ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY TRANSITION BOND COMPANY LLC,
ISSUER,
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
INDENTURE TRUSTEE
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF AUGUST 21, 2003
ISSUABLE IN SERIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.......................2
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.................................................2
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act...........2
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction.......................................2
ARTICLE II THE BONDS........................................................3
SECTION 2.01. Form........................................................3
SECTION 2.02. Denominations; Bonds Issuable in Series.....................3
SECTION 2.03. Execution, Authentication and Delivery......................4
SECTION 2.04. Temporary Bonds.............................................5
SECTION 2.05. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange
of Bonds..................................................5
SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Bonds..................7
SECTION 2.07. Persons Deemed Owner........................................7
SECTION 2.08. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest;
Interest on Overdue Principal; Principal, Premium,
if any, and Interest Rights Preserved.....................8
SECTION 2.09. Cancellation................................................9
SECTION 2.10. Outstanding Amount; Authentication and Delivery of Bonds....9
SECTION 2.11. Book-Entry Bonds...........................................18
SECTION 2.12. Notices to Clearing Agency.................................19
SECTION 2.13. Definitive Bonds...........................................19
SECTION 2.14. CUSIP Number...............................................19
SECTION 2.15. Letter of Representations..................................19
SECTION 2.16. Special Terms Applicable to Subsequent Transfers of
Certain Bonds............................................20
SECTION 2.17. Tax Treatment..............................................20
SECTION 2.18. State Pledge...............................................21
SECTION 2.19. Security Interests.........................................21
ARTICLE III COVENANTS.......................................................22
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest........22
SECTION 3.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency............................22
SECTION 3.03. Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust.....................23
SECTION 3.04. Existence..................................................24
SECTION 3.05. Protection of Collateral...................................24
SECTION 3.06. Opinions as to Collateral..................................25
SECTION 3.07. Performance of Obligations; Servicing; SEC Filings.........26
SECTION 3.08. Certain Negative Covenants.................................29
SECTION 3.09. Annual Statement as to Compliance..........................30
SECTION 3.10. Issuer May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms........30
SECTION 3.11. Successor or Transferee....................................32
SECTION 3.12. No Other Business..........................................32
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SECTION 3.13. No Borrowing...............................................32
SECTION 3.14. Servicer's Obligations.....................................32
SECTION 3.15. Guarantees, Loans, Advances and Other Liabilities..........32
SECTION 3.16. Capital Expenditures.......................................33
SECTION 3.17. Restricted Payments........................................33
SECTION 3.18. Notice of Events of Default................................33
SECTION 3.19. Further Instruments and Acts...............................33
SECTION 3.20. Purchase of Subsequent Transition Property.................33
SECTION 3.21. Inspection.................................................35
SECTION 3.22. Sale Agreement, Intercreditor Agreement, Administration
Agreement, and Servicing Agreement Covenants.............35
SECTION 3.23. Taxes......................................................36
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE..........................36
SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance........36
SECTION 4.02. Conditions to Defeasance...................................38
SECTION 4.03. Application of Trust Money.................................39
SECTION 4.04. Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent...................39
ARTICLE V REMEDIES........................................................40
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default..........................................40
SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.........41
SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement
by Indenture Trustee.....................................42
SECTION 5.04. Remedies; Priorities.......................................44
SECTION 5.05. Optional Preservation of the Collateral....................45
SECTION 5.06. Limitation of Suits........................................45
SECTION 5.07. Unconditional Rights of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium, if any, and Interest............................46
SECTION 5.08. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.........................46
SECTION 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.............................46
SECTION 5.10. Delay or Omission Not a Waiver.............................46
SECTION 5.11. Control by Holders.........................................46
SECTION 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults....................................47
SECTION 5.13. Undertaking for Costs......................................47
SECTION 5.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws...........................48
SECTION 5.15. Action on Bonds............................................48
SECTION 5.16. Performance and Enforcement of Certain Obligations.........48
ARTICLE VI THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE...........................................49
SECTION 6.01. Duties of Indenture Trustee................................49
SECTION 6.02. Rights of Indenture Trustee................................50
SECTION 6.03. Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee.....................51
SECTION 6.04. Indenture Trustee's Disclaimer.............................51
SECTION 6.05. Notice of Defaults.........................................51
SECTION 6.06. Reports by Indenture Trustee to Holders....................52
SECTION 6.07. Compensation and Indemnity.................................52
SECTION 6.08. Replacement of Indenture Trustee...........................53
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SECTION 6.09. Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger......................54
SECTION 6.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee..............54
SECTION 6.11. Eligibility; Disqualification..............................55
SECTION 6.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer...........56
SECTION 6.13. Representations and Warranties of Indenture Trustee........56
SECTION 6.14. Annual Report by Independent Public Accountants............56
SECTION 6.15. Custody of Collateral......................................56
ARTICLE VII HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS......................................57
SECTION 7.01. Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses
of Holders...............................................57
SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.....57
SECTION 7.03. Reports by Issuer..........................................57
SECTION 7.04. Reports by Indenture Trustee...............................58
ARTICLE VIII ACCOUNTS, DISBURSEMENTS AND RELEASES............................58
SECTION 8.01. Collection of Money........................................58
SECTION 8.02. Collection Account and REP Deposit Accounts................59
SECTION 8.03. General Provisions Regarding the Collection Account........63
SECTION 8.04. Release of Collateral......................................64
SECTION 8.05. Opinion of Counsel.........................................64
SECTION 8.06. Reports by Independent Accountants.........................65
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.........................................65
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.........65
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders............66
SECTION 9.03. PUCT Condition.............................................68
SECTION 9.04. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.......................69
SECTION 9.05. Effect of Supplemental Indenture...........................69
SECTION 9.06. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act........................69
SECTION 9.07. Reference in Bonds to Supplemental Indentures..............69
ARTICLE X REDEMPTION OF BONDS.............................................70
SECTION 10.01. Optional Redemption by Issuer..............................70
SECTION 10.02. Form of Optional Redemption Notice.........................70
SECTION 10.03. Bonds Payable on Optional Redemption Date..................71
SECTION 10.04. Bonds Redeemed in Part.....................................71
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS...................................................71
SECTION 11.01. Compliance Certificates and Opinions, etc..................71
SECTION 11.02. Form of Documents Delivered to Indenture Trustee...........73
SECTION 11.03. Acts of Holders............................................74
SECTION 11.04. Notices, etc., to Indenture Trustee, Issuer and
Rating Agencies..........................................74
SECTION 11.05. Notices to Holders; Waiver.................................75
SECTION 11.06. Notices to Luxembourg Stock Exchange.......................75
SECTION 11.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act..........................76
SECTION 11.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents...................76
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SECTION 11.09. Successors and Assigns.....................................76
SECTION 11.10. Severability...............................................76
SECTION 11.11. Benefits of Indenture......................................76
SECTION 11.12. Legal Holidays.............................................76
SECTION 11.13. GOVERNING LAW..............................................76
SECTION 11.14. Counterparts...............................................77
SECTION 11.15. Recording of Indenture.....................................77
SECTION 11.16. Issuer Obligation..........................................77
SECTION 11.17. No Recourse to Issuer......................................77
SECTION 11.18. Inspection.................................................77
SECTION 11.19. No Petition................................................78
SECTION 11.20. Intercreditor Agreement....................................78
EXHIBIT A Form of Bonds
EXHIBIT B Form of Series Supplement
EXHIBIT C Form of Representation Letter
EXHIBIT D Form of ERISA Representation Letter
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INDENTURE dated as of August 21, 2003, between ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY
TRANSITION BOND COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
"Issuer"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee
(the "Indenture Trustee").
In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, each party
agrees as follows for the benefit of the other and each of the Holders:
RECITALS OF THE ISSUER
The Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture and the creation and issuance of Bonds issuable in Series hereunder,
each Series to be of substantially the tenor set forth herein and in the
respective Series Supplement relating to each such Series of Bonds.
The Bonds of each Series shall be non-recourse obligations and shall
be secured by and payable solely out of the proceeds of the Transition Property
and the other Collateral securing such Series of Bonds. If and to the extent
that such proceeds of Transition Property and the other Collateral are
insufficient to pay all amounts owing with respect to the Bonds secured thereby,
then, except as otherwise expressly provided hereunder, the Holders shall have
no Claim in respect of such insufficiency against the Issuer, and the Holders,
by their acceptance of such Bonds, waive any such Claim.
All things necessary to (a) make the Bonds, when executed by the
Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee hereunder and
duly issued by the Issuer, valid obligations, and (b) make this Indenture a
valid agreement of the Issuer, in each case, in accordance with their respective
terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That the Issuer, in consideration of the premises herein contained and
of the purchase of the Bonds by the Holders and of other good and lawful
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and
to secure each Series of Bonds with all and singular property described in the
Series Supplement for such Series of Bonds (hereinafter collectively referred to
as the "Collateral"), without prejudice, priority or distinction, except as
specifically otherwise set forth in this Indenture, the payment of the Bonds,
the payment of all other amounts due under or in connection with this Indenture
and the performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions
contained herein or in such Bonds, has hereby executed and delivered this
Indenture.
AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED, DECLARED AND AGREED between the parties
hereto that all Bonds are to be issued, countersigned and delivered and that all
of the Collateral is to be held and applied, subject to the further covenants,
conditions, releases, uses and trusts hereinafter set forth, and the Issuer, for
itself and any successor, does hereby covenant and agree to and with the
Indenture Trustee and its successors in said trust, for the benefit of the
Holders, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. Definitions. Except as otherwise specified herein or as
the context may otherwise require, the capitalized terms used herein shall have
the respective meanings set forth in Appendix A attached hereto and made a part
hereof for all purposes of this Indenture.
SECTION 1.02. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"indenture securities" means the Bonds.
"indenture security holder" means a Holder.
"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.
"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Indenture
Trustee.
"obligor" on the indenture securities means the Issuer and any other
obligor on the indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined
by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings
assigned to them by such definitions.
SECTION 1.03. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise
requires:
(i) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned
to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
from time to time;
(iii) "or" is not exclusive;
(iv) "including" means including without limitation;
(v) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural
include the singular; and
(vi) the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other subdivision.
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ARTICLE II
THE BONDS
SECTION 2.01. Form. The Bonds and the Indenture Trustee's certificate
of authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in Exhibit A,
with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations
as are required or permitted by this Indenture or by the related Series
Supplement, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification
and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith,
be determined by the officers executing such Bonds, as evidenced by their
execution of such Bonds. Any portion of the text of any Bond may be set forth on
the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the
Bond.
The Bonds shall be typewritten, printed, lithographed or engraved or
produced by any combination of these methods (with or without steel engraved
borders), all as determined by the officers executing such Bonds, as evidenced
by their execution of such Bonds.
Each Bond shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of
the Bonds set forth in Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.02. Denominations; Bonds Issuable in Series. The Bonds shall
be issuable in the Minimum Denomination specified in the applicable Series
Supplement and, except as otherwise provided in such Series Supplement, in
integral multiples thereof.
The Bonds may, at the election of and as authorized by a Responsible
Officer of the Issuer, be issued in one or more Series (each comprised of one or
more Classes), and shall be designated generally as the "Transition Bonds" of
the Issuer, with such further particular designations added or incorporated in
such title for the Bonds of any particular Series or Class as a Responsible
Officer of the Issuer may determine. Each Bond shall bear upon its face the
designation so selected for the Series or Class to which it belongs. All Bonds
of the same Series shall be identical in all respects except for the
denominations thereof, unless such Series is comprised of one or more Classes,
in which case all Bonds of the same Class shall be identical in all respects
except for the denominations thereof. All Bonds of a particular Series or, if
such Series is comprised of one or more Classes, all Bonds of a particular Class
thereof, in each case issued under this Indenture, shall be in all respects
equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof without preference,
priority, or distinction on account of the actual time or times of
authentication and delivery, all in accordance with the terms and provisions of
this Indenture.
Each Series of Bonds shall be created by a Series Supplement, as the
case may be, authorized by a Responsible Officer of the Issuer and establishing
the terms and provisions of such Series. The several Series and Classes thereof
may differ as between Series and Classes, in respect of any of the following
matters:
(1) designation of the Series and, if applicable, the Classes thereof;
(2) the principal amount;
(3) the Bond Interest Rate;
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(4) the Payment Dates;
(5) the Scheduled Final Payment Date;
(6) the Final Maturity Date;
(7) the Series Issuance Date;
(8) the Series Collateral;
(9) the place or places for the payment of interest, principal and
premium, if any;
(10) the Minimum Denominations;
(11) the Expected Amortization Schedule;
(12) provisions with respect to the definitions set forth in Appendix
A hereto;
(13) whether or not the Bonds of such Series are to be Book-Entry
Bonds and the extent to which Section 2.11 should apply;
(14) any redemption provisions applicable to the Bonds of such Series
and the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Bonds
of such Series shall be redeemed or purchased;
(15) with respect to Floating Rate Bonds, the terms of the applicable
Swap Agreement and the identity of the Swap Counterparty:
(16) to the extent applicable, the extent to which payments on the
Bonds of the related Series are subordinate to or pari passu in right of payment
of principal and interest to other Bonds; and
(17) any other provisions expressing or referring to the terms and
conditions upon which the Bonds of the applicable Series or Class are to be
issued under this Indenture that are not in conflict with the provisions of this
Indenture and as to which the Rating Agency Condition is satisfied.
SECTION 2.03. Execution, Authentication and Delivery. The Bonds shall
be executed on behalf of the Issuer by any of its Responsible Officers. The
signature of any such Responsible Officer on the Bonds may be manual or
facsimile.
Bonds bearing the manual or facsimile signature of individuals who
were at any time Responsible Officers of the Issuer shall bind the Issuer,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Bonds or did not hold
such offices at the date of such Bonds.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Issuer may deliver Bonds executed by the Issuer to the
Indenture Trustee pursuant to an Issuer Order for authentication; and the
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Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Bonds as in this Indenture
provided and not otherwise.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Issuer to authenticate Bonds. An authenticating agent may authenticate Bonds
whenever the Indenture Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Indenture Trustee includes authentication by such agent.
An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Paying Agent and the
Securities Registrar to deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer.
No Bond shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Bond a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for therein
executed by the Indenture Trustee by the manual signature of one of its
authorized signatories, and such certificate upon any Bond shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that such Bond has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder.
SECTION 2.04. Temporary Bonds. Pending the preparation of Definitive
Bonds pursuant to Section 2.13, the Issuer may execute, and upon receipt of an
Issuer Order the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Temporary
Bonds which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise
produced, of the tenor of the Definitive Bonds in lieu of which they are issued
and with such variations not inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture as
the officers executing such Bonds may determine, as evidenced by their execution
of such Bonds.
If Temporary Bonds are issued, the Issuer will cause Definitive Bonds
to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive
Bonds, the Temporary Bonds shall be exchangeable for Definitive Bonds upon
surrender of the Temporary Bonds at the office or agency of the Issuer to be
maintained as provided in Section 3.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon
surrender for cancellation of any one or more Temporary Bonds, the Issuer shall
execute and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Bonds of authorized
denominations. Until so delivered in exchange, the Temporary Bonds shall in all
respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive
Bonds.
SECTION 2.05. Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange of
Bonds. The Issuer shall cause to be kept a register (the "Securities Register")
in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Issuer
shall provide for the registration of Bonds and the registration of transfers of
Bonds. The Indenture Trustee shall be the registrar (the Indenture Trustee or
any successor thereof in such capacity, the "Securities Registrar") for the
purpose of registering Bonds and transfers of Bonds as herein provided. Upon any
resignation of any Securities Registrar, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a
successor or, if it elects not to make such an appointment, assume the duties of
Securities Registrar.
If a Person other than the Indenture Trustee is appointed by the
Issuer as Securities Registrar, the Issuer will give the Indenture Trustee
prompt written notice of the appointment of such Securities Registrar and of the
location, and any change in the location, of the Securities Register, and the
Indenture Trustee shall have the right to inspect the Securities Register at all
5
reasonable times and to obtain copies thereof, and the Indenture Trustee shall
have the right to rely conclusively upon a certificate executed on behalf of the
Securities Registrar by a Responsible Officer thereof as to the names and
addresses of the Holders and the principal amounts and number of the Bonds.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Bond at the office
or agency of the Issuer to be maintained as provided in Section 3.02, the Issuer
shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and the Holder shall
obtain from the Indenture Trustee, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Bonds in any Minimum Denominations, of the same
Series (and, if applicable, Class) and aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder, Bonds may be exchanged for other Bonds in
any Minimum Denominations, of the same Series (and, if applicable, Class) and
aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Bonds to be exchanged at such
office or agency. Whenever any Bonds are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer
shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and the Holder shall
obtain from the Indenture Trustee, the Bonds which the Holder making the
exchange is entitled to receive.
All Bonds issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of
other Bonds shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same
debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Bonds
surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Bond presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange shall be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by (a) a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee duly
executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in
writing, with such signature guaranteed by an institution which is a member of
one of the following recognized Signature Guaranty Programs: (i) The Securities
Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange
Medallion Program (MSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or
(iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Indenture Trustee, and (b)
such other documents as the Indenture Trustee may require.
No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any registration of
transfer or exchange of Bonds (except as may be required by the rules and
regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange with respect to any Bonds listed
thereon), but the Issuer or Indenture Trustee may require payment of a sum
sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Bonds, other than
exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.04, 9.06 or 10.04 not involving any transfer.
The preceding provisions of this Section notwithstanding, the Issuer
shall not be required to make, except to the extent otherwise required by the
rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange with respect to any Bonds
listed thereon, and the Securities Registrar need not register transfers or
exchanges (i) of Bonds that have been selected for redemption pursuant to
Article X or the terms of such Bonds as set forth in the related Series
Supplement, as the case may be, creating such Series of Bonds, (ii) of any Bond
that has been submitted within 15 days preceding the due date for any payment
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with respect to such Bond or (iii) of Unregistered Bonds unless Section 2.16 has
been complied with in connection with such transfer or exchange.
SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Bonds. If (i) any
mutilated Bond is surrendered to the Indenture Trustee, or the Indenture Trustee
receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any
Bond, and (ii) there is delivered to the Indenture Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by it to hold the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee
harmless, then the Issuer shall execute and, upon its written request, the
Indenture Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of
any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond, a replacement Bond of like
Series (and, if applicable, Class), tenor and principal amount, bearing a number
not contemporaneously outstanding; provided, however, that if any such
destroyed, lost or stolen Bond, but not a mutilated Bond, shall have become or
within seven days shall be due and payable, or shall have been called for
redemption, instead of issuing a replacement Bond, the Issuer may pay such
destroyed, lost or stolen Bond when so due or payable or upon the Optional
Redemption Date without surrender thereof. If, after the delivery of such
replacement Bond or payment of a destroyed, lost or stolen Bond pursuant to the
proviso to the preceding sentence, a purchaser of the original Bond in lieu of
which such replacement Bond was issued presents for payment such original Bond,
the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to recover such
replacement Bond (or such payment) from the Person to whom it was delivered or
any Person taking such replacement Bond from such Person to whom such
replacement Bond was delivered or any assignee of such Person and shall be
entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the
extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Issuer or the
Indenture Trustee in connection therewith.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Bond under this Section, the
Issuer and/or the Indenture Trustee may require the payment by the Holder of
such Bond of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in relation thereto and any other reasonable expenses (including
the fees and expenses of the Indenture Trustee and its counsel) connected
therewith.
Every replacement Bond issued pursuant to this Section in replacement
of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bond shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Bond shall be found at any time or enforced by any
Person, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with any and all other Bonds duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Bonds.
SECTION 2.07. Persons Deemed Owner. Prior to due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee, the
Securities Registrar and any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee may
treat the Person in whose name any Bond is registered (as of the day of
determination) as the owner of such Bond for the purpose of receiving payments
of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Bond and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Bond be overdue, and neither the
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Issuer, the Indenture Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Indenture
Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
SECTION 2.08. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest;
Interest on Overdue Principal; Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest Rights
Preserved. (a) The Bonds of each Series shall accrue interest as provided in the
related Series Supplement, at the applicable Bond Interest Rate specified
therein, and such interest shall be payable on each Payment Date as specified
therein. Any installment of interest, principal or premium, if any, payable on
any Bond which is punctually paid or duly provided for on the applicable Payment
Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Bond (or one or more
Predecessor Bonds) is registered on the Record Date for such Payment Date, by
check mailed first-class, postage prepaid to such Person's address as it appears
on the Securities Register on such Record Date or in such other manner as may be
provided in the related Series Supplement, except that (i) upon application to
the Indenture Trustee by any Holder owning Bonds of any Class in the principal
amount of $10,000,000 or more not later than the applicable Record Date payment
will be made by wire transfer to an account maintained by such Holder and (ii)
with respect to Book Entry Bonds payments will be made by wire transfer in
immediately available funds to the account designated by the Holder of the
applicable Global Bond unless and until such Global Bond is exchanged for
Definitive Bonds (in which event payments shall be made as provided above) and
except for the final installment of principal and premium, if any, payable with
respect to such Bond on a Payment Date which shall be payable as provided below.
The funds represented by any such checks returned undelivered shall be held in
accordance with Section 3.03.
(b) The principal of each Bond of each Series (and, if applicable,
Class) shall be paid, to the extent funds are available therefor in the
Collection Account for such Series, in installments on each Payment Date
specified in the related Series Supplement; provided that installments of
principal not paid when scheduled to be paid in accordance with the Expected
Amortization Schedule for such Series shall be paid upon receipt of money
available for such purpose, in the order set forth in the Expected Amortization
Schedule. Failure to pay principal on each Bond of a Series in accordance with
such Expected Amortization Schedule because moneys are not available pursuant to
Section 8.02 to make such payments shall not constitute a Default or Event of
Default under this Indenture with respect to such Series. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the entire unpaid principal amount of the Bonds of a Series shall be
due and payable, if not previously paid, on the date on which an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to such Series, if
the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of the Bonds representing not less than a
majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series have declared
such Bonds to be immediately due and payable in the manner provided in Section
5.02. All payments of principal and premium, if any, on the Bonds of any Series
shall be made pro rata to the Holders entitled thereto unless otherwise provided
in the related Series Supplement with respect to any Class of Bonds included in
such Series. The Indenture Trustee shall notify the Person in whose name a Bond
is registered at the close of business on the Record Date preceding the Payment
Date on which the Issuer expects that the final installment of principal of and
premium, if any, and interest on such Bond will be paid. Such notice shall be
mailed no later than five days prior to such final Payment Date and shall
specify that such final installment will be payable only upon presentation and
surrender of such Bond and shall specify the place where such Bond may be
presented and surrendered for payment of such installment, which, so long as any
Bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, shall include the office of
8
the paying agent in Luxembourg appointed pursuant to Section 3.02. If rules of
the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, the Issuer's listing agent shall
arrange for publication of such notice in accordance with such rules. Notices in
connection with redemptions of Bonds shall be mailed to Holders as provided in
Section 10.02.
(c) If interest on the Bonds of any Series is not paid when due, such
defaulted interest shall be paid (plus interest on such defaulted interest at
the applicable Bond Interest Rate to the extent lawful) to the Persons who are
Holders on a subsequent Special Record Date, which date shall be at least
fifteen Business Days prior to the Special Payment Date. The Issuer shall fix or
cause to be fixed any such Special Record Date and Special Payment Date, and, at
least 10 days before any such Special Record Date, the Issuer shall mail to each
affected Holder and the Indenture Trustee a notice that states the Special
Record Date, the Special Payment Date and the amount of defaulted interest (plus
interest on such defaulted interest) to be paid.
SECTION 2.09. Cancellation. All Bonds surrendered for payment,
registration of transfer, exchange or redemption shall, if surrendered to any
Person other than the Indenture Trustee, be delivered to the Indenture Trustee
and shall be promptly canceled by the Indenture Trustee. The Issuer may at any
time deliver to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation any Bonds previously
authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuer may have acquired in any
manner whatsoever, and all Bonds so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the
Indenture Trustee. No Bonds shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for
any Bonds canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by
this Indenture. All canceled Bonds may be held or disposed of by the Indenture
Trustee in accordance with its standard retention or disposal policy as in
effect at the time.
SECTION 2.10. Outstanding Amount; Authentication and Delivery of
Bonds. The aggregate Outstanding Amount of Bonds that may be authenticated and
delivered under this Indenture shall not exceed $1,300,000,000.
Bonds of each Series created and established by a Series Supplement
may from time to time be executed by the Issuer and delivered to the Indenture
Trustee for authentication and thereupon the same shall be authenticated and
delivered by the Indenture Trustee upon Issuer Request and upon delivery by the
Issuer to the Indenture Trustee, and receipt by the Indenture Trustee, or the
causing to occur by the Issuer, of the following; provided, however, that
compliance with such conditions and delivery of such documents shall only be
required in connection with the original issuance of a Bond or Bonds of such
Series:
(1) Issuer Action. An Issuer Order authorizing and directing the
authentication and delivery of the Bonds by the Indenture Trustee and specifying
the principal amount of Bonds to be authenticated.
(2) Authorizations. Copies of the Financing Order which shall be in
full force and effect and be Final.
(3) Opinions. (a) An Opinion of Counsel of external counsel to the
Issuer, subject to the customary exceptions, qualifications and assumptions
contained therein, that the Financing Order is in full force and effect, that
the Financing Order has become final, is not being appealed and that the time
9
for filing an appeal therefrom has expired and that no other authorization,
approval or consent of any governmental body or bodies at the time having
jurisdiction in the premises is required for the valid issuance, authentication
and delivery of such Bonds, except for (i) such registrations as are required
under the "Blue Sky" and securities laws of any State, (ii) such authorizations,
approvals or consents of governmental bodies that have been obtained, (iii) the
governmental approvals expressly contemplated in the Financing Order, and (iv)
the filings contemplated by Section 2.10(8) paragraphs (m), (n) and (p).
(b) An Opinion of Counsel of external counsel to the Issuer, subject
to the customary exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained therein,
that no authorization, approval or consent of any governmental body or bodies at
the time having jurisdiction in the premises is required for the valid execution
and delivery by the Issuer of each of the Basic Documents to which the Issuer is
a party and that is executed and delivered in connection with such Bond
issuance, except for such authorizations, approvals or consents of governmental
bodies that have been obtained and copies of which have been delivered with such
Opinion of Counsel.
(4) Authorizing Certificate. An Officer's Certificate, dated the
Series Issuance Date, of the Issuer certifying that (i) the Issuer has duly
authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture and the related Series
Supplement, and the execution and delivery of the Bonds of such Series and (ii)
that the Series Supplement for such Series of Bonds is in the form attached
thereto, which Series Supplement shall comply with the requirements of Section
2.02.
(5) The Collateral. The Issuer shall have made or caused to be made
all filings with the PUCT and the Texas Secretary of State pursuant to the
Financing Order and the Securitization Law and all other filings necessary to
perfect the Grant of the Series Collateral to the Indenture Trustee contained in
the applicable Series Supplement and the lien of this Indenture.
(6) Certificates of the Issuer and the Seller. (a) An Officer's
Certificate from the Issuer, dated as of the Series Issuance Date:
(i) to the effect that (A) the Issuer is not in Default under
this Indenture and that the issuance of the Bonds applied for will not result in
any default or in any breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of or
constitute a default under the Financing Order or any indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust or other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by
which it or its property is bound or any order of any court or administrative
agency entered in any Proceeding to which the Issuer is a party or by which it
or its property may be bound or to which it or its property may be subject and
(B) that all conditions precedent provided in this Indenture relating to the
execution, authentication and delivery of the Bonds applied for have been
complied with;
(ii) to the effect that the Issuer has not assigned any interest
or participation in the Series Collateral except for the Grant contained in the
applicable Series Supplement; the Issuer has the power and right to Grant the
Series Collateral to the Indenture Trustee as security hereunder; and the
Issuer, subject to the terms of this Indenture, has Granted to the Indenture
10
Trustee all of its right, title and interest in and to such Series Collateral
free and clear of any Lien, mortgage, pledge, charge, security interest, adverse
claim or other encumbrance arising as a result of actions of the Issuer or
through the Issuer, except the lien of this Indenture;
(iii) to the effect that the Issuer has appointed the firm of
Independent certified public accountants as contemplated in Section 8.06;
(iv) to the effect that attached thereto are duly executed, true
and complete copies of the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the
Administration Agreement, and any Intercreditor Agreement which are, to the
knowledge of the Issuer, in full force and effect and, to the knowledge of the
Issuer, that no party is in default of its obligations under such agreements;
and
(v) stating that all filings with the PUCT and the Texas
Secretary of State pursuant to the Securitization Law and the Financing Order
and all UCC financing statements with respect to the Series Collateral for such
Series of Bonds that are required to be filed by the terms of the Financing
Order, the Securitization Law, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement and
this Indenture have been filed as required.
(b) An Officer's Certificate from the Seller, dated as of the Series
Issuance Date, to the effect that, in the case of the Transition Property,
immediately prior to the conveyance thereof to the Issuer pursuant to the Sale
Agreement:
(i) The Seller was the sole owner of such Transition Property,
free and clear of any Lien; the Seller had not assigned any interest or
participation in such Transition Property and the proceeds thereof other than to
the Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement; the Seller has the power and right to
convey such Transition Property and the proceeds thereof to the Issuer; and the
Seller, subject to the terms of the Sale Agreement, has validly conveyed to the
Issuer all of its right, title and interest in and to such Transition Property
and the proceeds thereof, free and clear of any Lien, mortgage, pledge, charge,
security interest, adverse claim or other encumbrance (other than Permitted
Liens) and such conveyance is absolute and irrevocable and has been perfected;
and
(ii) the attached copy of the Financing Order creating such
Transition Property is true and complete and is in full force and effect.
(7) Opinion of Tax Counsel. The Seller shall have received and
delivered to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee: (i) an opinion of outside tax
counsel (as selected by the Seller, and in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that the
Issuer will not be subject to United States federal income tax as an entity
separate from its sole owner and that the Bonds will be treated as debt of the
Issuer's sole owner for United States federal income tax purposes; (ii) an
opinion of outside tax counsel (as selected by the Seller, and in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) or,
if the Seller so chooses, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, in either
case to the effect that, for United States federal income tax purposes, the
issuance of the Bonds will not result in gross income to the Seller; and (iii)
in the case of a subsequent issuance of Bonds only, an opinion of outside tax
11
counsel (as selected by the Seller, and in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that such
issuance will not adversely affect the characterization of any then outstanding
Bonds as obligations of the Issuer's sole owner. The opinion of outside tax
counsel described above shall in each case be subject to the customary
exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained therein, and may, if the
Seller so chooses, be conditioned on the receipt by the Seller of one or more
letter rulings from the Internal Revenue Service and in rendering such opinion
outside tax counsel shall be entitled to rely on the rulings contained in such
ruling letters and to rely on the representations made, and information
supplied, to the Internal Revenue Service in connection with such letter
rulings.
(8) Opinions of Counsel. Unless otherwise specified in a Series
Supplement, Opinions of Counsel, some of which may be delivered by outside
counsel for the Issuer, some of which may be delivered by outside counsel for
the Servicer, and some of which may be delivered by outside counsel for the
Indenture Trustee, dated the Series Issuance Date, in each case subject to the
customary exceptions, qualifications and assumptions contained therein, to the
collective effect that:
(a) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act and no qualification of the Series Supplement is necessary under the Trust
Indenture Act.
(b) All instruments furnished to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to the
Indenture conform to the requirements set forth in the Indenture and constitute
all of the documents required to be delivered under the Indenture for the
Indenture Trustee to authenticate and deliver the Bonds. All conditions
precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the authentication and
delivery of the Bonds have been complied with.
(c) Assuming the Bonds have been duly authorized by the Issuer, when
duly executed by the Issuer and duly authenticated by the Indenture Trustee in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered against payment of
the purchase price therefor, as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the
Bonds will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Issuer
entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, the Series Supplement and
the Bonds and will be enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their
terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(d) Assuming that each of the Indenture, the Series Supplement, the
Servicing Agreement and the Administration Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Issuer, each of the Indenture, the Series
Supplement, the Servicing Agreement and the Administration Agreement is a legal,
valid and binding agreement of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless
of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law). Assuming that each of the Servicing Agreement and the Administration
12
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Oncor, each of the
Servicing Agreement and the Administration Agreement is a legal, valid and
binding agreement of Oncor, enforceable against Oncor in accordance with its
terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether
such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(e) (i) With respect to the Series Collateral that is described in
the Series Supplement for each Series of Bonds, upon the giving of value by the
Holders to the Issuer, the Indenture, together with the Series Supplement for
such Series, creates in favor of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the
Holders a valid security interest under Article 9 of the NY UCC in the Issuer's
right, title and interest in and to such Series Collateral (to the extent such
Series Collateral is of a type in which a security interest can be created under
Article 9 of the NY UCC). Assuming that the collateral described in the
financing statement is Series Collateral pursuant to the Indenture, then insofar
as Section 9-509 of the NY UCC is applicable, the Indenture Trustee is
authorized to file the financing statement.
