WESTERN POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC and HSBC TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED TRUST DEED constituting £225,000,000 4.80436 per cent. Notes due 2037
Exhibit
4(k)
Dated
21 December 2006
|
WESTERN
POWER
DISTRIBUTION
(SOUTH WALES) PLC
and
HSBC
TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED
TRUST
DEED
constituting
£225,000,000
4.80436 per cent. Notes due 2037
This
Trust Deed
is made
on 21 December 2006 between:
(1)
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC (“WPD
South Wales”
or
the
“Issuer”)
a
company incorporated in England and Wales whose registered office is at
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx XX0 0XX and
(2)
HSBC
TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED
(the
“Trustee”,
which
expression, where the context so admits, includes any other trustee for the
time
being of this Trust Deed) a company incorporated under the laws of Jersey
whose
registered office is at X.X. Xxx 00, 0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx,
XX0
0XX.
Whereas:
(A) |
The Issuer has authorised the issue of £225,000,000 4.80436 per cent.
Notes due 2037 to be constituted by this Trust
Deed.
|
(B) |
The Trustee has agreed to act as trustee of this Trust Deed on the
following terms and conditions.
|
This
Deed witnesses and it is declared
as
follows:
1
|
Interpretation
|
1.1
|
Definitions:
Capitalised terms used, but not defined, herein shall bear the same
respective meanings given to such terms in the Conditions and, in
addition, the following expressions have the following
meanings:
|
“Auditors”
means
the auditors for the time being of the Issuer or, if they are unable or
unwilling to carry out any action requested of them under this Trust Deed,
such
other firm of accountants as may be nominated or approved in writing by the
Trustee for the purpose
“Authorised
Signatory”
means
any Director of the Issuer or any other person who is for the time being
authorised by the relevant Issuer to sign documents for the purposes of these
presents and who has been notified in writing to the Trustee as being so
authorised
“Clearing
System”
means
Clearstream, Luxembourg or Euroclear or both of them as applicable
“Clearstream,
Luxembourg”
means
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme
“Conditions”
means
the terms and conditions set out in Schedule 1 as from time to time modified
in
accordance with this Trust Deed and, with respect to any Notes represented
by
the Global Note, as modified by the provisions of the Global Note. Any reference
to a particularly numbered Condition shall be construed accordingly
“Couponholder”
means
the bearer of a Coupon
“Coupons”
means
the bearer coupons relating to the Notes or, as the context may require, a
specific number of them and includes any replacement Coupons issued pursuant
to
the Conditions
“EEA
Regulated Market”
means
a
market as defined by Article 1(13) of the Investment Services Directive
93/22/EEC
“Euroclear”
means
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.
“Event
of Default”
means
an event described in Condition 9 which, if so required by that Condition,
has
been certified by the Trustee to be, in its opinion, materially prejudicial
to
the interests of the Noteholders
“Excluded
Subsidiary”
has
the
meaning set out in Condition 9
“Extraordinary
Resolution”
has
the
meaning set out in Schedule 3
“FSMA”
means
the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000
“Global
Note”
means
the permanent global note which will represent the Notes, or some of them,
after
exchange of the Temporary Global Note, or a portion of it, substantially in
the
form set out in Part 2 of Schedule 2
“Group”
has
the
meaning set out in Condition 3.3
“Market”
means
the EEA Regulated Market of the London Stock Exchange
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
a
material adverse effect that a removal, qualification or amendment as provided
in Condition 6.4(d)(vi)(C) has on the financial condition of the Issuer or
any
Distribution Subsidiary, provided that the Trustee shall have no duty to enquire
or satisfy itself as to the existence of a Material Adverse Effect and shall
be
entitled to rely conclusively upon the certificate of two directors of the
Issuer regarding the same as provided in such Condition, and the Trustee shall
bear no liability of any nature whatsoever to the Issuer, the Noteholders or
any
other person as a result thereof
“Notes”
means
bearer notes substantially in the form set out in Schedule 1 comprising the
£225,000,000 4.80436 per cent. Notes due 2037 constituted by this Trust Deed
and
for the time being outstanding or, as the context may require, a specific number
of them and includes any replacement Notes issued pursuant to the Conditions
and
(except for the purposes of Clause 3.1) the Temporary Global Note and the Global
Note
“Noteholder”
means
the bearer of a Note
“outstanding”
means,
in relation to the Notes, all the Notes issued except (a) those which have
been
redeemed in accordance with the Conditions, (b) those in respect of which the
date for redemption has occurred and the redemption moneys (including all
interest accrued on such Notes to the date for such redemption and any interest
payable under the Conditions after such date) have been duly paid to the Trustee
or to the Principal Paying Agent as provided in Clause 2 and remain available
for payment against presentation and surrender of Notes and/or Coupons, as
the
case may be, (c) those which have become void, (d) those which have been
purchased and cancelled as provided in the Conditions, (e) those mutilated
or
defaced Notes which have been surrendered in exchange for replacement Notes,
(f)
(for the purpose only of determining how many Notes are outstanding and without
prejudice to their status for any other purpose) those Notes alleged to have
been lost, stolen or destroyed and in respect of which replacement Notes have
been issued, and (g) the Temporary Global Note to the extent that it shall
have
been exchanged for the Global Note pursuant to its provisions and the Global
Note to the extent that it shall have been exchanged for definitive Notes
pursuant to its provisions provided that for the purposes of (1) ascertaining
the right to attend and vote at any meeting of the Noteholders, (2) the
determination of how many Notes are outstanding for the purposes of Conditions
9, 10 and 14 and Schedule 3, (3) the exercise of any discretion, power or
authority which the Trustee is required, expressly or impliedly, to exercise
in
or by reference to the interests of the Noteholders and (4) the certification
(where relevant) by the Trustee as to whether a Potential Event of Default
is in
its opinion materially prejudicial to the interests of the Noteholders, those
Notes which are beneficially held by or on behalf of the Issuer or any of its
affiliates and not cancelled shall (unless no longer so held) be deemed not
to
remain outstanding
“Paying
Agency Agreement”
means
the agreement referred to as such in the Conditions, as altered from time to
time, and includes any other agreements approved in writing by the Trustee
appointing Successor Paying Agents or altering any such agreements
“Paying
Agents”
means
the banks (including the Principal Paying Agent) referred to as such in the
Conditions or any Successor Paying Agents in each case at their respective
specified offices
“Potential
Event of Default”
means
an event or circumstance which could with the giving of notice, lapse of time,
issue of a certificate and/or fulfilment of any other requirement provided
for
in Condition 9 become an Event of Default
“Principal
Paying Agent”
means
the bank named as such in the Conditions or any Successor Principal Paying
Agent
“Principal
Subsidiary”
has
the
meaning set out in Condition 9
“specified
office”
means,
in relation to a Paying Agent, the office identified with its name at the end
of
the Conditions or any other office approved by the Trustee and notified to
Noteholders pursuant to Clause 6.11
“Subsidiary”
has
the
meaning ascribed to it in the Conditions
“Successor”
means,
in relation to the Paying Agents, such other or further person as may from
time
to time be appointed by the Issuer as a Paying Agent with the written approval
of, and on terms approved in writing by, the Trustee and notice of whose
appointment is given to Noteholders pursuant to Clause 6.11
“Temporary
Global Note”
means
the temporary global note which will represent the Notes on issue substantially
in the form set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2
“this
Trust Deed”
means
this Trust Deed (as from time to time altered in accordance with this Trust
Deed) and any other document executed in accordance with this Trust Deed (as
from time to time so altered) and expressed to be supplemental to this Trust
Deed
“trust
corporation”
means
a
trust corporation (as defined in the Law of Property Act 1925) or a corporation
entitled to act as a trustee pursuant to applicable foreign legislation relating
to trustees
1.2
|
Construction
of Certain References:
References to:
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1.2.1
|
costs,
charges, remuneration or expenses include any value added, turnover
or
similar tax charged in respect
thereof;
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1.2.2
|
“pounds”
“sterling”
or “pounds
sterling”
or the signs “£”
or “GBP”
shall be construed as references to the lawful currency for the time
being
of the United Kingdom; and
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1.2.3
|
any
provision of any statute shall be deemed also to refer to any statutory
modification or re-enactment thereof or any statutory instrument,
order or
regulation made thereunder or under such
re-enactment;
|
1.2.4
|
Schedules,
Clauses and paragraphs shall be construed as references to, respectively,
the Schedules to and the Clauses and paragraphs of this Trust
Deed;
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1.2.5
|
any
action, remedy or method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement
of
rights of creditors shall be deemed to include, in respect of any
jurisdiction other than England, references to such action, remedy
or
method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement of rights of creditors
available or appropriate in such jurisdiction as shall most nearly
approximate thereto;
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1.2.6
|
principal
and/or premium and/or interest in respect of the Notes or to any
moneys
payable by the Issuer under this Trust Deed shall be deemed to include,
in
the case of principal and/or premium, a reference to any specific
redemption price (as specified in the Conditions) and, in any case,
a
reference to any additional amounts which may be payable under the
Conditions; and
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1.2.7
|
references
in this Trust Deed to “reasonable” or “reasonably” and similar expressions
relating to the Trustee and any exercise of power, opinion, determination
or other similar matter shall be construed as meaning reasonable
or
reasonably (as the case may be) having regard to, and taking into
account
the interests of, the Noteholders
only.
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1.3
|
Headings:
Headings shall be ignored in construing this Trust
Deed.
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1.4
|
Contracts:
References in this Trust Deed to any document are to such document
as
amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time and include any
document that amends, supplements or replaces
them.
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1.5
|
Schedules:
The Schedules are part of this Trust Deed and have effect
accordingly.
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1.6
|
Contracts
(Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000: A
person who is not a party to this Trust Deed has no right under the
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 to enforce any term
of this
Trust Deed except and to the extent that Clause 7.4 expressly provides
for
such Act to apply.
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2
|
Amount
of the Notes and Covenant to
Pay
|
2.1
|
Amount
of the Notes:
The aggregate nominal amount of the Notes is limited to
£225,000,000.
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2.2
|
Covenant
to pay:
The Issuer will on any date when any Notes become due to be redeemed
unconditionally pay to or to the order of the Trustee in pounds sterling
in same day funds the amount specified in the Conditions as being
payable
in respect of the Notes becoming due for redemption on that date
and will
(subject to the Conditions) until such payment (both before and after
judgment) unconditionally so pay to or to the order of the Trustee
interest on the outstanding nominal amount of the Notes outstanding
as set
out in the Conditions provided that (1) payment of any sum due in
respect
of the Notes made to the Principal Paying Agent as provided in the
Paying
Agency Agreement shall, to that extent, satisfy such obligation except
to
the extent that there is failure in its subsequent payment to the
relevant
Noteholders or Couponholders under the Conditions and (2) a payment
made
after the due date or pursuant to Condition 9 will be deemed to have
been
made when the full amount due has been received by the Principal
Paying
Agent or the Trustee and notice to that effect has been given to
the
Noteholders (if required under Clause 6.9), except to the extent
that
there is failure in its subsequent payment to the relevant Noteholders
or
Couponholders under the Conditions. The Trustee will hold the benefit
of
this covenant on trust for the Noteholders and
Couponholders.
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2.3
|
Discharge:
Subject to Clause 2.4, any payment to be made in respect of the Notes
or
the Coupons by the Issuer or the Trustee may be made as provided
in the
Conditions and any payment so made will (subject to Clause 2.4) to
that
extent be a good discharge to the Issuer or the Trustee, as the case
may
be.
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2.4
|
Payment
after a Default:
At
any time after an Event of Default or a Potential Event of Default
has
occurred the Trustee may:
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2.4.1
|
by
notice in writing to the Issuer and the Paying Agents, require the
Paying
Agents, until notified by the Trustee to the contrary, so far as
permitted
by applicable law:
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(i) |
to
act as Paying Agents of the Trustee under this Trust Deed and the
Notes on
the terms of the Paying Agency Agreement (with consequential amendments
as
necessary and except that the Trustee’s liability for the indemnification,
remuneration and expenses of the Paying Agents will be limited to
the
amounts for the time being held by the Trustee in respect of the
Notes on
the terms of this Trust Deed) and thereafter to hold all Notes and
Coupons
and all moneys, documents and records held by them in respect of
Notes and
Coupons to the order of the Trustee
or
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(ii) |
to
deliver all Notes and Coupons and all moneys, documents and records
held
by them in respect of the Notes and Coupons to the Trustee or as
the
Trustee directs in such notice and
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2.4.2
|
by
notice in writing to the Issuer and until such notice is withdrawn
require
it to make all subsequent payments in respect of the Notes and Coupons
to
or to the order of the Trustee and not to the Principal Paying
Agent.
