EXHIBIT 4.48
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
TRUST AGREEMENT
AMONG
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION, AS DEPOSITOR,
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
AS PROPERTY TRUSTEE,
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC,
AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE
AND
THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN
DATED AS OF MARCH 25, 1999
WEC CAPITAL TRUST I
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS............................................................................. 2
Section 1.1. Definitions.................................................................... 2
ARTICLE II ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST................................................................ 10
Section 2.1. Name........................................................................... 10
Section 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.................... 11
Section 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses................ 11
Section 2.4. Issuance of the Preferred Securities........................................... 11
Section 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of
Debentures................................................................. 11
Section 2.6. Declaration of Trust........................................................... 12
Section 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions............................... 12
Section 2.8. Assets of Trust................................................................ 16
Section 2.9. Title to Trust Property........................................................ 17
ARTICLE III PAYMENT ACCOUNT........................................................................... 17
Section 3.1. Payment Account................................................................ 17
ARTICLE IV CERTAIN TERMS OF THE TRUST SECURITIES..................................................... 17
Section 4.1. Distributions.................................................................. 17
Section 4.2. Redemption..................................................................... 19
Section 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities............................................. 21
Section 4.4. Payment Procedures............................................................. 21
Section 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports........................................................ 22
Section 4.7. Payments under Indenture....................................................... 22
ARTICLE V TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES............................................................. 22
Section 5.1. Initial Ownership.............................................................. 22
Section 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates.............................................. 22
Section 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates........................ 23
Section 5.4. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities
Certificates............................................................... 23
Section 5.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates............. 24
Section 5.6. Persons Deemed Securityholders................................................. 24
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Section 5.7. Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses......................... 25
Section 5.8. Maintenance of Office or Agency................................................ 25
Section 5.9. Appointment of Paying Agent.................................................... 25
Section 5.10. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.................................... 26
Section 5.11. Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates; Common Securities
Certificate................................................................ 27
Section 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency..................................................... 28
Section 5.13. Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates................................... 28
Section 5.14. Rights of Securityholders...................................................... 28
ARTICLE VI ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING.............................................. 31
Section 6.1. Limitations on Voting Rights................................................... 31
Section 6.2. Notice of Meetings............................................................. 32
Section 6.3. Meetings of Preferred Securityholders.......................................... 32
Section 6.4. Voting Rights.................................................................. 33
Section 6.5. Proxies, etc................................................................... 33
Section 6.6. Securityholder Action by Written Consent....................................... 33
Section 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes...................................... 33
Section 6.8. Acts of Securityholders........................................................ 34
Section 6.9. Inspection of Records.......................................................... 35
ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES......................................................... 35
Section 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee.................................................................... 35
Section 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.................................... 37
ARTICLE VIII THE TRUSTEES........................................................................... 37
Section 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities............................................ 37
Section 8.2. Certain Notices................................................................ 39
Section 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee............................................. 39
Section 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities......................... 42
Section 8.5. May Hold Securities............................................................ 42
Section 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.................................................. 42
Section 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Trustees................... 43
Section 8.8. Conflicting Interests.......................................................... 44
Section 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee............................................... 44
Section 8.10. Resignation and Removal, Appointment of Successor.............................. 46
Section 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor......................................... 47
Section 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.................... 48
Section 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust................... 48
Section 8.14. Reports by the Property Trustee................................................ 49
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Section 8.15. Reports to the Property Trustee............................................ 49
Section 8.16. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent........................... 49
Section 8.17. Number of Trustees......................................................... 49
Section 8.18. Delegation of Power........................................................ 50
ARTICLE IX TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER................................................... 50
Section 9.1. Dissolution Upon Expiration Date........................................... 50
Section 9.2. Early Dissolution.......................................................... 51
Section 9.3. Termination................................................................ 51
Section 9.4. Liquidation................................................................ 51
Section 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the Trust........ 53
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.............................................................. 54
Section 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Securityholders.................................... 54
Section 10.2. Amendment.................................................................. 54
Section 10.3. Separability............................................................... 56
Section 10.4. Governing Law.............................................................. 56
Section 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day........................................... 57
Section 10.6. Successors................................................................. 57
Section 10.7. Headings................................................................... 57
Section 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands............................................... 57
Section 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition.................................................. 58
Section 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act..................... 58
Section 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and Indenture............ 59
SIGNATURES.......................................................................................... S-1
EXHIBIT A Certificate of Trust..................................................................... A-1
EXHIBIT B Letter of Representation................................................................. B-1
EXHIBIT C Form of Common Security.................................................................. C-1
EXHIBIT D Form of Preferred Security............................................................... D-1
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Certain Sections of the Trust Agreement Relating
to Section 310 through 318 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Sections of this
Act Section Trust Agreement
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Section 310(a)(1)............................................8.7(a), 8.7(b)
(a)(2).......................................................8.7(a)
(a)(3).......................................................8.9
(a)(4).......................................................8.5, 2.7(a)(ii)
(b)..........................................................8.8
Section 311(a)...............................................8.13
(b)..........................................................8.13
Section 312(a)...............................................5.7
(b)..........................................................5.7
(c)..........................................................5.7
Section 313(a)...............................................8.14(a)
(a)(4).......................................................8.14(a)
(b)..........................................................8.14(a)
(c)..........................................................8.14(a), 10.8
Section 314(a)...............................................8.15
(b)..........................................................Not Applicable
(c)(1).......................................................8.16
(c)(2).......................................................8.16
(c)(3).......................................................Not Applicable
(d)..........................................................Not Applicable
(e)..........................................................1.1, 8.16
Section 315(a)...............................................8.1(a), (c), 8.3(a)
(b)..........................................................8.2, 10.8
(c)..........................................................8.1(a)
(d)..........................................................8.1, 8.3
(e)..........................................................Not Applicable
Section 316(a)...............................................Not Applicable
(a)(1)(A)....................................................Not Applicable
(a)(1)(B)....................................................Not Applicable
(a)(2).......................................................Not Applicable
(b)..........................................................5.14
(c)..........................................................6.7
Section 317(a)(1)............................................Not Applicable
(a)(2).......................................................Not Applicable
(b)..........................................................5.9, 8.2
Section 318(a)...............................................10.10
Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed
to be a part of the Trust Agreement.
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of March 25, 1999,
among (i) Wisconsin Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (including any
successors or assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) The First National Bank of
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Chicago, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United
States, as property trustee (the "Property Trustee" and, in its separate
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corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the "Bank"),
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(iii) First Chicago Delaware Inc., a Delaware corporation, as Delaware trustee
(the "Delaware Trustee"), (iv) Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, an individual, and Xxxxxx X.
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Xxxxxxx, an individual, each of whose address is c/o Wisconsin Energy
Corporation, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000 (each, an
"Administrative Trustee" and, collectively, the "Administrative Trustees") (the
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Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees referred
to collectively as the "Trustees") and (v) the several Holders, as hereinafter
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defined (this "Trust Agreement").
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W I T N E S S E T H :
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WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Trustees have heretofore duly declared
and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by
entering into that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of February 25, 1999 (the
"Original Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing with the Secretary
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of State of the State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on February
25, 1999, attached as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Trustees desire to amend and restate
the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for,
among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to
the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the
Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and (iii) the acquisition by the
Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the
Debentures;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties
and for the benefit of the Securityholders, hereby amends and restates the
Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:
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ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1. Definitions.
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For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;
(c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may
be, of this Trust Agreement; and
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
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"Administrative Trustee" means each of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxxxx X.
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Xxxxxxx, solely in such Person's capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust
created and continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, or
such Administrative Trustee's successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
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indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition,
"control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to
direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
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Agreement.
"Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
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(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in
the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication
or composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal
or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or
appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or
other similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its
property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the
continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period
of 60 consecutive days; or
(b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a
bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a
petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any
applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to
the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator
(or similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part of its
property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its
debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a
bankrupt, or the taking of corporate action by such Person in furtherance
of any such action.
"Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.
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"Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means a beneficial
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interest in the Preferred Securities Certificates, ownership and transfers of
which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in
Section 5.11.
"Business Day" means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a
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day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law to remain closed, or (c) a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York is not open.
"Certificate Depository Agreement" means the agreement among the
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Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing
Agency, dated as of the Closing Date, relating to the Trust Securities
Certificates, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may
be amended and supplemented from time to time.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing
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agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency.
