EXHIBIT 1.01
Entergy Gulf States, Inc.
$[ ]
First Mortgage Bonds
__% Series due [ ]
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[ ] __, [ ]
[Names of Underwriters]
c/o [Lead Underwriter's address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Entergy Gulf States, Inc., a Texas
corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell severally
to you, as underwriters (the "Underwriters," which term, when the
context permits, shall also include any underwriters substituted
hereinafter as provided in Section 11), an aggregate of
$[ ] principal amount of the Company's First Mortgage
Bonds, __% Series due [ ] (the "Bonds"), as follows:
SECTION 1. Purchase and Sale. On the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company shall
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each Underwriter
shall purchase from the Company, at the time and place herein
specified, severally and not jointly, the principal amount of the
Bonds set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule
I attached hereto at ____% of the principal amount of the Bonds.
SECTION 2. Description of Bonds. The Bonds shall be
issued under and pursuant to the Company's Indenture of Mortgage,
dated as of September 1, 1926, with The Chase Manhattan Bank
(successor to Chemical Bank), as trustee (the "Trustee"), as
heretofore amended and supplemented by all indentures amendatory
thereof and supplemental thereto, including the [ ]
Supplemental Indenture, dated as of [ ] __, [ ] (the
"Supplemental Indenture"). Said Indenture of Mortgage as so
amended and supplemented is hereinafter referred to as the
"Mortgage." The Bonds and the Supplemental Indenture shall have
the terms and provisions described in the Prospectus (as defined
herein), provided that subsequent to the date hereof and prior to
the Closing Date (as defined herein) the form of the Supplemental
Indenture may be amended by mutual agreement between the Company
and the Underwriters.
SECTION 3. Representations and Warranties of the
Company. The Company represents and warrants to the several
Underwriters, and covenants and agrees with the several
Underwriters, that:
(a) The Company is duly organized and validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
State of Texas and has the necessary corporate power and
authority to conduct the business that it is described in
the Prospectus as conducting and to own and operate the
properties owned and operated by it in such business and is
in good standing and duly qualified to conduct such business
as a foreign corporation in the State of Louisiana.
(b) The Company has filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration
statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-49739) (the "First
Registration Statement") for the registration of
$300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's
First Mortgage Bonds (the "First Mortgage Bonds") under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the First
Registration Statement has become effective. While
$10,000,000 aggregate principal amount of First Mortgage
Bonds remained unsold under the First Registration
Statement, the Company filed with the Commission a
registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-[ ])
(the "Second Registration Statement") for the registration
of $[ ] aggregate principal amount of First
Mortgage Bonds, and the Second Registration Statement has
become effective. The Company qualifies for use of Form S-3
for the registration of the Bonds and the Bonds are
registered under the Securities Act. The combined
prospectus forming a part of the Second Registration
Statement and relating, pursuant to Rule 429 under the
Securities Act, to $[ ] aggregate principal
amount of First Mortgage Bonds (all of which remain unsold),
including the Bonds, at the time the Second Registration
Statement (or the most recent amendment thereto filed prior
to the time of effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement)
became effective, including all documents incorporated by
reference therein at that time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-
3, is hereinafter referred to as the "Basic Prospectus." In
the event that (i) the Basic Prospectus shall have been
amended, revised or supplemented (but excluding any
supplements to the Basic Prospectus relating solely to First
Mortgage Bonds other than the Bonds) prior to the time of
effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement, including
without limitation by any preliminary prospectus supplement
relating to the Bonds or (ii) the Company shall have filed
documents pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") after
the time the Second Registration Statement (or the most
recent amendment thereto filed prior to the time of
effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement) became
effective and prior to the time of effectiveness of this
Underwriting Agreement (but excluding documents incorporated
therein by reference relating solely to First Mortgage Bonds
other than the Bonds), which are deemed to be incorporated
by reference in the Basic Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of
Form S-3, the term "Basic Prospectus" as used herein shall
also mean such prospectus as so amended, revised or
supplemented and reflecting such incorporation by reference.