(ii) Under Section 9-305(a)(3) of the NY UCC, the local law of
the Securities Intermediary's jurisdiction as specified in Section 8-110(e) of
the NY UCC governs perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection and
priority in the Securities Account and Security Entitlements. Under Section
8.02(b) of the Indenture, for purposes of Section 8-110(e) of the NY UCC, the
jurisdiction of the Securities Intermediary is the State of New York.
(iii) To the extent that the Collection Account is a Securities
Account, the provisions of the Indenture are effective to perfect by control the
security interest of the Indenture Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders, in
the Issuer's right, title and interest in and to the Collection Account and the
Issuer's Security Entitlements with respect to the Financial Assets credited to
the Collection Account and, subject to and to the extent provided in Section
9-315 of the NY UCC and the Federal Book-Entry Regulations, identifiable cash
proceeds thereof. Such security interest will have priority over any security
interest held by a secured party in the Issuer's right, title and interest in
and to the Collection Account and such Security Entertainment perfected by a
means other than control.
(iv) Insofar as Article 9 of the NY UCC is applicable, (i)
pursuant to Section 9-301 of the NY UCC, the law of the location of the debtor
governs the perfection of a nonpossessory security interest in the debtor's
interest in the Series Collateral; (ii) pursuant to 9-307 of the NY UCC, a
registered organization that is organized under the law of a State is deemed to
be located in that State for purposes of Section 9-301; (iii) the Issuer is a
"registered organization" as defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the NY UCC
organized in the State of Delaware; and (iv) therefore, the law of the State of
Delaware governs the perfection of a nonpossessory security interest in the
Series Collateral.
(f) The Registration Statement covering the Bonds has become effective
under the Securities Act; and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under
the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or
are pending or threatened by the SEC.
13
(g) Neither the Issuer nor Oncor is now and (assuming that the Issuer
uses the net proceeds of the sale of the Bonds for the purpose of acquiring
Transition Property in accordance with the terms of the Sale Agreement following
the sale of the Bonds to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement) neither the Issuer nor Oncor will be required to be registered under
the Investment Company Act.
(h) No authorization, approval or consent of any federal governmental
body or bodies having jurisdiction in the premises is required for the valid
issuance, authentication and delivery of the Bonds and for the valid execution
and delivery by the Issuer of each of the Basic Documents except for such
authorizations, approvals or consents of federal governmental bodies that have
been obtained.
(i) Each of the Sale Agreement and the proviso (relating to Liens in
Transition Property governed by Texas law) to Section 11.13, and the portions of
this Indenture referred to by such proviso, constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of each of Oncor and the Issuer, to the extent each is a
party thereto, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms.
(j) In accordance with the Securitization Law, (i) the rights and
interests of Oncor under the Financing Order are assignable and shall become
"transition property" within the meaning of the Securitization Law when they are
first transferred to the Issuer in connection with the issuance of a particular
Series of Bonds; (ii) upon the transfer by Oncor of the relevant series
Transition Property to the Issuer as evidenced by the Xxxx of Sale and Oncor's
Transition Property Notice with respect to such series, the Issuer shall have
all of the rights of Oncor with respect to such series Transition Property;
(iii) the Financing Order approves the issuance by the Issuer of the Bonds in an
aggregate principal amount which equals or exceeds the amount of the Series of
Bonds being issued on the Series Closing Date; and (iv) the Bonds are
"transition bonds" within the meaning of Section 39.302(6) of the Securitization
Law.
(k) No governmental approvals are required for the valid issuance,
authentication and delivery of the Bonds or the performance by either Oncor or
the Issuer of its respective obligations under each of the Sale Agreement, the
Intercreditor Agreement and the proviso (relating to Liens in Transition
Property governed by Texas law) to Section 11.13, and the portions of this
Indenture governed by such proviso, to which either Oncor or the Issuer is a
party, except for (i) the Financing Order and the governmental approvals
expressly contemplated therein and (ii) the filings contemplated by paragraphs
(m), (n) and (p) below.
(l) A Texas state court, or a federal court applying Texas
conflict-of-law rules, would give effect to the choice of the laws of New York
(to the extent so stated therein) as the governing law in each of the Indenture,
the Series Supplement, the Servicing Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement.
(m) Pursuant to Section 39.309 of the Securitization Law upon the
delivery of the executed Sale Agreement and the Xxxx of Sale from Oncor to
Issuer and the filing of the related Transition Property Notice with the
Secretary of State of the State of Texas, the transfer of the particular series
of Transition Property is perfected against third parties, including subsequent
judicial or other lien creditors.
14
(n) The provisions of the Indenture, as amended and supplemented by
the relevant Series Supplement thereto, are effective to create on the Series
Closing Date, in favor of the Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Holders
of the relevant Series of Bonds, a valid security interest in the rights of the
Issuer in the relevant series Transition Property and, upon the issuance of the
related Series of Bonds, the receipt by the Issuer of the proceeds thereof, and
the filing of the related series Transition Property Notices with the Secretary
of State of the State of Texas, (i) the security interest created by the
Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the relevant Series Supplement,
attaches under the Securitization Law and (ii) such security interest is
perfected against third parties, including subsequent judicial or other lien
creditors under the Securitization Law.
(o) Searches have been made of the financing statement records of the
Secretary of State of the State of Texas and, based on the reports of such
searches, there is not on file under the Texas UCC any financing statement
naming Oncor as debtor and describing any currently effective security interest
in any right, title or interest of Oncor under the Financing Order as
collateral. Searches have been made of the transition property notices filed in
the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Texas and, based on the
reports of such searches, there is not on file under the Securitization Law any
transition property notice that purports to cover the particular series of
Transition Property, other than the Transition Property Notices with respect to
the transfer of the particular series Transition Property to the Issuer and the
security interest in favor of the Indenture Trustee, giving the security
interest in favor of the Indenture Trustee first priority in the order of
filing.
(p) The Transition Property Notices related to the particular series
of Bonds being issued are in appropriate form for filing pursuant to the Section
39.309 of the Securitization Law and pursuant to Chapter 96 of the Rules of the
Secretary of State of Texas and have been duly filed in the Office of the
Secretary of State of Texas.
(q) The Issuer has been duly formed and is validly existing in good
standing as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(r) The LLC Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of
Oncor and is enforceable against Oncor, in its capacity as member of the Issuer,
in accordance with its terms.
(s) Under the LLC Act and the LLC Agreement, the Issuer has the
limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver each of the
Indenture, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Underwriting
Agreement and the Bonds and to perform its obligations thereunder. Under the LLC
Act and the LLC Agreement, the execution and delivery by the Issuer of each of
the Indenture, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Underwriting
Agreement and the Bonds, and the performance by the Issuer of its obligations
thereunder, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company
action on the part of the Issuer.
(t) Neither the execution or delivery by the Issuer of each of the
Indenture, the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Underwriting
Agreement or the Bonds nor the compliance by the Issuer with the terms thereof,
nor the consummation by the Issuer of any of the transactions contemplated
15
thereby 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
Delaware court, or Delaware governmental or Delaware regulatory authority or
Delaware agency under the laws of the State of Delaware, except for the filing
of the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State, which Certificate
of Formation has been duly filed.
(u) Neither the execution and delivery by the Issuer of the Indenture,
the Sale Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Underwriting Agreement or the
Bonds nor the compliance by the Issuer with the terms thereof, nor the
consummation by the Issuer of any of the transactions contemplated thereby
conflicts with or constitutes a breach of or default under the Certificate of
Formation or the LLC Agreement, or violates any law, governmental rule or
regulation of the State of Delaware.
(v) After due inquiry, limited to, and solely to the extent disclosed
thereupon, court dockets for active cases of the Court of Chancery of the State
of Delaware in and for New Castle County, Delaware, of the Superior Court of the
State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, Delaware, and of the United
States District Court sitting in the State of Delaware, such counsel is not
aware of any legal or governmental proceeding pending against the Issuer.
(w) If properly presented to a Delaware court, a Delaware court
applying Delaware law would conclude that (i) in order for any Person to file a
voluntary bankruptcy petition on behalf of the Issuer, the affirmative vote of
Oncor and the affirmative vote of all the Managers, including the two
Independent Managers, as provided in Section 1.08 of the LLC Agreement, is
required and (ii) such provision, contained in Section 1.08 of the LLC Agreement
that requires the affirmative vote of Oncor and the affirmative vote of all the
Managers, including the two Independent Managers, in order for a Person to file
a voluntary bankruptcy petition on behalf of the Issuer, constitutes a legal,
valid and binding agreement of Oncor, and is enforceable against Oncor, in
accordance with its terms.
(x) Under the LLC Act and the LLC Agreement, the bankruptcy (as
defined in the LLC Act) or dissolution of Oncor will not, by itself, cause the
Issuer to be dissolved or its affairs to be wound up.
(y) While under the LLC Act, on application to a court of competent
jurisdiction, a judgment creditor of Oncor may be able to charge Oncor's share
of any profits and losses of the Issuer and Oncor's right to receive
distributions of Issuer assets ("Oncor's Interest") and the court may appoint a
receiver of the share of the distributions due or to become due to Oncor in
respect of the Issuer, the receiver shall have only the rights of an assignee of
Oncor's Interest. Under the LLC Act, no creditor of Oncor shall have any right
to obtain possession of, or otherwise exercise legal or equitable remedies with
respect to, the property of the Issuer. Thus, under the LLC Act, a judgment
creditor of Oncor may not satisfy its claims against Oncor by asserting a claim
against the assets of the Issuer.
(z) Under the LLC Act (i) the Issuer is a separate legal entity, and
(ii) the existence of the Issuer as a separate legal entity shall continue until
the cancellation of its Certificate of Formation.
16
(aa) The Delaware Financing Statement is in an appropriate form for
filing in the State of Delaware under Section 9-502(a) and 9-516 of the Delaware
UCC.
(bb) Insofar as Article 9 of the Delaware UCC as in effect in the
State of Delaware on the date of the Opinion of Counsel is applicable (without
regard to conflict of laws principles), upon the filing of the Delaware
Financing Statements with the Secretary of State of Delaware (Uniform Commercial
Code Section), the Indenture Trustee will have a perfected security interest in
the Issuer's rights in that portion of the Series Collateral described in the
Delaware Financing Statements that may be perfected by the filing of a UCC
financing statement and the proceeds thereof (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(64)
of the Delaware UCC), and such security interest will be prior to any other
security interest granted by the Issuer that is perfected solely by the filing
of financing statements under the Delaware UCC. Insofar as Article 9 of the
Delaware UCC is applicable (without regard to conflict of laws principles), the
Secretary of State of Delaware (Uniform Commercial Code Section) is the
appropriate place to file a financing statement to perfect a security interest
except for as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut (as described in Section
9-501(a)(1)(A) of the Delaware UCC) or fixture filings where the collateral is
goods that are or are to become fixtures (as described in Section 9-501(a)(1)(B)
of the Delaware UCC).
(cc) The search reports each set forth the proper filing office and
the proper debtor necessary to identify those Persons who under the Delaware UCC
have on file financing statements against the Issuer covering the Series
Collateral. Neither of the search reports identifies a secured party who has
filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware (Uniform Commercial Code Section)
a financing statement naming the Issuer as debtor and describing the Series
Collateral prior to the effective date of such search reports.
(dd) Insofar as Article 9 of the Delaware UCC is applicable (without
regard to conflict of laws principles), the provisions of the Indenture and the
filing authorization of the Issuer are sufficient to constitute authorization by
the Issuer of the filing of the Delaware Financing Statements for purposes of
Section 9-509 of the Delaware UCC.
(ee) Insofar as Article 9 of the Delaware UCC is applicable (without
regard to conflict of laws principles), for purposes of the Delaware UCC, the
Issuer is a "registered organization" (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(70) of the
Delaware UCC).
(9) Accountant's Certificate or Letter. One or more certificates or
letters, addressed to the Issuer, of a firm of Independent certified public
accountants of recognized national reputation to the effect that (a) such
accountants are Independent with respect to the Issuer within the meaning of
this Indenture, and are independent public accountants within the meaning of the
standards of The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and (b)
with respect to the Series Collateral, they have applied such procedures as
instructed by the addressees of such certificate or letter.
(10) Rating Agency Condition. The Indenture Trustee shall receive
evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Rating Agency Condition will be
satisfied with respect to the issuance of such new Series.
17
(11) Requirements of Series Supplement. Such other funds, accounts,
documents, certificates, agreements, instruments or opinions as may be required
by the terms of the Series Supplement creating such Series.
(12) Other Requirements. Such other documents, certificates,
agreements, instruments or opinions as the Indenture Trustee may reasonably
require.
SECTION 2.11. Book-Entry Bonds. Unless the applicable Series
Supplement provides otherwise, all of the related Series of Bonds shall be
issued in Book-Entry Form, and the Issuer shall execute and the Indenture
Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Issuer Order with respect
to such Series, authenticate and deliver one or more Global Bonds, evidencing
the Bonds of such Series which (i) shall be an aggregate original principal
amount equal to the aggregate original principal amount of such Bonds to be
issued pursuant to the applicable Issuer Order, (ii) shall be registered in the
name of the Clearing Agency therefor or its nominee, which shall initially be
Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing
Agency, (iii) shall be held by the Indenture Trustee as custodian for such
Clearing Agency pursuant to such Clearing Agency's or such nominee's
instructions, and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the effect set forth
in Exhibit A.
Each Clearing Agency designated pursuant to this Section 2.11 must, at
the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Clearing Agency
hereunder, be a "clearing agency" registered under the Exchange Act and any
other applicable statute or regulation.
No Holder of any Series of Bonds issued in Book-Entry Form shall
receive a Definitive Bond representing such Holder's interest in any such Bonds,
except as provided in Section 2.13 or in the applicable Series Supplement
relating to such Bonds. Unless (and until) certificated, fully registered Bonds
of any Series (the "Definitive Bonds") have been issued to the Holders of such
Series pursuant to Section 2.13 or pursuant to any applicable Series Supplement
relating thereto:
(a) the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall be in full force and
effect;
(b) the Issuer, the Servicer, the Paying Agent, the Securities
Registrar and the Indenture Trustee may deal with the Clearing Agency for all
purposes (including the making of distributions on the Bonds of such Series) as
the authorized representatives of the Holders of such Series;
(c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 2.11 conflict
with any other provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Section 2.11
shall control; and
(d) the rights of Holders of such Series shall be exercised only
through the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency Participants and shall be
limited to those established by law and agreements between such Holders and the
Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants. Unless and until
Definitive Bonds are issued pursuant to Section 2.13, the initial Clearing
Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants and
receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Book-Entry
Bonds to such Clearing Agency Participants.
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SECTION 2.12. Notices to Clearing Agency. Unless and until Definitive
Bonds shall have been issued to Holders of such Series pursuant to Section 2.13
or the applicable Series Supplement relating to such Bonds, whenever notice,
payment, or other communication to the holders of Book-Entry Bonds of any Series
is required under this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee, the Servicer and the
Paying Agent shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to
be given to Holders of such Series to the Clearing Agency.
SECTION 2.13. Definitive Bonds. If (i) (A) the Issuer advises the
Indenture Trustee in writing that the Clearing Agency is no longer willing or
able to properly discharge its responsibilities under any Letter of
Representations and (B) the Issuer is unable to locate a qualified successor
Clearing Agency, (ii) the Issuer, at its option, advises the Indenture Trustee
in writing that, with respect to any Series, it elects to terminate the
book-entry system through the Clearing Agency or (iii) after the occurrence of
an Event of Default hereunder, Holders holding Bonds aggregating not less than a
majority of the aggregate Outstanding Amount of any Series of Bonds maintained
as Book-Entry Bonds advise the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer and the Clearing
Agency (through the Clearing Agency Participants) in writing that the
continuation of a book-entry system through the Clearing Agency is no longer in
the best interests of the Holders of such Series, the Issuer shall notify the
Clearing Agency, the Indenture Trustee and all such Holders of such Series in
writing of the occurrence of any such event and of the availability of
Definitive Bonds of such Series to the Holders of such Series requesting the
same. Upon surrender to the Indenture Trustee of the Global Bonds of such Series
by the Clearing Agency accompanied by registration instructions from such
Clearing Agency for registration, the Issuer shall execute, and the Indenture
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, Definitive Bonds of such Series. None of
the Issuer, the Securities Registrar or the Indenture Trustee shall be liable
for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and
shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of
Definitive Bonds of any Series the Indenture Trustee shall recognize the Holders
of the Definitive Bonds as Holders hereunder.
Definitive Bonds will be transferable and exchangeable at the offices
of the Securities Registrar or, with respect to any Bonds on the Luxembourg
Stock Exchange, at the offices of the transfer agent appointed pursuant to
Section 3.02. With respect to any transfer of such listed Bonds, the new
Definitive Bonds registered in the names specified by the transferee and the
original transferor shall be available at the offices of such transfer agent.
SECTION 2.14. CUSIP Number. The Issuer in issuing any Bond or Series
of Bonds may use a "CUSIP" number and, if so used, the Indenture Trustee shall
use the CUSIP number in any notices to the Holders thereof as a convenience to
such Holders; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is
made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number printed in the notice
or on the Bonds and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification
numbers printed on the Bonds. The Issuer shall promptly notify the Indenture
Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number with respect to any Bond.
SECTION 2.15. Letter of Representations. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Indenture or any Series Supplement, the parties hereto
shall comply with the terms of each Letter of Representations.
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SECTION 2.16. Special Terms Applicable to Subsequent Transfers of
Certain Bonds. (a) Certain Series of Bonds may not be registered under the
Securities Act, or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction. Consequently,
such Unregistered Bonds shall not be transferable other than pursuant to an
exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and
satisfaction of certain other provisions specified herein or in the related
Series Supplement. Unless otherwise provided in the related Series Supplement,
no sale, pledge or other transfer of any Unregistered Bond (or interest therein)
may be made by any Person unless either (i) such sale, pledge or other transfer
is made (A) to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined under Rule 144A
under the Securities Act) or (B) to an "institutional accredited investor" (as
described in Rule 501(a)(l), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) which
executes and delivers a certificate to such effect in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit C or (ii) such sale, pledge or other transfer is otherwise made in a
transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, in which case the Indenture Trustee shall require a written
opinion of counsel (which shall not be at the expense of the Issuer, the
Servicer or the Indenture Trustee) satisfactory to the Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee to the effect that such transfer will not violate the Securities Act.
None of the Seller, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee or the Servicer shall be
obligated to register any Unregistered Bonds under the Securities Act, qualify
any Unregistered Bonds under the securities laws of any state or provide
registration rights to any purchaser or holder thereof.
(b) Unless otherwise provided in the related Series Supplement, the
Unregistered Bonds may not be acquired by or for the account of a Restricted
Plan and, by accepting and holding an Unregistered Bond, the Holder of an
Unregistered Bond in global form shall be deemed to have represented and
warranted that it is not a Restricted Plan and, the Holder of an Unregistered
Bond in definitive form shall execute and deliver to the Indenture Trustee a
certificate to such effect in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
(c) Unless otherwise provided in the related Series Supplement,
Unregistered Bonds shall be issued in the form of Definitive Bonds, shall be in
fully registered form and Sections 2.11 and 2.12 of this Indenture shall not
apply thereto.
(d) Each Unregistered Bond shall bear legends to the effect set forth
in subsections (a) and (b) (if subsection (b) is applicable) above.
SECTION 2.17. Tax Treatment. The Issuer, by entering into this
Indenture, and the Holders and any Persons holding a beneficial interest in any
Bond, by acquiring any Bond or interest therein, (i) express their intention
that, solely for the purposes of federal income taxes and, to the extent
consistent with applicable state, local and other tax law, solely for the
purposes of state, local and other taxes, the Bonds qualify under applicable tax
law as indebtedness of the Member secured by the Collateral and (ii) solely for
the purposes of federal income taxes and, to the extent consistent with
applicable state, local and other tax law, solely for purposes of state, local
and other taxes, so long as any of the Bonds are outstanding, agree to treat the
Bonds as indebtedness of the Member secured by the Collateral unless otherwise
required by appropriate taxing authorities.
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SECTION 2.18. State Pledge. Under the laws of the State of Texas in
effect on the Closing Date, the State of Texas (including the PUCT) has agreed
for the benefit of the Holders, pursuant to Section 39.310 of the Securitization
Law, as follows:
"Transition bonds are not a debt or obligation of the state and are
not a charge on its full faith and credit or taxing power. The state (including
the PUCT) pledges, however, for the benefit and protection of financing parties
and the electric utility, that it will not take or permit any action that would
impair the value of transition property, or, except as permitted by Section
39.307, reduce, alter, or impair the transition charges to be imposed,
collected, and remitted to financing parties, until the principal, interest and
premium, and any other charges incurred and contracts to be performed in
connection with the related transition bonds have been paid and performed in
full. Any party issuing transition bonds is authorized to include this pledge in
any documentation relating to those bonds."
The Issuer hereby acknowledges that the purchase of any Bond by a
Holder or the purchase of any beneficial interest in a Bond by any Person are
made in reliance on such agreement and pledge by the State of Texas.
SECTION 2.19. Security Interests. The Issuer hereby makes the
following representations and warranties. Other than the security interest
granted to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Indenture in the applicable
Series Supplement, the Issuer has not pledged, granted, sold, conveyed or
otherwise assigned any interests or security interests in any Series Collateral
and no security agreement, financing statement or equivalent security or Lien
instrument listing the Issuer as debtor covering all or any part of any Series
Collateral is on file or of record in any jurisdiction, except such as may have
been filed, recorded or made by the Issuer in favor of the Indenture Trustee on
behalf of the Holders of Bonds secured by such Series Collateral in connection
with this Indenture. This Indenture constitutes a valid and continuing lien on
the Series Collateral in favor of the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Holders
of the Bonds secured by such Series Collateral, which lien is prior to all other
Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and is enforceable as such as against
creditors of and purchasers from the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except
as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles, whether
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity and by an implied covenant of
good faith and fair dealing. With respect to the Series Collateral other than
Transition Property, this Indenture creates a valid and continuing security
interest (as defined in the UCC) in such Series Collateral, which security
interest is prior to all other Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and is
enforceable as such as against creditors of and purchasers from the Issuer in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable
principles, whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity and by an
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The Issuer has good and
marketable title to the Series Collateral free and clear of any Lien, claim or
encumbrance of any Person other than Permitted Liens. All of the Series
Collateral constitute either Transition Property, deposit accounts, investment
property or general intangibles (as each such term is defined in the UCC) except
that proceeds of the Series Collateral may also take the form of instruments.
The Issuer has taken, or caused the Servicer to take, all action necessary to
perfect the security interest granted in this Indenture. The Issuer has filed
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(or has caused the Servicer to file) all appropriate financing statements in the
proper filing offices in the appropriate jurisdictions under applicable law in
order to perfect the security interest in the Series Collateral granted to the
Indenture Trustee. The Issuer has not authorized the filing of and is not aware
of any financing statements against the Issuer that include a description of the
Series Collateral other than those filed in favor of the Indenture Trustee. The
Issuer is not aware of any judgment or tax Lien filings against the Issuer. The
Collection Account for a Series of Bonds (including all subaccounts thereof)
constitutes a "securities account" within the meaning of the UCC. The Issuer has
taken all steps necessary to cause the securities intermediary of each such
securities account to identify in its records the Indenture Trustee as the
person having a Security Entitlement against the securities intermediary in such
securities account, the Collection Account for such Series of Bonds is not in
the name of any person other than the Indenture Trustee, and the Issuer has not
consented to the securities intermediary of the Collection Account for such
Series of Bonds to comply with entitlement orders of any person other than the
Indenture Trustee. All of the Series Collateral constituting investment property
has been and will have been credited to the Collection Account for such Series
of Bonds or a subaccount thereof, and the entity acting as Indenture Trustee, in
its capacity as the securities intermediary for such Collection Account, has
agreed to treat all assets credited to the Collection Account for such Series of
Bonds as "financial assets" within the meaning of the UCC. Accordingly, the
Indenture Trustee has a first priority perfected security interest in the
Collection Account for such Series of Bonds, all funds and financial assets on
deposit therein, and all Securities Entitlements relating thereto. The
representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2.19 shall survive the
execution and delivery of this Indenture and the issuance of any Bonds, shall be
deemed re-made on each date on which any funds in the Collection Account for
each Series of Bonds are distributed to Issuer or otherwise released from the
lien of the Indenture and may not be waived by any party hereto except pursuant
to a supplemental indenture executed in accordance with Article IX and as to
which the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied.
ARTICLE III
COVENANTS
SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest. The
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds shall be duly and
punctually paid in accordance with the terms of the Bonds and this Indenture.
Amounts properly withheld under the Code or other tax laws by any Person from a
payment to any Holder of interest or principal or premium, if any, shall be
considered as having been paid by the Issuer to such Holder for all purposes of
this Indenture.
SECTION 3.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Issuer shall
maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency
where Bonds may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and
where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Bonds and this
Indenture may be served. The Issuer hereby initially appoints the Indenture
Trustee to serve as its agent for the foregoing purposes. The Issuer shall give
prompt written notice to the Indenture Trustee of the location, and of any
change in the location, of any such office or agency.
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To the extent any of the Bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, (i) the Issuer will maintain
in Luxembourg (A) an office and a transfer agent where Bonds may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange, (B) an office and a listing agent
where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Bonds and this
Indenture may be served, and (C) an office and a paying agent where payments in
respect of the Bonds may be made and (ii) any reference in this Indenture to the
office or agency of the Issuer referred to in this Section 3.02 shall also refer
to such offices, and the transfer, listing and paying agents, of the Issuer in
Luxembourg, as applicable. The Issuer shall give the Indenture Trustee and any
other agent appointed under this Section 3.02 written notice of the location and
identity, and of any change in the location or identity, of any such office or
agency.
SECTION 3.03. Money for Payments To Be Held in Trust. As provided in
Section 8.02(a), all payments of amounts due and payable with respect to any
Bonds that are to be made from amounts withdrawn from the Collection Account for
each Series of Bonds pursuant to Section 8.02(d) shall be made on behalf of the
Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by another Paying Agent, and no amounts so
withdrawn from such Collection Account for payments with respect to any Bonds of
such Series shall be paid over to the Issuer except as provided in this Section
and Section 8.02.
The Issuer will cause each Paying Agent other than the Indenture
Trustee to execute and deliver to the Indenture Trustee an instrument in which
such Paying Agent shall agree with the Indenture Trustee (and if the Indenture
Trustee acts as Paying Agent, it hereby so agrees), subject to the provisions of
this Section, that such Paying Agent will: (i) hold all sums held by it for the
payment of amounts due with respect to the Bonds in trust for the benefit of the
Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or
otherwise disposed of as herein provided and pay such sums to such Persons as
herein provided; (ii) give the Indenture Trustee written notice of any default
by the Issuer of which it has actual knowledge in the making of any payment
required to be made with respect to the Bonds; (iii) at any time during the
continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Indenture
Trustee, forthwith pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums so held in trust by
such Paying Agent; (iv) immediately resign as a Paying Agent and forthwith pay
to the Indenture Trustee all sums held by it in trust for the payment of Bonds
if at any time the Paying Agent determines that it has ceased to meet the
standards required to be met by a Paying Agent at the time of such
determination; and (v) comply with all requirements of the Code and other tax
laws with respect to the withholding from any payments made by it on any Bonds
of any applicable withholding taxes imposed thereon and with respect to any
applicable reporting requirements in connection therewith.
The Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, by Issuer
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay to the Indenture Trustee all sums held in
trust by such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Indenture Trustee upon
the same trusts as those upon which the sums were held by such Paying Agent; and
upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Indenture Trustee, such Paying
Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Subject to applicable laws with respect to escheat of funds, any money
held by the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the payment of
any amount due with respect to any Bond and remaining unclaimed for two years
23
after such amount has become due and payable shall be discharged from such trust
and be paid to the Issuer on an Issuer Request; and, subject to Section 11.16,
the Holder of such Bond shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look
only to the Issuer for payment thereof (but only to the extent of the amounts so
paid to the Issuer), and all liability of the Indenture Trustee or such Paying
Agent with respect to such trust money shall thereupon cease; provided, however,
that the Indenture Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make
any such repayment, may at the expense of the Issuer, cause to be published
once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on
each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice
that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein,
which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any
unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer. The
Indenture Trustee may also adopt and employ, at the expense of the Issuer, any
other reasonable means of notification of such repayment (including, but not
limited to, mailing notice of such repayment to Holders whose Bonds have been
called but have not been surrendered for redemption or whose right to or
interest in moneys due and payable but not claimed is determinable from the
records of the Indenture Trustee or of any Paying Agent, at the last address of
record for each such Holder).
SECTION 3.04. Existence. The Issuer shall keep in full effect its
existence, rights and franchises as a limited liability company under the laws
of the State of Delaware (unless it becomes, or any successor Issuer hereunder
is or becomes, organized under the laws of any other State or of the United
States of America, in which case the Issuer will keep in full effect its
existence, rights and franchises under the laws of such other jurisdiction) and
will obtain and preserve its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction
in which such qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the validity and
enforceability of this Indenture, the Bonds, the Collateral and each other
instrument or agreement included in the Collateral.
SECTION 3.05. Protection of Collateral. The Issuer shall from time to
time execute and deliver all such supplements and amendments hereto and all
filings with the PUCT or the Texas Secretary of State pursuant to the Financing
Order or to the Securitization Law and all financing statements, continuation
statements, instruments of further assurance and other instruments, and shall
take such other action necessary or advisable to:
(i) maintain or preserve the lien and security interest (and the
priority thereof) of this Indenture or carry out more effectively the purposes
hereof;
(ii) perfect, publish notice of or protect the validity of any
Grant made or to be made by this Indenture;
(iii) enforce any of the Collateral, including any Swap
Agreement;
(iv) preserve and defend title to the Collateral and the rights
of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders in such Collateral against the Claims
of all Persons and parties, including the challenge by any party to the validity
or enforceability of the Financing Order, any Tariff, the Transition Property or
any proceeding relating thereto and institute any action or proceeding necessary
to compel performance by the PUCT or the State of Texas of any of its
24
obligations or duties under the Securitization Law, the State Pledge, or the
Financing Order or any Tariff; or
(v) pay any and all taxes levied or assessed upon all or any part
of the Collateral.
The Issuer hereby designates the Indenture Trustee or the Servicer its agent and
attorney-in-fact to execute upon the written direction of the Issuer any filings
with the PUCT or the Texas Secretary of State, financing statements,
continuation statements or other instrument required pursuant to this Section,
it being understood that the Indenture Trustee shall have no such obligation or
any duty to prepare such documents.
SECTION 3.06. Opinions as to Collateral. (a) Promptly after the
Series Issuance Date for each Series (including the Closing Date), the Issuer
shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel
either stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken
with respect to the recording and filing of this Indenture, any indentures
supplemental hereto, and any other requisite documents, and with respect to the
execution and filing of any filings with the PUCT or the Texas Secretary of
State pursuant to the Securitization Law and the Financing Order and any
financing statements and continuation statements, as are necessary to perfect
and make effective the lien and security interest of this Indenture and reciting
the details of such action, or stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no
such action is necessary to make such lien and security interest effective.
(b) On or before June 1 in each calendar year, while any Series is
outstanding, beginning on June 1, 2004, the Issuer shall furnish to the
Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel either stating that,
in the opinion of such counsel, such action has been taken with respect to the
recording, filing, re-recording and refiling of this Indenture, any indentures
supplemental hereto and any other requisite documents and with respect to the
execution and filing of any filings with the PUCT or the Texas Secretary of
State pursuant to the Securitization Law and the Financing Order and any
financing statements and continuation statements as are necessary to maintain
the Lien created by this Indenture and reciting the details of such action or
stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, no such action is necessary to
maintain such lien. Such Opinion of Counsel shall also describe the recording,
filing, re-recording and refiling of this Indenture, any indentures supplemental
hereto and any other requisite documents and the execution and filing of any
filings with the PUCT or the Texas Secretary of State, financing statements and
continuation statements that will, in the opinion of such counsel, be required
to maintain the lien created by this Indenture until June 1 in the following
calendar year.