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3
|
Form
of the Notes
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3.1
|
The
Global Notes:
The Notes will initially be represented by the Temporary Global Note
in
the nominal amount of £225,000,000. Interests in the Temporary Global Note
will be exchangeable for the Global Note as set out in the Temporary
Global Note. The Global Note will be exchangeable for definitive
Notes as
set out in the Global Note.
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3.2
|
The
Definitive Notes:
The definitive Notes, the Coupons and Talons will be security printed
in
accordance with applicable legal and stock exchange requirements
substantially in the forms set out in Schedule 1. The Notes will
be
endorsed with the Conditions.
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3.3
|
Signature:
The Notes and the Coupons will be signed manually or in facsimile
by an
Authorised Signatory of the Issuer and the Notes will be authenticated
by
or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent. The Issuer may use the
facsimile signature of a person who at the date of this Trust Deed
is such
an Authorised Signatory even if at the time of issue of any Notes
or
Coupons he no longer holds that office. Notes and Coupons so executed
and
authenticated will be binding and valid obligations of the
Issuer.
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4
|
Stamp
Duties and Taxes
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4.1
|
Stamp
Duties:
The Issuer will pay any stamp, issue, documentary or other taxes
and
duties, including interest and penalties, payable in Belgium, Luxembourg
and the United Kingdom in respect of the creation, issue and offering
of
the Notes and the Coupons and the execution or delivery of this Trust
Deed. The Issuer will also indemnify the Trustee, the Noteholders
and the
Couponholders from and against all stamp, issue, documentary or other
taxes paid by any of them in any jurisdiction in connection with
any
action taken by or on behalf of the Trustee or, as the case may be,
(and
where permitted under these presents so to do) the Noteholders or
the
Couponholders to enforce the Issuer’s obligations under this Trust Deed,
the Notes or the Coupons.
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4.2
|
Change
of Taxing Jurisdiction:
If
the Issuer becomes subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction of
a
territory or a taxing authority of or in that territory with power
to tax
other than or in addition to the United Kingdom or any such authority
of
or in such territory then the Issuer will (unless the Trustee otherwise
agrees) give the Trustee an undertaking satisfactory to the Trustee
in
terms corresponding to the terms of Condition 7 with the substitution
for,
or (as the case may require) the addition to, the references in that
Condition to the United Kingdom of references to that other or additional
territory or authority to whose taxing jurisdiction the Issuer has
become
so subject. In such event this Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons
will
be read accordingly.
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5
|
Application
of Moneys Received by the
Trustee
|
5.1
|
Declaration
of Trust:
All moneys received by the Trustee in respect of the Notes or amounts
payable under this Trust Deed will, despite any appropriation of
all or
part of them by the Issuer, be held by the Trustee on trust to apply
them
(subject to Clause 5.2):
|
5.1.1
|
first,
in payment of all costs, charges, expenses and liabilities properly
incurred by the Trustee (including remuneration payable to it) in
carrying
out its functions under this Trust Deed
|
5.1.2
|
secondly,
in payment of any amounts owing in respect of the Notes or Coupons
pari passu
and rateably and
|
5.1.3
|
thirdly,
in payment of any balance to the Issuer for
itself.
|
If
the
Trustee holds any moneys in respect of Notes or Coupons which have become void,
the Trustee will hold them on these trusts.
5.2
|
Accumulation:
If
the amount of the moneys at any time available for payment in respect
of
the Notes under Clause 5.1 is less than 10 per cent. of the nominal
amount
of the Notes then outstanding, the Trustee may, at its discretion,
invest
such moneys. The Trustee may retain such investments and accumulate
the
resulting income until the investments and the accumulations, together
with any other funds for the time being under its control and available
for such payment, amount to at least 10 per cent. of the nominal
amount of
the Notes then outstanding and then such investments, accumulations
and
funds (after deduction of, or provision for, any applicable taxes)
will be
applied as specified in Clause 5.1.
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5.3
|
Investment:
Moneys held by the Trustee may be invested in its name or under its
control in any investments or other assets anywhere whether or not
they
produce income or deposited in its name or under its control at such
bank
or other financial institution in such currency as the Trustee may,
in its
absolute discretion, think fit. If that bank or institution is the
Trustee
or a subsidiary, holding or associated company of the Trustee, it
need
only account for an amount of interest equal to the standard amount
of
interest payable by it on such a deposit to an independent customer.
The
Trustee may at any time vary or transpose any such investments or
assets
or convert any moneys so deposited into any other currency, and will
not
be responsible for any resulting loss, whether by depreciation in
value,
change in exchange rates or
otherwise.
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6
|
Covenants
|
So
long
as any Note is outstanding, the Issuer will:
6.1
|
Books
of Account:
keep, and procure that each of its Subsidiaries keeps, proper books
of
account and, at any time after an Event of Default or Potential Event
of
Default has occurred or if the Trustee reasonably believes that such
an
event has occurred, so far as permitted by applicable law, allow,
and
procure that each such Subsidiary will allow, the Trustee and anyone
appointed by it to whom the Issuer and/or the relevant Subsidiary
has no
reasonable objection, access to its books of account at all reasonable
times during normal business hours
|
6.2
|
Notice
of Events of Default:
notify the Trustee in writing immediately on becoming aware of the
occurrence of any Event of Default or Potential Event of
Default
|
6.3
|
Information:
so
far as permitted by applicable law, give the Trustee such information,
opinions and certificates as it reasonably requires to perform its
functions
|
6.4
|
Financial
Statements etc.:
send to the Trustee at the time of their issue and in the case of
annual
financial statements in any event within 180 days of the end of each
financial year one copy in English of every balance sheet, profit
and loss
account, report or other notice, statement or circular issued, or
which
legally or contractually should be issued, to the members or creditors
(or
any class of them) of the Issuer or any holding company thereof generally
in their capacity as such
|
6.5
|
Certificate
of Authorised Signatories:
send to the Trustee, within 14 days of its annual audited financial
statements being made available to its members, and also within 14
days of
any request by the Trustee a certificate of the Issuer signed by
any two
of its Authorised Signatories that, having made all reasonable enquiries,
to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of the Issuer
as at a
date (the “Certification
Date”)
not more than five days before the date of the certificate no Event
of
Default, Potential Event of Default, Restructuring Event or Potential
Restructuring Event (as defined below) or other breach of this Trust
Deed
had occurred since the Certification Date of the last such certificate
or
(if none) the date of this Trust Deed or, if such an event had occurred,
giving details of it
|
6.6
|
Certificate
of two directors of the Issuer:
send to the Trustee, within 28 days of a request by the Trustee,
a
certificate signed by two directors of the Issuer as to the amount
of the
Capital and Reserves of the Issuer as at the date specified in such
request
|
6.7
|
Notices
to Noteholders:
send to the Trustee not less than three days prior to being sent
to the
Noteholders the form of each notice to be given to Noteholders and,
once
given, two copies of each such notice, such notice to be in a form
approved by the Trustee (such approval, unless so expressed, not
to
constitute approval for the purposes of Section 21 of the FSMA of
any such
notice which is a communication within the meaning of Section 21
of the
FSMA)
|
6.8
|
Further
Acts:
so
far as permitted by applicable law, do such further things as may
be
necessary in the opinion of the Trustee to give effect to this Trust
Deed
|
6.9
|
Notice
of late payment:
forthwith upon request by the Trustee give notice to the Noteholders
of
any unconditional payment to the Principal Paying Agent or the Trustee
of
any sum due in respect of the Notes or Coupons made after the due
date for
such payment
|
6.10
|
Listing:
use all reasonable endeavours to maintain the listing of the Notes
on the
official list of the Financial Services Authority in its capacity
as
competent authority under the FSMA and the trading of such Notes
on the
Market but, if it is unable to do so, having used such endeavours,
or if
the maintenance of such listing or trading is agreed by the Trustee
to be
unduly onerous and the Trustee is satisfied that the interests of
the
Noteholders would not be thereby materially prejudiced, instead use
all
reasonable endeavours to obtain and maintain a listing of the Notes
on
another stock exchange and for admission to trading on another market
in
each case approved in writing by the
Trustee
|
6.11
|
Change
in Agents:
give at least 14 days’ prior notice to the Noteholders of any future
appointment, resignation or removal of a Paying Agent or of any change
by
a Paying Agent of its specified office and not make any such appointment
or removal without the Trustee’s written
approval
|
6.12
|
Notes
held by Issuer etc.:
send to the Trustee as soon as practicable after being so requested
by the
Trustee a certificate of the Issuer signed by any two of its Authorised
Signatories stating the number of Notes held at the date of such
certificate by or on behalf of the Issuer or its
affiliates
|
6.13
|
Subsidiaries:
give to the Trustee at the same time as sending the certificate referred
to in Clause 6.5 or within 28 days of a request by the Trustee, a
certificate signed by two directors of the Issuer listing those
Subsidiaries of the Issuer which as at the last day of the last financial
year of the Issuer or as at the date specified in such request were
Relevant Subsidiaries, Principal Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries
and confirming that there are no Subsidiaries of the type referred
to in
Clauses 6.14.1 or 6.14.2
|
6.14
|
Restriction
on Principal Subsidiaries: not
permit to exist and will not create any Subsidiary (not being an
Excluded
Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary whose only indebtedness for borrowed
money is Non-recourse
Indebtedness):
|
6.14.1
|
whose
(a) profits on ordinary activities before tax or (b) gross assets,
in each
case attributable to the Issuer, represent 20 per cent. or more
of the
consolidated profits on ordinary activities before tax of the Group
or, as
the case may be, consolidated gross assets of the Group, in each
case as
calculated by reference to the then latest audited financial statements
of
such Subsidiary (consolidated in the case of a company which itself
has
Subsidiaries) and the then latest audited consolidated financial
statements of the Group provided that in the case of a Subsidiary
acquired
after the end of the financial period to which the then latest
audited
consolidated financial statements of the Group relate, the reference
to
the then latest audited consolidated financial statements of the
Group for
the purposes of the calculation above shall, until consolidated
financial
statements for the financial period in which the acquisition is
made have
been prepared and audited as aforesaid, be deemed to be a reference
to
such first-mentioned financial statements as if such Subsidiary
had been
shown in such financial statements by reference to its then latest
relevant audited financial statements, adjusted as deemed appropriate
by
the Auditors; or
|
6.14.2
|
to
which is transferred all or substantially all of the business,
undertaking
and assets of a Subsidiary of the Issuer which immediately prior
to such
transfer is a Subsidiary, with such profits and/or gross assets
as are
described in 6.14.1 above,
|
unless
such Subsidiary carries on a “distribution business” as defined in Condition 1
of the Standard Conditions of the Utilities Xxx 0000 Determination of Standard
Licence Conditions for Electricity Distribution Licences (as amended from
time
to time); and
6.15
|
forthwith
give notice in writing to the Trustee
of:
|
6.15.1
|
the
occurrence of any Restructuring Event or of any event (a “Potential
Restructuring Event”)
which, depending on any certification as provided in the definition
of
“Restructuring
Event”,
may be a Restructuring Event;
|
6.15.2
|
(if
at the time any Restructuring Event occurs there are Rated Securities)
the
occurrence of any Rating Downgrade in respect of that Restructuring
Event
within the Restructuring Period;
and
|
6.15.3
|
(if
at the time any Restructuring Event occurs there are no Rated Securities)
the obtaining of a rating in accordance with the definition of
“Negative
Rating Event”
or the occurrence of a Negative Rating
Event
|
6.16
|
Covenant
of Compliance:
The Issuer shall comply with and perform and observe all the provisions
of
the Trust Deed and the Notes which are expressed to be binding on
it and
shall take such steps as are reasonable to enforce all its rights
under
the Trust Deed and the Notes. The Conditions shall be binding on
the
Issuer and the Noteholders. The Trustee shall be entitled to enforce
the
obligations of the Issuer under the Notes as if the same were set
out and
contained in this Trust Deed, which shall be read and construed as
one
document with the Notes.
|
7
|
Remuneration
and Indemnification of the
Trustee
|
7.1
|
Normal
Remuneration:
So
long as any Note is outstanding the Issuer will pay the Trustee as
remuneration for its services as Trustee such sum on such dates in
each
case as they may from time to time agree. Such remuneration will
accrue
from day to day from the date of this Trust Deed. However, if any
payment
to a Noteholder or Couponholder of moneys due in respect of any Note
or
Coupon is improperly withheld or refused, such remuneration will
again
accrue as from the date of such withholding or refusal until payment
to
such Noteholder or Couponholder is duly
made.
|
7.2
|
Extra
Remuneration:
If
an Event of Default or Potential Event of Default shall have occurred
or
if the Trustee finds it expedient or necessary or is requested by
the
Issuer to undertake duties which they both agree to be of an exceptional
nature or otherwise outside the scope of the Trustee’s normal duties under
this Trust Deed, the Issuer will pay such additional remuneration
as they
may agree or, failing agreement as to any of the matters in this
sub-Clause (or as to such sums referred to in Clause 7.1), as determined
by an investment bank (acting as an expert) selected by the Trustee
and
approved by the Issuer or, failing such approval, nominated by the
President for the time being of The Law Society of England and Wales.