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"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
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financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing
Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" has the meaning specified in the Underwriting
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Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
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time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such
Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under
the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
"Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
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ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.
"Common Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest in
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the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the
rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Property
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Trustee.
"Debenture Event of Default" means an event of default under the
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Indenture.
"Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to
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be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption under the
Indenture.
"Debentures" means the aggregate principal amount of the Depositor's
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6.85% Junior Subordinated Debentures, issued pursuant to a Securities Resolution
under the Indenture.
"Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or both
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(as the context requires) of (a) Preferred Securities Certificates issued as
Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as provided in Section 5.11(a) and
(b) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered
form as provided in Section 5.13.
"Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the
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Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq., as it may be amended from time
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to time.
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"Delaware Trustee" means the corporation identified as the "Delaware
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Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its capacity as
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Delaware Trustee of the Trust created and continued hereunder and not in its
individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor trustee appointed as herein provided.
"Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust
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Agreement.
"Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a).
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"Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust
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Securities as provided in Section 4.1.
"Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the
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reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(a) the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a Debenture;
or
(b) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Distribution
when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a
period of 60 days; or
(c) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Redemption
Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
(d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of
any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other
than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance or breach of which
is dealt with in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default
or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered
or certified mail, to the defaulting Trustee or Trustees by the Holders of
at least 25% in aggregate liquidation preference of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and
requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of
Default" hereunder; or
(e) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property
Trustee and the failure by the Depositor to appoint a successor Property
Trustee within 60 days thereof.
"Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.
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"Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by
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the Depositor and The First National Bank of Chicago, as guarantee trustee,
contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for
the benefit of the Holders of the Trust Securities, as amended from time to
time.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of March 15, 1999, between
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the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee, together with the Securities Resolution
dated as of March 16, 1999 relating to the Debentures, each as amended or
supplemented from time to time.
"Indenture Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, a
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national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as
trustee under the Indenture and any successor thereto.
"Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of
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trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest
or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement
of any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Trust
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Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal
amount of Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the
Indenture, allocated to the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities based
upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes and the proceeds of which
will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities, and (b) with
respect to a distribution of Debentures to Holders of Trust Securities in
connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the Trust, Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the
Holder to whom such Debentures are distributed.
"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount (expressed in U.S.
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Dollars) per Trust Security.
"Liquidation Date" means the date on which Debentures are to be
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distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination and
liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4(a).
"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section
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9.4(d).
"Ministerial Action" means the taking of an action, such as filing a
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form or making an election, or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure
that will have no adverse effect on the Trust, the Depositor or the Holders of
the Trust Securities and will involve no material cost.
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"1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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"Officer" means the Chairman, any Vice-Chairman, the President, any
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Executive or Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Depositor.
"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two Officers of
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the Depositor and delivered to the appropriate Trustee. One of the officers
signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.16 shall be the
principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. Any
Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include:
(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate
has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;
(c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant
or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer,
such condition or covenant has been complied with.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be
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counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Depositor, and who shall be
reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee.
"Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the recitals
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to this Trust Agreement.
"Outstanding", when used with respect to Preferred Securities, means,
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as of the date of determination, all Preferred Securities theretofore executed
and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:
(a) Preferred Securities theretofore cancelled by the Property Trustee
or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee
or any
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Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities; provided that,
if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption
has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and
(c) Preferred Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or in
lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been executed and delivered
pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.5, 5.11 and 5.13;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the
Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying
upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or
waiver, only Preferred Securities that such Trustee knows to be so owned shall
be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of
the outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of
the Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned which
have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee
establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee's
right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.
"Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry
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Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing
Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected
in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency
(directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
"Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed
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pursuant to Section 5.9 and shall initially be the Bank.
"Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate
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trust account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its trust
department for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in
respect of the Debentures will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall
make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.2.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
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venture, trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated
organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
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"Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing
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ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
D.
"Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial ownership interest
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in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $25 and having the
rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive
Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.
"Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company
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identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Trust Agreement
solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore created and
continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in
interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as herein
provided.
"Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be
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redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust
Agreement; provided that each Debenture Redemption Date and the stated maturity
of the Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust
Securities.
"Redemption Price" means, with respect to any Trust Security, the
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Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accumulated but unpaid
Distributions to the Redemption Date, plus the related amount of the premium, if
any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption of a Like Amount of
Debentures, allocated on a pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among
the Trust Securities.
"Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.10.
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"Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
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meanings specified in Section 5.4.
"Securities Resolution" means a resolution of the board of directors
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of the Depositor or any authorized committee of such board or by a committee of
Officers or an Officer pursuant to delegation by such board authorizing a series
or a supplemental indenture authorizing a series executed by an authorized
Officer.
"Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust
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Security or Trust Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such
Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business
Trust Act.
"series" means a series of securities or the securities of the series
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issued under the Indenture.
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"Trust" means the Delaware business trust created and continued hereby
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and identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement.
"Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as
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the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the
applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all
purposes of this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or
supplement, respectively.
"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in
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force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however,
that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date,
"Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
"Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in,
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or owing to, the Payment Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of
the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or
deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Trust
Agreement.
"Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
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Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.
"Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the
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Preferred Securities.
"Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the Delaware
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Trustee and the Administrative Trustees.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of
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March 16, 1999, among the Trust, the Depositor and the underwriters named
therein.
ARTICLE II
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST
Section 2.1. Name.
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The Trust continued hereby shall be known as "WEC Capital Trust I," as
such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees
following written
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notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other Trustees, in which name
the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts
and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and xxx and be sued.
Section 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of
--------------------------------------------------
Business.
--------
The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is 000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Corporate Trust Services
Division, or such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee
may designate by written notice to the Depositor. The principal executive
office of the Trust is c/o Wisconsin Energy Corporation, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000.
Section 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational
------------------------------------------------------
Expenses.
--------
The Trustees acknowledge receipt from the Depositor in connection with
the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constituted the initial
Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay organizational expenses of the Trust as
they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse such
Trustee for any such expenses paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no
claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses.
Section 2.4. Issuance of the Preferred Securities.
------------------------------------
On March 16, 1999, the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust and pursuant
to the Original Trust Agreement, executed and delivered the Underwriting
Agreement. Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in
accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Underwriters named in the
Underwriting Agreement, Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the
name of the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, representing 8,000,000
Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $200,000,000,
against receipt of such aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of
$200,000,000, which amount the Administrative Trustee shall promptly deliver to
the Property Trustee.
Section 2.5. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and
---------------------------------------------------
Purchase of Debentures.
----------------------
Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in
accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities
Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, representing 248,000
Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount
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of $25.00 (or $6,200,000 in the aggregate) against payment by the Depositor of
such amount. Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf
of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor Debentures,
registered in the name of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount
equal to $206,200,000, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such
Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the
Depositor the sum of $206,200,000.
Section 2.6. Declaration of Trust.
--------------------
The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and
sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the
Debentures, and (b) to engage in those activities necessary, convenient or
incidental thereto. The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of
the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth
herein, and the Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee
hereby declares that it will hold the Trust property upon and subject to the
conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the
Securityholders. The Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and
duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to
accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not be
entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the
duties and responsibilities, of the Trustees set forth herein, except as
required by the Delaware Business Trust Act. The Delaware Trustee shall be one
of the Trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the
requirements of Section 3807(a) of the Delaware Business Trust Act.
Section 2.7. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.