(c) Prior to the effectiveness of any amendment to the Sale Agreement,
the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of
external counsel either (A) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all
filings, including filings with the PUCT and the Texas Secretary of State
pursuant to the Securitization Law or the Financing Order, have been executed
and filed that are necessary fully to preserve and protect the interest of the
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee in the Transition Property and the proceeds
thereof, and reciting the details of such filings or referring to prior Opinions
of Counsel in which such details are given, or (B) stating that, in the opinion
25
of such counsel, no such action shall be necessary to preserve and protect such
interest.
SECTION 3.07. Performance of Obligations; Servicing; SEC Filings. (a)
The Issuer (i) shall diligently pursue any and all actions to enforce its rights
under each instrument or agreement included in the Collateral and (ii) shall not
take any action and shall use its best efforts not to permit any action to be
taken by others that would release any Person from any of such Person's
covenants or obligations under any such instrument or agreement or that would
result in the amendment, hypothecation, subordination, termination or discharge
of, or impair the validity or effectiveness of, any such instrument or
agreement, except, in each case, as expressly provided in this Indenture, and
any other Basic Document or such other instrument or agreement.
(b) The Issuer may contract with other Persons to assist it in
performing its duties under this Indenture, and any performance of such duties
by a Person identified to the Indenture Trustee herein or in an Officer's
Certificate of the Issuer shall be deemed to be action taken by the Issuer.
Initially, the Issuer has contracted with the Administrator to assist the Issuer
in performing its duties under this Indenture.
(c) The Issuer shall punctually perform and observe all of its
obligations and agreements contained in this Indenture, the Basic Documents and
in the instruments and agreements included in the Collateral, including, but not
limited to, filing or causing to be filed all filings with the PUCT or the Texas
Secretary of State pursuant to the Securitization Law or the Financing Order,
all UCC financing statements and continuation statements required to be filed by
it by the terms of this Indenture, the Sale Agreement and the Servicing
Agreement in accordance with and within the time periods provided for herein and
therein.
(d) If the Issuer shall have knowledge of the occurrence of a Servicer
Default under any Servicing Agreement, the Issuer shall promptly give written
notice thereof to the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies, and shall
specify in such notice the response or action, if any, the Issuer has taken or
is taking with respect of such default. If a Servicer Default shall arise from
the failure of the Servicer under any such Servicing Agreement to perform any of
its duties or obligations under such Servicing Agreement with respect to the
Transition Property or the Transition Charges, the Issuer shall take all
reasonable steps available to it to remedy such failure.
(e) Upon the Indenture Trustee's receipt of written notice of
a Servicer Default under any Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee may, and
at the written instruction of the PUCT or of the Holders of at least a majority
of the Outstanding Amount of the related Series of Bonds shall, give written
notice of termination to the Servicer pursuant to Section 7.01 of the Servicing
Agreement. As promptly as possible after the giving of notice of termination to
such Servicer and the Rating Agencies of such Servicer's rights and powers
pursuant to Section 7.01 of any Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee in
accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall appoint a
successor Servicer (the "Successor Servicer"), and such Successor Servicer shall
accept its appointment by a written assumption in a form acceptable to the
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee. A Person shall qualify as a Successor Servicer
only if such Person satisfies the requirements of such Servicing Agreement and
any Intercreditor Agreement. If within 30 days after the delivery of the notice
26
referred to above, a new Servicer shall not have been appointed, the Indenture
Trustee may petition the PUCT or a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a
Successor Servicer. In connection with any such appointment, Oncor may make such
arrangements for the compensation of such Successor Servicer as it and such
successor shall agree, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8.02 and
in such Servicing Agreement.
(f) Upon any termination of the Servicer's rights and powers pursuant
to any Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee shall promptly notify the
Issuer, the Holders of the related Series of Bonds and the Rating Agencies. As
soon as a Successor Servicer is appointed, the Indenture Trustee shall notify
the Issuer, such Holders and the Rating Agencies of such appointment, specifying
in such notice the name and address of such Successor Servicer.
(g) Without derogating from the absolute nature of the assignment
Granted to the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture or the rights of the
Indenture Trustee hereunder, the Issuer agrees that it will not, without the
prior written consent of the Indenture Trustee or the Holders of at least a
majority in Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of all affected Series, amend,
modify, waive, supplement, terminate or surrender, or agree to any amendment,
modification, supplement, termination, waiver or surrender of, the terms of any
Collateral, subject to the requirements of Section 9.02 of this Indenture, or
the Basic Documents related to such Series, or waive timely performance or
observance by the Seller or the Servicer under any Sale Agreement or any
Servicing Agreement, respectively related to such Series; provided, that no such
consent shall be required if (i) the Indenture Trustee shall have received an
Opinion of Counsel stating that such waiver, amendment, modification, supplement
or termination shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests
of such Holders and (ii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied
with respect thereto. If any such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver
shall be so consented to by the Indenture Trustee or such Holders, the Issuer
agrees to execute and deliver, in its own name and at its own expense, such
agreements, instruments, consents and other documents as shall be necessary or
appropriate in the circumstances. The Issuer agrees that no such amendment,
modification, supplement or waiver shall adversely affect in any material
respect the rights of the Holders of any Series of Bonds Outstanding at the time
of any such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver without the consent of
such Holders. It shall not be necessary for such Holders pursuant to this clause
(g) to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, modification,
supplement, waiver or consent, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall
approve the substance thereof. Prior to its consent to any amendment,
modification, supplement or waiver, the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to
receive and conclusively rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that such
amendment, modification, supplement or waiver is permitted. The Indenture
Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment,
modification, supplement or waiver which affects the Indenture Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under the Basic Documents.
(h) The Issuer shall file with the SEC such periodic reports, if any,
as are required (without regard to the number of Holders of Bonds to the extent
permitted by and consistent with the Issuer's obligations under applicable law)
from time to time under Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act so long
as any Bonds remain Outstanding, and the Issuer shall not voluntarily suspend or
terminate its filing obligations with the SEC. The Issuer shall also, to the
extent permitted by and consistent with the Issuer's obligations under
applicable law, include in the periodic reports and other reports to be filed
27
with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act the following information in respect
of each series of Outstanding Bonds:
I. monthly servicer reports in the form set forth as Exhibit A to
the Servicing Agreement (to be included in the next Form 10-Q
filed subsequent to the respective monthly report);
II. a statement reporting the balance in the Collection Account and
the balance in each Subaccount of the Collection Account as of
the end of each quarter or the most recent date available (to be
included in the Form 10-Q filed for that respective quarter);
III. a statement showing the balance of Outstanding Bonds that
reflects the actual periodic payments made on the Bonds (to be
filed semi-annually in the next Form 10-Q filed);
IV. the semi-annual Servicer's Certificate which is required to be
submitted pursuant to the Servicing Agreement (to be filed in
either a Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or Form 8-K);
V. the text (or a link to the website where a reader can find the
text) of each true-up filing in respect of the series of
Outstanding Bonds and the results of each true-up filing (to be
filed in either a Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or Form 8-K);
VI. any change in the long-term or short-term credit ratings of the
Servicer assigned by the Rating Agencies (to be filed in a Form
8-K);
VII. material legislative or regulatory developments directly relevant
to the series of Outstanding Bonds (to be filed in a Form 8-K);
and
VIII. a quarterly statement (to be included in each Form 10-Q)
affirming that, in all material respects, for each materially
significant REP, (a) each REP has been billed in compliance with
the requirements outlined in the Financing Order; (b) each REP
has made payments in compliance with the requirements outlined in
the Financing Order; and (c) each REP satisfies the
creditworthiness requirements of the Financing Order.
In addition, the Issuer shall, to the extent permitted by and consistent with
the Issuer's obligations under applicable law, cause to be posted on the website
associated with the Issuer's parent:
A. the Final Prospectus for each series of Outstanding Bonds;
B. the monthly Servicer's Certificate delivered for each Series of
Bonds pursuant to each Servicing Agreement;
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C. all information required to be filed by the Issuer with the SEC,
including the information to be submitted in items I through VIII of this
section (h) above as such information becomes available; and
D. a current organization chart for the Issuer and the Servicer
(unless the Servicer shall not be related to the Issuer in which case the
Servicer shall post two separate organization charts), in each case
disclosing the parents and material subsidiaries of the Issuer and the
Servicer.
(i) The Issuer shall make all filings required under the
Securitization Law relating to the transfer of the ownership or security
interest in the Transition Property other than those required to be made by the
Seller or any Servicer pursuant to the Basic Documents.
SECTION 3.08. Certain Negative Covenants. So long as any Bonds are
Outstanding, the Issuer shall not:
(i) except as expressly permitted by this Indenture, any Sale
Agreement, any Servicing Agreement or any other Basic Document, sell, transfer,
exchange or otherwise dispose of any of the properties or assets of the Issuer,
including those included in the Collateral, unless directed to do so by the
Indenture Trustee in accordance with Article V;
(ii) claim any credit on, or make any deduction from the
principal or premium, if any, or interest payable in respect of, the Bonds
(other than amounts properly withheld from such payments under the Code or other
tax laws) or assert any claim against any present or former Holder by reason of
the payment of the taxes levied or assessed upon any part of the Collateral;
(iii) terminate its existence or dissolve or liquidate in whole
or in part, except in a transaction permitted by Section 3.10;
(iv) (A) permit the validity or effectiveness of this Indenture
to be impaired, or permit the lien of this Indenture to be amended,
hypothecated, subordinated, terminated or discharged, or permit any Person to be
released from any covenants or obligations with respect to the Bonds under this
Indenture except as may be expressly permitted hereby, (B) permit any Lien,
charge, excise, claim, security interest, mortgage or other encumbrance (other
than the lien of this Indenture), to be created on or extend to or otherwise
arise upon or burden the Collateral or any part thereof or any interest therein
or the proceeds thereof (other than tax Liens arising by operation of law with
respect to amounts not yet due) or (C) permit the lien of this Indenture not to
constitute a valid first priority security interest in the Collateral;
(v) elect to be classified as an association taxable as a
corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise take any action, file
any tax return, or make any election inconsistent with the treatment of the
Issuer, for purposes of federal taxes and, to the extent consistent with
applicable state tax law, state income and franchise tax purposes, as a
disregarded entity that is not separate from the sole owner of the Issuer;
(vi) change its name, identity or structure or the location of
its chief executive office, unless promptly after the effective date of any such
change the Issuer delivers to the Indenture Trustee such documents, instruments
29
or agreements, executed by the Issuer, as are necessary to reflect such change
and to continue the perfection of the security interest of this Indenture; or
(vii) take any action which is expressly stated in the Basic
Documents to be subject to a Rating Agency Condition without satisfying the
Rating Agency Condition.
SECTION 3.09. Annual Statement as to Compliance. The Issuer will
deliver to the Indenture Trustee and the Rating Agencies not later than June 1
of each year (commencing with June 1, 2004), an Officer's Certificate stating,
as to the Responsible Officer signing such Officer's Certificate, that:
(i) a review of the activities of the Issuer during the preceding
twelve months ended March 31 (or, in the case of the first such certificate,
since the Series Issuance Date) and of performance under this Indenture has been
made; and
(ii) to the best of such Responsible Officer's knowledge, based
on such review, the Issuer has in all material respects complied with all
conditions and covenants under this Indenture throughout such twelve month
period, or, if there has been a default in the compliance of any such condition
or covenant, specifying each such default known to such Responsible Officer and
the nature and status thereof.
SECTION 3.10. Issuer May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.
(a) The Issuer shall not consolidate or merge with or into any other Person,
unless:
(i) the Person (if other than the Issuer) formed by or surviving
such consolidation or merger shall (A) be a Person organized and existing under
the laws of the United States of America or any State, (B) expressly assume, by
an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Indenture
Trustee, in form and substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, the
performance or observance of every agreement and covenant of this Indenture on
the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed, all as provided herein and
in the applicable Series Supplements, if any, and (C) assume all obligations and
succeed to all rights of the Issuer under any Sale Agreement, any Servicing
Agreement and any Swap Agreement;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such merger or
consolidation, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing;
(iii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with
respect to such merger or consolidation;
(iv) the Issuer shall have delivered to Oncor, the Indenture
Trustee and the Rating Agencies an opinion or opinions of outside tax counsel
(as selected by the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Oncor and the Indenture Trustee, and which may be based on a ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service) to the effect that the consolidation or merger will
not result in a material adverse federal or state income tax consequence to the
Issuer, Oncor, the Indenture Trustee or the then existing Bondholders;
30
(v) any action as is necessary to maintain the first priority
perfected security interest in the Collateral created by this Indenture shall
have been taken as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel
delivered to the Indenture Trustee; and
(vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an
Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel each stating
that such consolidation or merger and such supplemental indenture comply with
this Section 3.10(a) and that all conditions precedent herein provided for in
this Section 3.10(a) with respect to such transaction have been complied with
(including any filing required by the Exchange Act).
(b) Except as specifically provided herein, the Issuer shall not sell,
convey, exchange, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or
assets included in the Collateral, to any Person, unless:
(i) the Person that acquires the properties and assets of the
Issuer, the conveyance or transfer of which is hereby restricted shall (A) be a
United States citizen or a Person organized and existing under the laws of the
United States of America or any State, (B) expressly assumes, by an indenture
supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee, the performance or
observance of every agreement and covenant of this Indenture on the part of the
Issuer to be performed or observed, all as provided herein and in the applicable
Series Supplements, (C) expressly agrees by means of such supplemental indenture
that all right, title and interest so sold, conveyed, exchanged, transferred or
otherwise disposed of shall be subject and subordinate to the rights of Holders,
(D) unless otherwise provided in the supplemental indenture referred to in
clause (B) above, expressly agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Issuer against and from any loss, liability or expense arising under or related
to this Indenture and the Bonds, (E) expressly agrees by means of such
supplemental indenture that such Person (or if a group of Persons, then one
specified Person) shall make all filings with the SEC (and any other appropriate
Person) required by the Exchange Act in connection with the Bonds and (F) if
such sale, conveyance, exchange, transfer or disposal relates to the Issuer's
rights and obligations under any Sale Agreement or any Servicing Agreement,
assume all obligations and succeed to all rights of the Issuer under such Sale
Agreement and such Servicing Agreement, as applicable;
(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Default, Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(iii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with
respect to such transaction;
(iv) the Issuer shall have delivered to Oncor, the Indenture
Trustee and the Rating Agencies an opinion or opinions of outside tax counsel
(as selected by the Issuer, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Oncor and the Indenture Trustee, and which may be based on a ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service) to the effect that the disposition will not result in
a material adverse federal or state income tax consequence to the Issuer, Oncor,
the Indenture Trustee or the then existing Bondholders;
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(v) any action as is necessary to maintain the first priority
perfected security interest in the Collateral created by this Indenture shall
have been taken as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel
delivered to the Indenture Trustee; and
(vi) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an
Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel each stating
that such sale, conveyance, exchange, transfer or other disposition and such
supplemental indenture comply with this Section 3.10(b) and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for in this Section 3.10(b) with respect to such
transaction have been complied with (including any filing required by the
Exchange Act).
SECTION 3.11. Successor or Transferee. (a) Upon any consolidation
or merger of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.10(a), the Person formed by
or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Person had been
named as the Issuer herein.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 6.07, upon a sale, conveyance,
exchange, transfer or other disposition of all the assets and properties of the
Issuer in accordance with Section 3.10(b), the Issuer will be released from
every covenant and agreement of this Indenture and the other Basic Documents to
be observed or performed on the part of the Issuer with respect to the Bonds and
the Transition Property immediately upon the delivery of written notice to the
Indenture Trustee from the Person acquiring such assets and properties stating
that the Issuer is to be so released.
SECTION 3.12. No Other Business. The Issuer shall not engage in any
business other than financing, purchasing, owning and managing the Transition
Property and the other Collateral and the issuance of the Bonds in the manner
contemplated by the Financing Order and this Indenture and the Basic Documents
and activities incidental thereto.
SECTION 3.13. No Borrowing. The Issuer shall not issue, incur, assume,
guarantee or otherwise become liable, directly or indirectly, for any
indebtedness except for the Bonds and except preparatory to and in connection
with the issuance of the Bonds and as contemplated by the Basic Documents.
SECTION 3.14. Servicer's Obligations. The Issuer shall enforce the
Servicer's compliance with and performance of all of the Servicer's material
obligations under each Servicing Agreement.
SECTION 3.15. Guarantees, Loans, Advances and Other Liabilities.
Except as otherwise contemplated any Sale Agreement, any Servicing Agreement,
any Swap Agreement, this Indenture or any other Basic Document, the Issuer shall
not make any loan or advance or credit to, or guarantee (directly or indirectly
or by an instrument having the effect of assuring another's payment or
performance on any obligation or capability of so doing or otherwise), endorse
or otherwise become contingently liable, directly or indirectly, in connection
with the obligations, stocks or dividends of, or own, purchase, repurchase or
acquire (or agree contingently to do so) any stock, obligations, assets or
32
securities of, or any other interest in, or make any capital contribution to,
any other Person.
SECTION 3.16. Capital Expenditures. Other than the purchase of
Transition Property from the Seller on each Series Issuance Date, the Issuer
shall not make any expenditure (by long-term or operating lease or otherwise)
for capital assets (either realty or personalty).
SECTION 3.17. Restricted Payments. The Issuer shall not, directly or
indirectly, (i) pay any dividend or make any distribution (by reduction of
capital or otherwise), whether in cash, property, securities or a combination
thereof, to any owner of an interest in the Issuer or otherwise with respect to
any ownership or equity interest or similar security in or of the Issuer, (ii)
redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value any such ownership or
equity interest or similar security or (iii) set aside or otherwise segregate
any amounts for any such purpose; provided, however, that, if no Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would be caused thereby, the
Issuer may make, or cause to be made, any such distributions to any owner of an
interest in the Issuer or otherwise with respect to any ownership or equity
interest or similar security in or of the Issuer using funds distributed to the
Issuer pursuant to Section 8.02(e), or which are not otherwise subject to the
Lien of this Indenture to the extent that such distributions would not cause the
balance of the Capital Subaccount of any Collection Account for a Series of
Bonds to decline below 0.5 percent of the original principal amount of all Bonds
of such Series that remain Outstanding. The Issuer will not, directly or
indirectly, make payments to or distributions from any Series Collection Account
except in accordance with this Indenture and the other Basic Documents.
SECTION 3.18. Notice of Events of Default. The Issuer agrees to give
the Indenture Trustee, the PUCT and the Rating Agencies and, to the extent that
the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange so require, any agent
in Luxembourg appointed pursuant to Section 3.02 prompt written notice of each
Default or Event of Default hereunder as provided in Section 5.01, and each
default on the part of the Seller or the Servicer of its obligations under the
Sale Agreement or the Servicing Agreement, respectively.
SECTION 3.19. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the
Indenture Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments
and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out
more effectively the purpose of this Indenture and to maintain the first
priority perfected security interest of the Trustee in the Collateral.
SECTION 3.20. Purchase of Subsequent Transition Property. (a) The
Issuer may from time to time purchase Subsequent Transition Property from the
Seller pursuant to a Sale Agreement, subject to the conditions specified in
paragraph (b) below.
(b) The Issuer shall be permitted to purchase from the Seller
Subsequent Transition Property and the proceeds thereof only upon the
satisfaction of each of the following conditions on or prior to the related
Subsequent Transfer Date:
(i) the Seller shall have provided the Issuer, the Indenture
Trustee and the Rating Agencies with an Addition Notice, which shall be given
not later than 10 days prior to the related Subsequent Transfer Date,
33
specifying the Subsequent Transfer Date for such Subsequent Transition Property
and the aggregate amount of the Transition Charges related to such Subsequent
Transition Property, and shall have provided any information reasonably
requested by any of the foregoing Persons with respect to the Subsequent
Transition Property then being conveyed to the Issuer;
(ii) the Securitization Law, such Sale Agreement and the related
Financing Order shall be in full force and effect and a filing shall have been
made pursuant to Section 39.309(d) of the Securitization Law;
(iii) as of such Subsequent Transfer Date, the Seller will not be
insolvent and will not have been made insolvent by such sale and transfer and
the Seller is not aware of any pending insolvency with respect to itself;
(iv) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with
respect to such sale and transfer;
(v) the Seller shall have received and delivered to the Issuer
and the Indenture Trustee: (i) an opinion of outside tax counsel (as selected by
the Seller, and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and
the Indenture Trustee) to the effect that the Issuer will not be subject to
United States federal income tax as an entity separate from its sole owner and
that the Bonds issued in connection with the purchase of such Subsequent
Transition Property will continue to be treated as debt of the Issuer's sole
owner for United States federal income tax purposes, (ii) an opinion of outside
tax counsel (as selected by the Seller, and in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) or, if the Seller so
chooses, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, in either case to the
effect that, for United States federal income tax purposes, the issuance of such
Bonds will not result in gross income to the Seller, and (iii) an opinion of
outside tax counsel (as selected by the Seller, and in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee) to the effect
that such subsequent issuance will not adversely affect the characterization of
any such Bonds then Outstanding as obligations of the Issuer's sole owner. The
opinion of outside tax counsel described above may, if the Seller so chooses, be
conditioned on the receipt by the Seller of one or more letter rulings from the
Internal Revenue Service and in rendering such opinion outside tax counsel shall
be entitled to rely on the rulings contained in such ruling letters and to rely
on the representations made, and information supplied, to the Internal Revenue
Service in connection with such letter rulings;
(vi) as of such Subsequent Transfer Date, no breach by the Seller
of its representations, warranties or covenants in such Sale Agreement and no
Servicer Default shall exist;
(vii) as of such Subsequent Transfer Date, the Issuer shall have
sufficient funds available to pay the purchase price for the Subsequent
Transition Property to be conveyed on such date and all conditions to the
subsequent issuance of one or more Series of new Bonds intended to provide such
funds set forth in Section 2.10 of this Indenture shall have been satisfied or
waived;
34
(viii) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee
an Officer's Certificate confirming the satisfaction of each condition precedent
specified in this paragraph (b);
(ix) (A) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Rating Agencies
any Opinions of Counsel requested by the Rating Agencies and (B) the Issuer
shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee the Opinion of Counsel required by
Section 3.06(c) of this Indenture; and
(x) The Seller and the Issuer shall have taken any action
required to maintain the first perfected ownership interest of the Issuer in the
Subsequent Transition Property and the proceeds thereof, and the Issuer shall
have taken any action required to maintain the first priority perfected security
interest of the Indenture Trustee in the Subsequent Transition Property and the
proceeds thereof.
SECTION 3.21. Inspection. The Issuer agrees that, on reasonable prior
notice, it will permit any representative, agent or attorney of the Indenture
Trustee, during the Issuer's normal business hours, to examine all the books of
account, records, reports and other papers of the Issuer, to make copies and
extracts therefrom, to cause such books to be audited annually by Independent
certified public accountants, and to discuss the Issuer's affairs, finances and
accounts with the Issuer's officers, employees and Independent certified public
accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably
requested. The Indenture Trustee shall and shall cause its representatives to
hold in confidence all such information except to the extent disclosure may be
required by law (and all reasonable applications for confidential treatment are
unavailing) and except to the extent that the Indenture Trustee may reasonably
determine that such disclosure is consistent with its obligations hereunder.
SECTION 3.22. Sale Agreement, Intercreditor Agreement, Administration
Agreement, and Servicing Agreement Covenants. (a) The Issuer agrees to take
all such lawful actions to enforce its rights under any Sale Agreement, any
Intercreditor Agreement, Administration Agreement and any Servicing Agreement
and to compel or secure the performance and observance by the Seller, the
Administrator, each Servicer and Oncor of each of their respective obligations
under or in connection with any Sale Agreement, any Intercreditor Agreement and
any Servicing Agreement in accordance with the terms thereof. So long as no
Event of Default occurs and is continuing, but subject to Section 3.22(c), the
Issuer may exercise any and all rights, remedies, powers and privileges lawfully
available to the Issuer under or in connection with any Sale Agreement, any
Intercreditor Agreement, the Administration Agreement and any Servicing
Agreement; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of
the Holders in any material respect.
(b) If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Indenture
Trustee may, and at the direction (which direction shall be in writing) of
Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of all Series
shall, exercise all rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims of the
Issuer against the Seller, Oncor, the Administrator and each Servicer, as the
case may be, under or in connection with any Sale Agreement, Administration
Agreement, any Intercreditor Agreement and any Servicing Agreement, including
the right or power to take any action to compel or secure performance or
observance by the Seller, Oncor or each Servicer of each of their obligations
thereunder and to give any consent, request, notice, direction, approval,
35
extension or waiver under any Sale Agreement, any Intercreditor Agreement and
any Servicing Agreement, and any right of the Issuer to take such action shall
be suspended.
(c) Promptly following a default by the Seller under any Sale
Agreement, by Oncor or any successor to Oncor under any Intercreditor Agreement,
or by the Administrator under the Administration Agreement or the occurrence of
a Servicer Default under any Servicing Agreement, and at the Issuer's expense,
the Issuer agrees to take all such lawful actions as the Indenture Trustee may
request to compel or secure the performance and observance by each of the
Seller, Oncor, the Administrator or the Servicer of their obligations under and
in accordance with any Sale Agreement, any Intercreditor Agreement or any
Servicing Agreement, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms thereof,
and to exercise any and all rights, remedies, powers and privileges lawfully
available to the Issuer under or in connection with such agreements to the
extent and in the manner directed by the Indenture Trustee, including the
transmission of notices of any default by the Seller, Oncor, the Administrator
or any Servicer, respectively, thereunder and the institution of legal or
administrative actions or Proceedings to compel or secure performance of their
obligations under any Sale Agreement, any Intercreditor Agreement, the
Administration Agreement or any Servicing Agreement, as applicable.
SECTION 3.23. Taxes. So long as any of the Bonds are Outstanding, the
Issuer shall pay all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it
or any of its properties or assets or with respect to any of its franchises,
business, income or property before any penalty accrues thereon if the failure
to pay any such taxes, assessments and governmental charges would, after any
applicable grace periods, notices or other similar requirements, result in a
Lien on the Collateral; provided that no such tax need be paid if the Seller or
one of its Affiliates is contesting the same in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if the Seller or
such Affiliates has established appropriate reserves as shall be required in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
ARTICLE IV
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
SECTION 4.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance.
(a) This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the Bonds
of any Series and the Indenture Trustee, on reasonable written demand of and at
the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Bonds of such
Series, when:
(i) either
(A) all Bonds of such Series theretofore authenticated and
delivered (other than (i) Bonds that have been destroyed, lost or
stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06
and (ii) Bonds for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited
in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Issuer and thereafter
repaid to the Issuer or discharged from such trust, as provided in
Section 3.03) have been delivered to the Indenture Trustee for
cancellation; or
36
(B) either (x) the Scheduled Final Payment Date has occurred
with respect to all Bonds of such Series not theretofore delivered to
the Indenture Trustee for cancellation, (y) such Bonds will be due and
payable on their respective Scheduled Final Payment Dates within one
year, or (z) such Bonds are to be called for redemption within one
year in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Series
Supplement, and in any such case, the Issuer has irrevocably deposited
or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Indenture Trustee in
trust for such purpose (i) cash, (ii) U.S. Government Obligations
which through the scheduled payments of principal and interest in
respect thereof in accordance with their terms are, or (iii) a
combination thereof, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the
entire indebtedness on such Bonds when scheduled not theretofore
delivered to the Indenture Trustee for cancellation;
(ii) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Issuer with respect to such Series; and
(iii) the Issuer has delivered to the Indenture Trustee an
Officer's Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel and (if required by the TIA or the
Indenture Trustee) an Independent Certificate from a firm of certified public
accountants, each meeting the applicable requirements of Section 11.01(a) and
each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Bonds of such
Series have been complied with.
(b) Subject to Sections 4.01(c) and 4.02, the Issuer at any time may
terminate (i) all its obligations under this Indenture with respect to the Bonds
of any Series ("Legal Defeasance Option") or (ii) its obligations under Sections
3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.08, 3.09, 3.10, 3.12, 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.16, 3.17,
3.18 and 3.19 and the operation of Section 5.01(iv) ("Covenant Defeasance
Option") with respect to any Series of Bonds. The Issuer may exercise the Legal
Defeasance Option with respect to any Series of Bonds notwithstanding its prior
exercise of the Covenant Defeasance Option with respect to such Series.
If the Issuer exercises the Legal Defeasance Option with respect to
any Series, the maturity of the Bonds of such Series may not be accelerated
because of an Event of Default. If the Issuer exercises the Covenant Defeasance
Option with respect to any Series, the maturity of the Bonds of such Series may
not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(iv).
Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein to the exercise
of the Legal Defeasance Option or the Covenant Defeasance Option with respect to
any Series of Bonds, the Indenture Trustee, on reasonable written demand of and
at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging
satisfaction and discharge of the obligations that are terminated pursuant to
such exercise.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 4.01(a) and 4.01(b) above, (i) rights of
registration of transfer and exchange, (ii) substitution of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Bonds, (iii) rights of Holders to receive payments of
principal, premium, if any, and interest, (iv) Sections 4.03 and 4.04, (v) the
rights, obligations and immunities of the Indenture Trustee hereunder (including
37
the rights of the Indenture Trustee under Section 6.07 and the obligations of
the Indenture Trustee under Section 4.03) and (vi) the rights of Holders as
beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property deposited with the Indenture
Trustee payable to all or any of them, shall survive until the Bonds of the
Series as to which this Indenture or certain obligations hereunder have been
satisfied and discharged pursuant to Section 4.01(a) or 4.01(b) have been paid
in full. Thereafter the obligations in Sections 6.07 and 4.04 with respect to
such Series shall survive.
SECTION 4.02. Conditions to Defeasance. The Issuer may exercise the
Legal Defeasance Option or the Covenant Defeasance Option with respect to any
Series of Bonds only if:
(a) the Issuer irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited in trust
with the Indenture Trustee (i) cash, (ii) U.S. Government Obligations or (iii) a
combination thereof for the payment of principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on such Bonds to the Scheduled Final Payment Dates or Optional
Redemption Date therefor, as applicable and all other sums payable hereunder by
the Issuer with respect to such Bonds;
(b) the Issuer delivers to the Indenture Trustee a certificate from a
nationally recognized firm of Independent accountants expressing its opinion
that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment of
the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited cash without
investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts (but, in the case
of the Legal Defeasance Option only, not more than such amounts) as will be
sufficient to pay in respect of the Bonds of such Series (i) subject to clause
(ii), principal in accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule therefor,
(ii) if such Series is to be redeemed, the Optional Redemption Price therefor on
the Optional Redemption Date, (iii) interest when due and (iv) all other sums
payable hereunder by the Issuer with respect to such Bonds.
(c) in the case of the Legal Defeasance Option, 91 days pass after the
deposit is made and during the 91-day period no Default specified in Section
5.01(vi) or (vii) occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;
(d) no Default has occurred and is continuing on the day of such
deposit and after giving effect thereto;
(e) in the case of an exercise of the Legal Defeasance Option, the
Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of
external tax counsel stating that (i) the Issuer has received from, or there has
been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date
of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable
federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon
such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Bonds of such Series will
not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result
of such legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such legal defeasance had not occurred;
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(f) in the case of an exercise of the Covenant Defeasance Option, the
Issuer shall have delivered to the Indenture Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of
external tax counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Bonds of such Series
will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on
the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(g) the Issuer delivers to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent to the satisfaction and discharge of the Bonds of such Series to the
extent contemplated by this Article IV have been complied with; and
(h) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect
to the exercise of any Legal Defeasance Option or Covenant Defeasance Option.
Before or after a deposit pursuant to this Section 4.02 with respect
to any Series of Bonds, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the
Indenture Trustee for the redemption of such Bonds at a future date in
accordance with Article X.
SECTION 4.03. Application of Trust Money. All moneys or U.S.
Government Obligations deposited with the Indenture Trustee pursuant to Section
4.01 or 4.02 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with
the provisions of the Bonds and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly
or through any Paying Agent, as the Indenture Trustee may determine, to the
Holders of the particular Bonds for the payment or redemption of which such
moneys have been deposited with the Indenture Trustee, of all sums due and to
become due thereon for principal, premium, if any, and interest; but such moneys
need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required herein or
in the Servicing Agreement or required by law. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Article IV, the Indenture Trustee shall deliver or pay to the
Issuer from time to time upon Issuer Request any cash or U.S. Government
Obligations held by it pursuant to Section 4.02 which, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of Independent accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Indenture Trustee, are in excess of the
amount thereof which would be required to be deposited for the purpose for which
such cash or U.S. Government Obligations were deposited, provided that any such
payment shall be subject to the satisfaction of the Rating Agency Condition.