The
expenses involved in such nomination and such investment bank’s fee will
be borne by the Issuer. The determination of such investment bank
will be
conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Trustee, the Noteholders
and the
Couponholders save in the case of a manifest
error.
|
7.3
|
Expenses:
The Issuer will also on demand by the Trustee pay or discharge all
costs,
charges, liabilities and expenses properly incurred by the Trustee
in the
preparation and execution of this Trust Deed and the performance
of its
functions under this Trust Deed including, but not limited to, legal
and
travelling expenses and any stamp, documentary or other taxes or
duties
paid by the Trustee in connection with any legal proceedings reasonably
brought or contemplated by the Trustee against the Issuer to enforce
any
provision of this Trust Deed, the Notes or the Coupons. Such costs,
charges, liabilities and expenses
will:
|
7.3.1
|
in
the case of payments made by the Trustee before such demand carry
interest
from the date of the demand at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum
over the
base rate of HSBC Bank plc on the date on which the Trustee made
such
payments and
|
7.3.2
|
in
other cases carry interest at such rate from 30 days after the date
of the
demand or (where the demand specifies that payment is to be made
on an
earlier date) from such earlier
date.
|
7.4
|
Indemnity:
The Issuer will on demand by the Trustee indemnify it in respect
of
Amounts or Claims
paid or incurred by it in acting as trustee under this Trust Deed
(including (1) any Agent/Delegate Liabilities and (2) in respect
of
disputing or defending any Amounts or Claims made against the Trustee
or
any Agent/Delegate Liabilities). The Issuer will on demand by such
agent
or delegate indemnify it against such Agent/Delegate Liabilities.
“Amounts
or Claims”
are losses, liabilities, costs, claims, actions, demands or expenses
and
“Agent/Delegate
Liabilities”
are Amounts or Claims which the Trustee is or would be obliged to
pay or
reimburse to any of its agents or delegates appointed pursuant to
this
Trust Deed. The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx 0000 applies
to
this Clause 7.4.
|
7.5
|
Continuing
Effect:
Clauses 7.3 and 7.4 will continue in full force and effect as regards
the
Trustee even if it no longer is
Trustee.
|
8
|
Provisions
Supplemental to the Trustee Xxx 0000 and the Trustee Xxx
0000
|
By
way of
supplement to the Trustee Xxx 0000 it is expressly declared as
follows:
8.1
|
Advice:
The Trustee may act on the opinion or advice of, or information obtained
from, any expert and will not be responsible to anyone for any loss
occasioned by so acting whether such advice is obtained or addressed
to
the Issuer, the Trustee or any other person. Any such opinion, advice
or
information may be sent or obtained by letter, telex or fax and the
Trustee will not be liable to anyone for acting in good faith on
any
opinion, advice or information purporting to be conveyed by such
means
even if it contains some error or is not authentic and notwithstanding
any
limitation on liability contained therein, monetary or
otherwise.
|
8.2
|
Trustee
to Assume Performance: The
Trustee need not notify anyone of the execution of this Trust Deed
nor
shall it be bound to take any steps to ascertain whether any Event
of
Default, Potential Event of Default, Restructuring Event, Potential
Restructuring Event or Negative Rating Event has happened and, until
it
shall have actual knowledge or express notice to the contrary, the
Trustee
shall be entitled to assume that no Event of Default, Potential Event
of
Default, Restructuring Event, Potential Restructuring Event or Negative
Rating Event has happened and that the Issuer is observing and performing
all its obligations under this Trust Deed, the Notes and the
Coupons.
|
8.3
|
Resolutions
of Noteholders:
The Trustee will not be responsible for having acted in good faith
on a
resolution purporting to have been passed at a meeting of Noteholders
in
respect of which minutes have been made and signed even if it is
later
found that there was a defect in the constitution of the meeting
or the
passing of the resolution or that the resolution was not valid or
binding
on the Noteholders or
Couponholders.
|
8.4
|
Certificate
signed by Authorised Signatories:
If
the Trustee, in the exercise of its functions, requires to be satisfied
or
to have information as to any fact or the expediency of any act,
it may
call for and accept as sufficient evidence of that fact or the expediency
of that act a certificate signed by any two Authorised Signatories
of the
Issuer as to that fact or to the effect that, in their opinion, that
act
is expedient and the Trustee need not call for further evidence and
will
not be responsible for any loss occasioned by acting on such a
certificate. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on any certificate
of
two Authorised Signatories of the Issuer where the Issuer procures
the
delivery of the same pursuant to its obligations to do so under the
Conditions or this Trust Deed and such certificate shall be binding
on the
Issuer, the Trustee and the
Noteholders.
|
8.5
|
Report
of the Auditors:
The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on any certificate or report
of the
Auditors whether or not such report is addressed to the Trustee and
notwithstanding that such report and/or any engagement letter or
other
document entered into by the Trustee contains a monetary or other
limit on
the liability of the Auditors. Such report shall, in the absence
of
manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties, and the
Trustee
shall not be responsible for any loss occasioned by acting on any
such
report.
|
8.6
|
Deposit
of Documents:
The Trustee may appoint as custodian, on any terms, any bank or entity
whose business includes the safe custody of documents or any lawyer
or
firm of lawyers believed by it to be of good repute and may deposit
this
Trust Deed and any other documents with such custodian and pay all
sums
due in respect thereof. The Trustee is not obliged to appoint a custodian
of securities payable to bearer.
|
8.7
|
Discretion:
The Trustee will have absolute and uncontrolled discretion as to
the
exercise of its powers, trusts and discretions and will not be responsible
for any loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand, expense or
inconvenience which may result from their exercise or
non-exercise.
|
8.8
|
Agents:
Whenever it considers it expedient in the interests of the Noteholders,
the Trustee may, in the conduct of its trust business, instead of
acting
personally, employ and pay an agent selected by it, whether or not
a
lawyer or other professional person, to transact or conduct, or concur
in
transacting or conducting, any business and to do or concur in doing
all
acts required to be done by the Trustee (including the receipt and
payment
of money).
|
8.9
|
Delegation:
Whenever it considers it expedient in the interests of the Noteholders,
the Trustee may delegate to any person on any terms (including power
to
sub-delegate) all or any of its functions.
|
8.10
|
Nominees:
In
relation to any asset held by it under this Trust Deed, the Trustee
may
appoint any person to act as its nominee on any
terms.
|
8.11
|
Forged
Notes:
The Trustee will not be liable to the Issuer or any Noteholder or
Couponholder by reason of having accepted as valid or not having
rejected
any Note or Coupon purporting to be such and later found to be forged
or
not authentic.
|
8.12
|
Confidentiality:
Unless ordered to do so by a court of competent jurisdiction the
Trustee
shall not be required to disclose to any Noteholder or Couponholder
any
confidential financial or other information made available to the
Trustee
by the Issuer and no Noteholder or Couponholder shall be entitled
to take
any action to obtain such information from the
Trustee.
|
8.13
|
Determinations
Conclusive:
As
between itself and the Noteholders and Couponholders the Trustee
may in
its absolute discretion determine all questions and doubts arising
in
relation to any of the provisions of this Trust Deed including (without
limitation) determination of whether or not a default in performance
by
the Issuer of any obligation under the Notes or Trust Deed is materially
prejudicial to the interests of Noteholders and Couponholders. Such
determinations, whether made upon such a question actually raised
or
implied in the acts or proceedings of the Trustee, will be conclusive
and
shall bind the Trustee, the Noteholders and the
Couponholders.
|
8.14
|
Currency
Conversion:
Where it is necessary or desirable to convert any sum from one currency
to
another, it will (unless otherwise provided hereby or required by
law) be
converted at such rate or rates, in accordance with such method and
as at
such date as may reasonably be specified by the Trustee but having
regard
to current rates of exchange, if available. Any rate, method and
date so
specified will be binding on the Issuer, the Noteholders and the
Couponholders.
|
8.15
|
Events
of Default:
The Trustee may determine whether or not an Event of Default or Potential
Event of Default is in its opinion capable of remedy and/or materially
prejudicial to the interests of the Noteholders. Any such determination
will be conclusive and binding on the Issuer, the Noteholders and
the
Couponholders.
|
8.16
|
Payment
for and Delivery of Notes:
The Trustee will not be responsible for the receipt or application
by the
Issuer of the proceeds of the issue of the Notes, any exchange of
Notes or
the delivery of Notes to the persons entitled to
them.
|
8.17
|
Notes
held by the Issuer etc.:
In
the absence of knowledge or express notice to the contrary, the Trustee
may assume without enquiry (other than requesting a certificate under
Clause 6.12) that no Notes are for the time being held by or on behalf
of
the Issuer or its affiliates.
|
8.18
|
Responsibility
for agents etc.: If
the Trustee exercises reasonable care in selecting any custodian,
agent,
delegate or nominee appointed under this clause (an “Appointee”),
it will not have any obligation to supervise the Appointee or be
responsible for any loss, liability, cost, claim, action, demand
or
expense incurred by reason of the Appointee’s misconduct or default or the
misconduct or default of any substitute appointed by the Appointee.
|
8.19
|
Responsibility
for Rating:
The Trustee shall (a) have no responsibility for the maintenance
of any
rating of the Notes by any Rating Agency and (b) shall not be liable
to
Noteholders if any exercise by it of its trusts, powers and discretions
results in a change to the rating assigned by any Rating Agency to
any
class of Notes.
|
8.20
|
No
Liability for error of judgement:
The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgement made in
good
faith by any officer and/or employee of the Trustee in the administration
of its corporate matters.
|
8.21
|
Clearing
Systems:
The Trustee may call for any certificate or other document to be
issued by
Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or any other clearing system through
which the Notes are cleared as to the principal amount of Notes
represented by a Global Note standing to the account of any person
and may
have regard to any information provided to it by Euroclear, Clearstream,
Luxembourg or such other clearing system as to the identity (either
individually or by category) of any of their accountholders with
entitlements to such Global Note, and the Trustee may consider such
interests as if such accountholders were the holders of any such
Global
Note. Any such certificate, document or information may be accepted
and
fully relied upon by the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be liable
to any
person by reason of having accepted as valid or accurate or not having
rejected any certificate, document or information to such effect
purporting to be issued by Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg or
such
other clearing system and subsequently found to be forged, not authentic
or inaccurate.
|
8.22
|
Legal
Opinions: The
Trustee shall not be responsible to any person for failing to request,
require or receive any legal opinion relating to the Notes or for
checking
or commenting upon the content of any such legal opinion and shall
not be
responsible for any loss, damage, cost, charge, claim, demand, expense,
judgment, action, proceeding or other liability whatsoever incurred
thereby.
|
8.23
|
No
Action:
|
(i)
|
The
Trustee shall not be bound to take any action in connection with
this
Trust Deed or any obligations arising pursuant thereto, including,
without
prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, forming any opinion
or
employing any financial adviser, where it is not satisfied that the
Issuer
will be able to indemnify it against all loss, damage, cost, charge,
claim, demand, expense, judgment, action, proceeding or other liability
whatsoever incurred thereby which may be incurred in connection with
such
action and may demand prior to taking any such action that there
be paid
to it in advance such sums as it reasonably considers (without prejudice
to any further demand) shall be sufficient so to indemnify it and
on such
demand being made the Issuer shall be obliged to make payment of
all such
sums in full.