------------------------------------------------
(a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance
with the terms of this Trust Agreement. Subject to the limitations set forth in
paragraph (b) of this Section and Article VIII, and in accordance with the
following provisions (i) and (ii), the Administrative Trustees shall have the
authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the
Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority granted to the Trustees
under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof,
including without limitation, the following:
(i) As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall have
the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the
following matters:
(A) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;
(B) to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of
the Trust Securities; provided, however, that the Administrative
Trustees shall
-13-
cause legal title to the Debentures to be held of record in the name
of the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities and the Holders of the Common Securities;
(C) execution of the Trust Securities in accordance with this Trust
Agreement;
(D) the negotiation of the terms, and execution and delivery, for
and on behalf of the Trust, of the Underwriting Agreement providing
for the sale of the Preferred Securities;
(E) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and
perform on behalf of the Trust, the Certificate Depository Agreement
and such other agreements as may be necessary or desirable in
connection with the purposes and function of the Trust;
(F) assisting in the registration of the Preferred Securities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under state securities or
blue sky laws, and the qualification of this Trust Agreement as a
trust indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(G) assisting in the listing of the Preferred Securities upon such
securities exchange or exchanges as shall be determined by the
Depositor and the registration of the Preferred Securities under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the preparation and
filing of all periodic and other reports and other documents pursuant
to the foregoing;
(H) the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and
other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures to
the Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(I) the appointment of a Paying Agent, authenticating agent and
Securities Registrar in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(J) registering transfer of the Trust Securities in accordance with
this Trust Agreement;
(K) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up
of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation,
execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
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(L) unless otherwise required by the Trust Indenture Act, to
execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with
any or all of the Administrative Trustees) any documents that the
Administrative Trustees have the power to execute pursuant to this
Trust Agreement; and
(M) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the
Trustees may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to
give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement for the benefit of
the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such
action on any particular Securityholder).
(ii) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the
power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the
following matters:
(A) the establishment of the Payment Account;
(B) the receipt of the Debentures;
(C) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments
made in respect of the Debentures in the Payment Account;
(D) the distribution of amounts owed to the Securityholders in
respect of the Trust Securities;
(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a
holder of the Debentures;
(F) the sending of notices of default and other information
regarding the Trust Securities and the Debentures to the
Securityholders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;
(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the
terms of this Trust Agreement;
(H) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding
up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation,
execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(I) after an event of Default the taking of any action incidental
to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time
determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of
this Trust Agreement and
-15-
protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the
Securityholders (without consideration of the effect of any such
action on any particular Securityholder);
(J) registering transfers of the Trust Securities in accordance
with this Trust Agreement;
(K) to engage in such Ministerial Activities as shall be
necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental to effect the
repayment of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities to the
extent the Debentures mature or are redeemed; and
(L) except as otherwise provided in this Section 2.7(a)(ii), the
Property Trustee shall have none of the duties, liabilities, powers or
the authority of the Administrative Trustees set forth in Section
2.7(a)(i).
(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or
the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business,
activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated
hereby. In particular, the Trustees shall not cause the Trust to (i) acquire
any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust
Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or
otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including
to Securityholders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action
that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for
United States Federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for
borrowed money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action that
would result in the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property. The
Administrative Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at
any time claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest
of the Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders.
(c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred
Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the
Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any
actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date
of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):
(i) the preparation and filing by the Trust with the Commission
and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement on the
appropriate form in relation to the Preferred Securities, including any
amendments thereto;
-16-
(ii) the determination of the States in which to take appropriate
action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Preferred
Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than
actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to
the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the
preparation for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and
filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Depositor deems
necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any
such States;
(iii) the preparation for filing by the Trust and execution on
behalf of the Trust of an application to the New York Stock Exchange or any
other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq National Market for listing
upon notice of issuance of any Preferred Securities;
(iv) the preparation for filing by the Trust with the Commission
and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a registration statement on
Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities under
Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments
thereto;
(v) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and
delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the sale of the
Preferred Securities; and
(vi) the taking of any other actions deemed by the Depositor
necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of
the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an
"investment company" required to be registered under the 1940 Act, or taxed as a
corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes and so that the
Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States
Federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Depositor and the
Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with
applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that each of
the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees determines in their discretion to
be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the holders of the
Preferred Securities.
Section 2.8. Assets of Trust.
---------------
The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.
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Section 2.9. Title to Trust Property.
-----------------------
Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by
the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders in
accordance with this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE III
PAYMENT ACCOUNT
Section 3.1. Payment Account.
---------------
(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall
establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and any agent of the
Property Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with
respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and
withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement.
All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment
Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the
exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for distribution as herein
provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for
herein.
(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account,
promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any
other payments or proceeds with respect to, the Debentures. Amounts held in the
Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending
distribution thereof.
ARTICLE IV
CERTAIN TERMS OF THE TRUST SECURITIES
Section 4.1. Distributions.
-------------
(a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and
will accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the
payment of Distributions. Distributions shall accrue from March 25, 1999 and
shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and
December 31 of each year, commencing on June 30, 1999 except as provided below.
The Depositor has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period from time to time on the
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Debentures for a period not extending, in the aggregate, beyond the maturity
date of the Debentures (each, an "Extension Period"). During such Extension
----------------
Period, no interest shall be due and payable on the Debentures. As a consequence
of such deferral, Distributions will also be deferred. Despite such deferral,
quarterly Distributions will continue to accumulate, compounded quarterly during
any such Extension Period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). Payments
of accrued Distributions will be payable to Holders as they appear on the books
and records of the Trust on the first record date after the end of the Extension
Period. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all
amounts then due, the Depositor may commence a new Extension Period; provided
that such Extension Period together with all such previous and further
extensions thereof may not extend beyond the maturity date of the Debentures. If
any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is
not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in
the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be made on
the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and
effect as if made on such date (each date on which distributions are payable in
accordance with this Section 4.1(a), a "Distribution Date").
-----------------
(b) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial ownership
interests in the Trust Property, and, as a practical matter, the Distributions
on the Trust Securities shall be payable at a rate of 6.85% per annum (the
"Coupon Rate") of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. Distributions
-----------
in arrears for more than one quarter will accumulate and compound at the Coupon
Rate. The term "Distributions" as used in this Trust Agreement includes such
cash distributions and any such accumulated amounts that are payable unless
otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments
are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the
extent the Property Trustee has funds available therefor. The amount of
Distributions payable for any full period shall be computed on the basis of a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the
Property Trustee from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each
Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and
available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.
(d) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a
Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the
Securities Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which
shall be one Business Day prior to such Distribution Date; provided, however,
that in the event that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry-only
form, the relevant record date shall be the date 15 days prior to the relevant
Distribution Date.
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Section 4.2. Redemption.
----------
(a) On each Debenture Redemption Date and on the stated maturity of
the Debentures, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust
Securities at the Redemption Price.
(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed,
at such Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of
redemption shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price;
(iii) the CUSIP number;
(iv) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be
redeemed, the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the
particular Trust Securities to be redeemed; and
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become
due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that
distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date.
(c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of Debentures. Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made and
the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent
that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for
the payment of such Redemption Price.
(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of
any Trust Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption
Date, subject to Section 4.2(c), the Property Trustee will, so long as the Trust
Securities are in book-entry-only form, irrevocably deposit with the Clearing
Agency for the Trust Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable
Redemption Price and will give such Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions and
authority to pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof. If the Trust
Securities are no longer in book-entry-only form, the Property Trustee, subject
to Section 4.2(c), will irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent funds
sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent
irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
Holders thereof upon surrender of their Trust Securities Certificates.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the
Redemption
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Date for any Trust Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the
Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Register for the Trust
Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If
notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then
immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit, all
rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so called for redemption will
cease, except the right of such Securityholders to receive the Redemption Price
and any Distribution payable on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without
interest, and such Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that
any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then
payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment
in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the
next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such
date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Trust
Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid
either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions
on such Trust Securities will continue to accrue, at the then applicable rate,
from the Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Trust
Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the
actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of
calculating the Redemption Price.
(e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust Securities shall be
made to the recordholders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for
the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be one Business
Day prior to the relevant Redemption Date; provided, however, that in the event
that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry-only form, the
relevant record date shall be the date 15 days prior to the relevant Redemption
Date.
(f) Subject to Section 4.3(a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust
Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated on a
pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among the Common Securities and
the Preferred Securities. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed
shall be selected on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts) not more
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the
Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption which may
provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an
integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of
Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee
shall promptly notify the Security Registrar in writing of the Preferred
Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities
selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires,
all provisions relating to the re-
-21-
redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred
Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.
----------------------------------
(a) Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, the
Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made, subject to Section 4.2(f), pro
rata among the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities based on the
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any
Distribution Date or Redemption Date any Event of Default resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of
any Distribution on, or Redemption Price of, any Common Security, and no other
payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common
Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and
unpaid Distributions on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all
Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment
of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all
Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all
funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to
the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the Redemption Price of,
Preferred Securities then due and payable.
(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting
from any Debenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities will be
deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default
under this Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with
respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated. Until any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement with
respect to the Preferred Securities has been so cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of
the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the Common Securities, and only
the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the
Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
Section 4.4. Payment Procedures.
