TORTOISE NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY CORPORATION
_______________
AUCTION AGENCY AGREEMENT
dated as of ________ __, 200_
relating to the
AUCTION RATE SENIOR NOTES
$_________ SERIES A, DUE ____________ __, 204_
The Bank of New York
as Auction Agent
AUCTION AGENCY AGREEMENT
This Auction Agency Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of _________ __,
200_, is between Tortoise North American Energy Corporation (the "Company") and
The Bank of New York.
The Company proposes to offer $_________ aggregate principal amount of
auction rate senior notes Series A (the "Tortoise Notes"), authorized by, and
subject to the terms and conditions of, the Supplemental Indenture of Trust by
and between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., in its
capacity as trustee (the "Trustee"), dated ______ __, 200_ (the "Supplemental
Indenture"), which supplements the Indenture dated _______ __, 200_ by and
between the Company and the Trustee.
The Company desires that The Bank of New York perform certain duties as
agent in connection with each Auction of Tortoise Notes (in such capacity, the
"Auction Agent"), upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and
the Company hereby appoints The Bank of New York as said Auction Agent in
accordance with those terms and conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
contained herein, the Company and the Auction Agent agree as follows:
I. DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
1.1 Terms Defined by Reference to the Supplemental Indenture.
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the
respective meanings specified in the Supplemental Indenture.
1.2 Certain Defined Terms.
As used herein and in the Settlement Procedures, the following terms shall
have the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Agent Member" shall mean a member of, or participant in, the
Securities Depository that will act on behalf of a Bidder.
(b) "Auction" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.
(c) "Auction Procedures" shall mean the procedures as from time to
time in effect for conducting Auctions that are set forth in Appendix A of the
Supplemental Indenture.
(d) "Authorized Officer" shall mean (i) in the case of the Auction
Agent, each Vice President, Assistant Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of
the Auction Agent assigned to the Dealing and Trading Group of its Corporate
Trust Division and every other officer or employee of the Auction Agent
designated an "Authorized Officer" for
purposes hereof in a written communication delivered to the Trustee, (ii) in the
case of the Company, its Treasuer and every other officer or employee of the
Company designated an "Authorized Officer" for purposes hereof in a written
communication delivered to the Auction Agent and (iii) in the case of the
Trustee, every officer or employee of the Trustee designated as an "Authorized
Officer" for purposes hereof in a written communication delivered to the Auction
Agent.
(e) "Broker-Dealer Agreement" shall mean each agreement between the
Auction Agent and a broker-dealer substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
(f) "Closing" shall mean the date the Company consummates the
transactions for the issuance and sale of the Tortoise Notes.
(g) "Company Officer" shall mean the President, each Vice President
(whether or not designated by a number or word or words added before or after
the title "Vice President"), the Secretary, the Treasurer, each Assistant
Secretary and each Assistant Treasurer of the Company and every other officer or
employee of the Company designated as a "Company Officer" for purposes hereof in
a notice from the Company to the Auction Agent.
(h) "Holder" means, with respect to Tortoise Notes, the registered
holder of Tortoise Notes as the same appears on the records of the Company.
(i) "Rate Multiple" shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section
2.8.
(j) "Supplemental Indenture" shall mean the Supplemental Indenture of
Trust by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.,
dated _______ __, 200_, as amended or supplemented.
(k) "Settlement Procedures" shall mean the Settlement Procedures
attached as Exhibit A to the Broker-Dealer Agreement.
1.3 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context or use indicates another or different meaning or intent,
the following rules shall apply to the construction of this Agreement:
(a) Words importing the singular number shall include the plural
number and vice versa.
(b) The captions and headings herein are solely for convenience of
reference and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement nor shall they
affect its meaning, construction or effect.
(c) The words "hereof," "herein," "hereto" and other words of similar
import refer to this Agreement as a whole.
(d) All references herein to a particular time of day shall be to New
York City time.
II. THE AUCTION.
2.1 Purpose; Incorporation by Reference of Auction Procedures and
Settlement Procedures.
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted a resolution
appointing The Bank of New York as Auction Agent for purposes of the Auction
Procedures. The Auction Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees that,
on each Auction Date, it shall follow (i) the procedures set forth in this
Section 2 and (ii) the Auction Procedures for the purpose of determining the
Applicable Rate for the Tortoise Notes for the next Rate Period. Each periodic
operation of such procedures is hereinafter referred to as an "Auction."
