASSETS
1. Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):
a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1).0081 809,000 1.a.
b. Interest-bearing balances(2) .........................0071 4,453,000 1.b.
2. Securities:
a. Held-to-maturity securities (from Schedule RC-B,
column A) ............................................1754 0 2.a.
b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B,
column D).............................................1773 4,133,000 2.b.
3 Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
agreements to resell in domestic offices
of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
and in IBFs:
a. Federal funds sold ...................................0276 5,933,000 3.a.
b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell ......0277 413,000 3.b.
4. Loans and lease financing receivables:
a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income
(from Schedule RC-C)..........RCFD 2122 27,239,000 4.a.
b. LESS: Allowance for loan
and lease losses........RCFD 3123 917,000 4.b.
c. LESS: Allocated transfer
risk reserve ...........RCFD 3128 0 4.c.
d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance,
and reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c) .............2125 26,322,000 4.d.
5. Assets held in trading accounts .........................3545 36,669,000 5.
6. Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).2145 870,000 6.
7. Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M) ............2150 215,000 7.
8. Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
associated companies (from Schedule RC-M)................2130 212,000 8.
9. Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances
outstanding .............................................2155 577,000 9.
10.Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M) ..................2143 18,000 10.
11.Other assets (from Schedule RC-F) .......................2160 8,808,000 11.
12.Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11) ................2170 89,432,000 12.
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(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held in trading accounts.
<PAGE>
Legal Title of Bank:Bankers Trust Company Call Date:93096 ST-BK:36-4840FFIEC 031
Address: 130 Liberty Street Vendor ID:D CERT: 00623 Page RC-1
City, State ZIP: New York, NY 10006 11
FDIC Certificate No.: 0 0 6 2 3
Schedule RC--Continued ___________________________________
Dollar Amounts in Thousands Bil Mil Thou
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LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of
columns A and C from Schedule RC-E, part I)RCON 2200 9,391,000 13.a.
(1) Noninterest-bearing(1) ................RCON 6631 2,734,000 13.a.(1)
(2) Interest-bearing ......................RCON 6636 6,657,000 13.a.(2)
b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement
subsidiaries, and IBFs (from Schedule RC-E
part II)...................................RCFN 2200 23,385,000 13.b.
(1) Noninterest-bearing.RCFN 6631 654,000 13.b.(1)
(2) Interest-bearing....RCFN 6636 22,731,000 13.b.(2)
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold
under agreements to repurchase in domestic
offices of the bank and of its Edge and
Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
a. Federal funds purchased ...................RCFD 0278 3,090,000 14.a.
b. Securities sold under agreements
to repurchase .............................RCFD 0279 99,000 14.b.
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury...RCON 2840 0 15.a.
b. Trading liabilities .......................RCFD 3548 18,326,000 15.b.
16. Other borrowed money:
a. With original maturity of one year or less RCFD 2332 17,476,000 16.a.
b. With original maturity of more than
one year ..................................RCFD 2333 2,771,000 16.b.
17. Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under
capitalized leases ...........................RCFD 2910 31,000 17.
18. Bank's liability on acceptances executed
and outstanding ..............................RCFD 2920 577,000 18.
19. Subordinated notes and debentures ............RCFD 3200 1,228,000 19.
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G) .......RCFD 2930 8,398,000 20.
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)RCFD 2948 84,772,000 21.
22. Limited-life preferred stock and
related surplus ..............................RCFD 3282 0 22.
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus.RCFD 3838 500,000 23.
24. Common stock .................................RCFD 3230 1,002,000 24.
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to
preferred stock) .............................RCFD 3839 527,000 25.
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves ....RCFD 3632 3,017,000 26.a.
b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses)
on available-for-sale securities ..........RCFD 8434 (16,000)26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation
adjustments ..................................RCFD 3284 (370,000)27.
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23
through 27) ..................................RCFD 3210 4,660,000 28.
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred
stock, and equity capital (sum of items 21,
22, and 28) ..................................RCFD 3300 89,432,000 29.