SECTION 4.04. Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent. In connection
with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the Covenant Defeasance
Option or Legal Defeasance Option with respect to the Bonds of any Series, all
moneys then held by any Paying Agent other than the Indenture Trustee under the
provisions of this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement with respect to such
Bonds shall, upon demand of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.03, be paid
to the Indenture Trustee to be held and applied according to Section 4.03 and
thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with
respect to such moneys.
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ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
SECTION 5.01. Events of Default. "Event of Default" with respect to
any Series, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary
or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
(i) default in the payment of any interest on any Bond of such
Series when the same becomes due and payable (whether such failure to pay
interest is caused by a shortfall in Transition Charges received or otherwise),
and such default shall continue for a period of five Business Days; or
(ii) default in the payment of the then unpaid principal of any
Bond of such Series on the Final Maturity Date for such Series or, if
applicable, any Class on the Final Maturity Date; or
(iii) default in the payment of the Optional Redemption Price for
any Bond on the Optional Redemption Date therefor; or
(iv) default in the observance or performance of any covenant or
agreement of the Issuer made in this Indenture (other than defaults specified in
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above), and such default shall continue or not be
cured, for a period of 30 days after the earlier of (A) the date that there
shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Issuer by the
Indenture Trustee or to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee by the Holders of
at least 25 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series, a
written notice specifying such default and requiring it to be remedied and
stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder or (B) the date that
the Issuer has actual knowledge of the default; or
(v) any representation or warranty of the Issuer made in this
Indenture or in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto or in
connection herewith proving to have been incorrect in any material respect as of
the time when the same shall have been made, and the circumstance or condition
in respect of which such misrepresentation or warranty was incorrect shall not
have been eliminated or otherwise cured, within 30 days after the earlier of (A)
the date that there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to
the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee
by the Holders of at least 25 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of
such Series, a written notice specifying such incorrect representation or
warranty and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a
"Notice of Default" hereunder or (B) the date the Issuer has actual knowledge of
the default; or
(vi) the filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having
jurisdiction in the premises in respect of the Issuer or any substantial part of
the Series Collateral securing such Series in an involuntary case under any
applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
40
trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or for any substantial
part of the Series Collateral securing such Series, or ordering the winding-up
or liquidation of the Issuer's affairs, and such decree or order shall remain
unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
(vii) the commencement by the Issuer of a voluntary case under
any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now
or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Issuer to the entry of an order
for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the
Issuer to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or
for any substantial part of the Series Collateral securing such Series, or the
making by the Issuer of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or
the failure by the Issuer generally to pay its debts as such debts become due,
or the taking of action by the Issuer in furtherance of any of the foregoing; or
(viii) any act or failure to act by the State of Texas or any of
its agencies (including the PUCT) which violates or is not in accordance with
the State Pledge; or
(ix) an Event of Default with respect to any other Series of
Bonds outstanding under this Indenture; or
(x) any other event designated as such in a Series Supplement, if
any.
The Issuer shall deliver to a Responsible Officer of the Indenture
Trustee and to the Rating Agencies, within five days after a Responsible Officer
of the Issuer has knowledge of the occurrence thereof, written notice in the
form of an Officer's Certificate of any event (I) which is an Event of Default
under clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix) or (x) or (II) which
with the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of
Default under clause (iv) or (v), including, in each case, the status of such
Event of Default and what action the Issuer is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto.
SECTION 5.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If
an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under clause (viii) of
Section 5.01) should occur and be continuing with respect to any Series, then
and in every such case the Indenture Trustee or the Holders representing not
less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series,
voting as a single class, may declare all Bonds of such Series to be immediately
due and payable, by a notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Indenture
Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration the unpaid principal
amount of the Bonds of such Series, together with accrued and unpaid interest
thereon through the date of acceleration, shall become immediately due and
payable.
At any time after such declaration of acceleration of maturity has
been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
obtained by the Indenture Trustee as hereinafter in this Article V provided, the
Holders representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the
Bonds of such Series, by written notice to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee,
may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
41
(i) the Issuer has paid or deposited with the Indenture Trustee a
sum sufficient to pay:
(A) all payments of principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on all Bonds of such Series and all other amounts that would
then be due hereunder or upon such Bonds if the Event of Default
giving rise to such acceleration had not occurred; and
(B) all sums paid or advanced by the Indenture Trustee
hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Indenture Trustee and its agents and counsel; and
(ii) all Events of Default with respect to such Series, other
than the nonpayment of the principal of the Bonds of such Series that has become
due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in
Section 5.12.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any
right consequent thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by
Indenture Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default under Section 5.01(i), (ii) or
(iii) has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Series, subject to
Section 11.18, the Indenture Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an
express trust, may institute a Proceeding for the collection of the sums so due
and unpaid, and may prosecute such Proceeding to judgment or final decree, and,
subject to the limitations on recourse set forth herein, may enforce the same
and collect in the manner provided by law out of the Series Collateral and the
proceeds thereof, the whole amount then due and payable on the Bonds of such
Series for principal, premium, if any, and interest, with interest upon the
overdue principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent payment at such rate
of interest shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest,
at the respective rate borne by the Bonds of such Series or the applicable Class
of such Series and in addition thereto such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Indenture
Trustee and its agents and counsel.
(b) If an Event of Default (other than Event of Default under clause
(viii) of Section 5.01) occurs and is continuing with respect to any Series, the
Indenture Trustee may, as more particularly provided in Section 5.04, in its
discretion, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the
Holders of such Series, by such appropriate Proceedings as the Indenture Trustee
shall deem most effective to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for
the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in
aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper
remedy or legal or equitable right vested in the Indenture Trustee by this
Indenture or by law.
(c) If an Event of Default under Section 5.01(vi) or (vii) has
occurred and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee, irrespective of whether the
principal of any Bonds of any Series shall then be due and payable as therein
expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the
Indenture Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this
42
Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in any Proceedings
related to such Event of Default or otherwise:
(i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of
principal, premium, if any, and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the
Bonds and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Indenture Trustee (including any
claim for reasonable compensation to the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor
Indenture Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for
reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made,
by the Indenture Trustee and each predecessor Indenture Trustee, except as a
result of negligence or bad faith) and of the Holders allowed in such
Proceedings;
(ii) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote
on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy, a standby
trustee or Person performing similar functions in any such Proceedings; and
(iii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable
or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute all amounts received with
respect to the claims of the Holders and of the Indenture Trustee on their
behalf;
and any trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official in
any such Proceeding is hereby authorized by each of such Holders to make
payments to the Indenture Trustee, and, in the event that the Indenture Trustee
shall consent to the making of payments directly to such Holders, to pay to the
Indenture Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable
compensation to the Indenture Trustee, each predecessor Indenture Trustee and
their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and
liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Indenture Trustee and each
predecessor Indenture Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith.
(d) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the
Indenture Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on
behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Bonds or the rights of any Holder thereof or to
authorize the Indenture Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in
any such proceeding except, as aforesaid, to vote for the election of a trustee
in bankruptcy or similar Person.
(e) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture,
or under any of the Bonds of any Series, may be enforced by the Indenture
Trustee without the possession of any of the Bonds of such Series or the
production thereof in any trial or other Proceedings relative thereto, and any
such action or proceedings instituted by the Indenture Trustee shall be brought
in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment,
subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and compensation of the
Indenture Trustee, each predecessor Indenture Trustee and their respective
agents and attorneys, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the
Bonds of such Series.
(f) In any Proceedings brought by the Indenture Trustee (and also any
Proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to
which the Indenture Trustee shall be a party), the Indenture Trustee shall be
43
held to represent all the Holders of the Bonds, and it shall not be necessary to
make any Holder a party to any such Proceedings.
SECTION 5.04. Remedies; Priorities. (a) If an Event of Default
(other than an Event of Default under clause (viii) of Section 5.01) shall have
occurred and be continuing with respect to a Series, the Indenture Trustee may
do one or more of the following (subject to Section 5.05):
(i) institute Proceedings in its own name and as trustee of an
express trust for the collection of all amounts then payable on the Bonds of
such Series or under this Indenture with respect thereto, whether by declaration
of acceleration or otherwise, and, subject to the limitations on recovery set
forth herein, enforce any judgment obtained, and collect moneys adjudged due
upon such Bonds;
(ii) institute Proceedings from time to time for the complete or
partial foreclosure of this Indenture with respect to the Series Collateral
securing such Series;
(iii) exercise any remedies of a secured party under the UCC or
the Securitization Law and take any other appropriate action to protect and
enforce the rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders of the
Bonds of such Series;
(iv) sell the Series Collateral securing such Series or any
portion thereof or rights or interest therein, at one or more public or private
sales called and conducted in any manner permitted by law; and
(v) exercise all rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims
of the Issuer against the Seller, the Administrator, or any Servicer under or in
connection with any Sale Agreement, Administration Agreement, any Servicing
Agreement or any Intercreditor Agreement or against any Swap Counterparty under
any Swap Agreement;
provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee may not sell or otherwise
liquidate any portion of the Series Collateral securing such Series following
such an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default described in Section
5.01(i), (ii) or (iii), with respect to such Series unless (A) the Holders of
100 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series consent
thereto, (B) the proceeds of such sale or liquidation distributable to the
Holders of such Series are sufficient to discharge in full all amounts then due
and unpaid upon such Bonds for principal, premium, if any, and interest after
taking into account payment of all amounts due prior thereto pursuant to the
priorities set forth in Section 8.02(e) or (C) the Indenture Trustee determines
that the Series Collateral securing such Series will not continue to provide
sufficient funds for all payments on the Bonds of such Series as they would have
become due if the Bonds had not been declared due and payable, and the Indenture
Trustee obtains the consent of Holders of 66-2/3 percent of the Outstanding
Amount of the Bonds of such Series. In determining such sufficiency or
insufficiency with respect to clause (B) and (C), the Indenture Trustee may, but
need not, obtain and conclusively rely upon an opinion of an Independent
investment banking or accounting firm of national reputation as to the
feasibility of such proposed action and as to the sufficiency of the Series
Collateral for such purpose.
44
(b) If an Event of Default under clause (viii) of Section 5.01 shall
have occurred and be continuing, the Indenture Trustee, for the benefit of the
Holders, shall be entitled and empowered to the extent permitted by applicable
law, to institute or participate in Proceedings necessary to compel performance
of or to enforce the State Pledge and to collect any monetary damages incurred
by the Holders or the Indenture Trustee as a result of any such Event of
Default, and may prosecute any such Proceeding to final judgment or decree.
(c) If the Indenture Trustee collects any money pursuant to this
Article V, it shall pay out such money in accordance with the priorities set
forth in Section 8.02(e).
SECTION 5.05. Optional Preservation of the Collateral. If the Bonds of
a Series have been declared to be due and payable under Section 5.02 following
an Event of Default and such declaration and its consequences have not been
rescinded and annulled, the Indenture Trustee may, but need not, elect to
maintain possession of the Series Collateral securing such Series in accordance
with Section 5.04(a). It is the desire of the parties hereto and the Holders
that there be at all times sufficient funds for the payment of principal of and
premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds of any Series, and the Indenture
Trustee shall take such desire into account when determining whether or not to
maintain possession of the Series Collateral securing such Series. In
determining whether to maintain possession of the Series Collateral, the
Indenture Trustee may, but need not, obtain and conclusively rely upon an
opinion of an Independent investment banking or accounting firm of national
reputation as to the feasibility of such proposed action and as to the
sufficiency of the Series Collateral for such purpose.
SECTION 5.06. Limitation of Suits. No Holder of any Bond of any Series
shall have any right to institute any Proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with
respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or
for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(i) such Holder previously has given written notice to the
Indenture Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to such Series;
(ii) the Holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding
Amount of the Bonds of such Series have made written request to the Indenture
Trustee to institute such Proceeding in respect of such Event of Default in its
own name as Indenture Trustee hereunder;
(iii) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Indenture
Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities
to be incurred in complying with such request;
(iv) the Indenture Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such
notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute such Proceedings;
and
(v) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been
given to the Indenture Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a
majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series;
it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any
right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders
or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders
45
or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein
provided.
In the event the Indenture Trustee shall receive conflicting or
inconsistent requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders, each
representing less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of all
Series, the Indenture Trustee in its sole discretion may determine what action,
if any, shall be taken, notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture.
SECTION 5.07. Unconditional Rights of Holders to Receive Principal,
Premium, if any, and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this
Indenture, the Holder of any Bond shall have the right, which is absolute and
unconditional, (a) to receive payment of (i) the interest, if any, on such Bond
on the due dates thereof expressed in such Bond or in this Indenture, (ii) the
unpaid principal, if any, of such Bonds on the Final Maturity Date therefor or
(iii) in the case of redemption, receive payment of the unpaid principal and
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Bond on the Optional Redemption
Date therefor and (b) to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment,
and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 5.08. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Indenture
Trustee or any Holder has instituted any Proceeding to enforce any right or
remedy under this Indenture and such Proceeding has been discontinued or
abandoned for any reason or has been determined adversely to the Indenture
Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Issuer, the Indenture
Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such Proceeding,
be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders
shall continue as though no such Proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 5.09. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. No right or remedy
herein conferred upon or reserved to the Indenture Trustee or to the Holders is
intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and
remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to
every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law
or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy
hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or
employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
SECTION 5.10. Delay or Omission Not a Waiver. No delay or omission of
the Indenture Trustee or any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing
upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence
therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the
Indenture Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Indenture Trustee or by the Holders, as
the case may be.
SECTION 5.11. Control by Holders. The Holders of not less than a
majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of all Series (or, if less than
all Series or Classes are affected, the affected Series or Class or Classes)
shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
46
Proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture Trustee with respect to the
Bonds of such Series or Class or Classes or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the Indenture Trustee with respect to such Series or Class or
Classes; provided that
(i) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law
or with this Indenture;
(ii) subject to the express terms of Section 5.04, any direction
to the Indenture Trustee to sell or liquidate the Series Collateral securing a
Series of Bonds shall be by the Holders of Bonds of such Series representing not
less than 100 percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series;
(iii) if the conditions set forth in Section 5.05 have been
satisfied and the Indenture Trustee elects to retain the Series Collateral
securing a Series of Bonds pursuant to such Section, then any direction to the
Indenture Trustee by Holders representing less than 100 percent of the
Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series to sell or liquidate such Series
Collateral shall be of no force and effect; and
(iv) the Indenture Trustee may take any other action deemed
proper by the Indenture Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction;
provided, however, that, the Indenture Trustee's duties shall be subject to
Section 6.01, and the Indenture Trustee need not take any action that it
determines might involve it in liability or might materially adversely affect
the rights of any Holders not consenting to such action.
SECTION 5.12. Waiver of Past Defaults. Prior to the declaration of the
acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds of any Series as provided in Section
5.02, the Holders of Bonds of such Series representing not less than a majority
of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of such Series and the PUCT together may
waive any past Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series and its
consequences except a Default (a) in payment when due of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on any of the Bonds of such Series or (b) in
respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the Holder of each Bond of such Series or Classes
affected. In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and
the Holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder,
respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default
or impair any right consequent thereto.
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist and be deemed
to have been cured and not to have occurred, and any Event of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, for every
purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
SECTION 5.13. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture
agree, and each Holder of any Bond by such Holder's acceptance thereof shall be
deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit
for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit
against the Indenture Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as
Indenture Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an
47
undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its
discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and
good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the
provisions of this Section shall not apply to (a) any suit instituted by the
Indenture Trustee, (b) any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders,
in each case holding in the aggregate more than ten percent (10%) of the
Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of a Series or (c) any suit instituted by any
Holder for the enforcement of the payment of (i) interest on any Bond on or
after the due dates expressed in such Bond and in this Indenture, (ii) the
unpaid principal, if any, of any Bond on or after the Final Maturity Date
therefor or (iii) in the case of redemption, the unpaid principal of and
premium, if any, and interest on any Bond on or after the Optional Redemption
Date therefor.
SECTION 5.14. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Issuer covenants
(to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist
upon, or plead or in any manner whatsoever, claim or take the benefit or
advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time
hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this
Indenture; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby
expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it
will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to
the Indenture Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such
power as though no such law had been enacted.
SECTION 5.15. Action on Bonds. The Indenture Trustee's right to seek
and recover judgment on the Bonds or under this Indenture shall not be affected
by the seeking, obtaining or application of any other relief under or with
respect to this Indenture. Neither the lien of this Indenture nor any rights or
remedies of the Indenture Trustee or the Holders shall be impaired by the
recovery of any judgment by the Indenture Trustee against the Issuer or by the
levy of any execution under such judgment upon any portion of the Collateral or
any other assets of the Issuer.
SECTION 5.16. Performance and Enforcement of Certain Obligations.
(a) Promptly following a request from the Indenture Trustee to do so and at the
Issuer's expense, the Issuer agrees to take all such lawful action as the
Indenture Trustee may request to compel or secure the performance and observance
by the Seller and any Servicer, as applicable, of each of their obligations to
the Issuer under or in connection with any Sale Agreement and any Servicing
Agreement, respectively, in accordance with the terms thereof, and to exercise
any and all rights, remedies, powers and privileges lawfully available to the
Issuer under or in connection with any such agreements, respectively, to the
extent and in the manner directed by the Indenture Trustee, including the
transmission of notices of default on the part of the Seller or any Servicer
thereunder and the institution of legal or administrative actions or proceedings
to compel or secure performance by the Seller or any Servicer of each of their
respective obligations under any Sale Agreement and any Servicing Agreement,
respectively.
(b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Indenture Trustee may, and, at the direction (which direction shall be in
writing or by telephone (confirmed in writing promptly thereafter)) of the
Holders of not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of an affected
Series of Bonds shall, subject to Article VI, exercise all rights, remedies,
powers, privileges and claims of the Issuer against the Seller or the Servicer
48
under or in connection with the applicable Sale Agreement and the applicable
Servicing Agreement, respectively, including the right or power to take any
action to compel or secure performance or observance by the Seller or the
Servicer of each of their obligations to the Issuer thereunder and to give any
consent, request, notice, direction, approval, extension or waiver under such
Sale Agreement or such Servicing Agreement, respectively, and any right of the
Issuer to take such action shall be suspended.
ARTICLE VI
THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.01. Duties of Indenture Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Indenture Trustee shall exercise the rights
and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and
skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the Indenture Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and
only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied
covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Indenture
Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Indenture
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions
furnished to the Indenture Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Indenture; however, the Indenture Trustee shall examine the certificates and
opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this
Indenture.
(c) The Indenture Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its
own negligent action, its own bad faith, its own negligent failure to act or its
own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph (c) does not limit the effect of paragraph (b)
of this Section 6.01;
(ii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer unless it is proved that
the Indenture Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Indenture Trustee shall not be liable with respect to
any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a
direction received by it pursuant to Section 5.11.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the
Indenture Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
49
(e) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any
money received by it except as the Indenture Trustee may agree in writing with
the Issuer.
(f) Money held in trust by the Indenture Trustee need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law or the terms of
this Indenture, the Sale Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Servicing
Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Indenture Trustee
to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its
rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayments
of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it.
(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or
affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Indenture Trustee
shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the
TIA.
(i) In the event that the Indenture Trustee is also acting as Paying
Agent or Securities Registrar hereunder, the protections of this Article VI
shall also be afforded to the Indenture Trustee in its capacity as Paying Agent
or Securities Registrar.
(j) Except for the express duties of the Indenture Trustee with
respect to the administrative functions set forth in the Basic Documents, the
Indenture Trustee shall have no obligation to administer, service or collect
Transition Property or to maintain, monitor or otherwise supervise the
administration, servicing or collection of the Transition Property.
SECTION 6.02. Rights of Indenture Trustee. (a) The Indenture Trustee
may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying on any document
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper
person. The Indenture Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in
the document.
(b) Before the Indenture Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may
require and shall be entitled to receive an Officer's Certificate or an Opinion
of Counsel that such action is required or permitted hereunder. The Indenture
Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good
faith in reliance on such Officer's Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Indenture Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through
agents or attorneys or a custodian or nominee, and the Indenture Trustee shall
not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of, or for the
supervision of, any such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with
due care by it hereunder.
(d) The Indenture Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes
or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its
rights or powers; provided, however, that the Indenture Trustee's conduct does
not constitute willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
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(e) The Indenture Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or
opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and
the Bonds shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability
in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good
faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(f) The Indenture Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture or any other Basic
Document, or to institute, conduct or defend any litigation hereunder or
thereunder or in relation hereto or thereto, at the request, order or direction
of any of the Bondholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless
it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that security or indemnity
satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be
incurred therein or thereby is reasonably assured to it.
SECTION 6.03. Individual Rights of Indenture Trustee. The Indenture
Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee
of Bonds and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its affiliates with the same
rights it would have if it were not Indenture Trustee. Any Paying Agent,
Securities Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like
rights. However, the Indenture Trustee must comply with Sections 6.11 and 6.12.
SECTION 6.04. Indenture Trustee's Disclaimer. The Indenture Trustee
shall not be responsible for the form, character, genuiness, sufficiency, value
or validity of any Collateral. The Indenture Trustee shall not be responsible
for and makes no representation (other than as set forth in Section 6.13) as to
the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Bonds, it shall not be
accountable for the Issuer's use of the proceeds from the Bonds, and it shall
not be responsible for any statement of the Issuer in the Indenture or in any
document issued in connection with the sale of the Bonds or in the Bonds other
than the Indenture Trustee's certificate of authentication. The Indenture
Trustee shall not be liable for the default or misconduct of the Issuer, the
Seller, any Servicer, the Administrator, or the Member or any Manager of the
Issuer under any Basic Document or otherwise.
SECTION 6.05. Notice of Defaults. (a) If a Default occurs and is
continuing with respect to any Series and if it is actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee, the Indenture Trustee shall mail
to the PUCT, the Rating Agencies and to each Holder of Bonds of all Series
notice of the Default within 90 days after actual notice of such Default was
received by a Responsible Officer of the Indenture Trustee. Except in the case
of a Default in payment of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any
Bond, the Indenture Trustee may withhold giving notice to Holders of the Bonds
if and so long as the Indenture Trustee in good faith determines that
withholding the notice from Holders of the Bonds is in the interests of Holders.
(b) The Indenture Trustee shall promptly mail to the PUCT notice of
any legal fees or other expenses paid pursuant to Section 8.02(e) or incurred by
the Indenture Trustee in defending or prosecuting any actual or threatened
litigation, including any administrative proceeding, in respect of the Bonds or
the Collateral.
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SECTION 6.06. Reports by Indenture Trustee to Holders. (a) So long as
Bonds are Outstanding and the Indenture Trustee is the Securities Registrar and
Paying Agent, within the prescribed period of time for tax reporting purposes
after the end of each calendar year it shall deliver to each relevant current or
former Holder such information in its possession as may be required to enable
such Holder to prepare its federal income and any applicable local or state tax
returns.
(b) With respect to each Series of Bonds, on or prior to each Payment
Date or Special Payment Date therefor, the Indenture Trustee will deliver to
each Holder of such Bonds on such Payment Date or Special Payment Date a
statement as provided and prepared by the Servicer which will include (to the
extent applicable) the following information (and any other information so
specified in the applicable Series Supplement) as to the Bonds of such Series
with respect to such Payment Date or Special Payment Date or the period since
the previous Payment Date, as applicable:
(i) the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to principal,
if any;
(ii) the amount of the payment to Holders allocable to interest;
(iii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of such Bonds, after
giving effect to any payments allocated to principal reported under (i) above;
and
(iv) the difference, if any, between the amount specified in
subsection (iii) above and the Outstanding Amount specified in the related
Expected Amortization Schedule.
(c) If any Bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and rules
of such exchange so require, the Issuer's listing agent shall arrange for
publication in accordance with such rules a notice that such statement shall be
available with the Issuer's listing agent in Luxembourg appointed pursuant to
Section 3.02.
(d) The Issuer shall send a copy of each of the Certificate of
Compliance delivered to it pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Servicing Agreement
and the Annual Accountant's Report delivered to it pursuant to Section 3.04 of
the Servicing Agreement to the Rating Agencies. A copy of such certificate and
report may be obtained by any Holder by a request in writing to the Indenture
Trustee.
SECTION 6.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Issuer shall pay to the
Indenture Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services.
The Indenture Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on
compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Issuer shall reimburse the
Indenture Trustee for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by
it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its
services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Indenture Trustee's agents, counsel,
accountants and experts. The Issuer shall indemnify the Indenture Trustee and
its officers, directors, employees and agents against any and all loss,
liability or expense (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses)
incurred by it in connection with the administration of this trust and the
performance of its duties hereunder and under any Series Supplement and under
any other Basic Document. The Indenture Trustee shall notify the Issuer as soon
52
as is reasonably practicable of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.
Failure by the Indenture Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the
Issuer of its obligations hereunder. The Issuer shall defend the claim and the
Indenture Trustee may have separate counsel if there is a conflict of interest
as determined by the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer shall pay the reasonable
fees and expenses of such counsel. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or
indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Indenture
Trustee through the Indenture Trustee's own willful misconduct, negligence or
bad faith. The rights of the Indenture Trustee set forth in this Section 6.07
are subject to and limited by the priority of payments set forth in Section
8.02(e); except as provided below.
Any fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the Indenture Trustee
(including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses) in excess of the amounts
covered as set forth in Section 8.02(e) shall be paid from the Indenture Trustee
Reserve Account in accordance with the terms of the Account Agreement.
The payment obligations to the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this
Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation
or removal of the Indenture Trustee. When the Indenture Trustee incurs expenses
after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 5.01(vi) or (vii) with
respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable
federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law.
SECTION 6.08. Replacement of Indenture Trustee. The Indenture Trustee
may resign at any time upon 30 days notice to the Issuer, provided that no such
resignation shall be effective until either (a) the Collateral has been
completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the
Holders or (b) a successor trustee having the qualifications set forth in
Section 6.11 has been designated and has accepted such trusteeship. The Holders
of a majority in Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of all Series may remove the
Indenture Trustee by so notifying the Indenture Trustee and may appoint a
successor Indenture Trustee. The Issuer shall remove the Indenture Trustee if:
(i) the Indenture Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.11;
(ii) the Indenture Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent;
(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the
Indenture Trustee or its property; or
(iv) the Indenture Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.
If the Indenture Trustee gives notice of resignation or is removed or if a
vacancy exists in the office of Indenture Trustee for any reason (the Indenture
Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Indenture
Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Indenture Trustee.
A successor Indenture Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of
its appointment to the retiring Indenture Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon
the resignation or removal of the retiring Indenture Trustee shall become
53
effective, and the successor Indenture Trustee shall have all the rights, powers
and duties of the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture and the Intercreditor
Agreement. The successor Indenture Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession
to Holders. The retiring Indenture Trustee shall promptly transfer all property
held by it as Indenture Trustee (including unless otherwise agreed by the
successor Indenture Trustee, all REP Deposit Accounts held by the Indenture
Trustee) to the successor Indenture Trustee.
If a successor Indenture Trustee does not take office within 60 days
after the retiring Indenture Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring
Indenture Trustee, the Issuer or the Holders of a majority in Outstanding Amount
of the Bonds of all Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee.
If the Indenture Trustee fails to comply with Section 6.11, any Holder
may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the
Indenture Trustee and the appointment of a successor Indenture Trustee.
Notwithstanding the replacement of the Indenture Trustee pursuant to
this Section, the Issuer's obligations under Section 6.07 shall continue for the
benefit of the retiring Indenture Trustee.
SECTION 6.09. Successor Indenture Trustee by Merger. If the Indenture
Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or
substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation
or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation
without any further act shall be the successor Indenture Trustee; provided,
however, that if such successor Indenture Trustee is not eligible under Section
6.11, then the successor Indenture Trustee shall be replaced in accordance with
Section 6.08. Notice of any such event shall be promptly given to each Rating
Agency by the successor Indenture Trustee and by the Issuer to any agent in
Luxembourg appointed pursuant to Section 3.02.
In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion
or consolidation to the Indenture Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by
this Indenture any of the Bonds shall have been authenticated but not delivered,
any such successor to the Indenture Trustee may adopt the certificate of
authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Bonds so
authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Bonds shall not have been
authenticated, any successor to the Indenture Trustee may authenticate such
Bonds either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the
successor to the Indenture Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates
shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Bonds or in this Indenture
provided that the certificate of the Indenture Trustee shall have.
SECTION 6.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee. (a)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, at any time, for the
purpose of meeting any legal requirement of any jurisdiction in which any part
of the trust created by this Indenture or the Collateral may at the time be
located, the Indenture Trustee shall have the power and may execute and deliver
all instruments to appoint one or more Persons to act as a co-trustee or
co-trustees, or separate trustee or separate trustees, of all or any part of the
trust created by this Indenture or the Collateral, and to vest in such Person or
Persons, in such capacity and for the benefit of the Holders, such title to the
Collateral, or any part hereof, and, subject to the other provisions of this
54
Section, such powers, duties, obligations, rights and trusts as the Indenture
Trustee may consider necessary or desirable. No co-trustee or separate trustee
hereunder shall be required to meet the terms of eligibility as a successor
trustee under Section 6.11 and no notice to Holders of the appointment of any
co-trustee or separate trustee shall be required under Section 6.08.
(b) Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent
permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions and
conditions:
(i) all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or
imposed upon the Indenture Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and
exercised or performed by the Indenture Trustee and such separate trustee or
co-trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-trustee
is not authorized to act separately without the Indenture Trustee joining in
such act), except to the extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which
any particular act or acts are to be performed the Indenture Trustee shall be
incompetent or unqualified to perform such act or acts, in which event such
rights, powers, duties and obligations (including the holding of title to the
Collateral or any portion thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised
and performed singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the
direction of the Indenture Trustee;
(ii) no trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of
any act or omission of any other trustee hereunder; and
(iii) the Indenture Trustee may at any time accept the
resignation of or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.
(c) Any notice, request or other writing given to the Indenture
Trustee shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees
and co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument
appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Indenture and
the conditions of this Article VI. Each separate trustee and co-trustee, upon
its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with the estates or
property specified in its instrument of appointment, either jointly with the
Indenture Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject to all the
provisions of this Indenture, specifically including every provision of this
Indenture relating to the conduct of, affecting the liability of, or affording
protection to, the Indenture Trustee. Every such instrument shall be filed with
the Indenture Trustee.
(d) If any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable
of acting, resign or be removed, all of its estates, properties, rights,
remedies and trusts shall vest in and be exercised by the Indenture Trustee, to
the extent permitted by law, without the appointment of a new or successor
trustee.
SECTION 6.11. Eligibility; Disqualification. The Indenture Trustee
shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1) and Section
310(a)(5) and Section 26(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The
Indenture Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least
$50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition
and it shall have a long term debt rating of "Baa3" or better by Moody's and
55
"BBB-" or better by Fitch (or the equivalent thereof) or better by any other
Rating Agency from which a rating is available. The Indenture Trustee shall
comply with TIA Section 310(b), including the optional provision permitted by
the second sentence of TIA Section 310(b)(9); provided, however, that there
shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or
indentures under which other securities of the Issuer are outstanding if the
requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.
SECTION 6.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer. The
Indenture Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). An Indenture Trustee who has resigned
or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated
therein.
SECTION 6.13. Representations and Warranties of Indenture Trustee. The
Indenture Trustee hereby represents and warrants that:
(a) the Indenture Trustee is a banking corporation validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York; and
(b) the Indenture Trustee has full power, authority and legal right to
execute, deliver and perform this Indenture and the Basic Documents to which the
Indenture Trustee is a party and has taken all necessary action to authorize the
execution, delivery, and performance by it of this Indenture and such Basic
Documents.
SECTION 6.14. Annual Report by Independent Public Accountants. In the
event the firm of independent certified public accountants requires the
Indenture Trustee to agree or consent to the procedures performed by such firm
pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Servicing Agreement, the Indenture Trustee shall
deliver such letter of agreement or consent in conclusive reliance upon the
written direction of the Issuer in accordance with Section 3.04 of the Servicing
Agreement.