------------------
Payments of Distributions in respect of the Preferred Securities shall
be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Preferred Securities
are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions shall be made to the Clearing
Agency in immediately available funds, which shall credit the relevant Persons'
accounts at such Clearing Agency on the applicable distribution dates. Payments
in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be
mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Common Securityholder.
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Section 4.5. Tax Returns and Reports.
-----------------------
The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared),
at the Depositor's expense, and file all United States Federal, state and local
tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of
the Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and
file (or cause to be prepared and filed) the appropriate Internal Revenue
Service form required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year
of the Trust and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished)
to each Securityholder the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to
be provided or the information required to be provided on such form. The
Administrative Trustees shall provide the Depositor and the Property Trustee
with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such filing or
furnishing. The Trustees shall comply with United States Federal withholding
and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with
respect to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust Securities.
Section 4.6. Payments under Indenture.
------------------------
Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities
(and any Owner with respect thereto) shall be reduced by the amount of any
corresponding payment such Holder (and Owner) has directly received pursuant to
Section 6.06 of the Indenture.
ARTICLE V
TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
Section 5.1. Initial Ownership.
-----------------
Upon the creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at
any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the Depositor shall
be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.
Section 5.2. The Trust Securities Certificates.
---------------------------------
The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum
denominations of $25 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $25 in excess
thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in denominations
of $25 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof. The
Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual
signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates
bearing the manual signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such
signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust,
shall
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be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so
authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did
not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust Securities
Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a
Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the
obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust
Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Sections 5.4, 5.11
and 5.13.
Section 5.3. Execution and Delivery of Trust Securities
Certificates.
------------
At each Closing Date, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust
Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in
Sections 2.4 and 2.5, to be executed on behalf of the Trust and delivered to or
upon the written order of the Depositor, signed by its Chairman or a Vice
Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer,
Assistant Treasurer, Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary without further corporate action by the Depositor, in
authorized denominations.
Section 5.4. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of
Preferred Securities Certificates.
---------------------------------
The Depositor shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, a register or registers for the purpose of
registering Trust Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges of
Preferred Securities Certificates (the "Securities Register") in which, the
-------------------
registrar designated by the Depositor (the "Securities Registrar"), subject to
--------------------
such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the
registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common Securities
Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities
Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred
Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Bank shall be the initial
Securities Registrar.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred
Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section
5.8, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and deliver,
in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new
Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount dated the date of execution by such Administrative
Trustee or Trustees.
The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the
transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At
the option of a Holder, Preferred
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Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities
Certificates in authorized denominations of the same class and of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities
Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to
Section 5.8.
Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Property Trustee and the
Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized
in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for registration
of transfer or exchange shall be cancelled and subsequently disposed of by the
Property Trustee in accordance with its customary practice.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred
Securities Certificates.
Section 5.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust
Securities Certificates.
-----------------------
If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered
to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust
Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities
Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice
that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the
Trust shall execute and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu
of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a
new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination. In
connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this
Section, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Trust Securities
Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence
of an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the Trust, as if
originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities
Certificate shall be found at any time.
Section 5.6. Persons Deemed Securityholders.
------------------------------
The Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar shall treat
the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in
the Securities Register as
-25-
the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving
distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Trustees
nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.
Section 5.7. Access to List of Securityholders' Names
and Addresses.
--------------
At any time when the Property Trustee is not also acting as the
Securities Registrar, the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor shall furnish
or cause to be furnished to the Property Trustee (a) semi-annually on or before
January 15 or July 15 in each year, a list, in such form as the Property Trustee
may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of
the most recent regular record date (as provided in Section 4.1(d)) and (b)
promptly after receipt by any Administrative Trustee or the Depositor of a
request therefor from the Property Trustee, such other information as the
Property Trustee may reasonably require in order to enable the Property Trustee
to discharge its obligations under this Trust Agreement, in each case to the
extent such information is in the possession or control of the Administrative
Trustees or the Depositor and is not identical to a previously supplied list or
has not otherwise been received by the Property Trustee in its capacity as
Securities Registrar. The rights of Securityholders to communicate with other
Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Trust Agreement or under
the Trust Securities, and the corresponding rights of the Trustee shall be as
provided in the Trust Indenture Act. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a
Trust Securities Certificate, and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not
to hold the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees
accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of
the source from which such information was derived.
Section 5.8. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
-------------------------------
The Administrative Trustees shall maintain an office or offices or
agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or
upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served.
The Administrative Trustees initially designate Wisconsin Energy Corporation,
000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000, Attn: Chief Financial
Officer, as its principal corporate trust office for such purposes. The
Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to
the Securityholder of any change in the location of the Securities Register or
any such office or agency.
Section 5.9. Appointment of Paying Agent.
---------------------------
The Paying Agent shall make distributions to Securityholders from the
Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such distributions to the
Property Trustee and
-26-
the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to
withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the
distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such
power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole
discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations
under this Trust Agreement in any material respect. The Paying Agent shall
initially be the Bank. The Paying Agent may choose any co-paying agent that is
acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor. Any Person acting
as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days'
written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the
Depositor. In the event that the Bank shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a
successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the
Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the
Property Trustee and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank
or trust company). The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor Paying
Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees to
execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying
Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying
Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all
sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the
benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to
such Securityholders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the
Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also
return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of
Sections 8.1, 8.3 and 8.6 herein shall apply to the Bank also in its role as
Paying Agent, for so long as the Bank shall act as Paying Agent and, to the
extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference
in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless
the context requires otherwise.
Section 5.10. Ownership of Common Securities by
Depositor.
----------
At each Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire and retain
beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. To the fullest extent
permitted by law, other than transactions permitted by Section 5.01of the
Indenture, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities shall be void. The
Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to
the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE
OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TRUST AGREEMENT (AS DEFINED BELOW)" .
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Section 5.11. Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates;
Common Securities Certificate.
-----------------------------
(a) The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original issuance,
will be issued in the form of a typewritten Preferred Securities Certificate or
Certificates representing Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, to be
delivered to The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or
on behalf of, the Trust. Such Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates
shall initially be registered on the Securities Register in the name of Cede &
Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency, and no beneficial owner will
receive a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate representing such
beneficial owner's interest in such Preferred Securities, except as provided in
Section 5.13. Unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates
have been issued to beneficial owners pursuant to Section 5.13:
(i) the provisions of this Section 5.11(a) shall be in full force
and effect;
(ii) the Securities Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Trustees
shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this
Trust Agreement relating to the Book-Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates (including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and
Distributions on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate and the
giving of instructions or directions to Owners of Book-Entry Preferred
Securities) as the sole Holder of Book-Entry Preferred Securities and shall
have no obligations to the Owners thereof;
(iii) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 5.11
conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the provisions
of this Section 5.11 shall control; and
(iv) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred
Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency
and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between
such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency
Participants. Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and
until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to
Section 5.13, the initial Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers
among the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments on
the Preferred Securities to such Clearing Agency Participants.
(b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the Common
Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive Common
Securities Certificate.
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Section 5.12. Notices to Clearing Agency.
--------------------------
To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is
required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section
5.13, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified
herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no
obligations to the Owners.
Section 5.13. Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates.
--------------------------------------------
If (a) the Depositor advises the Trustees in writing that the Clearing
Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities
with respect to the Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is
unable to locate a qualified successor, (b) the Depositor at its option advises
the Trustees in writing that it elects to terminate the book-entry system
through the Clearing Agency or (c) after the occurrence of a Debenture Event of
Default, Owners of Preferred Securities Certificates representing beneficial
ownership interests aggregating at least a majority of the Liquidation Amount
advise the Property Trustee in writing that the continuation of a book-entry
system through the Clearing Agency is no longer in the best interest of the
Owners of Preferred Securities Certificates, then the Property Trustee shall
notify the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency shall notify all Owners of
Preferred Securities Certificates and the other Trustees of the occurrence of
any such event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates to Owners of such class or classes, as applicable, requesting the
same. Upon surrender to the Property Trustee of the typewritten Preferred
Securities Certificate or Certificates representing the Book-Entry Preferred
Securities Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration
instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions
of the Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall
be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively
rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the
issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall
recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as
Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be
printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the
execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of them.
Section 5.14. Rights of Securityholders.