The First Registration Statement and the Second Registration
Statement each in the form in which it became effective and
as it may have been amended by all amendments thereto as of
the time of effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement
(including, for these purposes, as an amendment any document
incorporated by reference in the Basic Prospectus), and the
Basic Prospectus as it shall be supplemented to reflect the
terms of the offering and sale of the Bonds by a prospectus
supplement (a "Prospectus Supplement") to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act
("Rule 424(b)"), are hereinafter referred to as the
"Registration Statements" and the "Prospectus,"
respectively.
(c) (i) After the time of effectiveness of this
Underwriting Agreement and during the time specified in
Section 6(d), the Company will not file any amendment to any
of the Registration Statements or any supplement to the
Prospectus (except any amendment or supplement relating
solely to First Mortgage Bonds other than the Bonds), and
(ii) between the time of effectiveness of this Underwriting
Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company will not file
any document that is to be incorporated by reference in, or
any supplement to, the Basic Prospectus, in either case,
without prior notice to the Underwriters and to Winthrop,
Stimson, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx ("Counsel for the Underwriters"),
or any such amendment or supplement to which said Counsel
shall reasonably object on legal grounds in writing. For
purposes of this Underwriting Agreement, any document that
is filed with the Commission after the time of effectiveness
of this Underwriting Agreement and is incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus (except documents incorporated
by reference relating solely to First Mortgage Bonds other
than the Bonds) pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 shall be
deemed a supplement to the Prospectus.
(d) The Registration Statements, at the Effective Date
(as defined herein), and the Mortgage, at such time, fully
complied, and the Prospectus, when delivered to the
Underwriters for their use in making confirmations of sales
of the Bonds and at the Closing Date, as it may then be
amended or supplemented, will fully comply, in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities
Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture
Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder or pursuant to said rules and regulations did or
will be deemed to comply therewith. The documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, on the date
filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act,
fully complied or will fully comply in all material respects
with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder or
pursuant to said rules and regulations did or will be deemed
to comply therewith. With respect to any of the
Registration Statements, on the later of (i) the date such
Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereto, but excluding any post-effective
amendment relating solely to First Mortgage Bonds other than
the Bonds) was declared effective by the Commission under
the Securities Act and (ii) the date that the Company's most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K was filed with the
Commission under the Exchange Act (the date described in
either clause (i) or (ii) is hereinafter referred to as the
"Effective Date"), such Registration Statement did not or
will not, as the case may be, contain an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading. At the time the Prospectus is
delivered to the Underwriters for their use in making
confirmations of sales of the Bonds and at the Closing Date,
the Prospectus, as it may then be amended or supplemented,
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading and, on said dates and
at such times, the documents then incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus pursuant to
Item 12 of Form S-3, when read together with the Prospectus,
or the Prospectus, as it may then be amended or
supplemented, will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
The foregoing representations and warranties in this
paragraph (d) shall not apply to statements or omissions
made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Underwriters or
on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use in
connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statements or the Prospectus, as they may be then amended or
supplemented, or to any statements in or omissions from the
statement of eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1, as it
may then be amended, under the Trust Indenture Act filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statements (the "Statement of
Eligibility").
(e) The issuance and sale of the Bonds and the
fulfillment of the terms of this Underwriting Agreement will
not result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of,
or constitute a default under, the Mortgage or any indenture
or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is now
a party.
(f) Except as set forth or contemplated in the
Prospectus, as it may be then amended or supplemented, the
Company possesses adequate franchises, licenses, permits,
and other rights to conduct its business and operations as
now conducted, without any known conflicts with the rights
of others that could have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
SECTION 4. Offering. The Company is advised by the
Underwriters that they propose to make a public offering of their
respective portions of the Bonds as soon after the effectiveness
of this Underwriting Agreement as in their judgment is advisable.
The Company is further advised by the Underwriters that the Bonds
will be offered to the public at the initial public offering
price specified in the Prospectus Supplement plus accrued
interest thereon, if any, from the Closing Date.