SECTION 6.15. Custody of Collateral. The Indenture Trustee shall hold
such of the Collateral (and any other collateral that may be granted to the
Indenture Trustee) as consists of instruments, deposit accounts, negotiable
documents, money, goods, letters of credit, and advices of credit in the State
of New York. The Indenture Trustee shall hold such of the Collateral as
constitute investment property through a securities intermediary (which may be
the entity acting as Indenture Trustee), which securities intermediary shall
agree (and, to the extent that the entity acting as Indenture Trustee is the
securities intermediary, such entity hereby agrees with respect to itself as
securities intermediary) with such entity that (a) such investment property
shall at all times be credited to a securities account of the Indenture Trustee,
(b) such securities intermediary shall treat the Indenture Trustee as entitled
to exercise the rights that comprise each financial asset credited to such
securities account, (c) all property credited to such securities account shall
be treated as a financial asset, (d) such securities intermediary shall comply
with entitlement orders originated by the Indenture Trustee without the further
consent of any other person or entity, (e) such securities intermediary will not
agree with any person other than the Indenture Trustee to comply with
entitlement orders originated by such other person, (f) such securities accounts
and the property credited thereto shall not be subject to any Lien, security
interest, right of set-off in favor of such securities intermediary or anyone
56
claiming through it (other than the Indenture Trustee), and (g) such agreement
shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York. Terms used in
the preceding sentence that are defined in the UCC and not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning set forth in the UCC. Except as permitted by this
Section 6.15, or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee shall not
hold Collateral through an agent or a nominee.
ARTICLE VII
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS
SECTION 7.01. Issuer To Furnish Indenture Trustee Names and Addresses
of Holders. The Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Indenture
Trustee (a) not more than five days after the earlier of (i) each Record Date
with respect to each Series and (ii) six months after the last Record Date with
respect to each Series, a list, in such form as the Indenture Trustee may
reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Bonds of such
Series as of such Record Date, and (b) at such other times as the Indenture
Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Issuer of
any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than
10 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that so
long as the Indenture Trustee is the Securities Registrar, no such list shall be
required to be furnished. In addition, the Issuer shall furnish such list to any
listing, transfer or paying agent appointed under Section 3.02 to the extent
such information is required by the rules and regulations of the Luxembourg
Stock Exchange.
SECTION 7.02. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
(a) The Indenture Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Indenture Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the
names and addresses of Holders received by the Indenture Trustee in its capacity
as Securities Registrar. The Indenture Trustee may destroy any list furnished to
it as provided in such Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other
Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Bonds. In
addition, upon the written request of any Holder or group of Holders of any
Series or of all Outstanding Series of Bonds evidencing not less than 10 percent
of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of that Series or all Series, as
applicable, the Indenture Trustee shall afford the Holder or Holders access
during business hours to the current list of Holders of that Series or all
Outstanding Series, as applicable, for purposes of communicating with other
Holders with respect to their rights hereunder.
(c) The Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the Securities Registrar
shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
SECTION 7.03. Reports by Issuer. (a) The Issuer shall:
(i) so long as the Issuer is required to file such documents with
the SEC, provide to the Indenture Trustee and, so long as any Bonds are listed
on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and its rules so require, with the listing
57
agent of the Issuer in Luxembourg appointed pursuant to Section 3.02, within 15
days after the Issuer is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the
annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of
such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules
and regulations prescribe) which the Issuer may be required to file with the SEC
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act;
(ii) provide to the Indenture Trustee, file with the SEC and, so
long as any Bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and its rules so
require, the listing agent of the Issuer in Luxembourg appointed pursuant to
Section 3.02, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the SEC such additional information, documents and reports with respect
to compliance by the Issuer with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture
as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(iii) supply to the Indenture Trustee (and the Indenture Trustee
shall transmit by mail to all Holders described in TIA Section 313(c)) and, so
long as any Bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and its rules so
require, to the listing agent of the Issuer in Luxembourg appointed pursuant to
Section 3.02, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required
to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section
7.03(a) as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time
by the SEC.
(b) Unless the Issuer otherwise determines, the fiscal year of the
Issuer shall end on December 31 of each year.
SECTION 7.04. Reports by Indenture Trustee. If required by TIA Section
313(a), within 60 days after June 1 of each year, commencing with the year after
the issuance of the Bonds of any Series, the Indenture Trustee shall mail to
each Holder of Bonds of such Series as required by TIA Section 313(c) a brief
report dated as of such date that complies with TIA Section 313(a). The
Indenture Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b); provided, however,
that the initial report so issued shall be delivered not more than 12 months
after the initial issuance of each Series.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be
filed by the Servicer with the SEC and each stock exchange, if any, on which the
Bonds are listed. The Issuer shall notify the Indenture Trustee in writing if
and when the Bonds are listed on any stock exchange.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTS, DISBURSEMENTS AND RELEASES
SECTION 8.01. Collection of Money. Except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, the Indenture Trustee may demand payment or delivery of, and
shall receive and collect, directly and without intervention or assistance of
any fiscal agent or other intermediary, all money and other property payable to
or receivable by the Indenture Trustee pursuant to this Indenture. The Indenture
Trustee shall apply all such money received by it as provided in this Indenture.
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, if any default occurs
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in the making of any payment or performance under any agreement or instrument
that is part of the Collateral, the Indenture Trustee may take such action as
may be appropriate to enforce such payment or performance, subject to Article
VI, including the institution and prosecution of appropriate Proceedings. Any
such action shall be without prejudice to any right to claim a Default or Event
of Default under this Indenture and any right to proceed thereafter as provided
in Article V.
SECTION 8.02. Collection Account and REP Deposit Accounts. (a) Prior
to the Series Issuance Date for each Series of Bonds issued hereunder, the
Issuer shall open or cause to be opened, at the Indenture Trustee's Corporate
Trust Office, or at another Eligible Institution, one or more segregated trust
accounts in the Indenture Trustee's name for the deposit of Estimated TC
Collections, TC Collections for such Series of Bonds and all other amounts
received with respect to the Series Collateral securing such Series of Bonds
(each, a "Collection Account" and collectively, the "Collection Accounts"). The
Collection Account for each Series of Bonds will consist of four subaccounts: a
general subaccount (the "General Subaccount"), a reserve subaccount (the
"Reserve Subaccount"), a subaccount for the Overcollateralization Amount (the
"Overcollateralization Subaccount") and a capital subaccount (the "Capital
Subaccount"). Prior to or concurrently with the issuance of any Series of Bonds
the Member shall deposit into the Capital Subaccount for such Series an amount
equal to the Required Capital Level for such Series. All amounts in the
Collection Account for any Series of Bonds not allocated to any other subaccount
shall be allocated to the General Subaccount for such Series of Bonds. Prior to
the initial Payment Date, all amounts in the Collection Account for a Series of
Bonds (other than funds deposited into the Capital Subaccount, up to the
Required Capital Level for such Series of Bonds) shall be allocated to the
General Subaccount for such Series of Bonds. All payments received by the
Indenture Trustee from any Swap Counterparty at any time shall be deposited in
the related Collection Account. All references to any Collection Account shall
be deemed to include reference to all subaccounts contained therein. Withdrawals
from and deposits to each of the foregoing subaccounts of any Collection Account
shall be made as set forth in Section 8.02(d) and (e). Each Collection Account
shall at all times be maintained in an Eligible Account, will be under the sole
dominion and exclusive control of the Indenture Trustee, and only the Indenture
Trustee shall have access to such Collection Account for the purpose of making
deposits in and withdrawals from the Collection Account in accordance with this
Indenture. Funds in a Collection Account shall not be commingled with any other
moneys, including moneys in any other Collection Account. All moneys deposited
from time to time in a Collection Account, all deposits therein pursuant to this
Indenture, and all investments made in Eligible Investments with such moneys,
including all income or other gain from such investments, shall be held by the
Indenture Trustee in such Collection Account for such Series of Bonds as part of
the Series Collateral securing such Bonds as herein provided.
(b) The Indenture Trustee (in its capacity as securities intermediary
for the foregoing accounts) hereby confirms that (i) each Collection Account is,
or at inception will be established as, a "securities account" as such term is
defined in Section 8-501(a) of the UCC, (ii) it is a "securities intermediary"
(as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a) (14) of the UCC) and is acting in
such capacity with respect to such account, and (iii) the Indenture Trustee for
the benefit of the Holders of the applicable Series of Bonds is the sole
"entitlement holder" (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(7) of the UCC)
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with respect to such account and no other Person shall have the right to give
"entitlement orders" (as such term is defined in Section 8-102(a)(8)) with
respect to such account. The Indenture Trustee (in its capacity as securities
intermediary for each foregoing account) hereby further agrees that each item of
property (whether investment property, financial asset, security, instrument or
cash) received by it will be credited to the applicable Collection Account at
the written direction of the Servicer and shall be treated by it as a "financial
asset" within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, New York State shall be deemed to be the location and
jurisdiction of the Indenture Trustee (in its capacity as the securities
intermediary for the foregoing accounts) for purposes of Section 8-110 of the
UCC, and each Collection Account (as well as the securities entitlements related
thereto) shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
(c) The Indenture Trustee shall have sole dominion and exclusive
control over all moneys in each Collection Account and shall apply such amounts
therein as provided in this Section 8.02. The Indenture Trustee at the written
direction of the Servicer shall also pay from the Collection Account any amounts
requested to be paid by or to the Servicer pursuant to Section 6.11(c)(ii) of
the Servicing Agreement.
(d) TC Collections shall be deposited in the General Subaccount as
provided in Section 6.11 of the applicable Servicing Agreement. All deposits to
and withdrawals from a Collection Account, all allocations to the subaccounts of
such Collection Account and any amounts to be paid to the applicable Servicer
under Section 8.02(c) shall be made by the Indenture Trustee in accordance with
the written instructions provided by such Servicer in the Servicer's Certificate
or upon other written notice provided by such Servicer pursuant to Section
6.11(c)(ii) of such Servicing Agreement, as applicable.
(e) On each Payment Date for any Series of Bonds, the Indenture
Trustee shall apply all amounts on deposit in the Collection Account for a
particular Series of Bonds, including all net earnings thereon, to pay the
following amounts, in accordance with the Servicer's Certificate, in the
following priority:
(i) all amounts owed by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee
(including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses), allocated among all Series
of Bonds Outstanding as the Indenture Trustee determines appropriate, shall be
paid to the Indenture Trustee (subject to Section 6.07) and all amounts owed to
the Independent Managers in connection with their acting as managers under the
LLC Agreement, allocated on a pro rata basis among all Series of Bonds
Outstanding based on the Outstanding principal amount of each Series, shall be
paid to the Independent Managers, as appropriate, in an amount not to exceed
$30,000 annually for all Series of Bonds Outstanding.
(ii) the Servicing Fee, which will be a fixed percentage of the
initial principal amount of each Series of Bonds Outstanding, and any unpaid
Servicing Fees for prior Payment Dates shall be paid to the Servicer;
(iii) so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing with respect to a Series of Bonds or would result
from such payment, all other fees, expenses and indemnity amounts, including the
Administrator's fees shall be paid to the Persons entitled thereto or, if such
have been previously paid by the Issuer, to the Issuer in reimbursement thereof,
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allocated among all such Series; provided that the amounts paid pursuant to this
clause (iii) in any calendar year shall not exceed $185,000 for all Series of
Bonds Outstanding, less the amounts paid under clause (i) above;
(iv) any overdue Periodic Interest (together with, to the extent
lawful, interest on such overdue Periodic Interest at the applicable Bond
Interest Rate) with respect to such Series of Bonds shall be paid to the Holders
of such Series of Bonds on a pro-rata basis among all classes of such Series of
Bonds then Outstanding;
(v) Periodic Interest for such Payment Date with respect to such
Series of Bonds shall be paid to the Holders of such Series of Bonds on a
pro-rata basis among all classes of such Series of Bonds then Outstanding;
(vi) any amounts due on such Payment Date to the counterparty
under any Swap Agreement shall be paid with respect to each Series of Bonds ;
(vii) principal due and payable on the Bonds of any Series as a
result of an Event of Default or on the Final Maturity Date of the Bonds of such
Series or upon redemption, shall be paid to the Holders of such Series of Bonds
on a pro-rata basis among all classes of such Series of Bonds then Outstanding;
(viii) any overdue Periodic Principal payable with respect to
such Series of Bonds shall be paid to the Holders of such Series of Bonds in
accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule of such Series;
(ix) Periodic Principal for such Payment Date with respect to
such Series of Bonds shall be paid to the Holders of such Series of Bonds in
accordance with the Expected Amortization Schedule of such Series;
(x) the amount, if any, by which the Required Capital Level with
respect to all Outstanding Series of Bonds exceeds the amount in the Capital
Subaccount for such Series as of such Payment Date shall be allocated to the
Capital Subaccount for such Series;
(xi) the amount, if any, by which the Required
Overcollateralization Level with respect to such Series of Bonds exceeds the
amount in the Overcollateralization Subaccount as of such Payment Date for such
Series shall be allocated to the Overcollateralization Subaccount for such
Series;
(xii) if there is a termination Swap Payment (payable only after
all of the Bonds of such Series have been paid in full);
(xiii) if there is a positive balance after making the foregoing
allocations, an amount not to exceed the lesser of such balance and the
investment earnings on the Capital Subaccount for such Series of Bonds shall be
paid to the Issuer;
(xiv) the balance, if any, shall be allocated to the Reserve
Subaccount for such Series of Bonds for distribution on subsequent Payment
Dates; and
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(xv) after principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all
Bonds of such Series, and all of the other foregoing amounts, have been paid in
full, the balance (including all amounts then held in the Overcollateralization
Subaccount, the Capital Subaccount and the Reserve Subaccount for such Series),
if any, shall be paid to the Issuer, free from the lien of this Indenture.
All payments to the Holders of a Series pursuant to clauses (iv), (v) and (vii)
above shall be made to such Holders pro rata based on the respective amounts of
interest and/or principal owed, unless, in the case of a Series comprised of two
or more Classes, the Series Supplement, if any, for such Series provides
otherwise. Payments in respect of principal of and premium, if any, and interest
on any Class of Bonds will be made on a pro rata basis among all the Holders of
such Class.
(f) If on any Payment Date funds on deposit in the General Subaccount
for a Series of Bonds are insufficient to make the payments contemplated by
clauses (i) through (ix) of Section 8.02(e) above, the Indenture Trustee shall
(i) first, draw from amounts on deposit in the Reserve Subaccount for such
Series, (ii) second, draw from amounts on deposit in the Overcollateralization
Subaccount for such Series and (iii) third, draw from amounts on deposit in the
Capital Subaccount for such Series, in each case, up to the amount of such
shortfall in order to make the payments contemplated by clauses (i) through (ix)
of Section 8.02(e). In addition, if on any Payment Date funds on deposit in the
General Subaccount for such Series are insufficient to make the allocations
contemplated by clauses (x) and (xi) above, the Indenture Trustee shall draw
from amounts on deposit in the Reserve Subaccount for such Series to make such
allocations.
(g) The Indenture Trustee, shall, as directed by the Servicer in
writing under Section 3.05(e) of the Servicing Agreement, maintain one
segregated trust account with separate accounting by ledger for each Depositing
REP in the Indenture Trustee's name (the "REP Deposit Account") at its Corporate
Trust Office, or at another Eligible Institution, for REP deposits provided
pursuant to the Financing Order or Tariff, for the benefit of the Indenture
Trustee and the applicable Depositing REP. Pursuant to and in accordance with
the Financing Order, amounts received from any REP as a security deposit shall
be deposited into the REP Deposit Account. To the extent permitted by the
Financing Order, Tariff and PUCT Regulations, the REP Deposit Account shall at
all times be maintained in an Eligible Account, shall be subject to a perfected
first priority security interest in favor of the Indenture Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Bonds from time to time issued and outstanding,
and shall be under the sole dominion and exclusive control of the Indenture
Trustee. Funds in the REP Deposit Account shall not be commingled with any other
moneys. All or a portion of the funds in the REP Deposit Accounts shall be
invested in Eligible Investments and reinvested by the Indenture Trustee in
Eligible Investments pursuant to the written direction of the Servicer (or,
absent such direction, in Eligible Investments of the type described in clause
(a) of the definition thereof); provided, however, that (i) such Eligible
Investments shall not mature later than the Business Day prior to the next
Payment Date for the related Series of Bonds and (ii) such Eligible Investments
shall not be sold, liquidated or otherwise disposed of at a loss prior to the
maturity thereof. All moneys deposited from time to time in the REP Deposit
Account and all investments made in Eligible Investments with such moneys,
including all income or other gain from such investments, shall be held by the
Indenture Trustee in the REP Deposit Account as part of the Series Collateral as
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herein provided and shall only be allocated and released upon the written
direction of the Servicer in accordance with Section 3.05(e) of the Servicing
Agreement as required or permitted by this Indenture, the Financing Order, each
applicable Tariff, or other applicable PUCT Regulations. Any loss resulting from
investment made in Eligible Investments with moneys in a REP Deposit Account
shall be charged to the REP Deposit Account. The Indenture Trustee shall release
property from a REP Deposit Account only as and to the extent directed by the
Servicer in writing pursuant to the Financing Order and the Servicing Agreement
and as required or permitted by this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee shall have
no liability in respect of losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any
Eligible Investment prior to its stated maturity or the failure of the Issuer or
the Servicer to provide timely written investment direction.
SECTION 8.03. General Provisions Regarding the Collection Account. (a)
So long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
all or a portion of the funds in the Collection Account for each Series of Bonds
shall be invested in Eligible Investments and reinvested by the Indenture
Trustee upon Issuer Order; provided, however, that (i) such Eligible Investments
shall not mature later than the Business Day prior to the next Payment Date for
the related Series of Bonds and (ii) such Eligible Investments shall not be
sold, liquidated or otherwise disposed of at a loss prior to the maturity
thereof. All income or other gain from investments of moneys deposited in the
Collection Account for each Series of Bonds shall be deposited by the Indenture
Trustee in the Collection Account for such Series, and any loss resulting from
such investments shall be charged to the Collection Account for such Series. The
Issuer will not direct the Indenture Trustee to make any investment of any funds
or to sell any investment held in the Collection Account for such Series of
Bonds unless the security interest Granted and perfected in such account will
continue to be perfected in such investment or the proceeds of such sale, in
either case without any further action by any Person, and, in connection with
any direction to the Indenture Trustee to make any such investment or sale, if
requested by the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer shall deliver to the Indenture
Trustee an Opinion of Counsel of external counsel to such effect. In no event
shall the Indenture Trustee be liable for the selection of Eligible Investments
or for investment losses incurred thereon. The Indenture Trustee shall have no
liability in respect of losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any
Eligible Investment prior to its stated maturity or the failure of the Issuer or
any Servicer to provide timely written investment direction. The Indenture
Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amounts held
hereunder in the absence of written investment direction pursuant to an Issuer
Order.
(b) Subject to Section 6.01(c), the Indenture Trustee shall not in any
way be held liable by reason of any insufficiency in the Collection Account for
a particular Series of Bonds resulting from any loss on any Eligible Investment
included therein except for losses attributable to the Indenture Trustee's
failure to make payments on such Eligible Investments issued by the Indenture
Trustee, in its commercial capacity as principal obligor and not as trustee, in
accordance with their terms.
(c) If (i) the Issuer shall have failed to give written investment
directions for any funds on deposit in the Collection Account for a particular
Series of Bonds to the Indenture Trustee by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (or such
other time as may be agreed by the Issuer and Indenture Trustee) on any Business
Day; or (ii) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
63
with respect to the Bonds of such Series but the Bonds of such Series shall not
have been declared due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02, then the Indenture
Trustee shall, to the fullest extent practicable, invest and reinvest funds in
the Collection Account for such Series in one or more investments which qualify
as investments in money market funds described under clause (d) of the
definition of Eligible Investments.
(d) The parties hereto acknowledge that any Servicer may, pursuant to
the applicable Servicing Agreement, select Eligible Investments on behalf of the
Issuer.
SECTION 8.04. Release of Collateral. (a) So long as the Issuer is not
in Default hereunder and no Default hereunder would occur as a result of such
action, the Issuer, through a Servicer, may collect, sell or otherwise dispose
of written-off receivables, at any time and from time to time in the ordinary
course of business, without any notice to, or release or consent by, the
Indenture Trustee, but only as and to the extent permitted by the Basic
Documents; provided, however, that any and all proceeds of such dispositions
shall become Series Collateral and be deposited to the General Subaccount for a
Series of Bonds secured by such Series Collateral immediately upon receipt
thereof by the Issuer or any other Person, including such Servicer. Without
limiting the foregoing, any Servicer, may, at any time and from time to time
without any notice to, or release or consent by, the Indenture Trustee, sell or
otherwise dispose of any Series Collateral which is part of a Xxxx previously
written-off as a defaulted or uncollectible account in accordance with the terms
of any Servicing Agreement and the requirements of the proviso in the
immediately preceding sentence.
(b) The Indenture Trustee may, and when required by the provisions of
this Indenture shall, execute instruments to release property from the lien of
this Indenture, or convey the Indenture Trustee's interest in the same, in a
manner and under circumstances that are not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Indenture. No party relying upon an instrument executed by the Indenture
Trustee as provided in this Article VIII shall be bound to ascertain the
Indenture Trustee's authority, inquire into the satisfaction of any conditions
precedent or see to the application of any moneys. The Indenture Trustee shall
release property from the lien of this Indenture pursuant to this Section
8.04(b) only upon receipt of an Issuer Request accompanied by an Officer's
Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel and (if required by the TIA) Independent
Certificates in accordance with TIA Sections 314(c) and 314(d)(1) meeting the
applicable requirements of Section 11.01.
(c) The Indenture Trustee shall, at such time as there are no Bonds of
a Series Outstanding, release any remaining portion of the Series Collateral
that secured such Series of Bonds from the lien of this Indenture and release to
the Issuer or any other Person entitled thereto any funds then on deposit in the
Collection Account for such Series of Bonds.
SECTION 8.05. Opinion of Counsel. The Indenture Trustee shall receive
at least seven days' notice when requested by the Issuer to take any action
pursuant to Section 8.04(b), accompanied by copies of any instruments involved,
and the Indenture Trustee shall also require, as a condition to such action, an
Opinion of Counsel of external counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Indenture Trustee, stating the legal effect of any such action, outlining
the steps required to complete the same, and concluding that all conditions
precedent to the taking of such action have been complied with and such action
will not materially and adversely impair the security for the Bonds or the
64
rights of the Holders in contravention of the provisions of this Indenture;
provided, however, that such Opinion of Counsel shall not be required to express
an opinion as to the fair value of the Collateral. Counsel rendering any such
opinion may rely, without independent investigation, on the accuracy and
validity of any certificate or other instrument delivered to the Indenture
Trustee in connection with any such action.
SECTION 8.06. Reports by Independent Accountants. As of the Closing
Date, the Issuer shall appoint a firm of Independent certified public
accountants of recognized national reputation for purposes of preparing and
delivering the reports or certificates of such accountants required by this
Indenture and the related Series Supplements, if any. In the event such firm
requires the Indenture Trustee to agree to the procedures performed by such
firm, the Issuer shall direct the Indenture Trustee in writing to so agree; it
being understood and agreed that the Indenture Trustee will deliver such letter
of agreement in conclusive reliance upon the direction of the Issuer, and the
Indenture Trustee makes no independent inquiry or investigation to, and shall
have no obligation or liability in respect of, the sufficiency, validity or
correctness of such procedures. Upon any resignation by, or termination by the
Issuer of, such firm the Issuer shall provide written notice thereof to the
Indenture Trustee and shall promptly appoint a successor thereto that shall also
be a firm of Independent certified public accountants of recognized national
reputation. If the Issuer shall fail to appoint a successor to a firm of
Independent certified public accountants that has resigned or been terminated
within 15 days after such resignation or termination, the Indenture Trustee
shall promptly notify the Issuer of such failure in writing. If the Issuer shall
not have appointed a successor within 10 days thereafter the Indenture Trustee
shall promptly appoint a successor firm of Independent certified public
accountants of recognized national reputation; provided that the Indenture
Trustee shall have no liability with respect to such appointment if the
Indenture Trustee acted with due care with respect thereto. The fees of such
Independent certified public accountants and its successor shall be payable by
the Issuer.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. (a)
Without the consent of the Holders of any Bonds but with prior notice to the
Rating Agencies, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an
Issuer Order, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the TIA
as in force at the date of the execution thereof), in form satisfactory to the
Indenture Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(i) to correct or amplify the description of any Series
Collateral at any time subject to the lien of this Indenture, or better to
assure, convey and confirm unto the Indenture Trustee any Series Collateral
subject or required to be subjected to the lien of this Indenture, or to subject
to the lien of this Indenture additional property;
(ii) to evidence the succession, in compliance with the
applicable provisions hereof, of another person to the Issuer, and the
assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Issuer herein and in
the Bonds contained;
65
(iii) to add to the covenants of the Issuer, for the benefit of
the Holders of the Bonds, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred
upon the Issuer;
(iv) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property
to or with the Indenture Trustee;
(v) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be inconsistent with any other
provision herein or in any supplemental indenture or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture or
in any supplemental indenture; provided that (A) such action shall not, as
evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of the Issuer, adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of the Holders of the Bonds and (B) the Rating
Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with respect thereto;
(vi) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the
appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Bonds and to
add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary
to facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one
trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Article VI;
(vii) to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this
Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualification of
this Indenture under the TIA or under any similar federal statute hereafter
enacted and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly
required by the TIA; or
(viii) to set forth the terms of any Series that has not
theretofore been authorized by a Series Supplement or to provide for the
execution and delivery of any Swap Agreement in connection with such series.
The Indenture Trustee is hereby authorized to join in the execution of any such
supplemental indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and
stipulations that may be therein contained.
(b) The Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer
Order, may, also without the consent of any of the Holders of the Bonds, enter
into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding
any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the
provisions of, this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
Holders of the Bonds under this Indenture; provided, however, that (i) such
action shall not, as evidenced by an Opinion of Counsel of nationally recognized
counsel experienced in structured finance transactions, adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of the Holders and (ii) the Rating Agency
Condition shall have been satisfied with respect thereto.
SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. The
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee, when authorized by an Issuer Order, also may,
with prior notice to the Rating Agencies and with the consent of the Holders of
not less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of each Series
or Class to be affected, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Issuer and the
Indenture Trustee, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for
the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture or of modifying in any
manner the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under this Indenture; provided,
66
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Bond of each Series or Class affected thereby:
(i) change the date of payment of any installment of principal of
or premium, if any, or interest on any Bond, or reduce the principal amount
thereof, the interest rate thereon or premium, if any, with respect thereto,
change any Optional Redemption Price, change the provisions of this Indenture
and the related applicable Series Supplement relating to the application of
collections on, or the proceeds of the sale of, the Series Collateral to payment
of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Bonds, or change any
place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Bond or the
interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of the provisions of this Indenture requiring the application of
funds available therefor, as provided in Article V, to the payment of any such
amount due on the Bonds on or after the respective due dates thereof (or, in the
case of optional redemption, on or after the Optional Redemption Date);
(ii) reduce the percentage of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds
or of a Series or Class thereof, the consent of the Holders of which is required
for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of the Holders of which is
required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture
or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this
Indenture;
(iii) modify or alter the provisions of the proviso to the
definition of the term "Outstanding";
(iv) reduce the percentage of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds
required to direct the Indenture Trustee to direct the Issuer to sell or
liquidate the Series Collateral securing such Bonds pursuant to Section 5.04;
(v) modify any provision of this Section to decrease any minimum
percentage specified herein necessary to approve any amendments to any
provisions of this Indenture;
(vi) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture in such
manner as to affect the calculation of the amount of any payment of interest,
principal or premium, if any, due on any Bond on any Payment Date (including the
calculation of any of the individual components of such calculation);
(vii) permit the creation of any Lien ranking prior to or on a
parity with the lien of this Indenture with respect to any part of the
Collateral or, except as otherwise permitted or contemplated herein, terminate
the lien of this Indenture on any property at any time subject hereto or deprive
the Holder of any Bond of the security provided by the lien of this Indenture;
or
(viii) cause any material adverse federal income tax consequence
to the Seller, the Issuer, the Managers, the Indenture Trustee or the then
existing Holders.
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It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to
approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall
be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee
of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Section, the Issuer shall mail to
the Rating Agencies and the Holders of the Bonds to which such supplemental
indenture relates a notice setting forth in general terms the substance of such
supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Indenture Trustee to mail such
notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect
the validity of any such supplemental indenture. If any Bonds are listed on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the
Issuer's listing agent shall arrange for publication in accordance with such
rules of a notice that the notice regarding the Supplemental Indenture shall be
available with the Issuer's listing agent in Luxembourg appointed pursuant to
Section 3.02.
SECTION 9.03. PUCT Condition. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in Section 9.01 or 9.02, no supplemental indenture shall be effective except
upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent in this Section 9.03.
(a) At least fifteen days prior to the effectiveness of any such
supplemental indenture and after obtaining the other necessary approvals set
forth in Section 9.01 or 9.02, as applicable, except for the consent of the
Indenture Trustee and the Holders if the consent of the Holders is required or
sought by the Indenture Trustee in connection with such supplemental indenture,
the Seller shall have delivered to the PUCT's executive director and general
counsel written notification of any proposed supplemental indenture, which
notification shall contain:
(i) a reference to Docket No. 25230;
(ii) an Officer's Certificate stating that the proposed
supplemental indenture has been approved by all parties to this Agreement or, if
the consent of the Holders is required or being sought by the Indenture Trustee,
that the supplemental indenture has been approved by all parties to this
agreement other than the Holders, subject to the consent of the Holders; and
(iii) a statement identifying the person to whom the PUCT or its
staff is to address any response to the proposed supplemental indenture or to
request additional time;
(b) If the PUCT or its staff shall have, within fifteen days (subject
to extension as provided in Section 9.03(c) below) of receiving a notification
complying with Section 9.03(a) above, delivered to the office of the person
specified in Section 9.03(a)(iii) above a written statement that the PUCT might
object to the proposed supplemental indenture, then such proposed supplemental
indenture shall not be effective unless and until the PUCT subsequently delivers
a written statement in writing that it does not object to such proposed
supplemental indenture.
(c) If the PUCT or its staff shall have, within fifteen days of
receiving a notification complying with Section 9.03(a) above, delivered to the
office of the person specified in Section 9.03(a)(iii) above a written statement
requesting an additional amount of time not to exceed thirty days in which to
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consider such supplemental indenture, then such proposed supplemental indenture
shall not be effective if, within such extended period, the PUCT shall have
delivered to the office of the person specified in Section 9.03(a)(iii) above a
written statement as described in Section 9.03(b) above, unless and until the
PUCT subsequently delivers a written statement in writing that it does not
object to such proposed supplemental indenture.
(d) If the PUCT or its staff shall not have delivered written notice
that the PUCT might object to such proposed supplemental indenture within the
time periods described in Section 9.03(b) or Section 9.03(c) above, whichever is
applicable, then the PUCT shall be conclusively deemed not to have any objection
to the proposed supplemental indenture and such supplemental indenture may
subsequently become effective upon satisfaction of the other conditions
specified in Section 9.01 or 9.02.
(e) Following the delivery of a notice to the PUCT by the Seller under
Section 9.03(a) above, the Seller and the Issuer shall have the right at any
time to withdraw from the PUCT further consideration of any notification of a
proposed supplemental indenture.
SECTION 9.04. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing, or
permitting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture
permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created
by this Indenture, the Indenture Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and
subject to Sections 6.01 and 6.02, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an
Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Indenture Trustee may, but shall
not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the
Indenture Trustee's own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this
Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.05. Effect of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture
shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith with
respect to each Series or Class of Bonds affected thereby, and the respective
rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties, liabilities and immunities
under this Indenture of the Indenture Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders shall
thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all
respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions
of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the
terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.06. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment of
this Indenture and every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this
Article IX shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect so
long as this Indenture shall then be qualified under the TIA.
SECTION 9.07. Reference in Bonds to Supplemental Indentures. Bonds
authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to this Article IX may, and if required by the Indenture Trustee shall,
bear a notation in form approved by the Indenture Trustee as to any matter
provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Issuer or the Indenture
Trustee shall so determine, new Bonds so modified as to conform, in the opinion
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of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, to any such supplemental indenture may
be prepared and executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the
Indenture Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Bonds.
