SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Depositary AND THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS DESCRIBED HEREIN _____________________ DEPOSIT AGREEMENT _____________________
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SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY
XXXXX FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, as Depositary
AND
THE HOLDERS FROM TIME TO TIME OF THE DEPOSITARY
RECEIPTS DESCRIBED HEREIN
_____________________
DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
_____________________
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PARTIES | 1 | |||
RECITALS | 1 | |||
ARTICLE I Definitions |
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Certificate | 4 | |||
Company |
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Deposit Agreement |
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Depositary |
4 |
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Depositary Shares |
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Depositary's Agent |
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Depositary's Office |
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Receipt |
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Record Holder |
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Registrar |
4 |
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Stock |
4 |
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Transfer Agent |
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ARTICLE II Form of Receipts, Deposit of Stock, Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Redemption of Receipts |
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SECTION 2.01. | Form and Transfer of Receipts | 5 | ||
SECTION 2.02. | Deposit of Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof. | 6 | ||
SECTION 2.03. | Redemption of Stock | 7 | ||
SECTION 2.04. | Registration of Transfer of Receipts | 8 | ||
SECTION 2.05. | Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Stock | 8 | ||
SECTION 2.06. | Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts | 9 | ||
SECTION 2.07. | Lost Receipts, etc. | 9 | ||
SECTION 2.08. | Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts | 9 | ||
SECTION 2.09. | Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding up of the Affairs of the Company | 9 | ||
ARTICLE III Certain Obligations of Holders of Receipts and the Company |
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SECTION 3.01. | Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information | 10 | ||
SECTION 3.02. | Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges | 10 | ||
SECTION 3.03. | Warranty as to Stock and Receipts | 10 | ||
ARTICLE IV The Deposited Securities; Notices |
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SECTION 4.01. | Cash Distributions | 10 | ||
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SECTION 4.02. | Distributions Other Than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges | 11 | ||
SECTION 4.03. | Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges | 12 | ||
SECTION 4.04. | Notice of Dividends; Fixing of Record Date for Holders of Receipts | 11 | ||
SECTION 4.05. | Voting Rights | 12 | ||
SECTION 4.06. | Changes Affecting Deposited Securities and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc. | 13 | ||
SECTION 4.07. | Inspection of Reports | 13 | ||
SECTION 4.08. | Lists of Receipt Holders | 13 | ||
ARTICLE V The Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company |
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SECTION 5.01. | Maintenance of Offices, Agencies and Transfer Books by the Depositary; Xxxxxxxxx | 00 | ||
SECTION 5.02. | Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar or the Company | 14 | ||
SECTION 5.03. | Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company | 14 | ||
SECTION 5.04. | Resignation and Removal of the Depositary; Appointment of Successor Depositary | 15 | ||
SECTION 5.05. | Corporate Notices and Reports | 16 | ||
SECTION 5.06. | Indemnification by the Company | 16 | ||
SECTION 5.07. | Charges and Expenses | 16 | ||
ARTICLE VI Amendment and Termination |
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SECTION 6.01. | Amendment | 16 | ||
SECTION 6.02. | Termination | 17 | ||
ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous |
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SECTION 7.01. | Counterparts | 17 | ||
SECTION 7.02. | Exclusive Benefit of Parties | 17 | ||
SECTION 7.03. | Invalidity of Provisions | 17 | ||
SECTION 7.04. | Notices | 17 | ||
SECTION 7.05. | Depositary's Agents | 18 | ||
SECTION 7.06. | Holders of Receipts Are Parties | 18 | ||
SECTION 7.07. | Governing Law | 18 | ||
SECTION 7.08. | Inspection of Deposit Agreement | 18 | ||
SECTION 7.09. | Headings | 18 | ||
SECTION 7.10. | Power and Authority | 18 |
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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT dated as of October 8, 2003 among SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, XXXXX FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, and the holders from time to time of the Receipts described herein.
WHEREAS it is desired to provide, as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of shares of 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value, of Southern Union Company with the Depositary for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares in respect of the Stock so deposited; and
WHEREAS the Receipts are to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A annexed hereto, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
The following definitions shall for all purposes, unless otherwise indicated, apply to the respective terms used in this Deposit Agreement:
"Certificate" shall mean the certificate of designations, preferences and rights filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware establishing the Stock as a series of preferred stock of the Company.