(b) All of the provisions contained in the Auction Procedures and in
the Settlement Procedures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety
and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such
provisions were set forth fully herein. In the case of any conflict between the
terms of any document incorporated herein by reference and the terms hereof, the
terms in this agreement shall control.
2.2 Preparation for Each Auction; Maintenance of Registry of Existing
Holders.
(a) As of the date hereof, the Company shall provide the Auction Agent
with a list of the Broker-Dealers and shall deliver to the Auction Agent for
execution by the Auction Agent a Broker-Dealer Agreement signed by each such
Broker-Dealer. Not later than five Business Days prior to any Auction Date for
which any change in such list of Broker-Dealers is to be effective, the Company
shall notify the Auction Agent in writing of such change and, if any such change
is the addition of a Broker-Dealer to such list, the Company shall cause to be
delivered to the Auction Agent for execution by the Auction Agent a
Broker-Dealer Agreement signed by such Broker-Dealer. The Auction Agent shall
have entered into a Broker-Dealer Agreement with each Broker-Dealer prior to the
participation of any such Broker-Dealer in any Auction.
(b) In the event that the Auction Date for any Auction shall be
changed after the Auction Agent shall have given the notice referred to in
paragraph (a) of the Settlement Procedures, the Auction Agent, by such means as
the Auction Agent reasonably deems practicable, shall give notice of such change
to the Broker-Dealers not later than the earlier of 9:15 a.m. on the new Auction
Date or 9:15 a.m. on the old Auction Date.
(c) The provisions contained in Section 2.04 of the Supplemental
Indenture concerning Special Rate Periods and the notification of a Special Rate
Period will be followed by the Company and, to the extent applicable, the
Auction Agent, and the provisions contained therein are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement
to the same extent as if such provisions were set forth fully herein.
(d) (i) On each Auction Date, the Auction Agent shall determine the
Maximum Rate. Not later than 9:30 a.m. on each Auction Date, the Auction Agent
shall notify the Company and the Broker-Dealers of the Reference Rate and the
Maximum Rate in effect on such Auction Date.
(ii) If the Reference Rate is the applicable "AA" Composite Commercial
Paper Rate and such rate is to be based on rates supplied by Commercial Paper
Dealers and one or more of the Commercial Paper Dealers shall not provide a
quotation for the determination of the applicable "AA" Composite Commercial
Paper Rate, the rate shall be determined on the basis of the quotations (or
quotation) furnished by the remaining Commercial Paper Dealer(s), if any, or, if
there are no such Commercial Paper Dealers, by a nationally recognized dealer in
commercial paper of such issuers then making such quotations selected by the
Company.
(e) (i) The Auction Agent shall maintain a registry of the Existing
Holders of the Tortoise Notes (the "Tortoise Note Register") for purposes of
Auctions and shall indicate thereon the identity of the Broker-Dealer that
submitted the most recent Order in any Auction, which resulted in such Existing
Holder continuing to hold or purchase such Tortoise Notes. The Auction Agent may
consider a Broker-Dealer which has submitted an Order as the Existing Holder for
the purposes of the Tortoise Note Register; provided, that the Auction Agent may
request the Broker-Dealer to provide a list of its customers if in its sole
discretion it determines to do so. The Auction Agent may conclusively rely upon
the information furnished to the Auction Agent by the Broker-Dealer and notices
from the Securities Depository regarding the results of redemptions or mandatory
tenders.
(ii) In the event of any partial redemption of Tortoise Notes, upon
notice by the Company to the Trustee of such partial redemption (delivered at
least one day prior to the date a notice of redemption is required to be mailed
to the Holders of Tortoise Notes to be redeemed), the Trustee promptly shall
request the Securities Depository to notify it of the identities of the Agent
Members (and the respective numbers of Tortoise Notes) from the accounts of
which Tortoise Notes have been called for redemption and the person or
department at such Agent Member to contact regarding such redemption. At least
two Business Days prior to the Auction preceding the date of redemption, the
Trustee shall request each Agent Member so identified to disclose to it (upon
selection by such Agent Member of the Existing Holders whose Tortoise Notes are
to be redeemed) the number of Tortoise Notes of each such Existing Holder, if
any, to be redeemed by the Company, provided that the Trustee has been furnished
with the name and telephone number of a person or department at such Agent
Member from which it is to request such information. Promptly upon its receipt
of such information, the Trustee shall provide such information to the Auction
Agent in writing. In the absence of receiving any such information with respect
to an Existing Holder, from such Existing Holder's Agent Member or otherwise,
the Auction Agent may continue to treat such Existing Holder as having ownership
of the number of Tortoise Notes shown in the Auction Agent's registry of
Existing Holders.