ARTICLE X
REDEMPTION OF BONDS
SECTION 10.01. Optional Redemption by Issuer. If so specified in the
applicable Series Supplement, the Issuer may, at its option, redeem all, but not
less than all, of the Bonds of a Series on any date after the Scheduled Final
Payment Date for the Bonds of such Series and prior to the Final Maturity Date
for such Series if, after giving effect to payments that would otherwise be made
on such Payment Date, the Outstanding Amount of any such Series of Bonds has
been reduced to less than or equal to five percent of the initial principal
balance thereof. In no event, however, shall any Bonds be redeemable unless the
Rating Agency Condition shall be satisfied with respect to such redemption. The
redemption price in any case shall be equal to the outstanding principal amount
of the Bonds to be redeemed plus, premium, accrued and unpaid interest thereon
at the Bond Interest Rate to the Optional Redemption Date (such price being
called the "Optional Redemption Price").
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Bonds shall relate, in
the case of any Bonds redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of
the principal amount of such Bonds which has been or is to be redeemed.
If the Issuer shall elect to redeem the Bonds of a Series pursuant to
this Section 10.01, it shall furnish written notice (which notice shall state
all items listed in Section 10.02) of such election to the Indenture Trustee and
the Rating Agencies not more than 50 and not less than 25 days prior to the
Optional Redemption Date and shall deposit with the Indenture Trustee not later
than one Business Day prior to the Optional Redemption Date the Optional
Redemption Price of the Bonds to be redeemed whereupon, all such Bonds shall be
due and payable on the Optional Redemption Date upon the furnishing of a notice
complying with Section 10.02 to each Holder of the Bonds of such Series pursuant
to this Section 10.01.
SECTION 10.02. Form of Optional Redemption Notice. Unless otherwise
specified in the Series Supplement relating to a Series of Bonds, notice of
redemption under Section 10.01 shall be given by the Indenture Trustee by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than five days nor more than
45 days prior to the applicable Optional Redemption Date to each Holder of Bonds
to be redeemed, as of the close of business on the Record Date preceding the
applicable Optional Redemption Date at such Holder's address appearing in the
Securities Register.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Optional Redemption Date;
(2) the Optional Redemption Price;
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(3) if less than all the Bonds which remain Outstanding of any Series
are to be redeemed, the identification (and in the case of partial redemption of
any Bonds, the principal amounts) of the particular Bonds to be redeemed;
(4) the place where such Bonds are to be surrendered for payment of
the Optional Redemption Price (which shall be the office or agency of the Issuer
to be maintained as provided in Section 3.02);
(5) the CUSIP number, if applicable; and
(6) the principal amount of Bonds to be redeemed.
Notice of redemption of the Bonds to be redeemed shall be given by the Indenture
Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer. For so long as any Bonds
are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of such exchange so
require, the Issuer's listing agent shall arrange that such notice will also be
given by publication pursuant to such rules at least ten (10) days prior to the
Optional Redemption Date. Failure to give notice of redemption, or any defect
therein, to any Holder of any Bond selected for redemption shall not impair or
affect the validity of the redemption of any other Bond.
SECTION 10.03. Bonds Payable on Optional Redemption Date. Notice of
redemption having been given as provided in Section 10.02, the Bonds to be
redeemed shall on the Optional Redemption Date become due and payable at the
Optional Redemption Price and (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of
the Optional Redemption Price) no interest shall accrue on the Optional
Redemption Price for any period after the date to which accrued interest is
calculated for purposes of calculating the Optional Redemption Price.
SECTION 10.04. Bonds Redeemed in Part. If any Bond is to be redeemed
only in part, the Issuer shall execute, and the Indenture Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Bond without service charge, a
new Bond or Bonds of the same Series and of like tenor, of any authorized
denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to
and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Bond so
surrendered. If a Book-Entry Bond is so surrendered, such new Bond so issued
shall be a new Book-Entry Bond.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.01. Compliance Certificates and Opinions, etc. (a) Upon any
application or request by the Issuer to the Indenture Trustee to take any action
under any provision of this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Indenture
Trustee (i) an Officer's Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if
any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been
complied with, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such
counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with and (iii)
(if required by the TIA) an Independent Certificate from a firm of certified
public accountants meeting the applicable requirements of this Section, except
that, in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing
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of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture,
no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
(i) a statement that each signatory of such certificate or
opinion has read or has caused to be read such covenant or condition and the
definitions herein relating thereto;
(ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in
such certificate or opinion are based;
(iii) a statement that, in the opinion of each such signatory,
such signatory has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to
enable such signatory to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(iv) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
signatory, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
(b) (i) Prior to the deposit of any Collateral or other property or
securities with the Indenture Trustee that is to be made the basis for the
release of any property or securities subject to the lien of this Indenture, the
Issuer shall, in addition to any obligation imposed in Section 11.01(a) or
elsewhere in this Indenture, furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's
Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of each person signing such
certificate as to the fair value (within 90 days of such deposit) to the Issuer
of the Collateral or other property or securities to be so deposited.
(ii) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the Indenture
Trustee an Officer's Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of any signer
thereof as to the matters described in clause (i) above, the Issuer shall also
deliver to the Indenture Trustee an Independent Certificate as to the same
matters, if the fair value to the Issuer of the securities to be so deposited
and of all other such securities made the basis of any such withdrawal or
release since the commencement of the then-current fiscal year of the Issuer, as
set forth in the certificates delivered pursuant to clause (i) above and this
clause (ii), is ten percent or more of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of
all Series, but such a certificate need not be furnished with respect to any
securities so deposited, if the fair value thereof to the Issuer as set forth in
the related Officer's Certificate is less than the lesser of (A) $25,000 or (B)
one percent of the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of all Series.
(iii) Whenever any property or securities are to be released from
the lien of this Indenture other than pursuant to Section 8.02(e), the Issuer
shall also furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Officer's Certificate certifying
or stating the opinion of each person signing such certificate as to the fair
value (within 90 days of such release) of the property or securities proposed to
be released and stating that in the opinion of such person the proposed release
will not impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the
provisions hereof.
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(iv) Whenever the Issuer is required to furnish to the Indenture
Trustee an Officer's Certificate certifying or stating the opinion of any
signatory thereof as to the matters described in clause (iii) above, the Issuer
shall also furnish to the Indenture Trustee an Independent Certificate as to the
same matters if the fair value of the property or securities and of all other
property with respect to such Series, or securities released from the lien of
this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 8.02(e)) since the commencement
of the then-current calendar year, as set forth in the certificates required by
clause (iii) above and this clause (iv), equals 10 percent or more of the
Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of all Series, but such certificate need not be
furnished in the case of any release of property or securities if the fair value
thereof as set forth in the related Officer's Certificate is less than the
lesser of (A) $25,000 or (B) one percent of the then Outstanding Amount of the
Bonds of all Series.
(v) Notwithstanding Section 2.16 or any other provision of this
Section 11.01, the Indenture Trustee may (A) collect, liquidate, sell or
otherwise dispose of the Transition Property and the other Collateral as and to
the extent permitted or required by the Basic Documents and (B) make cash
payments out of the Collection Accounts as and to the extent permitted or
required by the Basic Documents.
SECTION 11.02. Form of Documents Delivered to Indenture Trustee. In
any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an
opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be
certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they
be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify
or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such
Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion
as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of a Responsible Officer of the Issuer may
be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion
of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the
exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or
opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate of a Responsible Officer or
Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon
a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of
the Servicer or the Issuer stating that the information with respect to such
factual matters is in the possession of the Servicer or the Issuer, unless such
counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the
certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are
erroneous.
Whenever in this Indenture, in connection with any application or
certificate or report to the Indenture Trustee, it is provided that the Issuer
shall deliver any document as a condition of the granting of such application,
or as evidence of the Issuer's compliance with any term hereof, it is intended
that the truth and accuracy, at the time of the granting of such application or
at the effective date of such certificate or report (as the case may be), of the
facts and opinions stated in such document shall in such case be conditions
precedent to the right of the Issuer to have such application granted or to the
sufficiency of such certificate or report. The foregoing shall not, however, be
construed to affect the Indenture Trustee's right to rely upon the truth and
accuracy of any statement or opinion contained in any such document as provided
in Article VI.
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Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.
SECTION 11.03. Acts of Holders. (a) Any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by
this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced
by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders
in person or by agents duly appointed in writing; and except as herein otherwise
expressly provided such action shall become effective when such instrument or
instruments are delivered to the Indenture Trustee, and, where it is hereby
expressly required, to the Issuer. Such instrument or instruments (and the
action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to
as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of
execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall
be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01)
conclusive in favor of the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the
manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved in any manner that the Indenture Trustee
deems sufficient.
(c) The ownership of Bonds shall be proved by the Securities Register.
(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other action by the Holder of any Bonds shall bind the Holder of every
Bond issued upon the registration thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu
thereof, in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the
Indenture Trustee or the Issuer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of
such action is made upon such Bond.
SECTION 11.04. Notices, etc., to Indenture Trustee, Issuer and Rating
Agencies. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or Act of Holders or other documents provided or permitted by this
Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to or filed with:
(i) the Indenture Trustee by any Holder or by the Issuer shall be
sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in
writing by facsimile transmission, first-class mail or overnight delivery
service to or with the Indenture Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office,
(ii) the Issuer by the Indenture Trustee or by any Holder shall
be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed, first-class,
postage prepaid, to the Issuer addressed to: Oncor Transition Funding LLC at
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0-000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, Attention of Xxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Manager, telephone: (000) 000-0000 or at any other address previously
furnished in writing to the Indenture Trustee by the Issuer. The Issuer shall
promptly transmit any notice received by it from the Holders to the Indenture
Trustee, or
(iii) the PUCT by the Seller, the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee
shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed,
first-class, postage prepaid, to the PUCT addressed to: to 0000 X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000, Attention of Executive Director and General
Counsel, telephone: (000) 000-0000, facsimile: (000) 000-0000.
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(b) Notices required to be given to the Rating Agencies by the Issuer
or the Indenture Trustee shall be in writing, personally delivered or mailed by
certified mail, return receipt requested to (i) in the case of Moody's, to:
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc., ABS Monitoring Department, 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, telephone: (000) 000-0000, facsimile (000) 000-0000,
(ii) in the case of Standard & Poor's, to: Standard & Poor's Ratings Services,
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention of Asset Backed
Surveillance Department, telephone: (000) 000-0000, facsimile: (000) 000-0000,
(iii) in the case of Fitch, to Fitch Ratings, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention of ABS Surveillance, telephone: (000) 000-0000,
facsimile: (000) 000-0000 and (iv) as to each of the foregoing, at such other
address as shall be designated by written notice to the other parties.
SECTION 11.05. Notices to Holders; Waiver. Where this Indenture
provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently
given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed,
first-class, postage prepaid to each Holder affected by such event, at such
Holder's address as it appears on the Securities Register, not later than the
latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving
of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither
the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any
particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to
other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall
conclusively be presumed to have been duly given.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice
may be waived in writing by any Person entitled to receive such notice, either
before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such
notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Indenture Trustee
but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action
taken in reliance upon such a waiver.
In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a
result of a strike, work stoppage or similar activity, it shall be impractical
to mail notice of any event of Holders when such notice is required to be given
pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such
notice as shall be satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee shall be deemed to be a
sufficient giving of such notice.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to the Rating Agencies,
failure to give such notice shall not affect any other rights or obligations
created hereunder, and shall not under any circumstance constitute a Default or
Event of Default.
SECTION 11.06. Notices to Luxembourg Stock Exchange. (a) For so long
as any Bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and the rules of such
exchange so require, the Issuer shall notify the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and
any agent appointed pursuant to Section 3.02 if any rating assigned to such
Bonds is reduced or withdrawn and shall arrange for such notice to be published
pursuant to the rules of such exchange.
(b) For so long as any Bonds are listed on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange and the rules of such exchange so require, the Indenture Trustee shall
make available to the Holders of such Bonds and shall deposit upon written
request on file with the Issuer's listing agent in Luxembourg appointed pursuant
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to Section 3.02 copies of the Basic Documents, all reports provided to Holders
pursuant to this Indenture, the prospectus related to such Bonds, the reports of
Independent certified public accountants obtained with respect to the Issuer
pursuant to this Indenture, the financial information regarding Oncor in its
annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended most recently prior to the
date of this Indenture and copies of each annual report of Oncor on Form 10-K
for subsequent fiscal years. The Issuer's listing agent shall deposit with the
Chief Registrar of the District Court of Luxembourg prior to the listing of any
Bonds on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange a copy of the certificate of Formation of
the Issuer, the LLC Agreement and any legal notices relating to the issuance of
such Bonds.
SECTION 11.07. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision
hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof that is
required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the TIA,
such required provision shall control.
The provisions of TIA Sections 310 through 317 that impose duties on
any person (including the provisions automatically deemed included herein unless
expressly excluded by this Indenture) are a part of and govern this Indenture,
whether or not physically contained herein.
SECTION 11.08. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article
and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only
and shall not affect the construction hereof.
SECTION 11.09. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in
this Indenture and the Bonds by the Issuer shall bind its successors and
assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Indenture Trustee in
this Indenture shall bind its successors.
SECTION 11.10. Severability. Any provision in this Indenture or in the
Bonds that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of such provision (if any)
or the remaining provisions hereof (unless such construction shall be
unreasonable), and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction
shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
SECTION 11.11. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in
the Bonds, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties
hereto and their successors hereunder, and the Holders, and any other party
secured hereunder, and any other Person with an ownership interest in any part
of the Collateral, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under this Indenture.
SECTION 11.12. Legal Holidays. In any case where the date on which any
payment is due shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other
provision of the Bonds or this Indenture) payment need not be made on such date,
but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and
effect as if made on the date on which nominally due, and no interest shall
accrue for the period from and after any such nominal date.
SECTION 11.13. GOVERNING LAW. THIS INDENTURE SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
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CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS (OTHER THAN SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW
YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW), AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS; PROVIDED
THAT THE CREATION, ATTACHMENT AND PERFECTION OF ANY LIENS CREATED HEREUNDER IN
TRANSITION PROPERTY, AND ALL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE AND
THE HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH TRANSITION PROPERTY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SECTION 11.14. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.
SECTION 11.15. Recording of Indenture. If this Indenture is subject to
recording in any appropriate public recording offices, such recording is to be
effected by the Issuer and at its expense accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel
(which may be counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indenture Trustee) to the
effect that such recording is necessary either for the protection of the Holders
or any other Person secured hereunder or for the enforcement of any right or
remedy granted to the Indenture Trustee under this Indenture.
SECTION 11.16. Issuer Obligation. No recourse may be taken, directly
or indirectly, with respect to the obligations of the Issuer or the Indenture
Trustee on the Bonds or under this Indenture or any certificate or other writing
delivered in connection herewith or therewith, against (i) the Indenture Trustee
or the Managers in their respective individual capacities, (ii) any owner of a
membership interest in the Issuer (including Oncor) or (iii) any shareholder,
partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer, or employee of the Indenture
Trustee, the Managers or any owner of a membership interest in the Issuer
(including Oncor) in its respective individual capacity, or of any successor or
assign of any of them in their respective individual or corporate capacities,
except as any such Person may have expressly agreed (it being understood that
none of the Indenture Trustee, the Managers or Oncor has any such obligations in
their respective individual or corporate capacities).
SECTION 11.17. No Recourse to Issuer. Notwithstanding any provision of
this Indenture or any Series Supplement to the contrary, Holders of any Series
of Bonds shall have no recourse against the Issuer, but shall look only to the
applicable Series Collateral with respect to any amounts due to such Holders
hereunder and under the Bonds secured by such Series Collateral.
SECTION 11.18. Inspection. The Issuer agrees that, on reasonable prior
notice, it will permit any representative of the Indenture Trustee, during the
Issuer's normal business hours, to examine all the books of account, records,
reports, and other papers of the Issuer, to make copies and extracts therefrom,
to cause such books to be audited by Independent certified public accountants,
and to discuss the Issuer's affairs, finances and accounts with the Issuer's
officers, employees, and Independent certified public accountants, all at such
reasonable times and as often as may be reasonably requested. The Indenture
Trustee shall and shall cause its representatives to hold in confidence all such
information except to the extent disclosure may be required by law (and all
77
reasonable applications for confidential treatment are unavailing) and except to
the extent that the Indenture Trustee may reasonably determine that such
disclosure is consistent with its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the foregoing shall not be construed to
prohibit (i) disclosure of any and all information that is or becomes publicly
known, or information obtained by the Indenture Trustee from sources other than
the Issuer, provided such parties are rightfully in possession of such
information, (ii) disclosure of any and all information (A) if required to do so
by any applicable statute, law, rule or regulation, (B) pursuant to any
subpoena, civil investigative demand or similar demand or request of any court
or regulatory authority exercising its proper jurisdiction, (C) in any
preliminary or final offering circular, registration statement or contract or
other document pertaining to the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or
the Basic Documents approved in advance by the Issuer or (D) to any affiliate,
independent or internal auditor, agent, employee or attorney of the Indenture
Trustee having a need to know the same, provided that such parties agree to be
bound by the confidentiality provisions contained in this Section 11.18, or
(iii) any other disclosure authorized by the Issuer.
SECTION 11.19. No Petition. The Indenture Trustee, by entering into
this Indenture, and each Holder, by accepting a Bond (or interest therein)
issued hereunder, hereby covenant and agree that they shall not, prior to the
date that is one year and one day after the termination of this Indenture,
acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause the Issuer or any Manager to
invoke the process of any court or government authority for the purpose of
commencing or sustaining a case against the Issuer under any insolvency law or
appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or
other similar official of the Issuer or any substantial part of its respective
property, or ordering the dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the affairs
of the Issuer. Nothing in this paragraph shall preclude, or be deemed to estop,
such Holder (A) from taking or omitting to take any action prior to such date in
(i) any case or proceeding voluntarily filed or commenced by or on behalf of the
Issuer under or pursuant to any such law or (ii) any involuntary case or
proceeding pertaining to the Issuer that is filed or commenced by or on behalf
of a person other than such Holder and is not joined in by such Holder (or any
person to which such holder shall have assigned, transferred or otherwise
conveyed any part of the obligations of the Issuer hereunder) under or pursuant
to any such law, or (B) from commencing or prosecuting any legal action that is
not an involuntary case or proceeding under or pursuant to any such law against
the Issuer or any of its properties.
SECTION 11.20. Intercreditor Agreement. The Indenture Trustee is
hereby authorized, at the request of the Issuer, to execute and deliver any
Intercreditor Agreement subject only to the satisfaction of the Rating Agency
Condition and receipt by the Indenture Trustee of the Opinion of Counsel
referenced therein. Each Intercreditor Agreement shall be binding on the
Holders.
78
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee have caused
this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized and duly attested, all as of the day and year first above written.
ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY TRANSITION
BOND COMPANY LLC
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Manager
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
79
EXHIBIT A
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN
DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE
DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"),
TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT,
AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER
NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS
MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER
HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
REGISTERED No. _____ $________
SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
CUSIP NO.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THIS SERIES [ ], CLASS [ - ] ("THIS CLASS [ - ]
BOND") WILL BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS AS SET FORTH HEREIN. ACCORDINGLY, THE
OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THIS CLASS [ - ] BOND AT ANY TIME MAY BE LESS
THAN THE AMOUNT SHOWN ON THE FACE HEREOF. THE HOLDER OF THIS BOND HAS NO
RECOURSE TO THE ISSUER HEREOF AND AGREES TO LOOK ONLY TO THE COLLATERAL, AS
DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND ANY RELATED SERIES SUPPLEMENT REFERRED TO ON THE
REVERSE HEREOF, FOR PAYMENT OF ANY AMOUNTS DUE HEREUNDER. ALL OBLIGATIONS OF THE
ISSUER OF THIS CLASS [ - ] BOND UNDER THE TERMS OF THE INDENTURE WILL BE
RELEASED AND DISCHARGED UPON PAYMENT IN FULL HEREOF OR AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN
SECTION 3.10(b) OR ARTICLE IV OF THE INDENTURE. THE HOLDER OF THIS CLASS [ - ]
BOND HEREBY COVENANTS AND AGREES THAT PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS ONE (1) YEAR AND
ONE (1) DAY AFTER THE PAYMENT IN FULL OF THE SERIES [ ] CLASS [ - ] BONDS, IT
WILL NOT INSTITUTE AGAINST, OR JOIN ANY OTHER PERSON IN INSTITUTING AGAINST, THE
ISSUER ANY BANKRUPTCY, REORGANIZATION, ARRANGEMENT, INSOLVENCY OR LIQUIDATION
PROCEEDINGS OR OTHER SIMILAR PROCEEDING UNDER THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR
ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES. NOTHING IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL PRECLUDE, OR BE
DEEMED TO ESTOP, SUCH HOLDER (A) FROM TAKING OR OMITTING TO TAKE ANY ACTION
PRIOR TO SUCH DATE IN (I) ANY CASE OR PROCEEDING VOLUNTARILY FILED OR COMMENCED
80
BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE ISSUER UNDER OR PURSUANT TO ANY SUCH LAW OR (II) ANY
INVOLUNTARY CASE OR PROCEEDING PERTAINING TO THE ISSUER WHICH IS FILED OR
COMMENCED BY OR ON BEHALF OF A PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH HOLDER AND IS NOT JOINED
IN BY SUCH HOLDER (OR ANY PERSON TO WHICH SUCH HOLDER SHALL HAVE ASSIGNED,
TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE CONVEYED ANY PART OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE ISSUER
HEREUNDER) UNDER OR PURSUANT TO ANY SUCH LAW, OR (B) FROM COMMENCING OR
PROSECUTING ANY LEGAL ACTION THAT IS NOT AN INVOLUNTARY CASE OR PROCEEDING UNDER
OR PURSUANT TO ANY SUCH LAW AGAINST THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS PROPERTIES.
ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY TRANSITION BOND COMPANY LLC
TRANSITION BONDS, SERIES [ ], Class [ - ].
BOND INTEREST ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FINAL MATURITY
RATE PRINCIPAL FINAL DATE
AMOUNT PAYMENT DATE
Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC, a limited
liability company created under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein
referred to as the "Issuer"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [ ],
or registered assigns, the Original Principal Amount shown above [in semi-annual
installments] on the Payment Dates and in the amounts specified on the reverse
hereof or, if less, the amounts determined pursuant to Section 8.02 of the
Indenture, in each year, commencing on the date determined as provided on the
reverse hereof and ending on or before the Final Maturity Date shown above and
to pay interest, at the Bond Interest Rate shown above, on each __________ and
__________ or if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding
Business Day, commencing on [ ] and continuing until the earlier of the payment
in full of the principal hereof and the Final Maturity Date (each a "Payment
Date"), on the principal amount of this Series [ ], Class [ - ] Bond
(hereinafter referred to as "this Class [ - ] Bond"). Interest on this Class [ -
] Bond will accrue for each Payment Date from and including the most recent
Payment Date on which interest has been paid to but excluding such Payment Date
or, if no interest has yet been paid, from [ ] (hereinafter referred to as
"Series Issuance Date"). Interest will be computed on the basis of [specify
method of computation]. Such principal of and interest on this Class [ - ] Bond
shall be paid in the manner specified on the reverse hereof.
The principal of and interest on this Class [ - ] Bond are payable in
such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment
is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. All payments made by
the Issuer with respect to this Class [ - ] Bond shall be applied first to
interest due and payable on this Class [ - ] Bond as provided above and then to
the unpaid principal of and premium, if any, on this Class [ - ] Bond, all in
the manner set forth in Section 8.02 of the Indenture.
81
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Class [ - ] Bond
set forth on the reverse hereof, which shall have the same effect as though
fully set forth on the face of this Class [ - ] Bond.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Indenture Trustee whose name appears below by manual signature, this Class [
- ] Bond shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture referred to on
the reverse hereof, or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be
signed, manually or in facsimile, by its Responsible Officer.
Date: ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY TRANSITION
BOND COMPANY LLC
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title: Manager
82
INDENTURE TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Dated: ,
This is one of the Series [ ], Class [ - ] Bonds, designated above and
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
83
REVERSE OF BOND*(1)
This Series [ ], Class [ - ] Bond is one of a duly authorized issue of
Bonds of the Issuer (herein called the "Bonds"), issued and to be issued in one
or more Series, which Series are issuable in one or more Classes, and the Series
[ ] Bonds consists of [ ] Classes, including this Class [ - ] Bond (herein
called the "Class [ - ] Bonds"), all issued and to be issued under an Indenture
dated as of August 21, 2003, (the "Indenture"), between the Issuer and The Bank
of New York, as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture Trustee", which term includes
any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the
respective rights and obligations thereunder of the Issuer, the Indenture
Trustee and the Holders of the Bonds. All terms used in this Class [ - ] Bond
that are defined in the Indenture, as supplemented or amended, shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
The Class [ - ] Bonds, the other Classes of Series [ ] Bonds (all of
such Classes being referred to herein as "Series [ ] Bonds") and any other
Series of Bonds issued by the Issuer are and will be equally and ratably secured
by the Series Collateral pledged as security therefor as provided in the
Indenture.
The principal of this Class [ - ] Bond shall be payable on each
Payment Date only to the extent that amounts in the Collection Account are
available therefor, and only until the outstanding principal balance thereof on
the preceding Payment Date (after giving effect to all payments of principal, if
any, made on the preceding Payment Date) has been reduced to the principal
balance specified for the Class [ - ] in the Expected Amortization Schedule
which is attached to the related Series Supplement as Schedule A, unless payable
earlier either because (x) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and the Indenture Trustee or the Holders representing not less than a
majority of the Outstanding Amount of the Series [ ] Bonds have declared the
Series [ ] Bonds to be immediately due and payable in accordance with Section
5.02 of the Indenture (unless such declaration shall have been rescinded and
annulled in accordance with Section 5.02 of the Indenture) or (y) the Issuer, at
its option, shall have called for the redemption of the Series [ ] Bonds
pursuant to Section 10.01 of the Indenture or in accordance with the Series
Supplement. However, actual principal payments may be made in lesser than
expected amounts and at later than expected times as determined pursuant to
Section 8.02 of the Indenture. The entire unpaid principal amount of this Class
[ - ] Bond shall be due and payable on the earlier of the Final Maturity Date
hereof and the Optional Redemption Date, if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the entire unpaid principal amount of the Class [ - ] Bonds shall be due and
payable, if not then previously paid, on the date on which an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing and the Indenture Trustee or the Holders
of the Series [ ] Bonds representing not less than a majority of the Outstanding
Amount of the Series [ ] Bonds have declared the Bonds of this Series to be
immediately due and payable in the manner provided in Section 5.02 of the
Indenture (unless such declaration shall have been rescinded and annulled in
accordance with Section 5.02 of the Indenture). All principal payments on the
----------
*(1) The form of the reverse of a Bond is substantially as follows, unless
otherwise specified in the related Series Supplement.
84
Class [ - ] Bonds shall be made pro rata to the Class [ - ] Holders entitled
thereto based on the respective principal amounts of the Class [ - ] Bonds held
by them.
Payments of interest on this Class [ - ] Bond due and payable on each
Payment Date, together with the installment of principal or premium, if any,
shall be made by check mailed first-class, postage prepaid, to the Person whose
name appears as the Registered Holder of this Class [ - ] Bond (or one or more
Predecessor Bonds) on the Securities Register as of the close of business on the
Record Date or in such other manner as may be provided in the Indenture or the
related Series Supplement, if any, except for the final installment of principal
and premium, if any, payable with respect to this Class [ - ] Bond on a Payment
Date which shall be payable as provided below. Such checks shall be mailed to
the Person entitled thereto at the address of such Person as it appears on the
Securities Register as of the applicable Record Date without requiring that this
Class [ - ] Bond be submitted for notation of payment. Any reduction in the
principal amount of this Class [ - ] Bond (or any one or more Predecessor Bonds)
effected by any payments made on any Payment Date shall be binding upon all
future Holders of this Class [ - ] Bond and of any Bond issued upon the
registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof, whether
or not noted hereon. If funds are expected to be available, as provided in the
Indenture, for payment in full of the then remaining unpaid principal amount of
this Class [ - ] Bond on a Payment Date, then the Indenture Trustee, in the name
of and on behalf of the Issuer, will notify the Person who was the Registered
Holder hereof as of the Record Date preceding such Payment Date by notice mailed
no later than five days prior to such final Payment Date and shall specify that
such final installment will be payable only upon presentation and surrender of
this Class [ - ] Bond and shall specify the place where this Class [ - ] Bond
may be presented and surrendered for payment of such installment.
The Issuer shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at
the Bond Interest Rate to the extent lawful.
[As provided in the Series Supplement, the Class [ - ] Bonds may be
redeemed, in whole but not in part, at the option of the Issuer on any date
after the Scheduled Final Payment Date referred to on the face hereof at the
Optional Redemption Price if, after giving effect to payments that would
otherwise be made on such Payment Date, the Outstanding Amount of the Class [ -
] Bonds has been reduced to less than or equal to five percent of the Original
Principal Amount thereof.]
This Class [ - ] Bond is a "transition bond" as such term is defined
in the Securitization Law. Principal and interest due and payable on this Bond
are payable from and secured primarily by Series [ ]Transition Property created
and established by the Financing Order obtained from the Public Utility
Commission of Texas pursuant to the Securitization Law. Series [ ] Transition
Property consists of the rights and interests of the Seller in the Financing
Order, including the right to impose, collect and recover certain charges
(defined in the Securitization Law as "Transition Charges") to be included in
regular electric utility bills of existing and future electric service customers
within the service territory of Oncor Electric Delivery Company, a Texas
electric utility, or its successors or assigns, as more fully described in the
Financing Order.
85
The Securitization Law provides that: "Transition bonds are not a debt
or obligation of the state and are not a charge on its full faith and credit or
taxing power. The state pledges, however, for the benefit and protection of
financing parties and the electric utility, that it will not take or permit any
action that would impair the value of transition property, or, except as
permitted by Section 39.307, reduce, alter, or impair the transition charges to
be imposed, collected, and remitted to financing parties, until the principal,
interest and premium, and any other charges incurred and contracts to be
performed in connection with the related transition bonds have been paid and
performed in full. Any party issuing transition bonds is authorized to include
this pledge in any documentation relating to those bonds."
As a result of the foregoing pledge, the State of Texas (including the
PUCT) may not, except as provided in the succeeding sentence, in any way reduce,
alter or impair the Transition Charges until the Bonds, together with interest
thereon, are fully paid and discharged. Notwithstanding the immediately
preceding sentence, the State of Texas would be allowed to effect a temporary
impairment of the Holders' rights if it could be shown that such impairment was
necessary to advance a significant and legitimate public purpose.
The Issuer and Oncor hereby acknowledge that the purchase of this Bond
by the Holder hereof or the purchase of any beneficial interest herein by any
Person are made in reliance on the foregoing pledge.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations set
forth therein, the transfer of this Class [ - ] Bond may be registered on the
Securities Register upon surrender of this Class [ - ] Bond for registration of
transfer at the office or agency designated by the Issuer pursuant to the
Indenture, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by (a) a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Indenture Trustee duly executed by the
Holder hereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, with such
signature guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following
recognized Signature Guaranty Programs: (i) The Securities Transfer Agent
Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii)The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program
(MSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) in such other
guarantee program acceptable to the Indenture Trustee, and (b) such other
documents as the Indenture Trustee may require, and thereupon one or more new
Class [ - ] Bonds of Minimum Denominations and in the same aggregate principal
amount will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service
charge will be charged for any registration of transfer or exchange of this
Class [ - ] Bond, but the transferor may be required to pay a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any such registration of transfer or exchange, other than exchanges
pursuant to Sections 2.04, 9.06 or 10.04 of the Indenture not involving any
transfer.
Each Bondholder, by acceptance of a Bond, covenants and agrees that no
recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, with respect to the obligations
of the Issuer or the Indenture Trustee on the Bonds or under the Indenture or
any certificate or other writing delivered in connection therewith, against (i)
the Indenture Trustee or the Managers in their respective individual capacities,
(ii) any owner of a membership interest in the Issuer (including Oncor) or (iii)
any shareholder, partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer or employee of the
Indenture Trustee, the Managers or any owner of a membership interest in the
Issuer (including Oncor) in its respective individual capacity, or of any
successor or assign of any of them in their individual or corporate capacities,
86
except as any such Person may have expressly agreed (it being understood that
none of the Indenture Trustee, the Managers or Oncor has any such obligations in
their respective individual or corporate capacities).