"Company" shall mean Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation, and its successors.
"Deposit Agreement" shall mean this Deposit Agreement, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Depositary" shall mean Xxxxx Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association, and any successor as Depositary hereunder.
"Depositary Shares" shall mean Depositary Shares, each representing one-tenth of a share of Stock and evidenced by a Receipt.
"Depositary's Agent" shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary pursuant to Section 7.05.
"Depositary's Office" shall mean the principal office of the Depositary in South St. Xxxx, Minnesota (with drop-box services in New York, New York), at which at any particular time its depositary receipt business shall be administered.
"Receipt" shall mean one of the Depositary Receipts (each evidencing one Depositary Share) issued hereunder, whether in definitive or temporary form.
"Record Holder" as applied to a Depositary Share or Receipt shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books of the Depositary maintained for such purpose.
"Registrar" shall mean any entity, which shall be appointed to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.
"Stock" shall mean shares of the Company's 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value, having a liquidation preference of $250, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 4.06.
"Transfer Agent" shall mean any entity, which shall be appointed to serve as transfer agent for the Depositary Shares.
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ARTICLE II
Form of Receipts, Deposit of Stock, Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Redemption of Receipts
Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary; provided, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed and such Receipts are countersigned by manual signature of a duly authorized officer of the Registrar. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed manually by a duly authorized officer of the Depositary or, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by manual or facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Depositary and countersigned manually by a duly authorized officer of such Registrar. The Depositary or the Registrar, as applicable, shall record on its books each Receipt so signed and delivered as hereinafter provided.
Receipts shall be in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares up to but not in excess of Depositary Shares for any particular Receipt.
Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Company or the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject.
Title to Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt which is properly endorsed, or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that until transfer of a Receipt shall be registered on the books of the Depositary as provided in Section 2.04, the Depositary shall, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the record holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.
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Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for Stock deposited in accordance with the provisions of this Section, together with the other documents required as above specified, and upon proper registration of the Stock on the books of the Company in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares representing the Stock so deposited and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such person or persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or such other offices, if any, as the Depositary may designate. Delivery at other offices shall be at the risk and expense of the person requesting such delivery.
Other than in the case of splits, combinations or other reclassifications affecting the Stock, or in the case of dividends or other distributions of stock, if any, there shall be deposited hereunder not more than 920,000 shares of Stock.
In accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.02 and concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Deposit Agreement, the Company is delivering to the Depositary a certificate or certificates, registered in the name of the Depositary and evidencing 920,000 shares of Stock, together with (i) all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement, and (ii) a written order of the Company directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to, or upon the written order of, the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts for the 9,200,000 Depositary Shares. The certificate or certificates evidencing the Stock shall be held by the Depositary, at the Depositary's Office or at such other place or places as the Depositary shall determine. The Company hereby authorizes the Depositary, in its capacity as Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Stock, to reflect changes in the number of shares (including any fractional shares) of Stock from time to time held by the Depositary by notation, book entry or other appropriate method and the Depositary, in its capacity as aforesaid, agrees, upon request, to furnish the Company with regular reports as to the number of shares of Stock from time to time held under this Deposit Agreement.
The Depositary hereby acknowledges receipt of 920,000 shares of Stock together with the other documents required as above specified and, concurrently with such receipt, has caused to be delivered, to or upon the order of the Company, one or more Receipts evidencing 9,200,000 Depositary Shares in such denominations and registered in such name or names as are specified in such Company order.
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Notice having been mailed by the Depositary as aforesaid, from and after the Redemption Date (unless the Company shall have failed to redeem the shares of Stock to be redeemed by it as set forth in the Company's notice provided for in the preceding paragraph) all dividends in respect of the shares of Stock so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, the Depositary Shares being redeemed from such proceeds shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding, all rights of the holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared but without accumulation of any dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared, in which case such declared, accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods shall be paid at redemption)) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate and, upon surrender in accordance with such notice of the Receipts evidencing any such Depositary Shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be redeemed by the Depositary at a redemption price per Depositary Share equal to one-tenth of the redemption price per share paid in respect of the shares of Stock plus all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares, including all amounts paid by the Company in respect of dividends which on the Redemption Date have accrued on the shares of Stock to be so redeemed from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the Redemption Date (whether or not earned or declared) and have not theretofore been paid (without accumulation of any dividends for prior dividend periods unless previously declared, in which case such declared, accrued and unpaid dividends for prior dividend periods shall be paid at redemption).