(iii) The Auction Agent shall register a transfer of the ownership of
Tortoise Notes from an Existing Holder to another Existing Holder, or to another
Person if permitted by the Company, only if (A) such transfer is made pursuant
to an Auction or (B) if such transfer is made other than pursuant to an Auction,
the Auction Agent has been notified of such transfer in writing, in a notice
substantially in the form of Exhibit C to the Broker-Dealer Agreement, by such
Existing Holder or by the Agent Member of such Existing Holder only to or
through a Broker-Dealer that has entered into a Broker-Dealer Agreement with the
Auction Agent and the Company or other persons as the Company permits. The
Auction Agent is not required to accept any notice of transfer delivered for an
Auction unless it is received by the Auction Agent by 3:00 p.m. on the Business
Day preceding the Auction. The Auction Agent shall rescind a transfer
made on the registry of the Existing Holders of any Tortoise Notes if the
Auction Agent has been notified in writing, in a notice substantially in the
form of Exhibit D to the Broker-Dealer Agreement, by the Agent Member or the
Broker-Dealer of any Person that (i) purchased any Tortoise Notes and the seller
failed to deliver such Tortoise Notes or (ii) sold any Tortoise Notes and the
purchaser failed to make payment to such Person upon delivery to the purchaser
of such Tortoise Notes.
(f) The Auction Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, request
that the Broker-Dealers, as set forth in Section 3.2(c) of the Broker-Dealer
Agreements, provide the Auction Agent with a list of their respective customers
that such Broker-Dealers believe are Beneficial Owners of Tortoise Notes. The
Auction Agent shall keep confidential any such information and shall not
disclose any such information so provided to any Person other than the relevant
Broker-Dealer and the Company, provided that the Auction Agent reserves the
right to disclose any such information if (a) it is ordered to do so by a court
of competent jurisdiction or a regulatory body, judicial or quasi-judicial
agency or authority having the authority to compel such disclosure, (b) it is
advised by its counsel in writing that its failure to do so would be unlawful,
or (c) it is advised by its counsel in writing that failure to do so could
expose the Auction Agent to loss liability, claim or damage for which it has not
received indemnity or security satisfactory to it.
2.3 Auction Schedule.
The Auction Agent shall conduct Auctions on the Business Day immediately
prior to the start of each Rate Period in accordance with the schedule set forth
below. Such schedule may be changed by the Auction Agent with the consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably. The Auction Agent
shall give notice of any such change to each Broker-Dealer. Such notice shall be
received prior to the first Auction Date on which any such change shall be
effective.
Time Event
By 9:30 a.m. The Auction Agent shall advise the Company and the
Broker-Dealers of the Reference Rate and the
Maximum Rate as set forth in Section 2.2(d)
hereof.
9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The Auction Agent shall assemble information
communicated to it by Broker-Dealers as provided
in Section 2 of Appendix A of the Supplemental
Indenture. Submission Deadline is 1:00 p.m.
Not earlier than 1:00 p.m. The Auction Agent shall make determinations
pursuant to Section 3 of Appendix A of the
Supplemental Indenture.
By approximately 3:00 p.m. The Auction Agent shall advise the
Company of the results of the Auction as provided
in Section 3(b) of Appendix A of the Supplemental
Indenture. Submitted Bid Orders and Submitted
Sell Orders will be accepted and rejected in whole
or in part and Tortoise Notes will be allocated as
provided in Section 4 of Appendix A of the
Supplemental Indenture.
The Auction Agent shall give notice of the Auction
results as set forth in Section 2.4 hereof.
The Auction Agent will follow the Bond Market Association's Market Practice
U.S. Holiday Recommendations for shortened trading days for the bond markets
(the "BMA Recommendation") unless the Auction Agent is instructed otherwise. In
the event of a BMA Recommendation on an Auction Date, the Submission Deadline
will be 11:30 a.m., instead of 1:00 p.m., and as a result the notice set forth
in Section 2.4 will occur earlier.