|
(ii)
|
No
provision of this Trust Deed shall require the Trustee to do anything
which may (i) be illegal or contrary to applicable law or regulation;
or
(ii) cause it to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur
any loss,
damage, cost, charge, claim, demand, expense, judgment, action, proceeding
or other liability whatsoever incurred thereby in the performance
of any
of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights, powers or
discretions, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that
repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or
loss,
damage, cost, charge, claim, demand, expense, judgment, action, proceeding
or other liability whatsoever is not assured to
it.
|
8.24
|
Professional
and other charges:
Any trustee of the trust presents being a lawyer, accountant, broker
or
other person engaged in any profession or business shall be entitled
to
charge and be paid all usual and proper professional and other charges
for
business transacted and acts done by him or his firm in connection
with
the trusts of this Trust Deed or the Paying Agency Agreement and
also his
reasonable charges in addition to disbursements for all other work
and
business done and all time spent by him or his firm in connection
with
matters arising in connection with this Trust Deed including matters
which
might or should have been attended to in person by a trustee not
being a
banker, accountant or other professional
person.
|
8.25
|
Holder
Absolute Owner:
The Issuer, any Paying Agent and the Trustee may (to the fullest
extent
permitted by applicable laws) deem and treat the bearer of any Note
or
Coupon as the absolute owner for all purposes (whether or not the
Note or
Coupon shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership
or
writing on the Note or Coupon or any notice of previous loss or theft
of
the Note or Coupon or of any trust or interest therein) and shall
not be
required to obtain any proof thereof or as to the identity of such
bearer.
|
8.26
|
Enforcement:
The Trustee may at any time, at its discretion and without notice,
take
such proceedings against the Issuer as it may think fit to enforce
the
provisions of the Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons, but it shall
not
be bound to take any such proceedings or any other action in relation
to
the Trust Deed, the Notes or the Coupons unless (a) it has been so
directed by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Noteholders or so
requested
in writing by the holders of at least one-quarter in outstanding
nominal
amount of the Notes then outstanding and (b) it has been indemnified
and/or secured to its satisfaction. No Noteholder or Couponholder
shall be
entitled to proceed directly against the Issuer unless the Trustee,
having
become bound so to proceed, fails so to do within a reasonable period
and
the failure shall be continuing.
|
9
|
Trustee
Liable for Negligence
|
Section
1
of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to any function of the Trustee, provided
that if the Trustee fails to show the degree of care and diligence required
of
it as trustee, nothing in this Trust Deed shall relieve or indemnify it from
or
against any liability which would otherwise attach to it in respect of any
negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which it may be
guilty.
10
|
Waiver
and Proof of Default
|
10.1
|
Waiver:
The Trustee may, without the consent of the Noteholders or Couponholders
and without prejudice to its rights in respect of any subsequent
breach,
from time to time and at any time, if in its opinion the interests
of the
Noteholders will not be materially prejudiced thereby, waive or authorise,
on such terms as seem expedient to it, any breach or proposed breach
by
the Issuer of this Trust Deed or the Conditions or determine that
an Event
of Default, Potential Event of Default, Restructuring Event or Potential
Restructuring Event will not be treated as such provided that the
Trustee
will not do so in contravention of an express direction given by
an
Extraordinary Resolution or a request made pursuant to Condition
9. No
such direction or request will affect a previous waiver, authorisation
or
determination. Any such waiver, authorisation or determination will
be
binding on the Noteholders and the Couponholders and, if the Trustee
so
requires, will be notified to the Noteholders as soon as
practicable.
|
10.2
|
Proof
of Default:
Proof that the Issuer has failed to pay a sum due to the holder of
any one
Note or Coupon will (unless the contrary be proved) be sufficient
evidence
that it has made the same default as regards all other Notes or Coupons
which are then payable.
|
11
|
Trustee
not Precluded from Entering into
Contracts
|
The
Trustee and any other person, whether or not acting for itself, may acquire,
hold or dispose of any Note, Coupon or other security (or any interest therein)
of the Issuer or any other person, may enter into or be interested in any
contract or transaction with any such person and may act on, or as depositary
or
agent for, any committee or body of holders of any securities of any such person
in each case with the same rights as it would have had if the Trustee were
not
acting as Trustee and need not account for any profit.
12
|
Modification
and Substitution
|
12.1
|
Modification:
The Trustee may agree without the consent of the Noteholders or
Couponholders to any modification to this Trust Deed which is, in
its
opinion, of a formal, minor or technical nature or to correct a manifest
error. The Trustee may also so agree to any modification to this
Trust
Deed which is in its opinion not materially prejudicial to the interests
of the Noteholders, but such power does not extend to any such
modification as is mentioned in the proviso to paragraph 2 of Schedule
3.
|
12.2
|
Substitution:
|
12.2.1
|
The
Trustee may, without the consent of the Noteholders or Couponholders,
agree to the substitution of the Issuer’s successor in business or any
Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) (the
“Substituted
Obligor”)
in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute under this
sub-Clause) as the principal debtor under this Trust Deed, the
Notes and
the Coupons provided that:
|
(i) |
a
deed is executed or undertaking given by the Substituted Obligor
to the
Trustee, in form and manner satisfactory to the Trustee, agreeing
to be
bound by this Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons (with consequential
amendments as the Trustee may deem appropriate) as if the Substituted
Obligor had been named in this Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons
as
the principal debtor in place of the Issuer
|
(ii) |
if
the Substituted Obligor is subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction
of
a territory or any authority of or in that territory with power to
tax
(the “Substituted
Territory”)
other than the territory to the taxing jurisdiction of which (or
to any
such authority of or in which) the Issuer is subject generally (the
“Issuer’s
Territory”),
the Substituted Obligor will (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees)
give to
the Trustee an undertaking satisfactory to the Trustee in terms
corresponding to Condition 7 with the substitution for the references
in
that Condition to the Issuer’s Territory of references to the Substituted
Territory whereupon the Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons will
be read
accordingly
|
(iii) |
if
any two Authorised Signatories of the Substituted Obligor certify
that it
will be solvent immediately after such substitution, the Trustee
need not
have regard to the Substituted Obligor’s financial condition, profits or
prospects or compare them with those of the Issuer
|
(iv) |
the
Trustee is satisfied that the interests of the Noteholders will not
be
materially prejudiced by the
substitution
|
(v) |
the
Issuer and the Substituted Obligor comply with such other requirements
as
the Trustee may direct in the interests of the Noteholders
and
|
(vi) |
(unless
the Issuer’s successor in business is the Substituted Obligor as the
principal debtor under this Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons)
the
obligations of the Substituted Obligor as the principal debtor under
this
Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons are guaranteed by the Issuer
(with
consequential amendments as necessary) to the Trustee’s
satisfaction.
|
12.2.2
|
Release
of Substituted Issuer:
An
agreement by the Trustee pursuant to Clause 12.2 will, if so expressed,
release the Issuer (or a previous substitute) from any or all of
its
obligations under this Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons. Notice
of
the substitution will be given to the Noteholders within 14 days
of the
execution of such documents and compliance with such requirements.
|
12.2.3
|
Completion
of Substitution:
On
completion of the formalities set out in Clause 12.2, the Substituted
Obligor will be deemed to be named in this Trust Deed, the Notes
and the
Coupons as the principal debtor in place of the Issuer (or of any
previous
substitute) and this Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons will
be deemed
to be amended as necessary to give effect to the substitution.
|
13
|
Appointment,
Retirement and Removal of the
Trustee
|
13.1
|
Appointment:
Subject as provided in clause 13.2 below, the Issuer has the power
of
appointing new trustees but no-one may be so appointed unless previously
approved by an Extraordinary Resolution. A trust corporation will
at all
times be a Trustee and may be the sole Trustee. Any appointment of
a new
Trustee will be notified by the Issuer to the Noteholders as soon
as
practicable.
|
13.2
|
Retirement
and Removal:
Any Trustee may retire at any time on giving at least three months’
written notice to the Issuer without giving any reason or being
responsible for any costs occasioned by such retirement and the
Noteholders may by Extraordinary Resolution remove any Trustee provided
that the retirement or removal of a sole trust corporation will not
be
effective until a trust corporation is appointed as successor Trustee.
If
a sole trust corporation gives notice of retirement or an Extraordinary
Resolution is passed for its removal, the Issuer will use all reasonable
endeavours to procure that another trust corporation be appointed
as
Trustee and if it does not procure the appointment of a new trustee
within
30 days of the expiry of the Trustee’s notice referred to in this Clause,
the Trustee shall be entitled to procure forthwith a new
trustee.
|
13.3
|
Co-Trustees:
The Trustee may, despite Clause 13.1, by written notice to the Issuer
appoint anyone to act as an additional Trustee jointly with the
Trustee:
|
13.3.1
|
if the Trustee considers the appointment to be in the interests of
the
Noteholders and/or the
Couponholders
|
13.3.2
|
to conform with a legal requirement, restriction or condition in
a
jurisdiction in which a particular act
is to be performed or
|
13.3.3
|
to obtain a judgment or to enforce a judgment or any provision of
this
Trust Deed in any jurisdiction.
|
Subject
to the provisions of this Trust Deed the Trustee may confer on any person so
appointed such functions as it thinks fit. The Trustee may by written notice
to
the Issuer and that person remove that person. At the Trustee’s request, the
Issuer will forthwith do all things as may be required to perfect such
appointment or removal and it irrevocably appoints the Trustee as its attorney
in its name and on its behalf to do so.
13.4
|
Competence
of a Majority of Trustees:
If
there are more than two Trustees the majority of them will be competent
to
perform the Trustee’s functions provided the majority includes a trust
corporation.
|
13.5
|
Merger:
Any
corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with
which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any
merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be
a party,
or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate
trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee
hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified
and
eligible under this Clause, without the execution or filing of any
paper
or any further act on the part of the parties
hereto.
|
14
|
Couponholders
|
No
notices need be given to Couponholders. They will be deemed to have notice
of
the contents of any notice given to Noteholders. Even if it has express notice
to the contrary, in exercising any of its functions by reference to the
interests of the Noteholders, the Trustee will assume that the holder of each
Note is the holder of all Coupons relating to it.
15
|
Currency
Indemnity
|
15.1
|
Currency
of Account and Payment:
Pounds sterling (the “Contractual
Currency”)
is the sole currency of account and payment for all sums payable
by the
Issuer under or in connection with this Trust Deed, the Notes and
the
Coupons, including damages.
|
15.2
|
Extent
of discharge:
An
amount received or recovered in a currency other than the Contractual
Currency (whether as a result of, or of the enforcement of, a judgment
or
order of a court of any jurisdiction, in the insolvency, winding-up
or
dissolution of the Issuer or otherwise), by the Trustee or any Noteholder
or Couponholder in respect of any sum expressed to be due to it from
the
Issuer will only discharge the Issuer to the extent of the Contractual
Currency amount which the recipient is able to purchase with the
amount so
received or recovered in that other currency on the date of that
receipt
or recovery (or, if it is not practicable to make that purchase on
that
date, on the first date on which it is practicable to do
so).
|
15.3
|
Indemnity:
If
that Contractual Currency amount is less than the Contractual Currency
amount expressed to be due to the recipient under this Trust Deed,
the
Notes or the Coupons, the Issuer will indemnify it against any loss
sustained by it as a result. In any event, the Issuer will indemnify
the
recipient against the cost of making any such
purchase.
|
15.4
|
Indemnity
separate:
The indemnities in this Clause 15 and in Clause 7.4 constitute separate
and independent obligations from the other obligations in this Trust
Deed,
will give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, will
apply
irrespective of any indulgence granted by the Trustee and/or any
Noteholder or Couponholder and will continue in full force and effect
despite any judgment, order, claim or proof for a liquidated amount
in
respect of any sum due under this Trust Deed, the Notes and/or the
Coupons
or any other judgment or order.
|
16
|
Communications
|
Any
communication shall be by letter or fax:
in
the
case of the Issuer, to it at:
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
XX0 0XX
Telephone
no.:
|
x00(0) 000 000 0000 | |
Fax
no.:
|
x00(0) 000 000 0000 | |
Attention:
|
The Treasurer |
and
in
the case of the Trustee, to it at:
X.X.