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If less than all the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the holder of such Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the redemption payment, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption.
SECTION 2.04. Registration of Transfer of Receipts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof by the holder in person or by duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer. Thereupon the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares as those evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered and deliver such new Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto.
SECTION 2.05. Split-ups and Combinations of Receipts; Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Stock. Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as it may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of such Receipt or Receipts, and subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denomination or denominations requested, evidencing the aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.
Any holder of a Receipt or Receipts representing any number of whole shares of Stock may withdraw the Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby by surrendering such Receipt or Receipts, at the Depositary's Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals.
Thereafter, without unreasonable delay, the Depositary shall deliver to such holder, or to the person or persons designated by such holder as hereinafter provided, the number of whole shares of Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the Receipt or Receipts for such whole shares of Stock so surrendered for withdrawal, but holders of such whole shares of Stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such Stock hereunder or to receive Depositary Shares therefor. In no event will fractional shares of Stock be delivered upon surrender of Receipts to the Depositary. If a Receipt delivered by the holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Stock to be so withdrawn, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such number of whole shares of Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be so withdrawn, deliver to such holder, or (subject to Section 2.03) upon his order, a new Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares. Delivery of the Stock and money and other property being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate.
If the Stock and the money and other property being withdrawn are to be delivered to a person or persons other than the record holder of the Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of Stock, such holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or Receipts surrendered by such holder for withdrawal of such shares of Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer.
Delivery of the Stock and the money and other property, if any, represented by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal shall be made by the Depositary at the Depositary's Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the holder thereof, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designed by such holder.
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SECTION 2.06. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts. As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the Company may require payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Company shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any charges or expenses payable by the holder of a Receipt pursuant to Section 5.07, may require the production of evidence satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and may also require compliance with such regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Company may establish consistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.
The deposit of Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against Stock may be suspended, the registration of transfer of Receipts may be refused and the registration of transfer, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts may be suspended (i) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Company is closed or (ii) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary's Agents or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any shares of Stock which are required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, unless a registration statement under such Act is in effect as to such shares of Stock.
SECTION 2.07. Lost Receipts, etc. In case any Receipt shall be mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Depositary in its discretion may execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt, or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt, upon (i) the filing by the holder thereof with the Depositary of evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction or loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his or her ownership thereof and (ii) the furnishing of the Depositary with reasonable indemnification satisfactory to it. Every new Receipt issued pursuant to this Section 2.07 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt shall constitute an additional contractual obligation under this Deposit Agreement, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
SECTION 2.08. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts. All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary's Agent shall be canceled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized to destroy all Receipts so canceled.
SECTION 2.09. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding up of the Affairs of the Company. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, upon receipt by the Depositary of cash in an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation preference of the shares of Stock held by the Depositary, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon (whether or not earned or declared) from the immediately preceding dividend payment date to the date of final distribution, together with any dividends that have been declared but have not been paid on or prior to the date of final distribution to the record holders of Stock, either in one distribution or as the final distribution in a series of liquidating distributions, the Depositary shall deliver the applicable number of certificates representing shares of Stock, properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer, to the Company. The Depositary shall distribute such cash to record holders of Receipts in proportion to the number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such record holders; provided, however, that as a condition to the distribution to the holders of Depositary Shares of such cash, the Depositary shall require the surrender of the Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares.
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ARTICLE III
Certain Obligations of Holders of Receipts and the Company
ARTICLE IV
The Deposited Securities; Notices
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SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash, Rights, Preferences or Privileges. Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or privileges upon Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, distribute to record holders of Receipts pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders, in any manner that the Depositary may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If in the opinion of the Depositary such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such record holders, or if for any other reason (including any requirement that the Company or the Depositary withhold an amount on account of taxes) the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Company, such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Company, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Sections 3.01 and 3.02, be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may be, by the Depositary to record holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution received in cash. The Company shall not make any distribution of such securities unless the Company shall have provided an opinion of counsel stating that such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or do not need to be registered.