-------------------------
(a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and
the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust conferred by
their Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call
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for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except
as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only
the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement. By
acceptance of a beneficial interest in the Trust Securities, Holders agree to
treat the Debentures as indebtedness for all United States tax purposes. The
Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and
delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor will
be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. The Holders of the Trust
Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same
limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private
corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
(b) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if,
upon a Debenture Event of Default, the Indenture Trustee fails or the holders of
not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures
fail to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and
payable, the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have such right by a notice in
writing to the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee; and upon any such
declaration such principal amount of and the accrued interest on all of the
Debentures shall become immediately due and payable; provided that the payment
of principal and interest on such Debentures shall remain subordinated to the
extent provided in the Indenture. At any time after such a declaration of
acceleration with respect to the Debentures has been made and before a judgment
or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Indenture
Trustee as in the Indenture provided, the Holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee,
the Depositor and the Indenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration
and its consequences if:
(i) the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee
a sum sufficient to pay
(A) all overdue installments of interest on all of the
Debentures,
(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Debentures
which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of
acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures,
and
(C) all sums paid or advanced by the Indenture Trustee under
the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Indenture Trustee and the Property Trustee, their
agents and counsel; and
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(ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures, other
than the non-payment of the principal of the Debentures which has become
due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in
Section 8.01 of the Indenture.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred
Securities, waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the
payment of principal or interest (unless such default has been cured and a sum
sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due
otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Indenture Trustee) or
a default in respect of a covenant or provision which under the Indenture cannot
be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Debenture. No such waiver or rescission shall affect any subsequent default or
impair any right consequent thereon. Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of
written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment
thereof, by Holders of the Preferred Securities all or part of which is
represented by Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates, a record date shall
be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities
entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of
business on the day the Property Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on
such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall
be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders
after such record date; provided, that, unless such declaration of acceleration,
--------
or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by
virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day
which is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of
acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall
automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no
further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of
a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written
notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as
the case may be, that is identical to a written notice which has been canceled
pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record
date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.14(b).
(c) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, to the
fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement
and the Indenture, upon a Debenture Event of Default specified in Section
6.01(1) or 6.01(2) of the Indenture, any Holder of Preferred Securities shall
have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor,
pursuant to the Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the
principal amount of or interest on Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder (a "Direct
------
Action"). In connection with any such Direct Action, the Holder of the Common
------
Securities will be subrogated to the rights of any Holder of the Preferred
Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Depositor to such Holder of
Preferred Securities as a result of such Direct Action. Except
-31-
as set forth in Section 5.14(b) and (c), the Holders of Preferred Securities
shall have no right to exercise directly any right or remedy available to the
holders of, or in respect of, the Debentures.
ARTICLE VI
ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
Section 6.1. Limitations on Voting Rights.
----------------------------
(a) Except as provided in this Section, in Sections 5.14, 8.10 and
10.2 and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of
Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise
control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the
obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or
contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as
to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of an
association.
(b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property Trustee, the
Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee, or executing any
trust or power conferred on the Indenture Trustee with respect to such
Debentures, (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Section 6.04 of
the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that
the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to
any amendment or modification under Section 10.02 or termination of the
Indenture or any amendment, modification or termination of the Debentures, where
such consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior
approval of the Holders of at least a majority in Liquidation Amount of all
Outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under
the Indenture would require the consent of each Holder of Debentures affected
thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the
prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Trustees
shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the
Holders of Preferred Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of
Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the
Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the Indenture
Trustee with respect to the Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing
approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the
foregoing actions, the Trustees shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain
an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust
will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States Federal income tax purposes on account of such action.
-32-
(c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or
the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely
affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or
otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust,
other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of
Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such
amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of the Holders of at least a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be
made if, as a result of such amendment, the Trust would be classified as an
association taxable as a corporation for United States Federal income tax
purposes.
Section 6.2. Notice of Meetings.
------------------
Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the
time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee
pursuant to Section 10.8 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at his
registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the
meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be
so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned
meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.
Section 6.3. Meetings of Preferred Securityholders.
-------------------------------------
No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The
Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to
vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of
record of 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities (based
upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property
Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of Preferred
Securityholders to vote on any matters as to which Preferred Securityholders are
entitled to vote.
Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount), present in person or
by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders.
If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the
Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding a
majority of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) held
by the Preferred Securityholders of record present, either in person or by
proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders,
unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of affirmative votes.
-33-
Section 6.4. Voting Rights.
-------------
Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $25 of
Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any
matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote.
Section 6.5. Proxies, etc.
------------
At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote
thereat may vote by proxy; provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting
--------
unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or
with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may
direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken.
Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in
the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property
Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust
Securities are held jointly by several persons, any one of them may vote at any
meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more
than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and
such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be
cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A
proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be
deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of
proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more
than three years after its date of execution.
Section 6.6. Securityholder Action by Written Consent.
----------------------------------------
Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be
taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding a majority of all Outstanding
Trust Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) entitled to vote in
respect of such action (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required
by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in
writing.
Section 6.7. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.
-----------------------------------------
For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled
to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate
in any distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is
not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any
other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not
more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the
payment of a distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date
for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such
purposes.
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Section 6.8. Acts of Securityholders.
-----------------------
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made
or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more
instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in
person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such
instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Securityholders
signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such
instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any
purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 8.1) conclusive in favor
of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by
law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where
such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or
writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved
in any other manner which any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.
The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the
Securities Register.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future
Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust
Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange
therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to
be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not
notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.
Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to
take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so
with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security
or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such
appointment with regard to all or any part of such liquidation amount.
-35-
If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders and the
Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect
to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand,
authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or
Trustee under this Article VI, then the determination of such matter by the
Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.
Section 6.9. Inspection of Records.
---------------------
Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders
during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such
Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder.
ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.
-----------------------------------------
The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on
behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of
the Depositor and the Securityholders that:
(a) the Property Trustee is a national banking association duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
United States;
(b) the Property Trustee meets the applicable eligibility requirements
set forth in Section 8.7, has full corporate power, authority and legal
right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;
(c) the Delaware Trustee is a Delaware corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing in the State of Delaware;
(d) the Delaware Trustee meets the applicable eligibility requirements
set forth in Section 8.7, has full corporate power, authority and legal
right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement and has taken all neces-
-36-
sary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of
this Trust Agreement;
(e) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and constitutes
the valid and legally binding agreement of each of the Property Trustee and
the Delaware Trustee enforceable against each of them in accordance with
its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles;
(f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the
part of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and do not require
any approval of stockholders of the Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate
the charter or by-laws of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee,
(ii) violate any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or
lapse of time, a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of,
any Lien on any properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the
provisions of, any indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other
agreement or instrument to which the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) violate any law,
governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of
Delaware, as the case may be, governing the corporate, banking, trust or
general powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (as
appropriate in context) or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;
(g) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the
consummation of any of the transactions by the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, contemplated herein or therein
requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the
registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any
governmental authority or agency under any existing Federal law governing
the banking, trust or general powers of the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee (as appropriate in context) or under the laws of the
United States or the State of Delaware; and
(h) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of each of the
Property Trustee's and the Delaware Trustee's knowledge, threatened against
or affecting the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court or
before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal
which, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely
affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may
-37-
be, to enter into or perform its obligations as one of the Trustees under
this Trust Agreement.
Section 7.2. Representations and Warranties of
Depositor.
---------------------------------
The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Securityholders that:
(a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued at each Closing Date on
behalf of the Trust have been duly authorized and will have been, duly and
validly executed, issued and delivered by the Trustees pursuant to the
terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this
Trust Agreement, and the Securityholders will be, as of each such date,
entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement; and
(b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by
the Trust (or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust) under the laws of the
State of Delaware or any political subdivision thereof in connection with
the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
THE TRUSTEES
Section 8.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.
-----------------------------------
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as
provided by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee,
subject to the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision
of this Trust Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of
their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if
they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust
Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall be construed to release the Property
Trustee from liability for its own gross negligent action, its own gross
negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct. To the extent that, at
law or in equity, an Administrative Trustee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to
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the Securityholders, such Administrative Trustee shall not be liable to the
Trust or to any Securityholder for such Trustee's good faith reliance on the
provisions of this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to
the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrative
Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and
the Securityholders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the
Administrative Trustees.