2.4 Notice of Auction Results.
The Auction Agent will advise each Broker-Dealer who submitted a Bid or
Sell Order in an Auction whether such Bid or Sell Order was accepted or rejected
in whole or in part and of the Applicable Rate for the next Rate Period for the
related Tortoise Notes by telephone or other electronic means acceptable to the
parties. The Auction Agent, unless instructed otherwise in writing by the
Company, is authorized to release the Winning Bid Rate after each auction for
public dissemination.
2.5 Broker-Dealers.
(a) On each Interest Payment Date, the Auction Agent shall, promptly
after its receipt of funds from the Company, pay to each Broker-Dealer, a
service charge in the amount equal to: (i) in the case of any Auction
immediately preceding a Rate Period of less than one year, the product of (A) a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the Rate Period
(calculated by counting the first day of such Rate Period but excluding the last
day thereof) and the denominator of which is 360, times (B) 1/4 of 1%, times (C)
$25,000 times (D) the sum of the aggregate number of Tortoise Notes placed by
such Broker-Dealer, or (ii) the amount mutually agreed upon by the Company and
the Broker-Dealers in the case of any Auction immediately preceding a Rate
Period of one year or longer. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, the
Tortoise Notes shall be placed by a Broker-Dealer if such notes were (1) the
subject of Hold Orders deemed to have been submitted to the Auction Agent by the
Broker-Dealer and were acquired by the Broker-Dealer for its own account or were
acquired by the Broker-Dealer for its customers who are Beneficial Owners or (2)
the subject of an order submitted by the Broker-Dealer that is (a) a Submitted
Bid of an Existing Holder that resulted in the Existing Holder continuing to
hold the notes as a result of the Auction or (b) a Submitted Bid of a Potential
Holder that resulted in the Potential Holder purchasing the notes as a result of
the Auction or (3) the subject of a valid Hold Order. For the avoidance of
doubt, only one Broker-
Dealer shall be considered to have placed a particular Tortoise Note at any
particular Auction for purposes of this Section 2.5(a).
(b) The Company shall not designate any Person to act as a
Broker-Dealer, or permit an Existing Holder or a Potential Beneficial Owner to
participate in Auctions through any Person other than a Broker-Dealer, without
the prior approval of the Auction Agent, which approval shall not be withheld
unreasonably. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may designate an
Affiliate of Xxxxxx Brothers Inc. to act as a Broker-Dealer.
(c) The Auction Agent shall terminate any Broker-Dealer Agreement as
set forth therein if so directed by the Company.
(d) Subject to Section 2.5(b) hereof, the Auction Agent from time to
time shall enter into such Broker-Dealer Agreements as the Company shall request
in writing.
(e) The Auction Agent shall maintain a list of Broker-Dealers.
2.6 Ownership of Tortoise Notes and Submission of Bids by the Company and
Its Affiliates.
Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company may submit an Order in
any Auction, except that an Affiliate of the Company that is a Broker-Dealer may
submit an Order. The Company shall notify the Auction Agent if the Company or,
to the best of the Company's knowledge, any Affiliate of the Company becomes a
Beneficial Owner of any Tortoise Notes. The restrictions in this Section 2.6
shall in no way limit the activities of the Auction Agent. The Auction Agent
shall have no duty or liability with respect to enforcement of this Section 2.6.
2.7 Access to and Maintenance of Auction Records.
The Auction Agent shall afford to the Company, its agents, independent
public accountants and counsel, at reasonable times during normal business
hours, to review and make extracts or copies of (at the Company's sole cost and
expense), access to all books, records, documents and other information
concerning the conduct and results of Auctions, provided that any such agent,
accountant or counsel shall furnish the Auction Agent with a letter from the
Company requesting that the Auction Agent afford such person access. The Auction
Agent shall maintain records relating to any Auction for a period of at least
six years after such Auction, and such records, in reasonable detail, shall
reflect accurately and fairly the actions taken by the Auction Agent hereunder.