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If in order for holders of Receipts to be offered or sold the securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate, registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of the securities to which such rights, preferences or privileges relate is required, the Company will promptly file a registration statement pursuant to such Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the holders of Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such a registration statement with respect thereto shall have become effective, or unless the offering and sale of such securities to such holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of such Act.
If any other action under the laws of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to holders of Receipts, the Company will use its best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges.
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ARTICLE V
The Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company
The Depositary shall keep books at the Depositary's Office for the registration and registration of transfer of Receipts, which books at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the record holders of Receipts; provided, that any such holder requesting to exercise such right shall certify to the Depositary that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as an owner Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts.
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The Depositary may close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.
The Depositary may, with the approval of the Company, appoint a Registrar for registration of the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby. If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Depositary will appoint a Registrar (acceptable to the Company) for registration of such Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with any requirements of such Exchange. Such Registrar (which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of such Exchange) may be removed and a substitute registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company. If the Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such Stock are listed on one or more other stock exchanges, the Depositary will, at the request of the Company, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange of such Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such Stock as may be required by law or applicable stock exchange regulation.
SECTION 5.02. Prevention of or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar or the Company. Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor the Company shall incur any liability to any holder of any Receipt if by reason of any provision of any present or future law, or regulation thereunder, of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent or the Registrar, by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (including the Certificate), or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstance beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, the Depositary's Agent, the Registrar or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from, or subject to any penalty on account of, doing or performing any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any Registrar or the Company incur any liability to any holder of a Receipt (i) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing which the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall or may be done or performed, or (ii) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement except, in case of any such exercise or failure to exercise discretion not caused as aforesaid, if caused by the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the party charged with such exercise or failure to exercise.
SECTION 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company. Neither the Depositary nor its affiliates nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Company assumes any obligation or shall be subject to any liability under this Deposit Agreement to holders of Receipts other than for its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
Neither the Depositary nor its affiliates nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of the Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts which in its reasonable opinion may involve it in expense or liability unless indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against all reasonable expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.
Neither the Depositary nor its affiliates nor any Depositary's Agent nor any Registrar nor any Transfer Agent nor the Company shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the written advice of legal counsel or accountants, or information from any person presenting Stock for deposit, any holder of a Receipt or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such information. The Depositary, any Depositary's Agent, any Registrar, any Transfer Agent and the Company may each rely and shall each be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
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The Depositary shall not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote any of the shares of Stock or for the manner or effect of any such vote made, as long as any such action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Depositary.
The Depositary undertakes, and any Registrar shall be required to undertake, to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Deposit Agreement and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Deposit Agreement against the Depositary or any Registrar.
The Depositary will indemnify the Company against any liability which may directly arise out of acts performed or omitted by the Depositary or its agents due to its or their negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
The Depositary, its affiliates, the Depositary's Agents, and any Registrar or Transfer Agent may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts. The Depositary or its affiliates may also act as transfer agent or registrar of any of the securities of the Company and its affiliates.
The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.
In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall, within 90 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor Depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If no successor Depositary shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 90 days after delivery of such notice, the resigning or removed Depositary may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Depositary. Every successor Depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all right, title and interest in the Stock and any moneys or property held hereunder to such successor, and shall deliver to such successor a list of the record holders of all outstanding Receipts. Any successor Depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the record holders of Receipts.
Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted shall be the successor of such Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act, and notice thereof shall not be required hereunder. Such successor Depositary may authenticate the Receipts in the name of the predecessor Depositary or in the name of the successor Depositary.
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ARTICLE VI
Amendment and Termination
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Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary's Agent and any Registrar or Transfer Agent under Sections 5.06 and 5.07.
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous
Any and all notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first class mail (postage prepaid), overnight mail (expenses prepaid) or facsimile, addressed to the Depositary at the Depositary's Office, at 000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xx. Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000 (fax: 000-000-0000), to the attention of Xxxxx Fargo Shareowner Services, or at any other address of which the Depositary shall have notified the Company in writing.