(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in
respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds
from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient
revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a
Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each
Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look
solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally
available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are
not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust
Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This
Section 8.1(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth
elsewhere in this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, in
the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action or its own
negligent failure to act, except that:
(i) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property
Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent
in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under
this Trust Agreement;
(iii) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the
custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the
Payment Account shall be to deal with such Property in similar manner as
the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own account,
subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the
Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement and the Trust Indenture Act;
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(iv) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on
any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the
Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated
from other funds held by it except in relation to the Payment Account
maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to
the extent otherwise required by law; and
(v) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring
the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor with their
respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall the Property
Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of the Administrative
Trustees or the Depositor.
Section 8.2. Certain Notices.
---------------
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such Event of
Default to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived.
Within five Business Days after the receipt of notice of the
Depositor's exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the
Debentures pursuant to the Indenture, the Administrative Trustee shall transmit,
in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 10.8, notice of such
exercise to the Securityholders and the Property Trustee, unless such exercise
shall have been revoked.
Section 8.3. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
----------------------------------
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:
(a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting
or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of
Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee,
certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond,
debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the
proper party or parties;
(b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the
Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of
action or (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement
the Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any
other provisions contained herein or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure
of the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, ex-
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cept as to any matter as to which the Preferred Securityholders are
entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property
Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting written
instructions of the Depositor as to the course of action to be taken and
the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such
action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or
to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that if the
Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within
ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably
shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent
practicable shall not be less than two Business Days), it may, but shall be
under no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent
with this Trust Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best
interests of the Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall
have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful
misconduct;
(c) any direction or act of the Depositor or the Administrative
Trustees contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently
evidenced by an Officers Certificate;
(d) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement, the
Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be established
before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the
Property Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed)
may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an
Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be
promptly delivered by the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees;
(e) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or
continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any
rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof;
(f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may
be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any
of its employees) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete
authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in
accordance with such advice, such counsel may be counsel to the Depositor
or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees; the
Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Trust Agreement from any court of
competent jurisdiction;
(g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request
or direction of any
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of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such
Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable
security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(h) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval,
bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or
document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more
Securityholders, but the Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or
investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;
(i) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through
its agents or attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be
responsible for its own negligence or recklessness with respect to
selection of any agent or attorney appointed by it hereunder;
(j) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the
Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with
respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action
hereunder the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
Holders of the Trust Securities which instructions may only be given by the
Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Trust
Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the
terms of the Trust Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action,
(ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other
action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected
in acting in accordance with such instructions; and
(k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement,
the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action
that is discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement.
No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or
exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee
shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to
perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee
shall be construed to be a duty.
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Section 8.4. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
------------------------------------------------------
The recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Depositor, and the Trustees do not
assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be
accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the
Debentures.
Section 8.5. May Hold Securities.
-------------------
Any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust
Securities and, subject to Sections 8.8 and 8.13 and except as provided in the
definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, may otherwise deal with the
Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other
agent.
Section 8.6. Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.
-----------------------------
Pursuant to the Indenture, the Depositor, as borrower, agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation
for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not
be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision
of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence
or bad faith; and
(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify
and hold harmless (i) each Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Trustee,
(iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or agent
of any Trustee, and (iv) any employee or agent of the Trust or its
Affiliates, (referred to herein as an "Indemnified Person") from and
------------------
against any loss, damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim of any
kind or nature whatsoever incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of
the creation, operation or termination of the Trust or any act or omission
performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of
the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be
within the scope of authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this
Trust Agreement, except that no Indemnified Person
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shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim
incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of gross negligence or
willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.
(d) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to advance
expenses (including legal fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in
defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding, from time to time,
prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by the Depositor of (i) a written affirmation by or
on behalf of the Indemnified Person of its or his good faith belief that it
or he has met the standard of conduct set forth in this Section 8.6 and
(ii) an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay such
amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not
entitled to be indemnified as authorized in the preceding subsection.
The provisions of this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of
this Trust Agreement or the resignation or removal of any Trustee.
No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any Trust Property as a
result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.6.
Section 8.7. Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of
---------------------------------------------------
Trustees.
--------
(a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this
Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of
this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article.
(b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees
hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee
shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal
entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that
entity.
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(c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to
the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person
who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii)
a legal entity with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and
that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law that shall act
through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.
Section 8.8. Conflicting Interests.
---------------------
If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest
within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust
Agreement. The Depositor and any Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in
other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with
others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and
the Holders of Trust Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Trust
Agreement in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived
therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the
business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. Neither the
Depositor, nor any Trustee, shall be obligated to present any particular
investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a
character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and the
Depositor or any Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account
(individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such
particular investment or other opportunity. Any Trustee may engage or be
interested in any financial or other transaction with the Depositor or any
Affiliate of the Depositor, or may act as depository for, trustee or agent for,
or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations
of the Depositor or its Affiliates.
Section 8.9. Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee.
--------------------------------
Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at
any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the
Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust
Property may at the time be located, the Depositor and the Administrative
Trustees, by agreed action of the majority of such Trustees, shall have power to
appoint, and upon the written request of the Administrative Trustees, the
Depositor shall for such purpose join with the Administrative Trustees in the
execution, delivery, and performance of all instruments and agreements necessary
or proper to appoint, one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee
either to act as co-trustee jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any
part of such Trust Property, or to the extent required by law to act as separate
trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided
in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in the
capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or
desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section. If the Depositor
does not join in such appointment within
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15 days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, or in case a Debenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone
shall have power to make such appointment. Any co-trustee or separate trustee
appointed pursuant to this Section shall either be (i) a natural person who is
at least 21 years of age and a resident of the United States or (ii) a legal
entity with its principal place of business in the United States that shall act
through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity.
Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any
co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such
co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and
all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered
by the Depositor.
Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms,
namely:
(a) The Trust Securities shall be executed and delivered and all
rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereunder in respect of the custody
of securities, cash and other personal property held by, or required to be
deposited or pledged with, the Trustees specified hereunder, shall be
exercised, solely by such Trustees and not by such co-trustee or separate
trustee.
(b) The rights, powers, duties, and obligations hereby conferred or
imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any property covered by
such appointment shall be conferred or imposed upon and exercised or
performed by the Property Trustee or by the Property Trustee and such co-
trustee or separate trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument
appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the extent that
under any law of any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be
performed, the Property Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to
perform such act, in which event such rights, powers, duties and
obligations shall be exercised and performed by such co-trustee or separate
trustee.
(c) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument in writing
executed by it, with the written concurrence of the Depositor, may accept
the resignation of or remove any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed
under this Section, and, in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall have power to accept the
resignation of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate trustee without
the concurrence of the Depositor. Upon the written request of the Property
Trustee, the Depositor shall join with the Property Trustee in the
execution, delivery and performance of all instruments and agreements
necessary or proper to effectuate such resignation or removal. A successor
to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may be
appointed in the manner provided in this Section.
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(d) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be personally
liable by reason of any act or omission of the Property Trustee or any
other trustee hereunder.
(e) The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of any act of
a co-trustee or separate trustee.
(f) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee shall be
deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee and separate trustee.
Section 8.10. Resignation and Removal, Appointment of Successor.
-------------------------------------------------
No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and
----------------
no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in
accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.11.
Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Relevant Trustee
may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Securityholders.
If the instrument of acceptance by the successor Trustee required by Section
8.11 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 30 days after
the giving of such notice of resignation, the Relevant Trustee may petition
(pursuant to the Indenture, at the expense of the Depositor), any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee.
Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Common
Securityholder. If a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may
be removed at such time by Act of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its
individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may
be removed by the Common Securityholder at any time.
If any Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting
as Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any
cause, at a time when no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder
delivered to the retiring Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or
Trustees, and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements
of Section 8.11. If the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall resign,
be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Property Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, at a time when a Debenture Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Preferred Securityholders, by
Act of the Securityholders of a
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majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding
delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor
Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the
applicable requirements of Section 8.11.
If an Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become
incapable of acting as Administrative Trustee, at a time when a Debenture Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Common Securityholder by
Act of the Common Securityholder delivered to the Administrative Trustee shall
promptly appoint a successor Administrative Trustee or Administrative Trustees
and such successor Administrative Trustee or Trustees shall comply with the
applicable requirements of Section 8.11. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall
have been so appointed by the Common Securityholder or the Preferred
Securityholders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.11,
any Securityholder who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities for at
least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Relevant Trustee.