The Company agrees to keep confidential any information regarding the customers
of any Broker-Dealer received from the Auction Agent in connection with this
Agreement or any Auction, and shall not disclose such information or permit the
disclosure of such information without the prior written consent of the
applicable Broker-Dealer to anyone except such agent, accountant or counsel
engaged to audit or review the results of Auctions as permitted by this Section
2.7. The Company reserves the right to disclose any such information if it is
ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction or a regulatory body,
judicial or quasi-judicial agency or authority having authority to compel such
disclosure, or if it is advised by its counsel that its failure to do so would
be unlawful. Any such agent, accountant or counsel, before having access to such
information, shall agree to keep such information confidential and not to
disclose such information or permit disclosure of such information without the
prior
written consent of the applicable Broker-Dealer, provided that such agent,
accountant or counsel may reserve the right to disclose any such information if
it is ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction or a regulatory
body, judicial or quasi-judicial agency or authority having authority to compel
such disclosure, or if it is advised by its counsel that its failure to do so
would be unlawful.
2.8 Information Concerning Rates.
If there is any change in the credit rating of Tortoise Notes by a rating
agency (or substitute or successor rating agencies) then rating the Tortoise
Notes that results in any change in the applicable percentage of the "AA"
Composite Commercial Paper Rate used to determine the Maximum Rate for Tortoise
Notes (the "Rate Multiple"), the Company shall notify the Auction Agent of such
change in the Rate Multiple by no later than the Business Day immediately
preceding such Auction Date. In determining the Maximum Rate on any Auction
Date, the Auction Agent shall be entitled to rely on the last Rate Multiple for
Tortoise Notes of which it has most recently received notice from the Company.
III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to the Auction Agent that:
(i) the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland, and has full power to
execute and deliver this Agreement and to authorize, create and issue the
Tortoise Notes;
(ii) the Company is registered with the Commission under the
Investment Company Act as a closed-end, nondiversified, management investment
company;
(iii) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
equitable principles;
(iv) the form of the certificate evidencing the Tortoise Notes
complies with all applicable state and federal laws;
(v) the Tortoise Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the
Company and, upon completion of the initial sale of the Tortoise Notes and
receipt of payment therefor, will be validly issued by the Company, fully paid
and nonassessable;
(vi) at the time of the offering of the Tortoise Notes, the Tortoise
Notes offered will be registered under the Securities Act and no further action
by or before any governmental body or authority of the United States or of any
state thereof is required in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or will be required in connection with the issuance of the Tortoise
Notes, except such action as required by applicable state securities laws;
(vii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance
and delivery of the Tortoise Notes do not and will not conflict with, violate or
result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a
default under, the Articles of Incorporation or by-laws of the Company, any
order or decree of any court or public authority having jurisdiction over the
Company or any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement or undertaking to which
the Company is a party or by which it is bound the effect of which conflict,
violation, breach or default would be material to the Company; and
(viii) no taxes are payable upon or in respect of the execution of
this Agreement or will be payable upon or in respect of the issuance of the
Tortoise Notes.
3.2 Representations and Warranties of the Auction Agent.
The Auction Agent represents and warrants to the Company that:
(i) the Auction Agent is duly organized and is validly existing as a
banking corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of New York and
has the corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; and
(ii) this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Auction Agent and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Auction Agent, enforceable against the Auction Agent in
accordance with its terms, subject only to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equitable principles.
IV. THE AUCTION AGENT.
4.1 Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) The Auction Agent is acting solely as non-fiduciary agent for the
Company hereunder, has only the duties expressly set forth herein, and owes no
duties, fiduciary or otherwise, to any Person by reason of this Agreement and no
implied duties, fiduciary or otherwise, shall be read into this Agreement
against the Auction Agent.
(b) The Auction Agent undertakes to perform such duties and only such
duties as are set forth specifically in this Agreement, and no implied covenants
or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Auction Agent.
(c) In the absence of bad faith or gross negligence on its part, the
Auction Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it, or for any error of judgment made by it in the performance of its duties
under this Agreement. The Auction Agent shall not be liable for any error of
judgment made in good faith unless the Auction Agent shall have been grossly
negligent in ascertaining (or failing to ascertain) the pertinent facts.
4.2 Rights of the Auction Agent.
(a) The Auction Agent may rely conclusively upon, and shall be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting in accordance with, any
communication authorized
by this Agreement and any proper written instruction, notice, request,
direction, consent, report, certificate, certificate or other instrument, paper
or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and appropriately
authorized. The Auction Agent shall not be liable for acting upon any telephone
communication authorized by this Agreement which the Auction Agent reasonably
believes in good faith, after reasonable inquiry, to have been given by the
Company or by a Broker-Dealer. The Auction Agent may record telephone
communications with the Company or with the Broker-Dealers or with both.
