EXHIBIT 4.4-A
TRUST AGREEMENT
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT is made as of December 26, 1996, by and between
Gulf Power Company, a Maine corporation, as Depositor (the "Depositor"), and
Chase Manhattan Bank 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 "Gulf Power Capital Trust
I", 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 xxx 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 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; and (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. 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, Chase Manhattan Bank 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 Chase Manhattan Bank 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.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
GULF POWER COMPANY,
as Depositor
By: /s/Xxxxx Boston
Name: Xxxxx Boston
Title: Assistant Secretary
CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE,
as Trustee
By: /s/Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Trust Officer