SECTION 5. Time and Place of Closing. Delivery of the
Bonds and payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer
of immediately available funds shall be made at the offices of
Xxxx & Priest LLP, 00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, at
10:00 A.M., New York time, on [ ] __, [ ], or at such
other time on the same or such other day as shall be agreed upon
by the Company and [insert name of lead underwriter] or may be
established in accordance with Section 11 hereof. The hour and
date of such delivery and payment are herein called the "Closing
Date."
The Bonds shall be delivered to the Underwriters only
in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust
Company in New York, New York. The certificate for the Bonds
shall be in the form of [one] typewritten global bond in fully
registered form, in the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds,
and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The
Depository Trust Company. The Company agrees to make the Bonds
available to the Underwriters for checking not later than
2:30 P.M., New York time, on the last business day preceding the
Closing Date at such place as may be agreed upon between the
Underwriters and the Company, or at such other time and/or date
as may be agreed upon between the Underwriters and the Company.
SECTION 6. Covenants of the Company. The Company
covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) Not later than the Closing Date, the Company will
deliver to the Underwriters a conformed copy of each
Registration Statement in the form that it or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereto became effective,
certified by an officer of the Company to be in such form.
(b) The Company will deliver to the Underwriters as
many copies of the Prospectus (and any amendments or
supplements thereto) as the Underwriters may reasonably
request.
(c) The Company will cause the Prospectus to be filed
with the Commission pursuant to and in compliance with Rule
424(b) and will advise [insert name of lead underwriter]
promptly of the issuance of any stop order under the
Securities Act with respect to the Registration Statements
or the institution of any proceedings therefor of which the
Company shall have received notice. The Company will use
its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop
order and to secure the prompt removal thereof if issued.
(d) During such period of time as the Underwriters are
required by law to deliver a prospectus after this
Underwriting Agreement has become effective, if any event
relating to or affecting the Company, or of which the
Company shall be advised by the Underwriters in writing,
shall occur which in the Company's opinion should be set
forth in a supplement or amendment to the Prospectus in
order to make the Prospectus not misleading in the light of
the circumstances when it is delivered to a purchaser of the
Bonds, the Company will amend or supplement the Prospectus
by either (i) after giving notice to the Underwriters and
their counsel, preparing and filing with the Commission and
furnishing to the Underwriters a reasonable number of copies
of a supplement or supplements or an amendment or amendments
to the Prospectus, or (ii) making an appropriate filing
pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
which will supplement or amend the Prospectus, so that, as
supplemented or amended, it will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is
delivered to a purchaser, not misleading. Unless such event
relates solely to the activities of the Underwriters (in
which case the Underwriters shall assume the expense of
preparing any such supplement or amendment), the expenses of
complying with this Section 6(d) shall be borne by the
Company until the expiration of nine months from the time of
effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement, and such
expenses shall be borne by the Underwriters thereafter.
(e) The Company will make generally available to its
security holders, as soon as practicable, an earning
statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of
at least twelve months beginning after the "effective date
of the registration statement" within the meaning of Rule
158 under the Securities Act, which earning statement shall
be in such form, and be made generally available to security
holders in such a manner, as to meet the requirements of the
last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
Rule 158 under the Securities Act.
(f) At any time within six months of the date hereof,
the Company will furnish such proper information as may be
lawfully required, and will otherwise cooperate in
qualifying the Bonds for offer and sale, under the blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may
reasonably designate, provided that the Company shall not be
required to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in
securities, to file any consents to service of process under
the laws of any jurisdiction, or to meet any other
requirements deemed by the Company to be unduly burdensome.