(b) The Auction Agent may consult with counsel of its choice and the
advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Auction Agent
hereunder in good faith and in reasonable reliance thereon.
(c) The Auction Agent shall not be required to advance, expend or risk
its own funds or otherwise incur or become exposed to financial liability in the
performance of its duties hereunder. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company
in writing, the Auction Agent (i) shall not be obligated to invest any money
received by it hereunder and (ii) shall be under no liability for interest on
any money received by it hereunder.
(d) The Auction Agent may perform its duties and exercise its rights
hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and shall not be
responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or
attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder.
(e) The Auction Agent shall not be responsible or liable for any
failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement
arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its
reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes;
fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots;
acts of terrorism; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer
(hardware or software) or communications services; accidents; labor disputes;
acts of civil or military authority or governmental actions; it being understood
that the Auction Agent shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with
accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as
practicable under the circumstances.
(f) The Auction Agent shall not be required to, and does not, make any
representations as to the validity, accuracy, value or genuineness of any
signatures or endorsements, other than its own and those of its authorized
officers.
(g) Any corporation into which the Auction Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Auction Agent shall be
a party, or any corporation succeeding to the dealing and trading business of
the Auction Agent shall be the successor of the Auction Agent hereunder, with
the consent of the Company but without the execution or filing of any paper with
any party hereto or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto,
except where any instrument of transfer or assignment may be required by law to
effect such succession, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
(h) All the rights, privileges, immunities and protections granted to
the Auction Agent herein are deemed granted to The Bank of New York Trust
Company, N.A., as Paying Agent, in any of the capacities it undertakes in
connection with this Agreement.
(i) Whenever in the administration of the provisions of this
Agreement, the Auction Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter
be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action to be taken
hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence or bad faith on
the part of the Auction Agent, be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by a certificate describing such action as requested by the Company
or the Broker-Dealer, signed by the Company or the Broker-Dealer, respectively,
and delivered to the Auction Agent and such certificate, in the absence of gross
negligence or bad faith on the part of the Auction Agent, shall be full warrant
to the Auction Agent for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions
of this Agreement upon the faith thereof. Upon receipt of any such certificate
signed by the Company or the Broker-Dealer, the Auction Agent shall promptly
provide a copy of said certificate to the Broker-Dealer or the Company,
respectively. The Auction Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation
into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, entitlement, order,
approval or other paper or document furnished by the Company or the
Broker-Dealer, except to the extent that such failure to investigate would be
deemed gross negligence.
4.3 Compensation, Expenses and Indemnification.
(a) The Company shall pay to the Auction Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it under this Agreement and
under the Broker-Dealer Agreements as shall be set forth in a separate writing
signed by the Company and the Auction Agent, subject to adjustments if the
Tortoise Notes no longer are held of record by the Securities Depository or its
nominee or if there shall be such other change as shall increase or decrease
materially the Auction Agent's obligations hereunder or under the Broker-Dealer
Agreements.
(b) The Company shall reimburse the Auction Agent upon its request for
all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the
Auction Agent in accordance with any provision of this Agreement and of the
Broker-Dealer Agreements (including the reasonable compensation, expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any expense, disbursement or
advance attributable to the Auction Agent's gross negligence or bad faith, upon
submission to the Company of reasonable documentation thereof. In no event shall
the Auction Agent be responsible or liable for special, indirect or
consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited
to, loss of profit), even if the Auction Agent has been advised of the
likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(c) The Company shall indemnify the Auction Agent and its officers,
directors, employees and agents for, and hold them harmless against, any loss,
liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Auction Agent arising out of or in connection with its agency under this
Agreement and under the Broker-Dealer Agreements, including the costs and
expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in
connection with their exercise or performance of any of their duties hereunder
and thereunder, except such as may result from its gross negligence or bad
faith.
4.4 Auction Agent's Disclaimer.
The Auction Agent makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of
the Agreement, the Broker-Dealer Agreements or the Tortoise Notes except to the
extent otherwise set forth in Section 3.2 and except that the Auction Agent
hereby represents that the Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Auction Agent and constitutes a legal and binding obligation of
the Auction Agent.