Xxx
00
0
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xx.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
XX0 0XX
Telephone
no.:
|
x00
0000 000 000
|
Fax
no.:
|
x00
0000 000 000
|
Attention:
|
Manager,
Corporate Services
|
Communications
will take effect, in the case of delivery, when delivered or, in the case of
fax, when despatched. Communications not by letter shall be confirmed by letter
but failure to send or receive that letter shall not invalidate the original
communication.
17
|
Further
Issues
|
17.1
|
Supplemental
Trust Deed:
If
the Issuer issues further securities as provided in the Conditions,
the
Issuer shall, before their issue, execute and deliver to the Trustee
a
deed supplemental to this Trust Deed containing such provisions
(corresponding to any of the provisions of this Trust Deed) as the
Trustee
may require.
|
17.2
|
Meetings
of Noteholders:
If
the Trustee so directs, Schedule 3 shall apply equally to Noteholders
and
to holders of any securities issued pursuant to the Conditions as
if
references in it to “Notes” and “Noteholders” were also to such securities
and their holders respectively.
|
18
|
Governing
Law and Submission to
Jurisdiction
|
18.1
|
Governing
Law:
This Trust Deed shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with
English law.
|
18.2
|
Jurisdiction:
The courts of England are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes
which may arise out of or in connection with this Agreement and
accordingly any legal action or proceedings arising out of or in
connection with this Agreement (“Proceedings”)
may be brought in such courts. The Trustee irrevocably submits to
the
jurisdiction of such courts and waives any objection to Proceedings
in
such courts whether on the ground of venue or on the ground that
the
Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum. These submissions
are for the benefit of the Issuer and shall not limit the right of
any of
it to take Proceedings in any other court of competent jurisdiction
nor
shall the taking of Proceedings in any one or more jurisdictions
preclude
the taking of Proceedings in any other jurisdiction (whether concurrently
or not).
|
18.3
|
Service
of Process:
The Trustee irrevocably appoints HSBC Bank plc of 0 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX as its authorised agent for service of process in England.
If for
any reason such agent shall cease to be such agent for the service
of
process, the Trustee shall forthwith appoint a new agent for service
of
process in England and deliver to the Issuer a copy of the new agent’s
acceptance of that appointment within 30 days. Nothing shall affect
the
right to serve process in any other manner permitted by
law.
|
19
|
Counterparts
|
This
Trust Deed may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts each
of
which will be deemed an original.
Schedule
1
Form
of Definitive Note
On
the
front:
Denomination
|
ISIN
|
Series
|
Certif.
No.
|
£50,000
|
XS0280014282
|
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
(Incorporated
with limited liability in England and Wales)
£225,000,000
4.80436
per cent. Notes due 2037
This
Note
forms part of a series designated as specified in the title (the “Notes”)
of
Western Power Distribution (South Wales) plc (the “Issuer”)
constituted by the Trust Deed referred to on the reverse hereof. The Notes
are
subject to, and have the benefit of, that Trust Deed and the terms and
conditions (the “Conditions”)
set
out on the reverse hereof.
This
is
to certify that the bearer of this Note is entitled on 21 December 2037, or
on
such earlier date as the Note may be redeemed or repaid to such sum as is
determined in accordance with the Conditions to be payable on such redemption
or
repayment together with interest on the outstanding nominal amount of such
Note
from 21 December 2006 at the rate of 4.80436 per cent. per annum payable
annually in arrear on 21 December in each year, subject to and in accordance
with the Conditions.
This
Note
shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until authenticated
by
or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent.
In
witness whereof the Issuer has caused this Note to be signed in facsimile on
its
behalf.
Dated
as
of [·]
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
By:
[Director]
This
Note
is authenticated by or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent.
By:
Authorised
Signatory
ANY
UNITED STATES PERSON WHO HOLDS THIS OBLIGATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS
UNDER THE UNITED STATES INCOME TAX LAWS, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED
IN
SECTIONS 165(j) AND 1287(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
On
the
back:
Terms
and Conditions
The
£225,000,000 4.$0436 per cent. Notes due 2037 (the "Notes", which expression
shall in these Conditions, unless the context otherwise requires, include any
further notes issued pursuant to Condition 16 and forming a single series with
the Notes) of Western Power Distribution (South Wales) plc (the "Issuer") are
constituted by a Trust Deed (the "Trust Deed's dated 21 December 2006 (the
"Issue Date') made between the Issuer arid HSBC Trustee (C.L) Limited (the
"Trustee", which expression shall include its successor(s)) as trustee for
the
holders of the Notes (the "Noteholders") and the holders of the interest coupons
appertaining to the Notes (the "Couponholders" and the "Coupons" respectively,
which expressions shall, unless the context otherwise requires, include the
talons for further interest coupons (the "Talons") and the holders of the
Talons).
The
statements in these Conditions include summaries of, and are subject to, the
detailed provisions of and definitions in the Trust Deed. Copies of the Trust
Deed and the Agency Agreement dated 21 December 2006 (the "Agency Agreement")
made between the Issuer, the initial Paying Agents and the Trustee are available
for inspection during normal business hours by the Noteholders and the
Couponholders at the principal office for the time being of the Trustee, being
at the date of issue of the Notes at 0, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xx. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx
XX0
0XX and at the specified office of each of the Paying Agents. The Noteholders
and the Couponholders are entitled to the benefit of are bound by, and are
deemed to have notice of, all the provisions of tire Trust Deed and tire Agency
Agreement applicable to them.
1. FORM,
DENOMINATION AND TITLE
1.1 Form
and Denomination
The
Notes
are in form, serially numbered, in the denomination of £50,000 with
Coupons
and
one
Talon attached on issue.
1.2 Title
Title
to
the Notes and to the Coupons will pass by delivery.
1.3
|
Holder
Absolute Owner
|
The
Issuer, any Paying Agent and the Trustee may (to the fullest extent permitted
by
applicable laws) deem and treat the bearer of any Note or Coupon as the absolute
owner for all purposes (whether or not the Note or Coupon shall be overdue
and
notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing on the Note or Coupon or
any
notice of previous loss or theft of the Note or Coupon or of any trust or
interest therein) and shall not be required to obtain any proof thereof or
as to
the identity of such bearer.
2. |
STATUS
|
The
Notes
and the Coupons are direct, unconditional, unsubordinated and (subject to the
provisions of Condition 3) unsecured obligations of the Issuer and (subject
as
provided above) rank pari
passu,
among
themselves and (save for certain obligations required to be preferred by law)
equally with all other outstanding unsecured obligations (other than
subordinated obligations, if any) of the Issuer from time to time
outstanding.
3.
NEGATIVE PLEDGE
3.1 Negative
Pledge
So
long
as any Note remains outstanding (as defined in the Trust Deed) the Issuer will,
and will procure that each of its Distribution Subsidiaries (as defined below)
will, ensure that no Relevant Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Issuer
or
any Distribution Subsidiary or of any other person and no guarantee by the
Issuer or any Distribution Subsidiary of any Relevant Indebtedness of any person
will be scented by a mortgage, charge, hen, pledge or other security interest
(each a "Security Interest") upon, or with respect to, any of the present or
future business, undertaking assets or revenues (including any uncalled capital)
of the Issuer or any Distribution Subsidiary unless the Issuer, before or at
the
same time as the creation of the Security Interest, take any and all action
necessary to ensure that:
(a)
|
all
amounts payable by the Issuer under the Notes, the Coupons and the
Trust
Iced are secured equally and rateably with the Relevant Indebtedness
or
guarantee, as the case may be, by the same Security Interest, in.
each
case to the satisfaction of the Trustee; or
|
(b)
|
such
outer Security Interest or guarantee or other arrangement (whether
or not
including the giving of a Security Interest) is provided in respect
of all
amounts payable by the Issuer under the Notes, the Coupons and the
Trust
Deed either (i) as the Trustee shall in its absolute discretion deem
not
materially less beneficial to the interests of the Noteholders or
(ii) as
shall be approved by an Extraordinary Resolution (as defined in the
Trust
Deed) of the Noteholders,
|
save
that
the above restriction shall not apply to any Security Interest (1) provided
by
or in respect of a company becoming a Distribution Subsidiary after the issue
date of the Notes and where such Security Interest existed at the time that
company becomes a Distribution Subsidiary (provided that such Security Interest
was not created in contemplation of that company becoming a Distribution
Subsidiary and the principal amount secured at the time of that company becoming
a Distribution Subsidiary is not subsequently ink) or (2) created or outstanding
in respect of any Non-recourse Indebtedness (as defined in Condition 9) or
any
leasing or hire purchase agreement of the Issuer or any Distribution Subsidiary
provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount secured by all such
Security Interests created or outstanding under this exception (2) shall not
at
any time exceed the greater of £75,000,000 or 10 per cent. of the Regulatory
Asset Base (as defined below) at such time (or the equivalent thereof in any
other currency or currencies).
3.2 Restriction
on distribution of dividends
So
long
as any Note or Coupon remains outstanding, the Issuer shall not at any time
declare or make a distribution (as defined in Section 209 of the Income and
Corporation Taxes Act 1988) or grant a loan or any other credit facility to
any
of its shareholders unless (1) immediately following the occurrence of any
such
event, the Net Debt (as defined below) at such time would not exceed 85 per
cent. of the Regulatory Asset Base relating to the year in which the relevant
distribution or grant was first declared or made; and (2) written certification
thereof, signed by two directors of the Issuer, has been provided to the Trustee
on or prior to such distribution or grant. Such certification may be relied
upon
by the Trustee without further enquiry or evidence and, if relied upon by the
Trustee, shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding
on
all parries whether or not addressed to each such party.
3.3 Definitions
For
the
purposes of these Conditions:
"Capital
and Reserves" means the aggregate of:
(a)
|
the amount paid up or credited as paid up on the share capital of the Issuer and |
(b)
|
the
total of the capital, revaluation and revenue reserves of the Group
(as
defined below), including any share premium account, capital redemption
reserve and credit balance on the profit and loss account, but excluding
sums set aside for taxation and amounts attributable to outside
shareholders in Subsidiary Undertakings (as defined below) and deducting
any debit balance on the profit and loss account,
|
all
as
shown in the theft latest audited consolidated balance sheet and profit and
loss
account of the Group prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention
(as modified by the revaluation of certain fixed assets) for the purposes of
the
Companies Xxx 0000, but adjusted as may be necessary in rest of any variation
in
the paid up share capital or share premium account of the Issuer since the
date
of that balance sheet and further adjusted as may be necessary to reflect any
change since the date of that balance sheet in the Subsidiary Undertakings
comprising the Group and/or as the Auditors (as defined in the Trust Deed)
may
consider appropriate.
A
certificate by two directors of the Issuer as to the amount of the Capital
and
Reserves at any given time may be relied upon by the Trustee without further
enquiry or evidence and, if relied upon by the Trustee, shall, in the absence
of
manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties whether or not
addressed to each such party;
"consolidated"
means, in relation to the financial statements and accounts of the Issuer and/or
the Group, those statements and accounts as consolidated under International
Financial Reporting Standards, provided that if such consolidated accounts
are
not prepared, it shall mean the nonconsolidated financial statements and
accounts of the Issuer prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United Kingdom;
"Distribution
Licence" means an electricity distribution licence granted under section 6(I)(c)
of the Electricity Xxx 0000, as amended from time to time;
"Distribution
Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Issuer which holds a Distribution
Licence from time to time;
"Group"
means the Issuer and, if and to the extent it has any, its Subsidiary
Undertakings and "member of the Group" shall be construed
accordingly;
"Net
Debt", at any time, means the aggregate amount of all indebtedness for borrowed
money (as defined in Condition 9) of the Issuer at such time less the aggregate
of'.