(g) The Company will, except as herein provided, pay
all fees, expenses and taxes (except transfer taxes) in
connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statements and any post-effective amendments
thereto, (ii) the printing, issuance and delivery of the
Bonds and the preparation, execution, printing and
recordation of the Supplemental Indenture, (iii) legal
counsel relating to the qualification of the Bonds under the
blue sky laws of various jurisdictions in an amount not to
exceed $3,500, (iv) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of reasonable quantities of copies of the
Registration Statements, the preliminary (and any
supplemental) blue sky survey, any preliminary prospectus
supplement relating to the Bonds and the Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto, except as otherwise
provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 6, (v) the rating
of the Bonds by one or more nationally recognized
statistical rating agencies and (vi) filings or other
notices (if any) with or to, as the case may be, the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD") in connection with its review of the terms of the
offering. Except as provided above, the Company shall not
be required to pay any expenses of the Underwriters, except
that, if this Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated in
accordance with the provisions of Section 7, 8 or 12 hereof,
the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for (A) the
reasonable fees and expenses of Counsel for the
Underwriters, whose fees and expenses the Underwriters agree
to pay in any other event, and (B) reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses in an aggregate amount not exceeding $15,000,
incurred in contemplation of the performance of this
Underwriting Agreement. The Company shall not in any event
be liable to the Underwriters for damages on account of loss
of anticipated profits.
(h) The Company will not sell any additional First
Mortgage Bonds without the consent of the Underwriters until
the earlier to occur of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) the
date of the termination of the fixed price offering
restrictions applicable to the Underwriters. The
Underwriters agree to notify the Company of such termination
if it occurs prior to the Closing Date.
(i) As soon as practicable after the Closing Date, the
Company will make all recordings, registrations and filings
necessary to perfect and preserve the lien of the Mortgage
and the rights under the Supplemental Indenture, and the
Company will use its best efforts to cause to be furnished
to the Underwriters a supplemental opinion of counsel for
the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, stating that all
such recordings, registrations and filings have been made.
SECTION 7. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.
The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the
Bonds shall be subject to the accuracy on the date hereof and on
the Closing Date of the representations and warranties made
herein on the part of the Company and of any certificates
furnished by the Company on the Closing Date and to the following
conditions:
(a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) prior to 5:30 P.M., New
York time, on the second business day following the date of
this Underwriting Agreement, or such other time and date as
may be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters.
(b) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of any
of the Registration Statements shall be in effect at or
prior to the Closing Date; no proceedings for such purpose
shall be pending before, or, to the knowledge of the Company
or the Underwriters, threatened by, the Commission on the
Closing Date; and the Underwriters shall have received a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the
President, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer of the Company, to the effect that no such stop
order has been or is in effect and that no proceedings for
such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened by the Commission.
(c) At the Closing Date, there shall have been issued
and there shall be in full force and effect, to the extent
legally required for the issuance and sale of the Bonds, an
order of the Commission under the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935 (the "Holding Company Act") authorizing
the issuance and sale of the Bonds on the terms set forth
in, or contemplated by, this Underwriting Agreement.
(d) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq., Associate General
Counsel-Corporate and Securities of Entergy Services, Inc.
and Xxxx & Priest LLP opinions, dated the Closing Date,
substantially in the forms set forth in Exhibits A and B
hereto, respectively, (i) with such changes therein as may
be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters with the
approval of Counsel for the Underwriters, and (ii) if the
Prospectus shall be supplemented after being furnished to
the Underwriters for use in offering the Bonds, with changes
therein to reflect such supplementation.
(e) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from Counsel for the Underwriters an opinion, dated
the Closing Date, substantially in the form set forth in
Exhibit C hereto, with such changes therein as may be
necessary to reflect any supplementation of the Prospectus
prior to the Closing Date.