The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all
Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 10.8 and shall give notice to
the Depositor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant
Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property
Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust
Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is
a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent
or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity
may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of remaining Administrative Trustees if
there are at least two of them or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the
successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement
for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, set forth
in Section 8.7).
Section 8.11. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
--------------------------------------
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee,
the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect
to the Trust Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein
each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a)
shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities and the Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the
provisions of this Trust Agreement as shall be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it
being understood that nothing herein or in such amend-
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ment shall constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution
and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring
Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each
such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance,
shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the
retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor
Relevant Trustee such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds
thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect
to the Trust Securities and the Trust.
Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts
referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case way be.
No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified
and eligible under this Article.
Section 8.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
--------------------------------------------------
Business.
--------
Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such
Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or
substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall
be the successor of such Relevant Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation
shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the
parties hereto.
Section 8.13. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or
------------------------------------------------------
Trust.
-----
If and when the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be or
become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the
Debentures or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, shall be subject to and shall take all actions
necessary in order to comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such
other obligor).
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Section 8.14. Reports by the Property Trustee.
-------------------------------
(a) The Property Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders such
reports concerning the Property Trustee and its actions under this Trust
Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times
and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of
the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall, within sixty days after
each June 30 following the date of this Trust Agreement deliver to
Securityholders a brief report, dated as of such June 30, which complies with
the provisions of such Section 313(a).
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such
transmission to Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with each national
stock exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or such other interdealer quotation
system or self-regulatory organization upon which the Trust Securities are
listed or traded, with the Commission and with the Depositor.
Section 8.15. Reports to the Property Trustee.
-------------------------------
The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form,
in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture
Act.
Section 8.16. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
------------------------------------------------
Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that relate
to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to
Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate.
Section 8.17. Number of Trustees.
------------------
(a) The number of Trustees shall be four, provided that the Holder of
all of the Common Securities by written instrument may increase or decrease the
number of Administrative Trustees. The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
may be the same Person, subject to the applicable eligibility requirements set
forth herein.
(b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number
of Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 8.17(a), or if the
number of Trustees
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is increased pursuant to Section 8.17(a), a vacancy shall occur. The vacancy
shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 8.10.
(c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy,
incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate
to annul, dissolve or terminate the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the number of
Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the
appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.10, the
Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and
notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement), shall have all the
powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties
imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.
Section 8.18. Delegation of Power.
-------------------
(a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent
with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his
or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
2.7(a), including any registration statement or amendment thereto filed with the
Commission, or making any other governmental filing; and
(b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from
time to time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such
things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or
the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative
Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by
applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust Agreement, as set
forth herein.
ARTICLE IX
TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
Section 9.1. Dissolution Upon Expiration Date.
--------------------------------
Unless earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on
December 31, 2048 (the "Expiration Date"). Thereafter, the Trust Property shall
---------------
be distributed in accordance with Section 9.4.
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Section 9.2. Early Dissolution.
-----------------
The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early
Termination Event", the occurrence of which shall cause a dissolution of the
Trust:
(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the
dissolution or liquidation of, the Depositor;
(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from the Depositor
at any time (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion
of the Depositor) to dissolve the Trust and distribute Debentures to
Securityholders in exchange for the Preferred Securities;
(c) the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities; and
(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction.
Section 9.3. Termination.
-----------
As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to
in Section 9.1 or 9.2, and upon the completion of the winding up and liquidation
of the Trust under Section 9.4, the Trustees (each of whom is hereby authorized
to take such action) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware terminating the Trust and, upon such filing,
the respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Trust
created and continued hereby shall terminate.
Section 9.4. Liquidation.
-----------
(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b) or (d)
of Section 9.2 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be liquidated
by the Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by
distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as
provided by applicable law, to each Securityholder a Like Amount of Debentures,
subject to Section 9.4(d). Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Property
Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid mailed not later than 30 nor more
than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at
such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of
liquidation shall:
(i) state the Liquidation Date;
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(ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust
Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and any Trust
Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to
represent a Like Amount of Debentures; and
(iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by
which Holders may exchange Trust Securities Certificates for Debentures, or
if Section 9.4(d) applies receive a Liquidation Distribution, as the
Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.
(b) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to effect
the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Debentures to
Securityholders, the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such
distribution (which shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation
Date) and, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of
a separate exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem
appropriate to effect the distribution of Debentures in exchange for the
Outstanding Trust Securities Certificates.
(c) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the
Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be
Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Debentures will be
issued to Holders of Trust Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such
certificates to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange, (iii)
the Depositor shall use its reasonable efforts to have the Debentures listed on
the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange, interdealer quotation
system or self-regulatory organization as the Preferred Securities are then
listed, (iv) any Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange
will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Debentures, accruing interest at
the rate provided for in the Debentures from the last Distribution Date on which
a Distribution was made on such Trust Securities Certificates until such
certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered,
no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Trust Securities
Certificates with respect to such Debentures) and (v) all rights of
Securityholders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such
Securityholders to receive Debentures upon surrender of Trust Securities
Certificates.
(d) In the event that, upon the Expiration Date or the occurrence of
an Early Termination Event, notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section
9.4, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the manner provided
herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, the Trust
Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be wound-up by the Property
Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee determines. In such event,
Securityholders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust
available for distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities
to creditors of the Trust as
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provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust
Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of
payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If, upon any such
------------------------
winding-up, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the
Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation
Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable
by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based
upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled
to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such winding-up pro rata
(determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if
a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities.
Section 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements
of the Trust.
------------------------------------------------------
The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, convert into,
amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, except pursuant to this
Section 9.5 or Section 9.4. At the request of the Depositor, with the consent of
the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, the Trust
may merge with or into, consolidate, convert into, amalgamate, or be replaced by
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided,
that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the
obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities or (b)
substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially
the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long
--------------------
as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in
priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption
and otherwise, (ii) the Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor
entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as the
holder of the Debentures, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed or traded,
or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any
national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed or traded, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation,
conversion, amalgama-
-54-
tion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred
Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger,
consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose substantially
identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation,
conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the
Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) such merger,
consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect, and (b) following such merger, consolidation, conversion,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor
such successor entity will be required to register as an investment company
under the 1940 Act and (viii) the Depositor owns all of the common securities of
such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity
under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of
Holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, convert into or be replaced by or convey,
transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
other Person or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with
or into, or replace it if such consolidation, conversion, amalgamation, merger,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the
successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States Federal income tax purposes.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 10.1. Limitation of Rights of Securityholders.
---------------------------------------
The death, incapacity, dissolution, bankruptcy or termination of any
Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall
not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement nor dissolve, terminate or annul
the Trust nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any
Securityholder for such person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring
any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding-up of the arrangements
contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and
liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.
Section 10.2. Amendment.
---------
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Trustees and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) to
cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein which may be
inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions
with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which
shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, or
(ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to
such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified
for United States
-55-
Federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust
Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to
register as an investment company under the 1940 Act; provided, however, that in
the case of clause (ii), such action shall not adversely affect in any material
respect the interests of any Securityholder, and any such amendments of this
Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the
Securityholders.
(b) Except as provided in Section 6.1(c) or Section 10.2(c) hereof,
any provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustees and the
Depositor with (i) the consent of Trust Securityholders representing not less
than a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then
Outstanding and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees
in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a
grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes or the Trust's
exemption from status of an investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this
Trust Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder, this Trust
Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any
Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of
any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a
specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date; notwithstanding
any other provision herein, without the unanimous consent of the
Securityholders, this paragraph (c) of this Section 10.2 may not be amended.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no
Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement
which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from
status of an investment company under the 1940 Act or fail or cease to be
classified as a grantor trust for United States Federal income tax purposes.
(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary,
this Trust Agreement may not be amended in a manner which imposes any additional
obligation on the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee
without the consent of the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be.
(f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made,
the Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of
such amendment.
(g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be
required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement which affects its
own rights, duties or
-56-
immunities under this Trust Agreement. The Property Trustee shall be entitled to
receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers' Certificate stating that any
amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance with this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.3. Separability.