V. MISCELLANEOUS.
5.1 Term of Agreement.
(a) The term of this Agreement is unlimited unless it shall be
terminated as provided in this Section 5.1. The Company may terminate this
Agreement at any time by so notifying the Auction Agent, provided that, if any
Tortoise Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall have entered into an
agreement with a successor auction agent. The Auction Agent may terminate this
Agreement upon prior notice to the Company on the date specified in such notice,
which date shall be no earlier than 60 days after delivery of such notice. If
the Auction Agent terminates this Agreement while any Tortoise Notes remain
outstanding, the Company shall use its best efforts to enter into an agreement
with a successor auction agent containing substantially the same terms and
conditions as this Agreement.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.1(b), the
respective rights and duties of the Company and the Auction Agent under this
Agreement shall cease upon termination of this Agreement. The Company's
representations, warranties, covenants and obligations to the Auction Agent
under Section 3.1 hereof shall survive the termination hereof. The Auction
Agent's representations, warranties, covenants and obligations under Section 3.2
hereof shall survive the termination hereof. Upon termination of this Agreement,
the Auction Agent shall (i) resign as Auction Agent under the Broker-Dealer
Agreements, (ii) at the Company's written request, deliver promptly to the
Company or to another authorized party copies of all books and records
maintained by it in connection with its duties hereunder, and (iii) at the
written request of the Company, transfer promptly to the Company or to any
successor auction agent any funds deposited by the Company with the Auction
Agent pursuant to this Agreement which have not been distributed previously by
the Auction Agent in accordance with this Agreement.
5.2 Communications.
Except for (i) communications authorized to be made by telephone pursuant
to this Agreement or the Auction Procedures and (ii) communications in
connection with Auctions (other than those expressly required to be in writing),
all notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be
in writing (including telecopy or similar writing) and shall be given to such
party at its address or telecopier number set forth below:
If to the Company,
addressed to:
Tortoise North American Energy Corporation
00000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
If to the Auction Agent, addressed to:
The Bank of New York
Corporate Trust Department
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Dealing & Trading Group - Auction Desk
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
or such other address or telecopier number as such party hereafter may specify
for such purpose by notice to the other party. Each such notice, request or
communication shall be effective when delivered at the address specified herein.
Communications shall be given on behalf of the Company by a Company Officer and
on behalf of the Auction Agent by an Authorized Officer.
5.3 Entire Agreement.
This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating
to the subject matter hereof, and there are no other representations,
endorsements, promises, agreements or understandings, oral, written or implied,
between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, except for written
agreements relating to the compensation of the Auction Agent.
5.4 Benefits.
Nothing herein, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than
the Company, the Auction Agent and their respective successors and assigns, any
benefit of any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder.
5.5 Amendment; Waiver.
(a) This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified,
amended, rescinded, canceled or waived, in whole or in part, except by a written
instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party to be
charged.
(b) Failure of either party hereto to exercise any right or remedy
hereunder in the event of a breach hereof by the other party shall not
constitute a waiver of any such right or remedy with respect to any subsequent
breach.
5.6 Successors and Assigns.
This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by, the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of the
Company and the Auction Agent. This Agreement may not be assigned by either
party hereto absent the prior written consent of the other party, which consent
shall not be withheld unreasonably.
5.7 Severability.
If any clause, provision or section hereof shall be ruled invalid or
unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity or
unenforceability of such clause, provision or section shall not affect any of
the remaining clauses, provisions or sections hereof.
5.8 Execution in Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall
be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.
5.9 Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Waiver of Trial By Jury.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS THEREOF
RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAW, OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL
OBLIGATIONS LAW OF NEW YORK). THE PARTIES AGREE HERETO THAT ALL ACTIONS AND
PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF THIS AUCTION AGENCY AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF
MANHATTAN, CITY OF NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK.
EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY HAVE THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN THE COURTS LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, CITY OF
NEW YORK AND STATE OF NEW YORK WAS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT COURT AND AGREES
NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM THE SAME. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO ALSO IRREVOCABLY
WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM
ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
5.10 Limitation of Liability.
A copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company is on file with the
Secretary of State of the State of Maryland. This Agreement has been executed on
behalf of the Company by an officer of the Company in such capacity and not
individually and the obligations of the Company under this Agreement are not
binding upon such officer or the shareholders of the Company individually but
are binding only upon the assets and property of the Company.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and delivered by their proper and duly authorized officers as of
the date first above written.
TORTOISE NORTH AMERICAN ENERGY
CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Treasurer
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By:
--------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF BROKER-DEALER AGREEMENT