(f) On or prior to the effective date of this
Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters shall have received
from Coopers & Xxxxxxx L.L.P., the Company's independent
certified public accountants (the "Accountants"), a letter
dated the date hereof and addressed to the Underwriters to
the effect that (i) they are independent certified public
accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning
of the Securities Act and the applicable published rules and
regulations thereunder; (ii) in their opinion, the financial
statements and financial statement schedules examined by
them and included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and
regulations thereunder; (iii) on the basis of performing the
procedures specified by the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants for a review of interim financial
information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial
Information, on the latest unaudited financial statements,
if any, included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, a reading of the latest available interim
unaudited financial statements of the Company, the minutes
of the meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company,
the Executive Committee thereof, if any, and the stockholder
of the Company, since December 31, 1997 to a specified date
not more than five days prior to the date of such letter,
and inquiries of officers of the Company who have
responsibility for financial and accounting matters (it
being understood that the foregoing procedures do not
constitute an examination made in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards and they would not necessarily
reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments
made in such letter and, accordingly, that the Accountants
make no representations as to the sufficiency of such
procedures for the purposes of the Underwriters), nothing
has come to their attention which caused them to believe
that, to the extent applicable, (A) the unaudited financial
statements of the Company (if any) included or incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in
all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and
the related published rules and regulations thereunder; (B)
any material modifications should be made to said unaudited
financial statements for them to be in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles; and (C) at a
specified date not more than five days prior to the date of
the letter, there was any change in the capital stock or
long-term debt of the Company, or decrease in its net
assets, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the
most recent balance sheet incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, except in all instances for changes or decreases
which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur,
for declarations of dividends, for the repayment or
redemption of long-term debt, for the amortization of
premium or discount on long-term debt, for the redemption or
purchase of preferred stock for sinking fund purposes, for
any increases in long-term debt in respect of previously
issued pollution control, solid waste disposal or industrial
development revenue bonds, or for changes or decreases as
set forth in such letter, identifying the same and
specifying the amount thereof; and (iv) stating that they
have compared specific dollar amounts, percentages of
revenues and earnings and other financial information
pertaining to the Company (x) set forth in the Prospectus,
and (y) set forth in documents filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as specified
in Exhibit E hereto, in each case, to the extent that such
amounts, numbers, percentages and information may be derived
from the general accounting records of the Company, and
excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal
counsel, with the results obtained from the application of
specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate
procedures (which procedures do not constitute an
examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards) set forth in the letter, and found them to be in
agreement.
(g) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by
the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer of the Company, to the effect that (i)
the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein are true and correct, (ii) the Company has performed
and complied with all agreements and conditions in this
Underwriting Agreement to be performed or complied with by
the Company at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) since
the most recent date as of which information is given in the
Prospectus, as it may then be amended or supplemented, there
has not been any material adverse change in the business,
property or financial condition of the Company and there has
not been any material transaction entered into by the
Company, other than transactions in the ordinary course of
business, in each case other than as referred to in, or
contemplated by, the Prospectus, as it may then be amended
or supplemented.
(h) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received duly executed counterparts of the Supplemental
Indenture.
(i) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from the Accountants a letter, dated the Closing
Date, confirming, as of a date not more than five days prior
to the Closing Date, the statements contained in the letter
delivered pursuant to Section 7(f) hereof.
(j) Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, no
default (or an event which, with the giving of notice or the
passage of time or both, would constitute a default) under
the Mortgage shall have occurred.
(k) Prior to the Closing Date, [insert name of lead
underwriter] shall have received from the Company evidence
reasonably satisfactory to [insert name of lead underwriter]
that the Bonds have received ratings of ____ or better from
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. and ____ or better from
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.
(l) Between the date hereof and the Closing Date,
neither Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. nor Standard &
Poor's Ratings Services shall have lowered its rating of any
of the Company's outstanding First Mortgage Bonds in any
respect.
(m) Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, no
event shall have occurred with respect to or otherwise
affecting the Company, which, in the reasonable opinion of
the Underwriters, materially impairs the investment quality
of the Bonds.
(n) All legal matters in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Bonds shall be satisfactory in form and
substance to Counsel for the Underwriters.
(o) The Company will furnish the Underwriters with
additional conformed copies of such opinions, certificates,
letters and documents as may be reasonably requested.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7
shall not have been fulfilled, this Underwriting Agreement may be
terminated by the Underwriters upon notice thereof to the
Company. Any such termination shall be without liability of any
party to any other party, except as otherwise provided in
paragraph (g) of Section 6 and in Section 10.