Any and all notices to be given to any record holder of a Receipt hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by first class mail (postage prepaid), overnight mail (expenses prepaid) or facsimile, addressed to such record holder at the address of such record holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary, or if such holder shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.
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A notice personally delivered shall be deemed to be effected when given against a written receipt, a notice sent by overnight mail shall be deemed to have been effected on the next business day at the place of delivery, a notice sent by mail shall be deemed to be effected five days after the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same is deposited, postage prepaid, in a United States post-office letter box and a notice sent by facsimile shall be deemed to be effected at the time the confirmation thereof is deemed to be effected; provided, however, that any notice or communication that is received other than during regular business hours of the recipient shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day of the recipient. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any facsimile or other electronic message received by it from any party or any holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such facsimile or electronic message shall not subsequently be confirmed as aforesaid.
SECTION 7.07. Governing Law. This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, regardless of the choice of law principles thereof that might otherwise apply.
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SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY | ||||
By: |
/s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Attested by: | ||||
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
XXXXX FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Depositary |
||||
By: |
/s/ XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Title: Officer |
Attested by:
/s/ XXXXXX XXXXXX Xxxxxx Xxxxxx |
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Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL in as much as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
CUSIP NUMBER DEPOSITARY SHARES
844030601 ** **
DEPOSITARY RECEIPT FOR DEPOSITARY SHARES,
REPRESENTING 7.55% NONCUMULATIVE PREFERRED STOCK,
SERIES A, WITHOUT PAR VALUE
SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY
SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
THIS DEPOSITARY RECEIPT IS TRANSFERABLE IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
XXXXX FARGO BANK MINNESOTA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Depositary (the "Depositary"), hereby certifies that is the registered owner of Depositary Shares ("Depositary Shares"), each Depositary Share representing one-tenth (1/10) of one share of 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, without par value (stated value $250 per share), of Southern Union Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), on deposit with the Depositary, subject to the terms and entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement dated as of October 8, 2003 (the "Deposit Agreement"), between the Corporation and the Depositary. By accepting this Depositary Receipt the holder hereof becomes a party to and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. This Depositary Receipt shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose or entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement unless it shall have been executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer or, if executed in facsimile by the Depositary, countersigned by a Registrar in respect of the Depositary Receipts by the manual signature of a duly authorized officer thereof.
Dated:
XXXXX FARGO BANK MINNESOTA,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Depositary, Transfer Agent and Registrar
By:
___________________________
Authorized Officer
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(Reverse of Receipt)
SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY
SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH RECEIPTHOLDER WHO SO REQUESTS A COPY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AND A STATEMENT OR SUMMARY OF THE POWERS, DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL OR OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF EACH CLASS OF STOCK OR SERIES THEREOF WHICH THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE AND OF THE QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS OR RESTRICTIONS OF SUCH PREFERENCES AND/OR RIGHTS. ANY SUCH REQUEST IS TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION.
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this Depositary Receipt, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.
TEN COM | -as tenants in common | UNIF GIFT MIN ACT- | ______Custodian______ | |||
TEN ENT | -as tenants by the entireties | (Cust) (Minor) | ||||
JT TEN | -as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common | under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act | ||||
(State) |
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list
For value received, hereby sells; assigns and transfers unto
PLEASE
INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF
ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE |
Depositary Shares represented by the within Depositary Receipt, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint |
Attorney |
Attorney to transfer the said Depositary Shares on the books of the within-named Depositary with full power of substitution in the premises. |
Dated:___________________ |
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________________________________
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Depositary Receipt in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatever. (Sign exactly as your name appears on the 7.55% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, Series A, Certificate)
Signature Guarantee:____________________
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I Definitions
ARTICLE II Form of Receipts, Deposit of Stock, Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Surrender and Redemption of Receipts
ARTICLE III Certain Obligations of Holders of Receipts and the Company
ARTICLE IV The Deposited Securities; Notices
ARTICLE V The Depositary, the Depositary's Agents, the Registrar and the Company
ARTICLE VI Amendment and Termination
ARTICLE VII Miscellaneous