(a)
|
amounts
credited to current accounts or deposits and certificates of deposit
(with
a term not exceeding three months) at, or issued by, any bank, building
society or other financial institution;
|
(b)
|
cash in band; and |
(c)
|
the lower of book and market value (calculated, where relevant, by reference to their bid price) of gilts issued by the United Kingdom Government, in each case beneficially owned by the Issuer and in each case so that no amount shall be included or excluded more than once; |
"Regulatory
Asset Base", in respect of any year, means the regulatory asset base of the
Issuer most recently published in respect of such year by the Office of Gas
and
Electricity Markets ("OFGEM") or any successor of OFGEM;
"Relevant
Indebtedness" means (i) any present or future indebtedness (whether being
principal, premium, interest or other amounts) in the form of or represented
by
bonds, notes, debentures, debenture stock, loan stock or other securities,
whether issued for cash or in whole or in part for a consideration other than
cash, and which, with the agreement of the person issuing the same, are or
are
capable of being quoted, listed or ordinarily dealt in on any stock exchange
or
recognised over-the-counter or other securities market; or (ii) monies borrowed
or raised from, err any acceptance credit opened by, a bank, building society
or
other financial institution; or (iii) any leasing or hire purchase agreement
which would be treated as a finance lease in the accounts of the relevant
person;
"Subsidiary"
means a subsidiary within the meaning of section 736 of the Companies Xxx
0000;
"Subsidiary
Undertaking" shall have the meaning given to it by section 258 of the Companies
Xxx 0000 (but, in relation to the Issuer, shall exclude any undertaking (as
defined in the Companies Act 1985) whose accounts are not included in the then
latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Issuer, or (in the case
of
an undertaking which has first become a subsidiary undertaking of a member
of
the Group since the date as at which any such audited accounts were prepared)
would not have beers so included or consolidated if it had become so on or
before that date); and any
reference to an obligation being "guaranteed" shall include a refe to an
indemnity being given in respect of that obligation.
4. INTEREST
4.1 Interest
Rate and Interest Payment Dates
The
Notes
bear interest on their outstanding principal amount from and including 21
December 2006 at the rate of 4.80436 per cent. per annum, payable annually
in
arrear on 21 December in each year (each an "Interest Payment Date") until
21
December 2037.
4.2 Interest
Accrual
Each
Note
will cease to bear interest from and including its due date for redemption
unless, upon due presentation, payment of the principal in respect of the Note
is improperly withheld or refused or unless default is otherwise made in respect
of payment, in which event interest shall continue to accrue as provided in
the
Trust Deed.
4.3 Calculation
of Broken Interest
When
interest is required to be calculated in respect of a period of less than a
full
year, it shall be calculated on the basis of (a) the actual number of days
in
the period from and including the date from which interest begins to accrue
(the
"Accrual Date") to but excluding the date on which it falls due divided by
(b)
the actual number of days from and including the Accrual Date to but excluding
the next following Interest Payment Date.
5. PAYMENTS
AND EXCHANGES OF TALONS
5.1 Payments
in respect of Notes
Payments
of principal and interest in respect of each Note will be trade against
presentation and surrender (or, in the case of part payment only, endorsement)
of the Note, except that payments of interest due on an Interest Payment Date
will be made against presentation and surrender (or, in the case of part payment
only, endorsement) of the relevant Coupon, in each case at the specified office
outside the United States of any of the Paying Agents.
5.2 Method
of Payment
Payments
will be made by credit or transfer to a pounds sterling account maintained
by
the payee with or, at the option of the payee, by a pounds sterling cheque
drawn
on, a bank in London.
5.3 Missing
Unmatured Coupons
Each
Note
should be presented for payment together with all relative unmatured Coupons
(which expression shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include Coupons falling
to
be issued on exchange of matured Talons). Upon the date on which any Note
becomes due and repayable, all unmatured Coupons appertaining to the Note
(whether or not attached) shall become void and no payment shall be made in
respect of such Coupons.
5.4 Payments
subject to Applicable Laws
Payments
in respect of principal and interest on the Notes are subject in all cases
to
any fiscal or other laws and regulations applicable in the place of payment,
but
without prejudice to the provisions of Condition 7.
5.5 Payment
only on a Presentation Date
A
holder
shall be entitled to present a Note or Coupon for payment only on a Presentation
Date and shall not, except as provided in Condition 4, be entitled to any
further interest or other payment if a Presentation Date is after the due
date.
"Presentation
Date" means a day which (subject to Condition 8):
(a) is
or
falls after the relevant due date;
(b) is
a
Business Day in the place of the specified office of the Paying Agent at which
the
Note or Coupon is presented for payment; and
(c) in
the
case of payment by credit or transfer to a pounds sterling account in London
as
referred to above), is a Business Day in London.
In
this
Condition, "Business Day" means, in relation to any place, a day on which
commercial banks and foreign exchange markets settle payments and are open
for
general business (including dealing in foreign exchange and foreign currency
deposits) in that place.
5.6 Exchange
of Talons
On
and
after the Interest Payment Date on which the final Coupon comprised in any
Coupon sheet man=, the Talon comprised in the Coupon sheet may be surrendered
at
the specified office of any Paying Agent in exchange for a further Coupon sheet
(including any appropriate further Talon), subject to the provisions of
Condition $. Each Talon shall, for the purposes of these Conditions, he deemed
to mature on the Interest Payment Date on which the final Coupon comprised
in
the relative Coupon sheet matures.
5.7 Initial
Paying Agents
The
names
of the initial Paying Agents and their initial specified offices
are set
out
at the end of these Conditions. The Issuer reserves the right, subject to the
prior written approval of the Trustee, at any time to vary or terminate the
appointment of any Paying Agent and to appoint additional or other Paying Agents
provided that:
(a)
|
there will at all times be a Principal Paying Agent; |
(b)
|
there
will at all times be at least one Paying Agent (which may be the
Principal
Paying Agent) having its specified office is a European city which
so long
as the Notes are admitted to official listing on the London Stock
Exchange
plc shall be London or such other place as the UK Listing Authority
tray
approve; and
|
(c)
|
there
will at all times be a Paying Agent in a Member State of the European
Union that is not obliged to withhold or deduct tax pursuant to European
Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any law implementing or complying
with, or
introduced in order to conform to, such
Directive.
|
Notice
of
any termination or appointment and of any changes in specified offices will
be
given to the Noteholders promptly by the Issuer in accordance with Condition
12.
6. REDEMPTION
AND PURCHASE
6.1 Redemption
at Maturity
Unless
previously redeemed or purchased and cancelled as provided below, the Issuer
will redeem the Notes at their principal amount on 21 December
2037.
6.2 Redemption
at the option of the Issuer on 21 December 2026
The
Issuer may at its option, having given not less than 30 nor more than 90 days'
notice to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 12 (which shall be
irrevocable), redeem all, but not same only, of the Notes on 21 December 2026
at
the price which shall be the higher of the following:
(A) the
principal amount thereof, and
(B) |
that
price (the "Redemption Price"), expressed as a percentage rounded
to three
decimal places (0.0005 being rounded down), at which the Gross Redemption
Yield (as defined below) on the Notes, if they were to be purchased
at
such price on the third dealing day prior to the publication of the
notice
of redemption, would be equal to the Gross Redemption Yield on such
dealing day of the Reference Stock (as defined below) on the basis
of the
middle market price of the Reference Stock prevailing at or about
3.00
p.m, (London time) on such dealing day, as determined by the Trustee
(or
such other person(s) as the Trustee may approve), together, in each
case,
with interest (if any) accrued to (but excluding) 21 December
2026.
|
Any
reference in these Terms and Conditions to principal shall be deemed to include
any sum payable as the Redemption Price save in respect of such references
in
Conditions 6.3 and 6.4.
In
this
Condition:
"Calculation
Agent" shall mean an independent investment bank of international repute,
appointed by the Issuer with the prior written approval of the Trustee in order
to perform the function of calculating the Gross Redemption Yield;
"Reference
Stock" means 4'k per cent. Treasury Stock due 2036 or of such other United
Kingdom Government Stock as the Trustee, with the advice of three leading
brokers obtained by the Issuer operating in the gilt edged market and/or gilt
edged market makers, shall determine to be appropriate; and
The
"Gross Redemption Yield" on the Notes and the Reference Stock will be expressed
as a percentage and will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on the basis
set
out by the United Kingdom Debt Management Office in the paper "Formulae for
Calculating Gilt Prices from Yields" page 4, Section One: Price/Yield Formulae
"Conventional Gilts"; "Double-dated and Undated Gilts with Assumed (or Actual)
Redemption on a QuasiCoupon Date" (published on 8 June 1998 and updated on
15
January 2002 and as Rather ups or amended from time to time) on a semi-annual
compounding basis (converted on an annualised yield and rounded up (if
necessary) to four decimal places) or on such other basis as the Trustee tray
approve.
At
any
time when under these Conditions it is necessary to have, or the Trustee
requests, the advice of brokers and/or markket makers operating in the gilt
edged market, the Issuer shall select and appoint them with the prior written
approval of the Trustee and at the expense of the Issuer.
At
any
time when under these Conditions it is necessary to have a Calculation Agent
to
perform any functions under these Conditions, the Issuer will appoint such
Calculation Agent on or before any such time.
Notices
of redemption will specify the date fixed for redemption and the applicable
Redemption Price. Upon the expiry of any notice of redemption, the Issuer shall
be bound m redeem the Notes at the applicable Redemption Price.
6.3 Redemption
for Taxation Reasons
If
the
Issuer satisfies the Trustee immediately before the giving of the notice
referred to below that:
(a) as
a
result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations of a Relevant
Jurisdiction (as defined in Condition 7), or any change in the application
or
official interpretation of the laws or regulations of a Relevant Jurisdiction,
which change or amendment becomes effective after 19 December 2006, on the
neat
Interest Payment Date the Issuer would be required to pay additional amounts
as
provided or referred to in Condition 7; and
(b) the
requirement cannot be avoided by the Issuer taking reasonable measures available
to it,
the
Issuer may at its option, having given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 12 (which notice shall
be
irrevocable), redeem all the Notes, but not some only, at any time at their
principal amount together with interest accrued to but excluding the date of
redemption, provided that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier
than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which the Issuer would be required
to
pay such additional amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due.
Prior to the publication of any notice of redemption pursuant to this paragraph
the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by two directors
of
the Issuer stating that the requirement referred to in (a) above will apply
on
the next Interest Payment Date and cannot be avoided by the Issuer taking
reasonable measures available to it, and the Trustee shall be entitled to accept
the certificate as sufficient evidence of the satisfaction of the conditions
precedent set out above, in which event it shall be conclusive and binding
on
the Noteholders and the Couponholders.
6.4
|
Redemption
at the option of Noteholders on a Restructuring
Event
|
(a)
(i) If,
at
any time while any of the Notes remains outstanding, a Restructuring Event
(as
defined below) occurs and prior to the commencement of or during the
Restructuring Period (as defined below):
(A) an
independent financial adviser (as described below) shall have certified in
writing to the Trustee that such Restructuring Event will not be or is not,
in
its opinion, materially prejudicial to the interests of the Noteholdes;
or
(B) if
there
are Rated Securities (as defined below), each Rating Agency (as defined below)
that at such time has assigned a current rating to the Rated Securities confirms
in writing to the Trustee that it will not be withdrawing or reducing the then
current rating assigned to the Rated Securities by it from an investment grade
rating (BBB-Baa3, or their respective equivalents for the time being, or better)
to a non-investment grade rating (BB+Bal, or their respective equivalents for
the time being, or worse) or, if tire Rating Agency shall have already rated
the
Rated Securities below investment grade (as described above), the rating will
not be lowered by one full rating category or more, in each case as a result,
in
whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised in or arising as a
result of the applicable Restructuring Event,
the
following provisions of this Condition 6.4 shall cease to have any further
effect in relation to such Restructuring Event.
(ii)
|
If,
at any time while any of the Notes remains outstanding, a Restructuring
Event occurs and (subject to Condition
6.4(a)(i)):
|
(A) within
the Restructuring Period, either.
(x) if
at the
time such Restructuring Event occurs there are Rated Securities, a Rating
Downgrade (as defined below) in xxxx of such Restructuring Event also occurs;
or
(y) if
at
such time there are no Rated Securities, a Negative Rating Event (as defined
below) in respect of such Restructuring Event also occurs; and
(B) an
independent financial adviser shall have certified in writing to the Trustee
that such Restructuring Event is, in its opinion, materially prejudicial to
the
interests of the Noteholders (a "Negative Certification"),
then,
unless at any time the Issuer shall have given notice under Condition 62 or
6.3,
the holder of each Note will, upon the giving by the Issuer of a Put Event
Notice (as defined below), have the option (the "Restructuring Put Option")
to
require the Issuer to redeem or, at the option of the Issuer, purchase (or
procure the purchase of) that Note on the Put Date (as defined below), at its
principal amount together with (or, where purchased, together with an amount
equal to) interest (if any) accrued to (but excluding) the Put
Date.