SECTION 8. Conditions of Company's Obligations. The
obligations of the Company hereunder shall be subject to the
following conditions:
(a) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of any
of the Registration Statements shall be in effect at or
prior to the Closing Date, and no proceedings for that
purpose shall be pending before, or threatened by, the
Commission on the Closing Date.
(b) There shall have been issued and, at the Closing
Date, there shall be in full force and effect an order of
the Commission under the Holding Company Act authorizing the
issuance and sale of the Bonds on the terms set forth in, or
contemplated by, this Underwriting Agreement.
In case any of the conditions specified in this Section
8 shall not have been fulfilled, this Underwriting Agreement may
be terminated by the Company upon notice thereof to [insert name
of lead underwriter]. Any such termination shall be without
liability of any party to any other party, except as otherwise
provided in paragraph (g) of Section 6 and in Section 10.
SECTION 9. Indemnification.
(a) The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person who controls each
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which each Underwriter or any or all of them may become subject
under the Securities Act or any other statute or common law and
shall reimburse each Underwriter and any such controlling person
for any legal or other expenses (including to the extent
hereinafter provided, reasonable counsel fees) incurred by them
in connection with investigating any such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities or in connection with defending any actions,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, expenses or
actions arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statements, as amended or supplemented, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Basic
Prospectus (if used prior to the date the Prospectus is filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)), or in the
Prospectus, as each may be amended or supplemented, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
paragraph shall not apply to any such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, expenses or actions arising out of, or based upon,
any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or any
such omission or alleged omission, if such statement or omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished herein or in writing to the Company by any Underwriter
specifically for use in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statements, the Basic Prospectus (if used prior to
the date the Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b)) or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to
any thereof or arising out of, or based upon, statements in or
omissions from the Statement of Eligibility; and provided
further, that the indemnity agreement contained in this
subsection shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter or
to the benefit of any person controlling any Underwriter on
account of any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
expenses or actions arising from the sale of the Bonds to any
person in respect of the Basic Prospectus or the Prospectus as
supplemented or amended, furnished by any Underwriter to a person
to whom any of the Bonds were sold (excluding in both cases,
however, any document then incorporated or deemed incorporated by
reference therein), insofar as such indemnity relates to any
untrue or misleading statement or omission made in the Basic
Prospectus or the Prospectus but eliminated or remedied prior to
the consummation of such sale in the Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, furnished on a timely basis by the Company
to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof,
respectively, unless a copy of the Prospectus (in the case of
such a statement or omission made in the Basic Prospectus) or
such amendment or supplement (in the case of such a statement or
omission made in the Prospectus) (excluding, however, any
amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus relating to any
First Mortgage Bonds other than the Bonds and any document then
incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus or such amendment or supplement) is furnished by such
Underwriter to such person (i) with or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale involved or (ii) as soon as available
after such written confirmation (if it is made available to the
Underwriters prior to settlement of such sale).
(b) Each Underwriter shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person
who controls the foregoing within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under
the Securities Act or any other statute or common law and shall
reimburse each of them for any legal or other expenses
(including, to the extent hereinafter provided, reasonable
counsel fees) incurred by them in connection with investigating
any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities or in connection
with defending any action, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities, expenses or actions arise out of or are
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statements, as
amended or supplemented, or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Basic Prospectus (if used prior to the date
the Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b)), or in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
in each case, if, but only if, such statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished herein or in writing to the Company by any Underwriter
specifically for use in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statements, the Basic Prospectus (if used prior to
the date the Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b)) or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(c) In case any action shall be brought, based upon
the Registration Statements, the Basic Prospectus or the
Prospectus (including amendments or supplements thereto), against
any party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to
any of the preceding paragraphs, such party (hereinafter called
the indemnified party) shall promptly notify the party or parties
against whom indemnity shall be sought hereunder (hereinafter
called the indemnifying party) in writing, and the indemnifying
party shall have the right to participate at its own expense in
the defense or, if it so elects, to assume (in conjunction with
any other indemnifying party) the defense thereof, including the
employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party and the payment of all fees and expenses. If the
indemnifying party shall elect not to assume the defense of any
such action, the indemnifying party shall reimburse the
indemnified party for the reasonable fees and expenses of any
counsel retained by such indemnified party. Such indemnified
party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action in which the defense has been assumed by the indemnifying
party and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel has been
specifically authorized by the indemnifying party or (ii) the
named parties to any such action (including any impleaded
parties) include each of such indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and such indemnified party shall have been
advised by such counsel that a conflict of interest between the
indemnifying party and such indemnified party may arise and for
this reason it is not desirable for the same counsel to represent
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party (it being
understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any one such action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out
of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for
the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
of attorneys for such indemnified party (plus any local counsel
retained by such indemnified party in its reasonable judgment).