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Class [ - ] Bond, the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and any agent of the Issuer
or the Indenture Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Class [ - ]
Bond is registered (as of the day of determination) as the owner hereof for the
purpose of receiving payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest
on this Class [ - ] Bond and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not
this Class [ - ] Bond be overdue, and neither the Issuer, the Indenture Trustee
nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Issuer and the rights of the Holders of the Bonds under the Indenture at any
time by the Issuer with the consent of the Holders of Bonds representing not
less than a majority of the Outstanding Amount of all Bonds at the time
outstanding of each Series or Class to be affected. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of Bonds representing specified percentages of
the Outstanding Amount of the Bonds of each affected Series, on behalf of the
Holders of all the Bonds of such Series, together with PUCT, to waive certain
past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or
waiver by the Holder of this Class [ - ] Bond (or any one of more Predecessor
Bonds) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future
Holders of this Class [ - ] Bond and of any Bond issued upon the registration of
transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof whether or not notation
of such consent or waiver is made upon this Class [ - ] Bond. The Indenture also
permits the Indenture Trustee to amend or waive certain terms and conditions set
forth in the Indenture without the consent of Holders of the Bonds of all
affected Series issued thereunder.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (a)
the entire indebtedness of the Issuer on this Class [ - ] Bond and (b) certain
restrictive covenants and the related Events of Default, upon compliance by the
Issuer with certain conditions set forth herein, which provisions apply to this
Class [ - ] Bond.
The term "Issuer" as used in this Class [ - ] Bond includes any
successor to the Issuer under the Indenture.
The Issuer is permitted by the Indenture, under certain circumstances,
to merge or consolidate, subject to the rights of the Indenture Trustee and the
Holders of Bonds under the Indenture.
The Class [ - ] Bonds are issuable only in registered form in
denominations as provided in the Indenture and the related Series Supplement,
subject to certain limitations therein set forth.
This Class [ - ] Bond, the Indenture and the related Series Supplement
shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without
reference to its conflict of law provisions, and the obligations, rights and
remedies of the parties hereunder and thereunder shall be determined in
87
accordance with such laws; provided that the creation, attachment and perfection
of any liens created under the Indenture in Transition Property, and all rights
and remedies of the Indenture Trustee and the Holders with respect to such
Transition Property, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Class [
- ] Bond or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Class [
- ] Bond at the times, place, and rate, and in the coin or currency herein
prescribed.
The Holder of this Class [ - ] Bond by the acceptance hereof agrees
that, notwithstanding any provision of the Indenture or the related Series
Supplement, if any, to the contrary, the Holder shall have no recourse against
the Issuer, but shall look only to the Series Collateral, with respect to any
amounts due to the Holder under this Class [ - ] Bond.
The Issuer, by entering into the Indenture, and the Holders and any
Persons holding a beneficial interest in any Class [ - ] Bond, by acquiring any
Class [ - ] Bond or interest therein, (i) express their intention that, solely
for the purpose of federal taxes and, to the extent consistent with applicable
state, local and other tax law, solely for the purpose of state, local and other
taxes, the Class [ - ] Bonds qualify under applicable tax law as indebtedness of
the sole owner of the Issuer secured by the Series Collateral and (ii) solely
for purposes of federal taxes and, to the extent consistent with applicable
state, local and other tax law, solely for purposes of state, local and other
taxes, so long as any of the Class [ - ] Bonds are outstanding, agree to treat
the Class [ - ] Bonds as indebtedness of the sole owner of the Issuer secured by
the Series Collateral unless otherwise required by appropriate taxing
authorities.
88
ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face
of this Class [ - ] Bond, shall be construed as though they were written out in
full according to applicable laws or regulations.
TEN COM as tenants in common
TEN ENT as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN as joint tenants with right of survivorship
and not as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT Custodian
________________________________ _________________________________
(Custodian) (minor)
Under Uniform Gifts to Minor Act
( )
_________________________________
(State)
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
89
ASSIGNMENT
Social Security or taxpayer I.D. or other identifying number of
assignee
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and
transfers unto (name and address of assignee) the within Class [ - ] Bond and
all rights thereunder, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints ,
attorney, to transfer said Class [ - ] Bond on the books kept for registration
thereof, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: ____________
_________________________________
Signature Guaranteed:
(2) NOTE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name of the
registered owner as it appears on the face of the within Class [ - ] Bond in
every particular, without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.
NOTE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one
of the following recognized Signature Guaranty Programs: (i) The Securities
Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP), (ii) The New York Stock Exchange
Medallion Program (MSP), (iii) the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or
(iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Indenture Trustee.
90
EXHIBIT B
SERIES SUPPLEMENT dated as of ______________, 2003 (this
"Supplement"), by and between ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY TRANSITION BOND COMPANY
LLC, a limited liability company created under the laws of the State of Delaware
(the "Issuer"), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation (the
"Indenture Trustee"), as Indenture Trustee under the Indenture dated as of [ ],
2003, between the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture").
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
Section 9.01 of the Indenture provides, among other things, that the
Issuer and the Indenture Trustee may at any time and from time to time enter
into one or more indentures supplemental to the Indenture for the purposes of
authorizing the issuance by the Issuer of a Series of Bonds and specifying the
terms thereof. The Issuer has duly authorized the creation of a Series of Bonds
with an initial aggregate principal amount of $ [ ] to be known as Oncor
Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC Bonds, Series [ ] (the "Series [ ]
Bonds"), and the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee are executing and delivering
this Supplement in order to provide for the Series [ ] Bonds.
All terms used in this Supplement that are defined in the Indenture,
either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them
therein, except to the extent such terms are defined or modified in this
Supplement or the context clearly requires otherwise. In the event that any term
or provision contained herein shall conflict with or be inconsistent with any
term or provision contained in the Indenture, the terms and provisions of this
Supplement shall govern.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENT WITNESSETH:
That the Issuer, in consideration of the purchase of the Series [ ]
Bonds by the Holders and of other good and lawful consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and to secure, equally and ratably
without prejudice, priority or distinction, except as specifically otherwise set
forth in the Indenture, the payment of the Series [] Bonds, the payment of all
other amounts due under or in connection with the Indenture and the performance
and observance of all of the covenants and conditions contained in the Indenture
or in such Series [ ] Bonds, has hereby executed and delivered this Supplement
and by these presents does hereby convey, grant and assign, transfer and pledge,
in each case, in and unto the Indenture Trustee, its successors and assigns
forever, for the benefit of the Holders, all and singular the property
hereinafter described (hereinafter referred to as the "Collateral"), to wit:
GRANTING CLAUSE
The Issuer hereby Grants to the Indenture Trustee on the Closing Date,
as Indenture Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Series [ ] Bonds
outstanding, all of the Issuer's right, title and interest (whether now owned or
hereafter acquired or arising) in and to (a) the Transition Property created
under and pursuant to the Financing Order, and transferred by the Seller to the
Issuer pursuant to the Sale Agreement for the Series [ ] Bonds (including, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, the right to impose, collect and receive
Transition Charges allocable to the Series [ ] Bonds, all revenues, collections,
91
claims, rights, payments, money or proceeds of or arising from such Transition
Charges authorized in the Financing Order and any Tariffs filed pursuant thereto
and any contractual rights to collect such Transition Charges from Customers and
REPs), (b) all Transition Charges allocable to the Series [ ] Bonds, (c) the
Sale Agreement and each Xxxx of Sale for the Series [ ] Bonds executed in
connection therewith and all property and interests in property transferred
under such Sale Agreement and such Bills of Sale, (d) the Servicing Agreement
for the Series [ ] Bonds and any subservicing, agency, intercreditor or
collection agreements executed in connection therewith, including any
Intercreditor Agreement, (e) the Administration Agreement, (f) the Collection
Account for the Series [ ] Bonds, all subaccounts thereof and all amounts of
cash, instruments, investment property or other assets on deposit therein or
credited thereto from time to time and all financial assets and securities
entitlements carried therein or credited thereto, (g) any Swap Agreement for the
Series [ ] Bonds or other interest rate exchange agreement which is executed in
connection with the issuance of Floating Rate Bonds, if any, (h) all rights to
compel the Servicer to file for and obtain adjustments to the Transition Charges
in accordance with Section 39.307 of the Securitization Law, the Financing Order
or any Tariff filed in connection therewith, (i) to the extent payable to the
Collection Account for the Series [ ] Bonds, all deposits, guarantees, surety
bonds, letters of credit and other forms of credit support provided by or on
behalf of REPs pursuant to the Financing Order or Tariff, including investment
earnings thereon and all amounts on deposit in the REP Deposit Accounts; (j) all
present and future claims, demands, causes and choses in action in respect of
any or all of the foregoing, whether such claims, demands, causes and choses in
action constitute Transition Property, accounts, general intangibles,
instruments, contract rights, chattel paper or proceeds of such items or any
other form of property, (k) all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts,
documents, general intangibles, goods, instruments, investment property, letters
of credit, letters-of-credit rights, money, commercial tort claims and
supporting obligations related to the Series of Bonds, and (l) all payments on
or under, and all proceeds in respect of, any or all of the foregoing; it being
understood that the following do not constitute Collateral: (i) cash that has
been released pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(xv) following retirement of all
Outstanding Series of Bonds, (ii) amounts deposited with the Issuer on any
Series Issuance Date, including the Closing Date, for payment of costs of
issuance with respect to the related Series (together with any interest earnings
thereon), (iii) amounts released to the Issuer pursuant to Section 8.02(e)(xii),
(iv) amounts deposited by the Issuer in the Indenture Trustee Reserve Account,
and (v) amounts (together with any interest earnings thereon) on deposit in a
REP Deposit Account released to the Servicer or a REP, it being understood that
such amounts described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above shall not
be subject to Section 3.17 of the Indenture.
The foregoing Grant is made in trust to secure the payment of
principal of and premium, if any, interest on, and any other amounts owing in
respect of, the Series [ ] Bonds equally and ratably without prejudice, priority
or distinction, except as expressly provided in this Indenture, and to secure
compliance with the provisions of the Indenture with respect to the Series [ ]
Bonds, all as provided in the Indenture. The Indenture and this Supplement
constitute a security agreement within the meaning of the Securitization Law and
under the UCC to the extent that the provisions of the UCC are applicable
hereto.
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The Indenture Trustee, as trustee on behalf of the Holders of the
Series [ ] Bonds, acknowledges such Grant and accepts the trusts under this
Indenture in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED, DECLARED AND AGREED between the parties
hereto that all Series [ ] Bonds are to be issued, countersigned and delivered
and that all of the Collateral is to be held and applied, subject to the further
covenants, conditions, releases, uses and trusts hereinafter set forth, and the
Issuer, for itself and any successor, does hereby covenant and agree to and with
the Indenture Trustee and its successors in said trust, for the benefit of the
Holders, as follows:
SECTION 1. Designation. The Series [ ] Bonds shall be designated
generally as the Transition Bonds, Series [ ] and further denominated as Classes
[ ] through [ ].
SECTION 2. Initial Principal Amount; Bond Interest Rate; Scheduled
Final Payment Date; Final Maturity Date. The Bonds of each Class of the Series [
] shall have the initial principal amount, bear interest at the rates per annum
and shall have Scheduled Final Payment Dates and Final Maturity Dates set forth
below:
Initial
Principal Bond Scheduled Final Final
Class Amount Interest Rate Payment Date Maturity Date
----- ------ ------------- ------------ -------------
The Bond Interest Rate shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months. [If the Bonds of all or any Classes are to be Floating
Rate Bonds, describe here the index or indexes to be used to determine the
applicable variable rate.]
SECTION 3. Authentication Date; Payment Dates; Expected Amortization
Schedule for Principal; Periodic Interest; Required Overcollateralization Level;
No Premium; Other Terms.
(a) Authentication Date. The Series [ ] Bonds that are authenticated
and delivered by the Indenture Trustee to or upon the order of the Issuer on [ ]
(the "Series Issuance Date") shall have as their date of authentication [ ].
(b) Payment Dates. The Payment Dates for the Series [ ]Bonds are
__________ and __________ of each year or, if any such date is not a Business
Day, the next succeeding Business Day, commencing on [ ] and continuing until
the earlier of repayment of the Series [ ], Class [ ] Bonds in full and the
Final Maturity Date for the Series [ ], Class [ ] Bonds.
(c) Expected Amortization Schedule for Principal. Unless an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing on each Payment Date, the
Indenture Trustee shall distribute to the Holders of record as of the related
Record Date amounts payable pursuant to Section 8.02(e)[(IX)] of the Indenture
as principal, in the following order and priority: [(1) to the holders of the
93
Class - Bonds, until the Outstanding Amount of such Class of Bonds thereof has
been reduced to zero; (2) to the holders of the Class - Bonds, until the
Outstanding Amount of such Class of Bonds thereof has been reduced to zero; (3)
to the holders of the Class - Bonds, until the Outstanding Amount of such Class
of Bonds thereof has been reduced to zero; (4) to the holders of the Class -
Bonds, until the Outstanding Amount of such Class of Bonds thereof has been
reduced to zero; (5) to the holders of the Class - Bonds, until the Outstanding
Amount of such Class of Bonds thereof has been reduced to zero; (6) to the
holders of the Class - Bonds, until the Outstanding Amount of such Class of
Bonds thereof has been reduced to zero; (7) to the holders of the Class - Bonds,
until the Outstanding Amount of such Class of Bonds thereof has been reduced to
zero; and (8) to the holders of the Class - Bonds, until the Outstanding Amount
of such Class of Bonds thereof has been reduced to zero;] provided, however,
that in no event shall a principal payment pursuant to this Section 3(c) on any
Class on a Payment Date be greater than the amount necessary to reduce the
Outstanding Amount of such Class of Bonds to the amount specified in the
Expected Amortization Schedule which is attached as Schedule A hereto for such
Class and Payment Date.
(d) Periodic Interest. Periodic Interest will be payable on each Class
of the Series [ ] Bonds on each Payment Date in an amount equal to [ONE-HALF] of
the product of (i) the applicable Bond Interest Rate and (ii) the Outstanding
Amount of the related Class of Bonds as of the close of business on the
preceding Payment Date after giving effect to all payments of principal made to
the Holders of the related Class of Series [ ] Bonds on such preceding Payment
Date; provided, however, that with respect to the Initial Payment Date, or, if
no payment has yet been made, interest on the outstanding principal balance will
accrue from and including the Series Issuance Date to, but excluding, the
following Payment Date.
(e) Required Overcollateralization Level. The Required
Overcollateralization Level for any Payment Date shall be as set forth in
Schedule B hereto.
[(f) Redemption; No Premium. The Series [ ] Bonds shall be redeemable
as provided in Section 10.01 of the Indenture. No premium will be payable in
connection with any optional redemption of the Series [ ] Bonds.]
[(g) The Series [ ] Bonds shall not be Book-Entry Bonds and the
applicable provisions of Section 2.11 of the Indenture shall not apply to such
Bonds.]
SECTION 4. Minimum Denominations. The Series [ ] Bonds shall be
issuable in the Minimum Denomination and integral multiples thereof.
SECTION 5. Certain Defined Terms. Article I of the Indenture provides
that the meanings of certain defined terms used in the Indenture shall, when
applied to the Bonds of a particular Series, be as defined in Appendix A to the
Indenture. Additionally, Article II of the Indenture provides that with respect
to a particular Series of Bonds, certain terms will have the meanings specified
in the related Supplement. With respect to the Series [ ] Bonds, the following
definitions shall apply:
"Minimum Denomination" shall mean [$1,000].
"Bond Interest Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2 of this
Supplement.
94
"Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of this
Supplement.
"Periodic Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(d) of this
Supplement.
"Scheduled Final Payment Date" means with respect to any Class of the
Series [ ] Bonds, the scheduled final Payment Date therefor, as specified in
Section 2 of this Supplement.
"Series Issuance Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) of
this Supplement.
SECTION 6. Delivery and Payment for the Series [ ] Bonds; Form of the
Series [ ] Bonds. The Indenture Trustee shall deliver the Series [ ] Bonds to
the Issuer when authenticated in accordance with Section 2.03 of the Indenture.
The Series [ ] Bonds of each Class shall be in the form of Exhibits [A-1 through
A-_] hereto.
SECTION 7. Ratification of Agreement. As supplemented by this
Supplement, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and the
Indenture, as so supplemented by this Supplement, shall be read, taken, and
construed as one and the same instrument.
SECTION 8. Counterparts. This Supplement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.
SECTION 9. Governing Law. This Supplement shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its
conflict of law provisions (other than Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New
York General Obligations Law), and the obligations, rights and remedies of the
parties hereunder shall be determined in accordance with such laws; provided
that the creation, attachment and perfection of any liens created under the
Indenture in Transition Property, and all rights and remedies of the Indenture
Trustee and the Holders with respect to such Transition Property, shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
SECTION 10. Issuer Obligation. No recourse may be taken directly or
indirectly, with respect to the obligations of the Issuer on the Bonds, under
the Indenture or under this Supplement or any certificate or other writing
delivered in connection herewith or therewith, against (i) the Indenture Trustee
or the Managers in their respective individual capacities, (ii) any owner of a
beneficial interest in the Issuer (including Oncor) or (iii) any shareholder,
partner, owner, beneficiary, agent, officer, director, employee or agent of the
Indenture Trustee, the Managers or any owner of a beneficial interest in the
Issuer (including Oncor) in its individual capacity, or of any successor or
assign of any of them in their respective individual or corporate capacities,
except as any such Person may have expressly agreed (it being understood that
none of the Indenture Trustee, the Managers and Oncor have any such obligations
in their respective individual or corporate capacities).
95
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee have caused
this Supplement to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized as of the first day of the month and year first above written.
ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY TRANSITION
BOND COMPANY LLC,
as Issuer,
By: ______________________________
Name:
Title:
THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Indenture Trustee
By: ______________________________
Name:
Title:
96
SCHEDULE A
EXPECTED AMORTIZATION SCHEDULE
OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL BALANCE
Series
Date Class Class Class Class Class Issuance Date
---- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -------------
$ $ $ $ $ , 00
, 00
, 00
, 00
[ETC.]
97
SCHEDULE B
REQUIRED OVERCOLLATERALIZATION LEVEL SCHEDULE
Required
Payment Date Overcollateralization Level
------------ ---------------------------
, 20 $
, 20 $
, 20 $
[Etc.] $
98
EXHIBIT C
LETTER OF REPRESENTATION
[Date]
The Bank of New York,
as Indenture Trustee
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0X
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC,
as Issuer
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0-000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Re: Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC Transition
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bonds - Series [ ], Class [ - ]
-------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
[___________________] (the "Purchasing Bondholder") intends to
purchase from [___________________] the [designate Bond] (the "Bond"), issued
pursuant to that certain Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of _________,
2003, among Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC, as Issuer (the
"Issuer"), and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as trustee
(the "Indenture Trustee") and that certain Series Supplement, dated as of
_______, 2003 (the "Series Supplement") among the Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Indenture and, if not defined therein, as
defined in the Series Supplement.
In connection with the proposed transfer, the Purchasing Bondholder
represents and warrants to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee that on
_________ [insert date of transfer], the Purchasing Bondholder is either:
(a) a "qualified institutional buyer" as such term is defined in Rule
144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or
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(b) an "institutional accredited investor" as described in Rule
501(a)(l), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
[PURCHASING BONDHOLDER]
By:
Name:
Title:
100
EXHIBIT D
ERISA REPRESENTATION LETTER
[Date]
The Bank of New York,
as Indenture Trustee
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0X
Xxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC,
as Issuer
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0-000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Re: Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC Transition
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bonds - Series [ ], Class [ - ]
-------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
[___________________] (the "Purchasing Bondholder") intends to
purchase from [___________________] the [designate Bond] (the "Bond"), issued
pursuant to that certain Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of _________,
2003, among Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC, as Issuer (the
"Issuer"), and The Bank of New York, a New York banking corporation, as trustee
(the "Indenture Trustee") and that certain Series Supplement, dated as of
_______, 2003 (the "Series Supplement") among the Issuer and the Indenture
Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Indenture and, if not defined therein, as
defined in the Series Supplement.
In connection with the proposed transfer, the Purchasing Bondholder
represents and warrants to the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee that the
Purchasing Bondholder is not, and on _________ [insert date of transfer] will
not be, and on such date will not be investing the funds of, (a) an "employee
benefit plan" as defined in and subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), (b) a "plan" as defined in
and subject to section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the "Code"), (c) an entity whose underlying assets include the assets of such
employee benefit plan or plan or (d) a governmental or church plan which is
subject to any federal, state or local law that is substantially similar to the
provisions of section 406 of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code.
Very truly yours,
[PURCHASING BONDHOLDER]
By:
Name:
Title:
101
APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS
This is Appendix A to the Indenture.
A. Defined Terms. As used in any Sale Agreement, the Indenture, the
LLC Agreement, any Servicing Agreement, any Series Supplement or any other Basic
Document as hereinafter defined, as the case may be (unless the context requires
a different meaning), the following terms have the following meanings:
"Account Agreement" means the Account Agreement dated as of August 21,
2003, among the Administrator, The Bank of New York, as the Account Bank, the
Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, as the same may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, or any subsequent Account Agreement among the Administrator,
Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, as the same may be amended or supplemented
from time to time.
"Account Bank" means The Bank of New York, as Account Bank under the
Account Agreement, or any successor to the extent permitted by the Account
Agreement.
"Act" is defined in Section 11.03 of the Indenture.
"Actual TC Collections" means, with respect to Billed TCs in any
Reconciliation Period, the amount of such Billed TCs less Net TC Write-Offs
calculated for such Reconciliation Period.
"Addition Notice" means, with respect to the transfer of Subsequent
Transition Property to the Issuer, notice, which shall be given by the Seller to
the Issuer and the Rating Agencies not later than 10 days prior to the related
Subsequent Transfer Date, specifying the Subsequent Transfer Date for such
Subsequent Transition Property.
"Administration Agreement" means the Administration Agreement dated as
of August 21, 2003, between Oncor and the Issuer, as the same may be amended or
supplemented from time to time.
"Administrator" means Oncor as administrator under the Administration
Agreement or its successor in such capacity.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other
Person controlling or controlled by or under 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.
"Agency Office" means the office of the Issuer maintained pursuant to
Section 3.02 of the Indenture.
102
"Amendatory Tariff" means a revision to service riders or any other
notice filing filed with the PUCT in respect of a Tariff pursuant to a True-Up
Adjustment.
"Annual Accountant's Report" is defined in Section 3.04 of the Series
2003-1 Servicing Agreement or in a similar provision of any other Servicing
Agreement.
"Annual True-Up Adjustment" means each adjustment to the Transition
Charges made pursuant to the terms of the related Tariff in accordance with
Section 4.01(b)(i) of the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or in accordance a
similar provision of any other Servicing Agreement.
"Annual True-Up Adjustment Date" means the first billing cycle of
September of each year, commencing in September 2004 with respect to the initial
Series of Bonds and with respect to any subsequent Series of Bonds as provided
in the related Series Supplement.
"Applicable REP" means, with respect to each Customer taking service
from a REP, the REP, if any, providing consolidated billing to that Customer
that includes billing of Transition Charges.
"Application" means the Application of TXU Electric Company for the
Financing Order to securitize regulatory assets and other qualified costs filed
by TXU Electric Company with the PUCT dated October 18, 1999 pursuant to the
Securitization Law, or any subsequent similar Application of Oncor.
"Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C.
Section 101 et seq.), as amended from time to time.
"Basic Documents" means each Sale Agreement, the Indenture, the
Certificate of Formation, the LLC Agreement, each Servicing Agreement, the
Account Agreement, each Intercreditor Agreement, each Swap Agreement, each
Series Supplement, each Letter of Representations, each Underwriting Agreement
and all other documents and certificates delivered in connection therewith.
"Benefit Plan" means, with respect to any Person, any defined benefit
plan (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) that (a) is or was at any time
during the past six years maintained by such Person or any ERISA Affiliate of
such person, or to which contributions by any such Person are or were at any
time during the past six years required to be made or under which such Person
has or could have any liability or (b) is subject to the provisions of Title IV
of ERISA.
"Billed TCs" is defined in Annex I to the Series 2003-1 Servicing
Agreement or in a similar provision of any other Servicing Agreement.
"Billing Period" means the period created by dividing the calendar
year into twelve consecutive periods of approximately twenty-one Servicer
Business Days.
103
"Bills" means each of the regular monthly bills, summary bills,
opening bills and closing bills issued to Customers by Oncor or REPs or to REPs
by Oncor on its own behalf and in its capacity as Servicer.
"Bond Depository" means the depositary in whose name the Bonds are
registered prior to the issuance of Definitive Bonds. The initial Bond
Depository shall be Cede & Co., the nominee of the initial Clearing Agency.
"Bond Interest Rate" means, with respect to any Series or Class of
Bonds, the rate at which interest accrues on the Bonds of such Series or Class,
as specified in the related Series Supplement, if any.
"Bond Owner" means with respect to a Book-Entry Bond, the Person who
is the beneficial owner of such Book-Entry Bond, as reflected on the books of
the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person maintaining an account with
such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency Participant or as an
Indirect Participant, in each case in accordance with the rules of such Clearing
Agency).
"Bonds" means one or more Series of Transition Bonds authorized by the
Financing Order and issued under the Indenture.
"Book-Entry Form" means, with respect to any Bond or Series of Bonds,
that such Bond or Series is not certificated and the ownership and transfers
thereof shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in
Section 2.11 of the Indenture and the applicable Series Supplement, pursuant to
which such Bond or Series was issued.
"Book-Entry Bonds" means any Bonds issued in Book-Entry Form;
provided, however, that after the occurrence of a condition whereupon book-entry
registration and transfer are no longer permitted and Definitive Bonds are to be
issued to the Holder of such Bonds, such Bonds shall no longer be "Book-Entry
Bonds".
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day
on which banking institutions in Dallas, Texas or New York, New York, are, or
DTC is, authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to remain
closed.
"Calculation Period" means initially, the period commencing on the
related Closing Date and ending on the last billing cycle of August 2004 in the
case of the initial Series of Bonds and on the date specified in the related
Series Supplement in the case of any subsequent Series of Bonds, and,
thereafter, each period of twelve Collection Periods ending immediately
preceding the next Annual True-Up Adjustment Date; provided, that, if an Interim
True-Up Adjustment is required, then the Calculation Period for such Interim
True-Up Adjustment shall mean the period of six Collection Periods commencing
with the period during which such Interim True-Up Adjustment is implemented and
ending on the date immediately preceding the next Annual True-Up Adjustment
Date.
"Capital Contribution" means the amount of cash contributed to the
Issuer by Oncor as specified in the LLC Agreement.
104
"Capital Subaccount" is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.
"Certificate of Compliance" means the certificate referred to in
Section 3.03 of the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or in a similar provision
of any other Servicing Agreement and substantially in the form of Exhibit B
attached to the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or to any other Servicing
Agreement.
"Certificate of Formation" means the Certificate of Formation filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on November 30, 1999,
pursuant to which the Issuer was formed.
"Claim" means a "claim" as defined in Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy
Code.
"Class" means, with respect to any Series of Bonds, any one of the
classes of Bonds of that Series.
"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing
agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
"Clearing Agency Participant" means a securities broker, dealer, bank,
trust company, clearing corporation or other financial institution or other
Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book entry transfers
and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.
"Closing Xxxx" is defined in Annex I to the Servicing Agreement.
"Closing Date" means August 21, 2003, or any subsequent date for the
issuance of another Series of Bonds.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Collateral" means all Series Collateral securing all Bonds issued
under the Indenture.
"Collection Account" means an account established and maintained by
the Indenture Trustee in accordance with Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture and
any subaccounts contained therein.
"Collection Period" means any period commencing on the first Servicer
Business Day of any Billing Period and ending on the last Servicer Business Day
of such Billing Period.
"Consolidated REP Billing" means the billing option available to
Customers served by an REP pursuant to which such REP will be responsible for
billing and collecting all charges to such Customers, including the Transition
Charges, in accordance with applicable PUCT Regulations.
"Corporate Trust Office" means with respect to the Indenture Trustee,
an office at which at any particular time the corporate trust business of the
Indenture Trustee shall be administered, which office at the Closing Date is
105
located at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 8 West, New York, New York 10286,
Attention: Asset-Backed Securities or at such other address as the Indenture
Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer,
or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Indenture Trustee (the
address of which the successor Indenture Trustee will notify the Holders and the
Issuer).
"Covenant Defeasance Option" is defined in Section 4.01(b) of the
Indenture.
"Customers" means all existing and future retail customers of Oncor
and all other existing and future retail customers who are obligated to pay
Transition Charges pursuant to the Financing Order or any Tariff.
"Daily Remittance" is defined in Section 6.11(a) of the Series 2003-1
Servicing Agreement or in a similar provision of any other Servicing Agreement.
"Default" means any occurrence that is, or with notice or the lapse of
time or both would become, an Event of Default as defined in Section 5.01 of the
Indenture.
"Definitive Bonds" means Bonds issued in definitive form in accordance
with Section 2.13 of the Indenture.
"Delaware Financing Statements" means one or more Uniform Commercial
Code financing statements to be filed in the appropriate filing office in the
State of Delaware.
"Delaware UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the
date hereof in the State of Delaware.
"Depositing REP" means a REP who provides a cash deposit pursuant to a
Section 3.05(e) of the Servicing Agreement.
"DTC" means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.
"Eligible Account" means either (a) a segregated trust account with an
Eligible Institution or (b) a segregated trust account with the corporate trust
department of a depository institution organized under the laws of the United
States of America or any state (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank),
having corporate trust powers and acting as trustee for funds deposited in such
account, so long as any of the securities of such depository institution shall
have a credit rating from each Rating Agency in one of its generic rating
categories which signifies investment grade.
"Eligible Institution" means (a) the corporate trust department of the
Indenture Trustee or a subsidiary thereof; provided that an account with the
Indenture Trustee or a subsidiary thereof will only be an Eligible Account if it
is a segregated trust account or (b) a depository institution organized under
the laws of the United States of America or any State (or any domestic branch of
a foreign bank), which (i) has either (A) a long-term unsecured debt rating of
AAA by Standard & Poor's, Aaa by Xxxxx'x, and AAA by Fitch or (B) a certificate
of deposit rating of A-1+ by Standard & Poor's, P-1 by Xxxxx'x, and if rated by
Fitch, then F-1+ or any other long-term, short-term or certificate of deposit
rating acceptable to the Rating Agencies and (ii) whose deposits are insured by
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the FDIC. If so qualified under clause (b) above, the Indenture Trustee may be
considered an Eligible Institution for the purposes of clause (a) of this
definition.
"Eligible Investments" mean instruments or investment property which
evidence:
(a) direct obligations of, and obligations fully and unconditionally
guaranteed as to timely payment by, the United States of America;
(b) demand deposits, time deposits, certificates of deposit or
bankers' acceptances of depository institutions meeting the requirements of
clause (b) of the definition of Eligible Institution;
(c) commercial paper (other than commercial paper of Oncor) having, at
the time of the investment or contractual commitment to invest therein, a rating
from each of the Rating Agencies from which a rating is available in the highest
short-term or long-term debt rating granted thereby;
(d) investments in money market funds having a rating in the highest
short-term or long-term debt rating granted thereby (including funds for which
the Indenture Trustee or any of its Affiliates is investment manager or advisor)
from Xxxxx'x, Standard & Poor's and Fitch;
(e) repurchase obligations with respect to any security that is a
direct obligation of, or fully guaranteed by, the United States of America or
any agency or instrumentality thereof the obligations of which are backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States of America, in either case entered
into with depository institutions or trust companies meeting the requirements of
clause (b) of the definition of Eligible Institutions;
(f) repurchase obligations with respect to any security or whole loan
entered into with: (A) a depository institution or trust company, acting as
principal, described in clause (b) of the definition of Eligible Institution,
except that the rating referred to in the proviso in clause (b) of the
definition of Eligible Institution above shall be A-1+ or higher in the case of
Standard & Poor's, (B) a broker/dealer, acting as principal, registered as a
broker or dealer under Section 15 of the Exchange Act, the unsecured short-term
debt obligations of which are rated P-1 by Xxxxx'x, F-1+ by Fitch, if rated by
Fitch and at least A-1+ by Standard & Poor's at the time of entering into this
repurchase obligation, or (C) an unrated broker/dealer, acting as principal,
that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a non-bank or bank holding company the
unsecured short-term debt obligations of which are rated P-1 by Xxxxx'x, F-1+ by
Fitch, if rated by Fitch and at least A-1+ by Standard & Poor's at the time of
purchase; or
(g) any other investment permitted by each of the Rating Agencies;
in each case maturing not later than the Business Day immediately preceding the
next Payment Date or Special Payment Date, if applicable. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any securities or investments which mature in 32 days or more shall
not be "Eligible Investments" unless the issuer thereof has a long-term
unsecured debt rating of at least A1 from Xxxxx'x, A+ from Fitch, if rated by
Fitch and A+ from Standard & Poor's, any securities or investments described in
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clauses (b) through (g) above which have maturities of less than or equal to
three months shall not be "Eligible Investments" unless the issuer thereof has a
long-term and short-term unsecured debt rating of at least A-1 and P-1 from
Xxxxx'x and short-term unsecured debt rating of F-1 from Fitch, if rated by
Fitch, and any securities or investments described in clauses (b) through (f)
above which have maturities of more than three months shall not be an "Eligible
Investment" unless the issuer thereof has a long-term and short-term unsecured
debt rating of at least Aa3 and P-1 from Xxxxx'x and short-term unsecured debt
rating of F-1 from Fitch, if rated by Fitch.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
"ERISA Affiliate" means with respect to any Person at any time, each
trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that would, at that time, be
treated together with such Person as a single employer under Section 401 of
ERISA or Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
"Estimated TC Collections" means the sum of the payments in respect of
Transition Charges which are deemed to have been received by the Servicer,
directly or indirectly (including through an REP), from or on behalf of
Customers, calculated in accordance with Annex I of the Servicing Agreement.
"Event of Default" is defined in Section 5.01 of the Indenture.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Expected Amortization Schedule" means, with respect to a Series of
Bonds, the Expected Amortization Schedule attached to the related Series
Supplement as Schedule A thereto.
"FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any
successor thereto.
"Federal Book-Entry Regulations" means 31 C.F.R. Part 357 et seq.
(Department of Treasury).
"Federal Book-Entry Securities" means securities issued in book-entry
form by the United States Treasury.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest
rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of
the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or,
if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any
day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such
transactions received by the Servicer from three federal funds brokers of
recognized standing selected by it.
"FERC" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or any successor
thereto.
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"Final" means, with respect to the Financing Order, that such
Financing Order has become final, is not being appealed and that the time for
filing an appeal therefrom has expired.
"Final Maturity Date" means, with respect to any Series or Class of
Bonds, the Final Maturity Date therefor, as specified in the related Series
Supplement.
"Financial Asset" means "financial asset" as set forth in Section
8-102(a)(9) of the NY UCC.
"Financing Order" means the Financing Order dated August 5, 2002
issued by the PUCT pursuant to the Securitization Law, Docket No. 25230.
"Fitch" means Fitch Ratings or any successor thereto.
"Floating Rate Bonds" means any Series or Class of Bonds that accrues
interest at a variable rate determined as described in the related Series
Supplement, if any.
"General Subaccount" is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.
"Global Bond" means a Bond evidencing all or any part of a Series of
Bonds to be issued to the Holders thereof in Book-Entry Form, which Global Bond
shall be issued to the Clearing Agency, or its nominee, for such Series, in
accordance with Section 2.11 of the Indenture and the applicable Series
Supplement pursuant to which the Bond is issued.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any federal,
state, local or other political subdivision thereof and any court,
administrative agency or other instrumentality or entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative function of government.
"Grant" means mortgage, pledge, bargain, sell, warrant, alienate,
remise, release, convey, grant, transfer, create, and xxxxx x xxxx upon and a
security interest in and right of set-off against, deposit, set over and confirm
pursuant to the Indenture. A Grant of the Collateral or of any other agreement
or instrument included therein shall include all rights, powers and options (but
none of the obligations) of the Granting party thereunder, including the
immediate and continuing right to claim for, collect, receive and give receipt
for payments in respect of the Collateral and all other moneys payable
thereunder, to give and receive notices and other communications, to make
waivers or other agreements, to exercise all rights and options, to bring
Proceedings in the name of the Granting party or otherwise and generally to do
and receive anything that the Granting party is or may be entitled to do or
receive thereunder or with respect thereto.
"Holder" or "Bondholder" means the Person in whose name a Bond is
registered on the Securities Register.
"Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of August 21, 2003, between
the Issuer and the Indenture Trustee as originally executed and, as from time to
time supplemented or amended by one or more Series Supplements or indentures
supplemental thereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
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Indenture, as so supplemented or amended, or both, and shall include the forms
and terms of the Bonds established thereunder.
"Indenture Trustee" means The Bank of New York, a New York banking
corporation, as Indenture Trustee under the Indenture, or any successor
Indenture Trustee under the Indenture.
"Indenture Trustee Reserve Account" means the account established
pursuant to the Account Agreement for the benefit of the Indenture Trustee.
"Independent" means, when used with respect to any specified Person,
that the Person (a) is in fact independent of the Issuer, any other obligor on
the Bonds, the Seller, the Servicer and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing
Persons, (b) does not have any direct financial interest or any material
indirect financial interest in the Issuer, any such other obligor, the Seller,
the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons and (c) is not
connected with the Issuer, any such other obligor, the Seller, the Servicer or
any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons as an officer, employee, promoter,
underwriter, trustee, partner, director (other than as an independent director
or manager) or person performing similar functions.
"Independent Certificate" means a certificate or opinion to be
delivered to the Indenture Trustee under the circumstances described in, and
otherwise complying with, the applicable requirements of Section 11.01 of the
Indenture, made by an Independent appraiser or other expert appointed by an
Issuer Order and consented to by the Indenture Trustee, and such opinion or
certificate shall state that the signer has read the definition of "Independent"
in the Indenture and that the signer is Independent within the meaning thereof.
"Independent Manager" is defined in Section 4.01 of the LLC Agreement.
"Indirect Participant" means a securities broker, dealer, bank, trust
company or other Person that clears through or maintains a custodial
relationship with a Clearing Agency Participant, either directly or indirectly.
"Initial Tariff" means the initial Tariff filed with the PUCT to
evidence the Transition Charges pursuant to the Financing Order.
"Insolvency Event" means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) the
filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the
premises in respect of such Person or any substantial part of its property in an
involuntary case under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for
such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the
winding-up or liquidation of such Person's affairs, and such decree or order
shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or (b)
the commencement by such Person of a voluntary case under any applicable federal
or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
or the consent by such Person to the entry of an order for relief in an
involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by such Person to the
appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any
substantial part of its property, or the making by such Person of any general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure by such Person generally
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to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of action by such
Person in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
"Insolvency Law" means any applicable federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect.
"Intercreditor Agreement" means any such intercreditor agreement that
Oncor, as Seller, enters into with the investors in any accounts receivable or
similar financing arrangement and the Indenture Trustee and other parties
substantially similar to the form of intercreditor agreement filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement.
"Interim True-Up Adjustment" means each adjustment to the Transition
Charges made pursuant to the terms of the related Tariff and in accordance with
Section 4.01(b)(iii) of the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or in accordance
with a similar provision of any other Servicing Agreement.
"Interim True-Up Adjustment Date" means the date the revised
Transition Charges are approved and effective pursuant to a final order of the
PUCT in the related Interim True-Up Adjustment proceeding.
"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
"Investment Earnings" means investment earnings on funds deposited in
the Collection Account net of losses and investment expenses.
"Issuance Advice Letter" means any Issuance Advice Letter filed with
the PUCT pursuant to the Securitization Law with respect to any Transition
Charges.
"Issuer" means Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company, named as such in the Indenture until a
successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of
any provision contained herein and required by the TIA, each other obligor on
the Bonds.
"Issuer Order" and "Issuer Request" mean a written order or request
signed in the name of the Issuer by any one of its Responsible Officers and
delivered to the Indenture Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable.
"Legal Defeasance Option" is defined in Section 4.01(b) of the
Indenture.
"Letter of Representations" means any applicable agreement among the
Issuer, the Indenture Trustee and the applicable Clearing Agency, with respect
to such Clearing Agency's rights and obligations (in its capacity as a Clearing
Agency) with respect to any Book-Entry Bonds, as the same may be amended,
supplemented, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Lien" means a security interest, lien, charge, pledge, equity or
encumbrance of any kind.
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"LLC Act" means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, as
amended.
"LLC Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Limited Liability
Company Agreement of Oncor Electric Delivery Transition Bond Company LLC, dated
as of August 21, 2003, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Manager" means each manager of the Issuer under the LLC Agreement.
"Member" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the LLC
Agreement.
"Minimum Denomination" means, with respect to any Bond, the minimum
denomination therefor specified in the applicable Series Supplement which
minimum denomination shall be not less than $1,000, except for one Bond of each
class which may be of smaller denomination, and, except as otherwise provided in
such Series Supplement, integral multiples thereof.
"Monthly Servicer's Certificate" means a certificate, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A to the Servicing Agreement, completed and executed by a
Responsible Officer of the Servicer pursuant to Section 3.01(b)(i) of the
Servicing Agreement.
"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service or any successor thereto.
"Net TC Write-Offs" means, for any Reconciliation Period, an amount
equal to the product of (i) the Net Write-Off Percentage for such period times
(ii) total Billed TCs attributable to such Reconciliation Period.
"Net Write-Off Percentage" for any Reconciliation Period means the
Servicer's actual system wide charge-off percentage, as adjusted for recoveries
on previously written-off bills.
"Non-Standard True-Up Adjustment" means any special adjustment to the
Transition Charges to reallocate the amounts of such Transition Charges among TC
Customer Classes pursuant to the terms of the related Tariff under the heading
"Non-Standard True-Up Procedure" and in accordance with Section 4.01(b)(ii) of
the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or in accordance with a similar provision
of any other Servicing Agreement.
"Non-Standard True-Up Adjustment Date" means the date revised
Transition Charges are approved and effective pursuant to a final order of the
PUCT in the related Non-Standard True-Up Adjustment proceeding.
"Notice of Default" is defined in Section 5.01 of the Indenture.
"NY UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date
hereof in the State of New York.
"Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by a Responsible
Officer of the Issuer under the circumstances described in, and otherwise
complying with, the applicable requirements of Section 11.01 of the Indenture,
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and delivered to the Indenture Trustee. Unless otherwise specified, any
reference in the Indenture to an Officer's Certificate shall be to an Officer's
Certificate of any Responsible Officer of the party delivering such certificate.
"Oncor" means Oncor Electric Delivery Company, a Texas corporation,
and any of its permitted successors or assigns.
"Operating Expenses" means all unreimbursed fees, costs and expenses
of the Issuer, including all amounts owed by the Issuer to the Indenture
Trustee, any Manager, the Administrator, the Servicing Fee, legal and accounting
fees, Rating Agency fees, costs and expenses of the Issuer and Oncor and any
franchise taxes owed on investment income in the Collection Account.
"Opinion of Counsel" means one or more written opinions of counsel who
may, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Basic Documents, be employees
of or counsel to the party providing such opinion of counsel, which counsel
shall be reasonably acceptable to the party receiving such opinion of counsel,
and shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such party.
"Optional Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Series of Bonds,
the Payment Date specified for the redemption of the Bonds of such Series
pursuant to Section 10.01 of the Indenture.
"Optional Redemption Price" is defined in Section 10.01 of the
Indenture.
"Outstanding" means, as of the date of determination, all relevant
Bonds theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture except:
(a) Bonds theretofore canceled by the Securities Registrar or
delivered to the Securities Registrar for cancellation;
(b) Bonds or portions thereof the payment for which money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Indenture Trustee or
any Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of such Bonds (provided, however, that
if such Bonds are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given
pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor, satisfactory to the Indenture
Trustee, made); and
(c) Bonds in exchange for or in lieu of other Bonds which have been
authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture unless proof satisfactory
to the Indenture Trustee is presented that any such Bonds are held by a bona
fide purchaser; provided that in determining whether the Holders of the
requisite Outstanding Amount of the Bonds or any Series or Class thereof have
given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder or under any Basic Document, Bonds owned by the Issuer, any other
obligor upon the Bonds, the Member, the Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of
any of the foregoing Persons shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Indenture Trustee shall be
fully protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Bonds that a Responsible Officer of
the Indenture Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Bonds so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
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Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Indenture
Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Bonds and that the
pledgee is not the Issuer, any other obligor upon the Bonds, the Member, the
Seller, the Servicer or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing Persons.
"Outstanding Amount" means the aggregate principal amount of all Bonds
or, if the context requires, all Bonds of a Series or Class, Outstanding at the
date of determination.
"Overcollateralization Subaccount" is defined in Section 8.02(a) of
the Indenture.
"Paying Agent" means with respect to the Indenture, the Indenture
Trustee and any other Person appointed as a paying agent for the Bonds pursuant
to the Indenture.
"Payment Date" means, with respect to any Series or Class of Bonds,
the dates specified in the related Series Supplement, provided that if any such
date is not a Business Day, the Payment Date shall be the Business Day
immediately succeeding such date.
"Periodic Billing Requirement" means, for any Calculation Period, the
aggregate amount of Transition Charges calculated by the Servicer as necessary
to be billed during such period in order to collect the Periodic Payment
Requirements on or before the end of the Collection Period immediately preceding
the next Annual True-Up Adjustment Date.
"Periodic Interest" means, with respect to any Payment Date and any
Series of Bonds, the periodic interest for such Payment Date and Series as
specified in the related Series Supplement.
"Periodic Payment Requirement" for any Calculation Period means the
total dollar amount of TC Collections reasonably calculated by the Servicer in
accordance with Section 4.01 of the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or in
accordance with a similar provision of any other Servicing Agreement as
necessary to be received during such period (after giving effect to the
allocation and distribution of amounts on deposit in the related Reserve
Subaccount at the time of calculation and which will be available for payments
on the related Bonds at the end of such Calculation Period and including any
shortfalls in Periodic Payment Requirements for any prior Calculation Period) in
order to ensure that, as of the last Payment Date occurring in such Calculation
Period, (1) all accrued and unpaid interest on the related Bonds then due shall
have been paid in full, (2) the Outstanding Amount of the related Bonds is equal
to the related Projected Unrecovered Balance, (3) the balance on deposit in the
related Overcollateralization Subaccount equals the aggregate Required
Overcollateralization Level, (4) the balance on deposit in the related Capital
Subaccount equals the aggregate Required Capital Level and (5) all other fees
and expenses, with respect to the related series of Bonds, due and owing and
required or allowed to be paid under Section 8.02 of the Indenture as of such
date shall have been paid in full; provided that, with respect to any Annual
True-Up Adjustment or Interim True-Up Adjustment occurring after the last
related Scheduled Final Payment Date for any Bonds, the related Periodic Payment
Requirements shall be calculated to ensure that sufficient Transition Charges
will be collected to retire such Bonds in full as of the earlier of (x) the
Payment Date preceding the next Annual True-Up Adjustment Date with respect to
such Bonds and (y) the Final Maturity Date for such Bonds.
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"Periodic Principal" means, with respect to any Payment Date and any
Series of Bonds, the excess, if any, of the Outstanding Amount of such Series of
Bonds over the outstanding Unrecovered Balance specified for such Payment Date
on the Expected Amortization Schedule.
"Permitted Lien" means the Lien created by the Indenture.
"Permitted Successor" is defined in Section 5.02 of the Series 2003-1
Sale Agreement or in a similar provision of any other Sale Agreement.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust
(including any beneficiary thereof), unincorporated organization or government
or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Predecessor Bond" means, with respect to any particular Bond, every
previous Bond evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by
such particular Bond, and, for the purpose of this definition, any Bond
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 of the Indenture in lieu of a
mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Bond shall be deemed to evidence the same
debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Bond.
"Proceeding" means any suit in equity, action at law or other judicial
or administrative proceeding.
"Projected Unrecovered Balance" means, as of any Payment Date, the sum
of the projected outstanding principal amount of each Series of Bonds for such
Payment Date set forth in the Expected Amortization Schedule.
"PUCT" means the Public Utility Commission of Texas, or any successor
thereto.
"PUCT Regulations" means the regulations, including proposed or
temporary regulations, promulgated under the Utilities Code.
"Qualified Costs" means all qualified costs as defined in Section
39.302 of the Utilities Code.
"Rating Agency", with respect to any Series of Bonds, means any of
Moody's, Standard & Poor's or Fitch, which provides a rating with respect to
such Series of Bonds. If no such organization or successor is any longer in
existence, "Rating Agency" shall be a nationally recognized statistical rating
organization or other comparable Person designated by the Issuer, notice of
which designation shall be given to the Indenture Trustee and the Servicer.
"Rating Agency Condition" means, with respect to any action, the
notification in writing to each Rating Agency of such action, and written
confirmation from Standard & Poor's, and, with respect to the issuance of a new
Series of Bonds only, written confirmation from all Rating Agencies, in all
instances sent to the Servicer, the Indenture Trustee and the Issuer, to the
effect that such action or issuance, as applicable, will not result in a
suspension, reduction or withdrawal of the then current rating by such Rating
Agency of any Series or Class of Bonds.
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"Reconciliation Period" means, with respect to any Collection Period,
the twelve-month period ending the first day of such Collection Period;
provided, that the initial Reconciliation Period shall commence on the related
Closing Date and that a shorter Reconciliation Period may be established
pursuant to Section 8.01(b) of the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or pursuant
to a similar provision in any other Servicing Agreement.
"Record Date" means, with respect to a Payment Date or Redemption
Date, in the case of Definitive Bonds, the close of business on the last day of
the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which such Payment Date or
Redemption Date occurs, and in the case of Book Entry Bonds, one Business Day
prior to the applicable Payment Date or Redemption Date.
"Registered Holder" means the Person in whose name a Bond is
registered on the Securities Register.
"Registration Statement" means the registration statement, Form S-3
Registration No. 333-91935, filed with the SEC for registration under the
Securities Act relating to the offering and sale of the Bonds, and including all
amendments thereto.
"Remittance Shortfall" means the amount, if any, calculated for a
particular Reconciliation Period, by which Actual TC Collections received by the
Servicer during such Reconciliation Period exceed all Estimated TC Collections
remitted to the Collection Account during such Reconciliation Period.
"REP" means a retail electric provider as defined in Section
31.002(17) of the Utilities Code and shall include any REP that acts as the
provider of last resort.
"REP Credit Requirements" means the credit and collection policies
applicable to REPs under the Financing Order, Tariffs and other PUCT
Regulations.
"REP Deposit Accounts" is defined in Section 8.02(g) of the Indenture.
"REP Deposit Requirements" means the deposit, credit rating and
alternative credit support requirements applicable to REPs under the Financing
Order, Tariffs and other PUCT Regulations.
"REP Service Agreement" means an agreement between a REP and Oncor for
the provision of consolidated billing by such REP to customers in accordance
with PUCT Regulations, the terms of any Tariffs and the terms of any delivery
service tariffs filed by Oncor under the Utilities Code.
"REP Remittance Requirement" means, with respect to any Third-Party
Collector, the requirement that such Third-Party Collector remit Transition
Charges to the Servicer within a prescribed number of days of billing by the
Servicer in accordance with the terms of the applicable Tariffs.
"Required Capital Level" means, with respect to each Series of Bonds,
an amount equal to 0.50% of the initial principal amount of such Series,
deposited into the Capital Subaccount by the Member prior to or upon the
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issuance of such Series, or such other amount as may be specified in the related
Series Supplement.
"Required Overcollateralization Level" means, as of any Payment Date
with respect to any Series, the amount required to be on deposit in the
Overcollateralization Subaccount as specified in the applicable Series
Supplement, but not less than, as of the Scheduled Final Payment Date for such
Series, 0.50% of the initial Outstanding Amount thereof.
"Requirement of Law" means any foreign, federal, state or local laws,
statutes, regulations, rules, codes or ordinances enacted, adopted, issued or
promulgated by any Governmental Authority or common law.
"Reserve Subaccount" is defined in Section 8.02(a) of the Indenture.
"Responsible Officer" means with respect to (a) the Issuer, any
Manager or any duly authorized officer; (b) the Indenture Trustee, any officer
within the Corporate Trust Office of such trustee (including the President, any
Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary or Assistant Treasurer,
Trust Officer or any other officer or assistant officer of the Indenture Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by persons who at
the time shall be such officers, respectively, and that has direct
responsibility for the administration of the Indenture and also, with respect to
a particular matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred to
because of such officer's knowledge and familiarity with the particular
subject); (c) any corporation, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any
Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer or any other duly authorized officer
of such Person who has been authorized to act in the circumstances; (d) any
partnership, any general partner thereof; and (e) any other Person (other than
an individual), any duly authorized officer or member of such Person, as the
context may require, who is authorized to act in matters relating to such
Person.
"Restricted Plan" means (a) an "employee benefit plan" as defined in
and subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) a "plan" as defined in and subject to
section 4975 of the Code, (c) an entity whose underlying assets include the
assets of such employee benefit plan or plan or (d) a governmental or church
plan which is subject to any federal, state or local law that is substantially
similar to the provisions of section 406 of ERISA or section 4975 of the Code.
"Retirement of the Bonds" means any day on which the final
distribution is made to the Indenture Trustee in respect of the last Outstanding
Bonds.
"Sale Agreement" means the Series 2003-1 Transition Property Purchase
and Sale Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2003 for the Series 2003-1 Transition
Property, or any subsequent Transition Property Purchase and Sale Agreement for
any Subsequent Transition Property, in each case, between the Seller and the
Issuer, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time.
"Scheduled Final Payment Date" means, with respect to each Series or,
if applicable, each Class of Bonds, the date when all interest and principal is
scheduled to be paid with respect to that Series or Class in accordance with the
Expected Amortization Schedule, as specified in the Series Supplement therefor.
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"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Secretary of State" means the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware or the Secretary of State of the State of Texas, as the case may be, or
any Governmental Authority succeeding to the duties of such offices.
"Securities Account" means the Collection Account (to the extent it
constitutes a securities account as defined in the NY UCC and Federal Book-Entry
Regulations).
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Securities Intermediary" means the Indenture Trustee solely in the
capacity of a "securities intermediary" as defined in the NY UCC and Federal
Book-Entry Regulations.
"Securitization Law" means Subchapter G of the Utilities Code.
"Security Entitlement" means "security entitlement" (as defined in
Section 8-102(a)(17) of the NY UCC) with respect to Financial Assets now or
hereafter credited to the Securities Account and, with respect to Federal
Book-Entry Regulations, with respect to Federal Book-Entry Securities now or
hereafter credited to the Securities Account, as applicable.
"Securities Register" means the register maintained pursuant to
Section 2.05 of the Indenture, providing for the registration of the Bonds and
transfers and exchanges thereof.
"Securities Registrar" means the registrar at any time of the
Securities Register, appointed pursuant to Section 2.05 of the Indenture.
"Seller" means Oncor Electric Delivery Company, a Texas corporation
(together with its successors in interest, as permitted under the relevant Sale
Agreement).
"Series" means each series of Bonds issued and authenticated pursuant
to the Indenture and a related or Series Supplement.
"Series 2003-1 Sale Agreement" means the Series 2003-1 Transition
Property purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of August 21, 2003 between the
Seller and the Issuer.
"Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement" means the Series 2003-1 Transition
Property Servicing Agreement dated as of August 21, 2003 between the Issuer and
Oncor.
"Series 2003-1 Transition Property" has the meaning specified in the
first recital of the Series 2003-1 Sale Agreement.
"Series Collateral" has the meaning specified in a Series Supplement
for a particular Series of Bonds.
"Series Issuance Date" means, with respect to any Series, the date on
which the Bonds of such Series are originally issued in accordance with Section
2.10 of the Indenture and the related Series Supplement, if any.
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"Series Supplement" means an indenture supplemental to the Indenture
that authorizes the issuance of a particular Series of Bonds, substantially in
the form attached as Exhibit B to the Indenture.
"Servicer" means (i) Oncor, as Servicer under the Series 2003-1
Servicing Agreement, or any successor Servicer to the extent permitted under a
Servicing Agreement, or (ii) another entity, as Servicer under the Servicer
Agreement for a specific Series of Bonds or any successor Servicer to the extent
permitted under such Servicing Agreement.
"Servicer Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
holiday on which the relevant Servicer maintains normal office hours and
conducts business.
"Servicer Default" is defined in Section 7.01 of the Series 2003-1
Servicing Agreement or in a similar provision of any other Servicing Agreement.
"Servicer's Certificate" means a certificate, substantially in the
form of Exhibit C to the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or to any other
Servicing Agreement, completed and executed by a Responsible Officer of the
Servicer pursuant to Section 4.01(c)(ii) of the Servicing Agreement.
"Servicing Agreement" means the Series 2003-1 Transition Property
Servicing Agreement, or any subsequent Transition Property Servicing Agreement,
between the Issuer and Oncor or another entity as Servicer for any Subsequent
Transition Property, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Servicing Fee" means the fee payable to the Servicer on each Payment
Date for services rendered during the period from, but not including, the
preceding Payment Date to and including the current Payment Date, determined
pursuant to Section 6.06 of the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or pursuant to
a similar provision in any other Servicing Agreement.
"Servicing Standard" means the obligation of each Servicer to
calculate, apply, remit and reconcile proceeds of the related Transition
Property, including the related TC Payments, and all other related Collateral
for the benefit of the Issuer and the related Holders (i) with the same degree
of care and diligence as such Servicer applies with respect to payments owed to
it for its own account, (ii) in accordance with all applicable procedures and
requirements established by the PUCT for collection of electric utility tariffs
and (iii) in accordance with the other terms of the related Servicing Agreement.
"Special Member" is defined in Section 1.02 of the LLC Agreement.
"Special Payment" means with respect to any Series or Class of Bonds,
any payment of principal of or interest on (including any interest accruing upon
default), or any other amount in respect of, the Bonds of such Series or Class
(including, with respect to Floating Rate Bonds only, a payment under any Swap)
that is not actually paid within five days of the Payment Date applicable
thereto.
"Special Payment Date" means the date on which a Special Payment is to
be made by the Indenture Trustee to the Holders.
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"Special Record Date" means with respect to any Special Payment Date,
the close of business on the 15th day (whether or not a Business Day) preceding
such Special Payment Date.
"Standard & Poor's" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a
division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.
"State" means any one of the 50 states of the United States of America
or the District of Columbia.
"State Pledge" means the pledge of the State of Texas as set forth in
Section 39.310 of the Securitization Law.
"Subsequent Closing Date" means any date (other than the Closing Date)
specified in a Series Supplement under which Bonds of any Series or Class are
issued.
"Subsequent Creation Date" means any date on which Subsequent
Transition Property is created in favor of Oncor pursuant to the Financing
Order.
"Subsequent Sale" means the sale of Initial Transition Property or
Subsequent Transition Property after the Closing Date, subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Sale Agreement and the
Indenture.
"Subsequent Tariff" means a Tariff filed with the PUCT in connection
with the Financing Order.
"Subsequent Transfer Date" means any date on which a Subsequent Sale
will be effective, specified in an Addition Notice.
"Subsequent Transition Property" means Transition Property (identified
in the related Xxxx of Sale) sold by the Seller to the Issuer as of a Subsequent
Transfer Date pursuant to a Sale Agreement.
"Successor Servicer" is defined in Section 3.07(e) of the Indenture.
"Swap" means an interest rate swap, cap, floor, collar or other
hedging transaction that may be entered into by the Issuer in accordance with
the Indenture for the purpose of managing interest rate risk with respect to a
specified Series or Class of Floating Rate Bonds that are being issued
concurrently with the execution of the Swap.
"Swap Agreement" means an Interest Rate and Currency Exchange
Agreement (including the Schedule and Confirmation thereto) entered into between
the Issuer and a swap provider.
"Swap Counterparty" means the entity that is a party to a Swap with
the Issuer.
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"Swap Payment" means the payments made by the Issuer to the Swap
Counterparty pursuant to any Swap, subject to any netting of payments provided
in the applicable Swap.
"Swap Revenues" means the payments paid by a Swap Counterparty to the
Issuer pursuant to any Swap, subject to any netting of payments provided in the
applicable Swap.
"Tariff" means any rate tariff filed with the PUCT pursuant to the
Securitization Law to evidence any Transition Charges.
"TC Collections" means Transition Charges received by a Servicer which
are remitted to the Collection Account for a Series of Bonds.
"TC Customer Class" means each customer class identified as a separate
rate class in any Tariff.
"TC Payments" means the payments made by Customers based on the
Transition Charges.
"Temporary Bonds" means Bonds executed, and upon the receipt of an
Issuer Order, authenticated and delivered by the Indenture Trustee pending the
preparation of Definitive Bonds pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Indenture.
"Termination Notice" is defined in Section 7.01 of the Series 2003-1
Servicing Agreement or in a similar provision in any other Servicing Agreement.
"Texas UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date
hereof in the State of Texas.
"Third-Party Collectors" means each third-party, including each
Applicable REP, which, pursuant to any Tariff, any other tariffs filed with the
PUCT, or any agreement with Oncor, is obligated to xxxx and collect Transition
Charges.
"Transition Charge" means any transition charge as defined in Section
39.302(7) of the Securitization Law that is authorized by the Financing Order.
"Transition Property" means all transition property as defined in
Section 39.302(8) of the Securitization Law created pursuant to the Financing
Order and assigned to the Issuer, including the Series 2003-1 Transition
Property pursuant to the Series 2003-1 Sale Agreement and any Subsequent
Transition Property pursuant to any subsequent Sale Agreement. As used in the
Basic Documents, unless the context requires otherwise, the term "Transition
Property" when used with respect to Oncor includes the contract rights of Oncor
that exist prior to the time that such rights are first transferred in
connection with the issuance of the Bonds, at which time they become transition
property in accordance with Section 39.304 of the Securitization Law.
"Transition Property Notices" means transition property notices filed
with the Secretary of State of Texas pursuant to Section 39.309 of the
Securitization Law.
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"Treasury Regulations" means the regulations, including proposed or
temporary regulations, promulgated under the Code. References herein to specific
provisions of proposed or temporary regulations shall include analogous
provisions of final Treasury Regulations or other successor Treasury
Regulations.
"True-Up Adjustment" means any Annual True-Up Adjustment, Interim
True-Up Adjustment or Non-Standard True-Up Adjustment, as the case may be.
"Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force on the Closing
Date, unless otherwise specifically provided.
"UCC" means, unless the context otherwise requires, the Uniform
Commercial Code, as in effect in the relevant jurisdiction, as amended from time
to time.
"Underwriters" means the underwriters who purchase Bonds of any Series
or Class from the Issuer and sell such Bonds in a public offering.
"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated
August 14, 2003, or any subsequent Underwriting Agreement with respect to a
Series of Bonds, in each case, among Oncor, the Underwriters party thereto, on
their own behalf and/or as representative of the several underwriters named
therein, as applicable, and the Issuer, as the same may be amended, supplemented
or modified from time to time.
"Unrecovered Balance" means, as of any Payment Date, the sum of the
outstanding principal amount of each Series of Bonds less the amount in the
related Reserve Subaccount available to make principal payments on such Series
of Bonds.
"Unregistered Bonds" means any Bonds not registered under the
Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction.
"Utilities Code" means the Texas Utilities Code, as amended from time
to time.
"U.S. Government Obligations" means direct obligations (or
certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the
United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for
the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America
is pledged and which are not callable at the option of the issuer thereof.
"Weighted Average Days Outstanding" means the weighted average number
of days Oncor's monthly bills to REPs remain outstanding during the calendar
year immediately preceding the calculation thereof pursuant to Section
4.01(b)(i) of the Series 2003-1 Servicing Agreement or pursuant to a similar
provision of any other Service Agreement. The initial Weighted Average Days
Outstanding shall be 35 days until updated pursuant to Section 4.01(b)(i) of the
Servicing Agreement.
B. Other Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein
shall be construed in accordance with United States generally accepted
accounting principles. To the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in
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any Basic Document are inconsistent with the meanings of such terms under
generally accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting principles,
the definitions contained in such Basic Document shall control. As used in the
Basic Documents, the term "including" means "including without limitation," and
other forms of the verb "to include" have correlative meanings. All references
to any Person shall include such Person's permitted successors.
C. Computation of Time Periods. Unless otherwise stated in any of the
Basic Documents, as the case may be, in the computation of a period of time from
a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and
including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but excluding".
D. Reference; Captions. The words "hereof", "herein" and "hereunder"
and words of similar import when used in any Basic Document shall refer to such
Basic Document as a whole and not to any particular provision of such Basic
Document; and references to "Section", "subsection", "Schedule" and "Exhibit" in
any Basic Document are references to Sections, subsections, Schedules and
Exhibits in or to such Basic Document unless otherwise specified in such Basic
Document. The various captions (including the tables of contents) in each Basic
Document are provided solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect
the meaning or interpretation of any Basic Document.
E. The definitions contained in this Appendix A are applicable to the
singular as well as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well
as to the feminine and neuter forms of such terms.
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