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Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1. Indicate in the box at the right the
number of the statement below that
best describes the most comprehensive
level of auditing work performed
for the bank by independent external Number
auditors as of any date during 1995.......RCFD 6724 N A M.1
1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified
public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company
conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards by a certified public accounting firm which
submits a report on the consolidated holding company
(but not on the bank separately)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified
public accounting firm (may be required by state chartering authority)
4 = Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
external auditors (may be required by state chartering
authority)
5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external
auditors
6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
auditors
7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
8 = No external audit work
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(1) Including total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and
savings deposits.
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State of New York,
Banking Department
I, PETER M. PHILBIN, Deputy Superintendent of Bank of the State of New
York, DO HEREBY APPROVE the annexed Certificate entitled "CERTIFICATE OF
AMENDMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE OF BANKERS TRUST COMPANY Under Section
8005 of the Banking Law," dated March 20, 1996, providing for an increase in
authorized capital stock from $1,351,666,670 consisting of 85,166,667 shares
with a par value of $10 each designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a
par value of $1,000,000 each designated as Series Preferred Stock to
$1,501,666,670 consisting of 100,166,667 shares with a par value of $10 each
designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a par value of $1,000,000 each
designated as Series Preferred Stock.
Witness, my hand and official seal of the Banking Department at the City of New
York, this 21st day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred
and ninety-six.
Peter M. Philbin
Deputy Superintendent of Banks
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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
ORGANIZATION CERTIFICATE
OF BANKERS TRUST
Under Section 8005 of the Banking Law
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We, James T. Byrne, Jr. and Lea Lahtinen, being respectively a Managing
Director and an Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, do hereby certify:
1. The name of the corporation is Bankers Trust Company.
2. The organization certificate of said corporation was filed by the
Superintendent of Banks on the 5th of march, 1903.
3. The organization certificate as heretofore amended is hereby amended to
increase the aggregate number of shares which the corporation shall have
authority to issue and to increase the amount of its authorized capital stock in
conformity therewith.
4. Article III of the organization certificate with reference to the
authorized capital stock, the number of shares into which the capital stock
shall be divided, the par value of the shares and the capital stock outstanding,
which reads as follows:
"III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to
have is One Billion, Three Hundred Fifty One Million, Six Hundred
Sixty-Six Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($1,351,666,670),
divided into Eighty-Five Million, One Hundred Sixty-Six Thousand, Six
Hundred Sixty-Seven (85,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each
designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a par value of One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred
Stock."
is hereby amended to read as follows:
"III. The amount of capital stock which the corporation is hereafter to
have is One Billion, Five Hundred One Million, Six Hundred Sixty-Six
Thousand, Six Hundred Seventy Dollars ($1,501,666,670), divided into
One Hundred Million, One Hundred Sixty Six Thousand, Six Hundred
Sixty-Seven (100,166,667) shares with a par value of $10 each
designated as Common Stock and 500 shares with a par value of One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each designated as Series Preferred
Stock."
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6. The foregoing amendment of the organization certificate was
authorized by unanimous written consent signed by the holder of all outstanding
shares entitled to vote thereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have made and subscribed this certificate this
20th day of March , 1996.
James T. Byrne, Jr.
James T. Byrne, Jr.
Managing Director
Lea Lahtinen
Lea Lahtinen
Assistant Secretary
State of New York )
) ss:
County of New York )
Lea Lahtinen, being fully sworn, deposes and says that she is an
Assistant Secretary of Bankers Trust Company, the corporation described in the
foregoing certificate; that she has read the foregoing certificate and knows the
contents thereof, and that the statements herein contained are true.
Lea Lahtinen
Lea Lahtinen
Sworn to before me this 20th day of March, 1996.
Sandra L. West
Notary Public
SANDRA L. WEST Counterpart filed in the
Notary Public State of New York Office of the Superintendent of
No. 31-4942101 Banks, State of New York,
Qualified in New York County This 21st day of March, 1996
Commission Expires September 19, 1996