The indemnified party shall be reimbursed for all such fees and
expenses as they are incurred. The indemnifying party shall not
be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without
its consent, but if any such action is settled with the consent
of the indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the
plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity has or could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action,
suit or proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for under
subsections (a), (b) or (c) in this Section 9 is unavailable to
an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in
lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company and the Underwriters from the offering of
the Bonds or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to
in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on
the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from
the offering (after deducting underwriting discounts and
commissions but before deducting expenses) to the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover
page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the
one hand and of the Underwriters on the other shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by any of the Underwriters and such
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 9(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph. The amount paid or payable to an indemnified party as
a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred
to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9(d), no
Underwriters shall be required to contribute any amount in excess
of the amount by which the total price at which the Bonds
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to
the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations
to contribute pursuant to this Section 9(d) are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not
joint.
SECTION 10. Survival of Certain Representations and
Obligations. Any other provision of this Underwriting Agreement
to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) the indemnity and
contribution agreements contained in Section 9 of, and the
representations and warranties and other agreements of the
Company contained in, this Underwriting Agreement shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or by or on
behalf of the Company or its directors or officers, or any of the
other persons referred to in Section 9 hereof and (ii) acceptance
of and payment for the Bonds and (b) the indemnity and
contribution agreements contained in Section 9 shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
termination of this Underwriting Agreement.
SECTION 11. Default of Underwriters. If any
Underwriter shall fail or refuse (otherwise than for some reason
sufficient to justify, in accordance with the terms hereof, the
cancellation or termination of its obligations hereunder) to
purchase and pay for the principal amount of Bonds that it has
agreed to purchase and pay for hereunder, and the aggregate
principal amount of Bonds that such defaulting Underwriter agreed
but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of
the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the Bonds that such
defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed or refused to purchase;
provided that in no event shall the principal amount of Bonds
that such Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to Schedule
I hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 11 by an amount in
excess of one-ninth of such principal amount of Bonds without
written consent of such Underwriter. If such Underwriter shall
fail or refuse to purchase Bonds and the aggregate principal
amount of Bonds with respect to which such default occurs is more
than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds,
the Company shall have the right (a) to require the non-
defaulting Underwriters to purchase and pay for the respective
principal amount of Bonds that they had severally agreed to
purchase hereunder, and, in addition, the principal amount of
Bonds that the defaulting Underwriter shall have so failed to
purchase up to a principal amount thereof equal to one-ninth of
the respective principal amount of Bonds that such non-defaulting
Underwriters have otherwise agreed to purchase hereunder, and/or
(b) to procure one or more other members of the NASD (or, if not
members of the NASD, who are foreign banks, dealers or
institutions not registered under the Exchange Act and who agree
in making sales to comply with the NASD's Rules of Fair
Practice), to purchase, upon the terms herein set forth, the
principal amount of Bonds that such defaulting Underwriter had
agreed to purchase, or that portion thereof that the remaining
Underwriters shall not be obligated to purchase pursuant to the
foregoing clause (a). In the event the Company shall exercise
its rights under clause (a) and/or (b) above, the Company shall
give written notice thereof to the Underwriters within 24 hours
(excluding any Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday) of the time
when the Company learns of the failure or refusal of any
Underwriter to purchase and pay for its respective principal
amount of Bonds, and thereupon the Closing Date shall be
postponed for such period, not exceeding three business days, as
the Company shall determine. In the event the Company shall be
entitled to but shall not elect (within the time period specified
above) to exercise its rights under clause (a) and/or (b), the
Company shall be deemed to have elected to terminate this
Underwriting Agreement. In the absence of such election by the
Company, this Underwriting Agreement will, unless otherwise
agreed by the Company and the non-defaulting Underwriters,
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
party except as otherwise provided in paragraph (g) of Section 6
and in Section 10. Any action taken under this paragraph shall
not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect
of its default under this Underwriting Agreement.