------------
In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust
Securities Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.4. Governing Law.
-------------
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF
SECURITYHOLDERS, THE TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR AND THE TRUSTEES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND ALL
RIGHTS AND REMEDIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SUCH LAWS WITHOUT REGARD TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE OR ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION THAT WOULD CALL FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER
JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF DELAWARE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THERE
SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO THE SECURITYHOLDERS, THE TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR, THE
TRUSTEES OR THIS TRUST AGREEMENT ANY PROVISION OF THE LAWS (STATUTORY OR COMMON)
OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE PERTAINING TO TRUSTS THAT RELATE TO OR REGULATE, IN A
MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS HEREOF (A) THE FILING WITH ANY COURT OR
GOVERNMENT BODY OR AGENCY OF TRUSTEE ACCOUNTS OR SCHEDULES OF TRUSTEE FEES AND
CHARGES, (B) AFFIRMATIVE REQUIREMENTS TO POST BONDS FOR TRUSTEES, OFFICERS,
AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES OF A TRUST, (C) THE NECESSITY FOR OBTAINING COURT OR OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL CONCERNING THE ACQUISITION, HOLDING OR DISPOSITION OF REAL
OR PERSONAL PROPERTY, (D) FEES OR OTHER SUMS PAYABLE TO TRUSTEES, OFFICERS,
AGENTS OR EMPLOYEES OF A TRUST, (E) THE ALLOCATION OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
TO INCOME OR PRINCIPAL, (F) RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS ON THE PERMISSIBLE
NATURE, AMOUNT OR CONCENTRATION OF TRUST INVESTMENTS OR REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO
THE TITLING, STORAGE OR OTHER MANNER OF HOLDING OR INVESTING TRUST ASSETS OR (G)
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FIDUCIARY OR OTHER STANDARDS OF RESPONSIBILITY OR
LIMITATIONS ON THE ACTS OR POWERS OF TRUSTEES THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE
LIMITATIONS OR LIABILITIES OR AUTHORITIES AND POWERS OF THE TRUSTEES AS SET
FORTH OR REFERENCED IN THIS TRUST
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AGREEMENT. SECTION 3540 OF TITLE 12 OF THE DELAWARE CODE SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE
TRUST.
Section 10.5. Payments Due on Non-Business Day.
--------------------------------
If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day
that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but
may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (except as
otherwise provided in Sections 4.1(a) and 4.2(d)), with the same force and
effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no interest shall
accrue thereon for the period after such date.
Section 10.6. Successors.
----------
This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant Trustee,
including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with
transactions permitted under Article 5 of the Indenture and pursuant to which
the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder,
the Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.
Section 10.7. Headings.
--------
The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall
not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.8. Reports, Notices and Demands.
----------------------------
Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any
provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served
to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing
by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand
delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of
a Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as such
Securityholder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b)
in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Wisconsin Energy
Corporation, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention:
Chief Financial Officer, facsimile no.: (000) 000-0000. Such notice, demand or
other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been
sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or
transmission.
Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of
this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon
the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative
Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published
by the Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the
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Property Trustee to First National Bank of Chicago, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 00000-0000 Attention: Corporate Trust Services Division; (b)
with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to First Chicago Delaware, Inc. 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, 00000, Attention: Corporate Trust Division; and
(c) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above
for notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention Administrative Trustees of WEC
Capital Trust I." Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the
Trust or the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or
made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust or the Property
Trustee.
Section 10.9. Agreement Not to Petition.
-------------------------
Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the
Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has
been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join in
the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United
States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in
---------------
the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law.
In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the
Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, that at the expense
of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise
properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust
or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has
agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped and precluded
therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustee or the
Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.9 shall survive the
termination of this Trust Agreement.
Section 10.10. Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture
Act.
--------------------------------------------------
(a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust Agreement and shall, to
the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
(b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee
for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with
another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust
Agreement by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required
provision shall control. If any provision of this Trust Agreement modifies or
excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be
-59-
so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this
Trust Agreement as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
(d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust
Agreement shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities
representing undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the
Trust.
Section 10.11. Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and
Indenture.
-----------------------------------------------------
THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN
BY OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY
SIGNATURE OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL
ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
INTEREST IN SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST
AGREEMENT AND AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE
GUARANTEE AND THE INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST,
SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST
AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND
SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.
S-1
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT is executed as of the date first above written.
WISCONSIN ENERGY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Treasurer and Chief Financial
Officer
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as
Property Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC., as Delaware
Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx,
as Administrative Trustee
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
as Administrative Trustee
EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
WEC CAPITAL TRUST I
This Certificate of Trust of WEC Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), dated
-----
February 25, 1999, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as
trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12
Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).
-- ---
1. Name. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is WEC
----
Capital Trust I.
2. Delaware Trustee. The name and business address of the trustee of
----------------
the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware are as
follows:
First Chicago Delaware Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
3. Effective Date. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective
--------------
immediately upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware.
In Witness Whereof, the undersigned, being all of the trustees of the
Trust, have executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above
written.
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, as
Property Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC., as Delaware
Trustee
-2-
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx as Administrative Trustee
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx as Administrative Trustee
EXHIBIT B
To Amended and Restated Trust Agreement
Standard DTC Letter of Representation (Not Included in Xxxxx Filing)
EXHIBIT C
THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE OTHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE TRUST AGREEMENT (AS DEFINED BELOW)
Certificate Number: C-1 Number Of Common Securities: 248,000
CUSIP No.:
Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
WEC CAPITAL TRUST I
6.85% Common Securities
(Liquidation Amount $25 Per Common Security)
WEC Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws
of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Wisconsin Energy
-----
Corporation (the "Holder") is the registered owner of 248,000 common securities
------
of the Trust representing undivided beneficial ownership interests of the Trust
and designated the 6.85% Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common
Security) (the "Common Securities"). To the extent set forth in Section 5.10 of
-----------------
the Trust Agreement (as defined below) the Common Securities are not
transferable and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void. The designations,
rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of
the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to
the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Trust dated as of March 25, 1999, as the same may be amended from time to time
(the "Trust Agreement") including the designation of the terms of the Common
---------------
Securities as set forth therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust
Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its
principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
-2-
In Witness Whereof, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust
has executed this certificate this 25th day of March 1999.
WEC CAPITAL TRUST I
By: ______________________________
Name:
Administrative Trustee
EXHIBIT D
If the Preferred Security is to be a Global Certificate Insert:
THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE WITHIN THE
MEANING OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE
"DEPOSITORY") OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY. THIS PREFERRED
----------
SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR PREFERRED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE
LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT AND NO TRANSFER
OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED
SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY
OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE
OF THE DEPOSITORY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW
YORK) TO WEC CAPITAL TRUST I OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF
-
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY ISSUED IS
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED
BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND
ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR
OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL
INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST
HEREIN.
Certificate Number: P-1 Number Of Preferred Securities
Cusip No.929-23G-204
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
WEC CAPITAL TRUST I
-2-
6.85% TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(Liquidation Amount $25 Per Preferred Security)
WEC Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws
of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. (the
-----
"Holder") is the registered owner of 8,000,000 preferred securities of the Trust
-------
representing an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the assets of the
Trust and designated the 6.85% Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred
---------
Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records
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of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this
certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section
5.4 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights,
privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the
Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to
the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the
Trust dated as of March 25, 1999 as the same may be amended from time to time
(the "Trust Agreement") including the designation of the terms of Preferred
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Securities as set forth therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the
Guarantee Agreement entered into by Wisconsin Energy Corporation, a Wisconsin
corporation, and First National Bank of Chicago, as guarantee trustee, dated as
of March 25, 1999, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of
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the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the Holder without charge upon written
request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office.
Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.
In Witness Whereof, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust
has executed this certificate this 25th day of March, 1999.
WEC CAPITAL TRUST I
By: _________________________________________
Name:
Administrative Trustee
ASSIGNMENT
For Value Received, the undersigned assigns and transfers this
Preferred Security to:
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee's social security
or tax identification number)
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
(Insert address and zip code of assignee)
and irrevocably appoints
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
agent to transfer this Preferred Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.
The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.
Date: ________________________
Signature: ______________________________________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side
of this Preferred Security Certificate)
_______________________________________________________________
The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution
(banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with
membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to
S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.