A
Restructuring Event shall be deemed not to be materially prejudicial to the
interests of the Noteholders if, notwithstanding the occurrence of a Rating
Downgrade or a Negative Rating Event, the rating assigned to the Rated
Securities by any Rating Agency (as defined below) is subsequently increased
to,
or, as the case may be, there is assigned to the Notes or other unsecured and
unsubordinated debt of the Issuer (or of any Subsidiary of the Issuer and which
is guaranteed on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis by the Issuer) having
an
initial maturity of five years or more by any Rating Agency, an investment
grade
rating (BBB-fBaa3) or their respective equivalents for the time being) or better
prior to any Negative Certification being issued.
Any
certification by an independent financial adviser as aforesaid as to whether
or
not, in its opinion, any Restructuring Event is materially prejudicial to the
interests of the Noteholders shall, in the absence of manifest error, be
conclusive and binding on the Trustee, the Issuer and the Noteholders. The
Issuer may, at any now, with the prior written approval of the Trustee appoint
an independent financial adviser for the purposes of this Condition 6.4. If,
within 14 London business days following the occurrence of a Restructuring
Event, the Issuer shall not have appointed an independent financial adviser
for
the purposes of Condition 6.4(a)(ii)(B) and (if so required by the Trustee)
the
Trustee is indemnified and/or segued to its satisfaction against the costs
of
such adviser, the Trustee may appoint an independent financial adviser for
such
purpose following consultation with the Issuer.
(b) Promptly
upon the Issuer becoming aware of the occurrence of a Put Event (as defined
below), and in any event not later than 14 days after the occurrence of a Put
Event, the Issuer shall, and at any time upon the Trustee becoming similarly
so
aware the Trustee may, and if so requested by the holders of at least
one-quarter in nominal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall (and subject
to it being indemnified and/or secured to its satisfaction), give notice (a
"Put
Event Notice") to the Noteholders in accordance with Condition 12 specifying
the
nature of the Put Event and the procedure for exercising the Restructuring
Put
Option.
(c) To
exercise the Restructuring Put Option, the holder of a Note must deliver at
the
specified office of any Paying Agent on any Business Day (as defined in
Condition 5.5) at the place of such specified office falling within the Put
Period, a duly signed and completed notice of exercise in the form (for the
time
being current arid which may, if this Note is held in a clearing system, be
any
form acceptable to the clearing system delivered in a manner acceptable to
the
clearing system) obtainable from any specified office of any Paying Agent (a
"Put Notice") and in which the holder must specify a bank account (or, if
payment is to be made by cheque, an address) to which payment is to be made
under this paragraph accompanied by such Notes or evidence satisfactory to
the
Paying Agent concerned that such Notes will, following the delivery of the
Put
Notice, be held to its order or under its control. A Put Notice given by a
holder of any Note shall be irrevocable except where, prior to the due date
of
redemption, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which event
such holder, at its option, may elect by notice to the Issuer to withdraw the
Put Notice.
For the
purposes of this Condition, the "Put Period" shall mean the period of 45 days
after that on which a Put Event Notice is
given.Subject
to the relevant Noteholder having complied with this Condition, the Issuer
shall
redeem or, at the option of the Issuer, purchase (or procure the purchase of)
the relevant Note on the fifteenth day after the date of expiry of the Put
Period (the "Put Date'") unless previously redeemed or purchased.
(d) For
the
purposes of these Conditions:
(i) | A "Negative Rating Event" shall be deemed to have occurred if (A) the issuer does not, either prior to or not later than 14 days after the date of a Negative Certification in respect of the relevant Restructuring Event, seek, and thereupon use all reasonable endeavours to obtain, a rating of the Notes or any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Issuer (or of any Subsidiary of the Issuer and which is guaranteed on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis by the Issuer) having an initial maturity of five years or more from a Rating Agency or (B) if it does so seek and use such endeavours, it is unable, as a result of such Restructuring Event, to obtain such a rating of at least investment grade (BBB. IBaa3, or their restive equivalents for the time being). |
(ii)
|
A "Put Event" occurs on the date of the last to occur of (A) a Restructuring Event, (B) either a Rating Downgrade or, as the case may be, a Negative Rating Event and (C) the relevant Negative Certification. |
(iii) |
"Rating
Agency" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The
XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Ire. or any of its subsidiaries and their
successors, Xxxxx'x Investors Service Limited or any of its subsidiaries
and their successors, Fitch Ratings Limited or any of its subsidiaries
and
their successors or any rating agency substituted for any of them
(or any
permitted substitute of them) by the Issuer from time to time with
the
prior written approval of the Trustee.
|
(iv) | A "Rating Downgrade" shall be deemed to have occurred in respect of a Restructuring Event if the then current rating assigned to the Rated Securities by any Rating Agency (whether provided by a Rating Agency at the invitation of the Issuer or by its own volition) is withdrawn or reduced firm an investment grade rating (BBB-lBaa3) or their respective equivalents for the time being, or better) to a non-investment grade rating (BB+/Bal) or their respective equivalents for the time being, or worse) or, if the Rating Agency shall then have already rated the Rated Securities below investment grade (as described above), the rating is lowered one full rating category. |
(v) | "Rated Securities" means the Notes, if at any time and for so long as they have a rating from a Rating Agency, and otherwise any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Issuer (or of any Subsidiary of the Issuer and which is guaranteed on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis by the Issuer) having an initial maturity of five years or more which is rated by a Rating Agency. |
(vi)
|
"Restructuring Event" means the occurrence of any one or more of the following events: |
(A) (x)
the
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (or any successor) giving any
Distribution Subsidiary and/or the Issuer written notice of any revocation
of
its Distribution Licence or (y) any Distribution Subsidiary and/or the Issuer
agreeing in writing with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (or
any
successor) to any revocation or surrender of its Distribution Licence or (z)
any
legislation (whether primary or subordinate) being enacted terminating or
revoking the Distribution Licence of any Distribution Subsidiary and/or the
Issuer, except in any such case in circumstances where a licence or licences
on
substantially no less favourable terms is or are granted to (1) the Issuer
or a
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Issuer (the "Relevant Subsidiary"), and in the
case of such Relevant Subsidiary at the time of such grant it either executes
in
favour of the Trustee an unconditional and irrevocable guarantee in respect
of
the Notes in such form as the Trustee may approve or becomes the primary obligor
under the Notes in accordance with Condition 14; or
(B) any
modification (other than a modification which is of a formal, minor or technical
nature) being made to the tams and conditions of any Distribution Subsidiary's
or the Issuer's Distribution Licence unless two directors of the Distribution
Subsidiary or, as the case may be, of the Issuer, have certified to the Trustee
that the modified terms and conditions are not materially less favourable to
the
business of the Distribution Subsidiary or, as the case may be, of the Issuer;
or
(C) any
legislation (whether primary or subordinate) is enacted which removes, qualifies
or amends (other than an amendment which is of a formal, minor or technical
nature) the functions and duties of the Secretary of State for Trade and
Industry (or any successor) and/or the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
(or
any successor) under section 3A of the Electricity Xxx 0000, as amended by
the
Utilities Xxx 0000 (as this may be amended from time to time), unless two
directors of the Issuer have certified to the Trustee that such removal,
qualification or amendment does not have a materially adverse effect (as defined
in the Trust Deed) on the financial condition of the Issuer or any Distribution
Subsidiary.
(vii)
"Restructuring Period" means:
(A) if
at the
time a Restructuring Event occurs there are Rated Securities, the period of
90
days starting from and including the day on which that Restructuring Event
occurs; or
(B) if
at the
time a Restructuring Event occurs there are no Rated Securities, the period
starting from and including the day on which that Restructuring Event occurs
and
ending on the day 90 days following the later of (x) the date (if any) on which
the Issuer shall seek to obtain a rating as contemplated by the definition
of
Negative Rating Event; (y) the expiry of the 14 days referred to in the
definition of Negative Rating Event; and (2) the date on which a Negative
Certification shall have been given to the Issuer in respect of that
Restructuring Event.
(viii) A
Rating
Downgrade or a Negative Rating Event or a non-investment grade rating for the
purpose of Condition 6.4(a)(i)(B) shall he deemed not to have occurred as a
result or in respect of a Restructuring Event if the Rating Agency making the
relevant reduction in rating or, where applicable, declining to assign a rating
of at least investment grade as provided in this Condition 6.4 does not announce
or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request that the
reduction or, where applicable, declining to assign a rating of at least
investment grade was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or
circumstance comprised in or arising as a result of the applicable Restructuring
Event.
The
Trustee is under to obligation, responsibility or liability to ascertain whether
a Restructuring Event, a Negative Rating Event or any event which could lead
to
the occurrence of or could constitute a Restructuring Event has occurred and,
until it shall have express notice pursuant to the Trust Iced to the contrary,
the Trustee may assume that no Restructuring Event, Negative Rating Event or
other such event has occurred. In determining whether or not a Restructuring
Event has occurred, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely solely and without
liability on an opinion given in a certificate signed by two directors of the
Issuer.
6.5 Purchases
The
Issuer or any affiliate of the Issuer may at any time purchase Notes (provided
that all unmatured Coupons appertaining to the Notes are purchased with the
Notes) at any price in the open market or otherwise. Such Notes may be held,
reissued, resold or, at the option of the Issuer, surrendered to any Paying
Agent for cancellation.
6.6 Cancellations
All
Notes
which are redeemed will forthwith be cancelled (together with all unmatured
Coupons attached thereto or surrendered therewith at the time of redemption).
All Notes so cancelled and any Notes purchased and cancelled pursuant to
Condition 6.5 above (together with all nominated Coupons cancelled therewith)
shall be forwarded to the Principal Paying Agent end cannot
be reissued
or resold.
6.7 Notices
Final
Upon
the
expiry of any notice as is referred to in Condition 6.2, 6.3 or 6.4 above the
Issuer shall be bound to redeem the Notes to which the notice refers in
accordance with the terms of such Condition (in the case of Condition
6.4
above,
save as otherwise provided therein).
7. TAXATION
7.1 Payment
without Withholding
All
payments in respect of the Notes by or on behalf of the Issuer shall be made
without withholding or reduction for, or on account of, any present or future
taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature ("Taxes")
imposed or levied by or on behalf of any Relevant Jurisdiction, unless the
withholding or deduction of the Taxes is required by law. In that event, the
Issuer will pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the
net amounts received by the Noteholders and Couponholders after the withholding
or deduction shall equal the respective amounts which would have been receivable
in respect of the Notes or, as the case stay be, Coupons in the absence of
the
withholding or deduction; except that no additional amounts shall be payable
in
relation to any payment in respect of any Note or Coupon:
(a) presented
for payment by or on behalf of, a holder who is liable to the Taxes in respect
of the Note or Coupon by reason of his having some connection with a Relevant
Jurisdiction other than the mere holding of the Note or Coupon; or
(b) presented
for payment by or on behalf of a holder who could lawfully avoid (but has not
so
avoided) such deduction or withholding by complying or procuring that any third
party complies with any statutory requirements or by making or procuring that
any third party makes a declaration of non-residence or other similar claim
for
exemption to any tax authority in the place where the relevant Note or Coupon
is
presented; or
(c) where
such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual and
is
required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC or any
law
implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, such
Directive; or
(d) presented
for payment by or on behalf of a holder who would have been able to avoid such
withholding or deduction by presenting the relevant Note or Coupon to another
Paying Agent in a Member State of the European Union; or
(e) presented
for payment more than 30 days after the Relevant Date (as defined below) except
to the extent that a holder would have been entitled to additional amounts
on
presenting the same for payment on the last day of the period of 30 days
assuming, whether or not such is in fact the case, that day to have beets a
Presentation Date (as defined in Condition 5.5).
7.2 Interpretation
In
these
Conditions:
"Relevant
Date" means the date on which the payment first becomes due but, if the full
amount of the money payable has not been received by the Principal Paying Agent
or the Trustee on or before the due date, it means the date on which, the full
amount of the money having been so received, notice to that effect has been
duly
given to the Noteholders by the Issuer in accordance with Condition 12;
and
"Relevant
Jurisdiction" means the United Kingdom or any political subdivision or any
authority thereof or therein having power to tax.
7.3 Additional
Amounts
Any
reference in these Conditions to any amounts in respect of the Notes shall
be
deemed also to refer to any additional amounts which may be payable under this
Condition or under any undertakings given in addition to, or in substitution
for, this Condition pursuant to the Trust Deed.