SECTION 12. Termination. This Underwriting Agreement
shall be subject to termination by notice given by written notice
from [insert name of lead underwriter] to the Company, if (a)
after the execution and delivery of this Underwriting Agreement
and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have
been suspended on the New York Stock Exchange by The New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., the Commission or other governmental
authority, (ii) minimum or maximum ranges for prices shall have
been generally established on the New York Stock Exchange by The
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the Commission or other
governmental authority, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial
banking activities in New York shall have been declared by either
Federal or New York State authorities, or (iv) there shall have
occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of [insert name of
lead underwriter], is material and adverse and (b) in the case of
any of the events specified in clauses (a)(i) through (iv), such
event singly or together with any other such event makes it, in
the reasonable judgment of [insert name of lead underwriter],
impracticable to market the Bonds. This Underwriting Agreement
shall also be subject to termination, upon notice by [insert name
of lead underwriter] as provided above, if, in the judgment of
[insert name of lead underwriter], the subject matter of any
amendment or supplement (prepared by the Company) to the
Prospectus (except for information relating solely to the manner
of public offering of the Bonds or to the activity of the
Underwriters or to the terms of any series of First Mortgage
Bonds not included in the Bonds) filed or issued after the
effectiveness of this Underwriting Agreement by the Company shall
have materially impaired the marketability of the Bonds. Any
termination hereof, pursuant to this Section 12, shall be without
liability of any party to any other party, except as otherwise
provided in paragraph (g) of Section 6 and in Section 10.
SECTION 13. Miscellaneous. THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF
THE PARTIES TO THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT SHALL, PURSUANT TO NEW
YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401, BE GOVERNED BY THE
LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. This Underwriting Agreement shall
become effective when a fully executed copy thereof is delivered
to the Company and to [insert name of lead underwriter]. This
Underwriting Agreement may be executed in any number of separate
counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered,
shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken
together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement. This
Underwriting Agreement shall inure to the benefit of each of the
Company, the Underwriters and, with respect to the provisions of
Section 9, each director, officer and other persons referred to
in Section 9, and their respective successors. Should any part
of this Underwriting Agreement for any reason be declared
invalid, such declaration shall not affect the validity of any
remaining portion, which remaining portion shall remain in full
force and effect as if this Underwriting Agreement had been
executed with the invalid portion thereof eliminated. Nothing
herein is intended or shall be construed to give to any other
person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of any provision in this
Underwriting Agreement. The term "successor" as used in this
Underwriting Agreement shall not include any purchaser, as such
purchaser, of any Bonds from the Underwriters.
SECTION 14. Notices. All communications hereunder
shall be in writing and, if to the Underwriters, shall be mailed
or delivered to [insert name of lead underwriter] at the address
set forth at the beginning of this Underwriting Agreement to the
attention of its General Counsel or, if to the Company, shall be
mailed or delivered to it at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Treasurer, or, if to Entergy
Services, Inc., shall be mailed or delivered to it at 000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Treasurer.
Very truly yours,
Entergy Gulf States, Inc.
By:____________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date first above written:
[Names of Underwriters]
By: [Lead Underwriter]
By: ____________________________
Name:
Title:
