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Exhibit 4(o)
AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES
AGREEMENT dated as of December 1, 1995, between Texas
Utilities Electric Company, a Texas corporation ("TU Electric"), and TU
Electric Capital III, a Delaware business trust (the "Trust").
WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its Common Securities (the
"Common Securities") to and receive Debentures from TU Electric and to issue
its 8.00% Quarterly Income Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities")
with such powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set
forth in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of
December 1, 1995 as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust
Agreement");
WHEREAS, TU Electric is the issuer of the Debentures;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the acceptance by each
holder of the Preferred Securities, which acceptance TU Electric hereby agrees
shall benefit TU Electric and which acceptance TU Electric acknowledges will be
made in reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, TU
Electric, including in its capacity as holder of the Common Securities, and the
Trust hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Section 1.01. Assumption by TU Electric. Subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, TU Electric hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
assumes the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as
hereinafter defined) to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or
hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries"). As used herein,
"Obligations" means any indebtedness, expenses or liabilities of the Trust,
other than (i) obligations of the Trust to pay to holders of any Preferred
Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts due such holders
pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar
interests, as the case may be and (ii) obligations arising out of the
negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the Trustees of the Trust. This
Agreement is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all
such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice
hereof.
Section 1.02. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall
terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the date on which there
are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that this Agreement shall
continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any holder of Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment
of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any Obligation, under
the Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by TU Electric and The Bank of
New
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York, as guarantee trustee, or under this Agreement for any reason whatsoever.
This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute.
Section 1.03. Waiver of Notice. TU Electric hereby waives
notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of any Obligation to which it
applies or may apply, and TU Electric hereby waives presentment, demand for
payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of
redemption and all other notices and demands.
Section 1.04. No Impairment. The obligations, covenants,
agreements and duties of TU Electric under this Agreement shall in no way be
affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the
following:
(a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all
or any portion of the Obligations or for the performance of any other
obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Obligations;
(b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the
part of the Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege,
power or remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the Obligations
or any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind; or
(c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for
the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or
readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or
any of the assets of the Trust.
There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, TU Electric with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.
Section 1.05. Enforcement. A Beneficiary may enforce this
Agreement directly against TU Electric and TU Electric waives any right or
remedy to require that any action be brought against the Trust or any other
person or entity before proceeding against TU Electric.
ARTICLE II
Section 2.01. Binding Effect. All guarantees and agreements
contained in this Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers,
trustees and representatives of TU Electric and shall inure to the benefit of
the Beneficiaries.
Section 2.02. Amendment. So long as there remains any
Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of any series are outstanding, this
Agreement shall not be modified or
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amended in any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the
Preferred Securities.
Section 2.03. Notices. Any notice, request or other
communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be given in
writing by delivering the same against receipt therefor by facsimile
transmission (confirmed by mail), telex or by registered or certified mail,
addressed as follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or
upon receipt of an answer-back, if sent by telex), to wit:
TU Electric Capital III
c/o Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Administrative Trustee
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: 000-000-0000
Texas Utilities Electric Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Treasurer
Section 2.04 THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
(WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES).
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THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.
TEXAS UTILITIES ELECTRIC COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Treasurer and Assistant Secretary
TU ELECTRIC CAPITAL III
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
not in her individual capacity, but
solely as Administrative Trustee