8. |
PRESCRIPTION
|
Notes
and
Coupons (which for this purpose shall not include Talons) will become void
unless presented for payment within periods of 10 years (in the case of
principal) and five years (in the case of interest) from the Relevant Date
in
respect of the Notes or, as the case may be, the Coupons, subject to the
provisions of Condition 5. There shall not be included in any Coupon shy issued
upon exchange of a Talon any Coupon which would be void upon issue under this
paragraph or Condition 5.
9. EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
9.1 Events
of Default
The
Trustee at its discretion may, and if so requested in writing by the holders
of
at least onequarter in nominal amount of the Notes then outstanding or if so
directed by an Extraordinary Resolution shall (subject in each case to being
indemnified and/or secured to its satisfaction), (but in the case of the
happening of any of the events described in paragraphs (b), (c) and (e) to
(g)
inclusive below, only if the Trustee shall have certified in writing to the
Issuer that such event is, in its opinion, materially prejudicial to the
interests of the Noteholders), give notice in writing to the Issuer that each
Note is, and each Note shall thereupon immediately become, due and repayable
at
its principal amount together with accrued interest as provided in the Trust
Deed if any of the following events (each an "Event of Default") shall have
occurred:
(a) |
Non-Payment
|
if
default is made in the payment of any principal or interest due in respect
of
the Notes or any of them and the default continues for a period of 14 days
in
the case of principal and 21 days in the case of interest or, where relevant,
the Issuer, having become obliged to redeem, purchase or procure the purchase
of
(as the case may be) any Notes pursuant to Condition 6.4 fails to do so within
a
period of 14 days of having become so obliged; or
(b) |
Breach
of
Other Obligations
|
if
the
Issuer fails to perform or observe any of its other obligations, covenants,
conditions or provisions under the Notes or the Trust Deed and (except where
the
Trustee shall have certified to the Issuer in writing that it considers such
failure to be incapable of remedy in which case no such notice or continuation
as is hereinafter mentioned will be required) the failure continues for the
period of 60 days (or such longer period as the Trustee may in its absolute
discretion permit) next following the service by the Trustee on the Issuer
of
notice requiring the same to be remedied; or
(c) |
Cross-Default
|
if
(i)
any other indebtedness for borrowed money of the Issuer or any Principal
Subsidiary becomes due and repayable prior to its stated maturity by reason
of
an event of default or (ii) any such indebtedness for borrowed money is not
paid
when due or, as the case may be, within any applicable grace period (as
originally provided) or (iii) the Issuer or any Principal Subsidiary fails
to
pay when due (or, as the case may be, within any originally applicable grace
period) any amount payable by it under any present or future guarantee for,
or
indemnity in respect of, any indebtedness for borrowed money of any person
or
(iv) any security given by the Issuer or any Principal Subsidiary for any
indebtedness for borrowed money of any person or any guarantee or indemnity
of
indebtedness for borrowed money of any person becomes enforceable by reason
of
default in relation thereto and steps are taken to enforce such security save
in
any such case where there is a bona
fide dispute
as to whether the relevant indebtedness for borrowed money or any such guarantee
or indemnity as aforesaid shall be due and payable, provided that the aggregate
amount of the relevant indebtedness for borrowed money in respect of which
any
one or more of the events mentioned above in this subparagraph (c) has or have
occurred equals or exceeds whichever is the greater of £20,000,000 or its
equivalent in other currencies (on the basis of the middle spot rate for the
relevant currency against the pound sterling as quoted by any leading bank
on
the day on which this paragraph applies) and two per cent. of the Capital and
Reserves, and for the purposes of this sub-paragraph (c), "indebtedness for
borrowed money" shall exclude Non-recourse Indebtedness; or
(d) |
Winding-up
|
if
any
order is made by any competent court or resolution passed for the winding up
or
dissolution of tire Issuer, save for the purposes of and followed by
amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganisation, reconstruction or other
similar arrangement on terms previously approved in writing by the Trustee
or by
an Extraordinary Resolution of the Noteholders; or
(e) |
Winding-up
of Principal Subsidiary
|
if
any
order is made by any competent court or any resolution is passed for the winding
up or dissolution of a Principal Subsidiary, save for the purposes of and
followed by amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganisation, reconstruction
or other similar arrangement (i) not involving or arising out of the insolvency
of such Principal Subsidiary and under which all the surplus assets of such
Principal Subsidiary are transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries
(other than an Excluded Subsidiary) or (ii) the terms of which have previously
been approved in writing by the Trustee or by an Extraordinary Resolution of
the
Noteholders; or
(f) |
Ceasing
to Carry an the Business
|
if
the
Issuer or any Principal Subsidiary shall cease to carry on the whole or, in
the
opinion of the Trustee, substantially the whole of its business, save for the
purposes of amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganisation, reconstruction
or other similar arrangement (A) (x) not involving or arising out of the
insolvency of the Issuer or such Principal Subsidiary and (y) under which all
or, in the opinion of the Trustee, substantially all of its assets are
transferred to another member of the Group (other than an Excluded Subsidiary)
or to a transferee which is, or immediately upon such transfer becomes, a
Principal Subsidiary or (B) under which all or, in the opinion of the Trust,
substantially all of its assets are transferred to a third party or parties
(whether associates or not) for full consideration by the Issuer or a Principal
Subsidiary on an arm's length basis or (C) the terms of which have previously
been approved in writing by the Trustee or by an Extraordinary Resolution of
the
Noteholders, provided that (in the case of (A) or (B) above) if the Issuer
transfer& its Distribution Licence, the transferee has, at or around the
time of transfer, either executed in favour of the Trustee an unconditional
and
irrevocable guarantee in respect of the Notes in such form as the Trustee may
require or become a primary obligor under the Notes in accordance with Condition
13; or
(g) |
Insolvency
|
if
the
Issuer or any Principal Subsidiary shall suspend or shall threaten to suspend
payment of its debts generally or shall be declared or adjudicated by a
competent court to be unable, or shall admit in writing its inability, to pay
its debts (within the meaning of section 123(1) or (2) of the Insolvency Act
1986) as they fall due, or shall be adjudicated or found insolvent by a
competent court or shall enter into any composition or other similar arrangement
with its creditors under section 1 of the Insolvency Xxx 0000, as amended;
or
(h) |
Administration
and Enforcement Proceeding
|
if
a
receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or other similar official
shall
be
appointed in relation to the Issuer or any Principal Subsidiary or in relation
to the whole or, in the opinion of the Trust, a substantial part of the
undertaking or assets of any of them or a distress, execution or other process
shall be levied or enforced upon or sued out against, or an encumbrancer shall
take possession of, the whole or, in the opinion of the Trustee, a substantial
part of the assets of any of them and in any of the foregoing cases it or he
shall not he paid out or discharged within 90 days (or such longer period as
the
Trustee may in its absolute discretion permit); or
For
the
purposes of sub-paragraph (g) above, section 123(I)(a) of the Insolvency Xxx
0000 shall have effect as if for "£750' there was substituted "£250,000" or such
higher figure as the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (or any successor)
may from time to time determine by notice in writing to the Secretary of State
for Trade and Industry and the Issuer.
Neither
the Issuer nor any Principal Subsidiary shall be deemed to be unable to pay
its
debts for the purposes of sub-paragraph (g) above if any such demand as is
mentioned in section 123(I)(a) of the Insolvency Act 1986 is being contested
in
good faith by the Issuer or the relevant Principal Subsidiary with recourse
to
all appropriate measures and procedures or if any such demand is satisfied
before the expiration of such period (if any) as may be stated in any notice
given by the Trustee under this Condition 9,
Definitions
For
the
purposes of these Conditions:
"Excluded
Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than a Relevant
Subsidiary):
(i)
|
which
is a single purpose company whose principal assets and business are
constituted by the ownership, acquisition, development and/or operation
of
an asset;
|
(ii)
|
none
of whose indebtedness for borrowed money in respect of the financing
of
such ownership,
acquisition, development and/or operation of an asset is subject
to any
recourse
whatsoever to any member of the Group (other than another Excluded
Subsidiary)
in respect of the repayment thereof, except as expressly referred
to in
sub paragraph (ii)(C) of the definition of Non-recourse Indebtedness
below; and
|
(iii) | which has been designated as such by the Issuer by written notice to the Trustee, provided that the Issuer tray give written notice to the Trustee at any time that any Excluded Subsidiary is no longer an Excluded Subsidiary, whereupon it shall cease to be an Excluded Subsidiary; |
"indebtedness
for borrowed money" means any present or future indebtedness (whether being
principal, premium, interest or other amounts) far or in respect of (i) money
borrowed, (ii) liabilities under or in respect of any acceptance or acceptance
credit, or (iii) any notes, bonds, debentures, debenture stock, loan stock
or
other securities offered, issued or distributed whether by way of public offer,
private placing, acquisition consideration or otherwise and whether issued
for
cash or in whole or in part for a consideration other than cash;
"Non-recourse
Indebtedness" means any indebtedness for borrowed money:
(i) which
is
ink by an Excluded Subsidiary; or
(ii) in
respect of which the person or persons to whom any such indebtedness for
borrowed money is or may be owed by the relevant borrower (whether or not a
member of the Group) has or have no recourse whatsoever to any member of the
Group (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) for the repayment thereof other
than:
(A) recourse
to such borrower for amounts limited to the cash flow or net cash flow (other
than historic cash flow or historic net cash flow) from any specific asset
or
assets over or in respect of which security has beers granted in respect of
such
indebtedness for borrowed money; and/or
(B) recourse
to such borrower for the purpose only of enabling amounts to be claimed in
respect of such indebtedness for borrowed money in an enforcement of any
encumbrance given by such borrower over any such asset or assets or the income,
cash flow or other proceeds deriving therefrom (or given by any shareholder
or
the like in the borrower over its shares or the like in the capital of the
borrower) to secure such indebtedness for borrowed money, provided that (era)
the extent of such recourse to such borrower is limited solely to the amount
of
any recoveries made on any such enforcement, and (bb) such person or persons
is/are not entitled, by virtue of any right or claim arising out of or in
connection with such indebtedness for borrowed money, to commence proceedings
for the winding up or dissolution of the borrower or to appoint or procure
the
appointment of any receiver trustee or similar person or officer in respect
of
the borrower or any of its assets (save for the assets the subject of such
encumbrance); and/or
(C) recourse
to such borrower generally, or directly or indirectly to a member of the Group,
under any form of assurance, undertaking or support, which recourse is limited
to a claim for damages (other than liquidated damages and damages required
to be
calculated in a specified way) for breach of an obligation (not being a payment
obligation or an obligation to procure payment by another or an indemnity in
respect thereof or any obligation to comply or to procure compliance by another
with any financial ratios or other tests of financial condition) by the person
against whom such recourse is available.
"Principal
Subsidiary" at any time shall mean each Subsidiary of the Issuer (in each case
not being an Excluded Subsidiary or any other Subsidiary of the Issuer, as
the
case may be, whose only indebtedness for borrowed money is Non-recourse
Indebtedness):
(a) whose
(a)
profits on ordinary activities before tax or (b) gross assets, in each case
attributable to the Issuer represent 20 per cent. or more of the consolidated
profits on ordinary activities before tax of the Group or, as the case may
be,
consolidated gross assets of the Group, in each case as calculated by reference
to the then latest audited financial statements of such Subsidiary (consolidated
in the case of a company which itself has Subsidiaries) and the then latest
audited consolidated financial statements of the Group provided that in the
case
of a Subsidiary acquired after the end of the financial period to which the
then
latest audited consolidated financial statements of the Group relate, the
reference to the then latest audited consolidated financial statements of the
Group for the purposes of the calculation above shall, until consolidated
financial statements for the financial period in which the acquisition is made
have been prepared and audited as aforesaid, be deemed to be a reference to
such
first-mentioned financial statements as if such Subsidiary had been shown in
such financial statements by reference to its then latest relevant audited
financial statements, adjusted as deemed appropriate by the Auditors;
or
(ii) to
which
is transferred all or substantially all of the business, undertaking and assets
of a Subsidiary of the Issuer which immediately prior to such transfer is a
Principal Subsidiary, whereupon the transferor Subsidiary shall immediately
cease to be a Principal Subsidiary and the transfer= Subsidiary shall cease
to
be a Principal Subsidiary under the provisions of this sub-paragraph (ii),
upon
publication of its next audited financial statements (but without prejudice
to
the provisions of sub-paragraph (a) above) but so that such transferor
Subsidiary or such transferee Subsidiary may be a Principal Subsidiary of the
Issuer on or at any time after the date on which such audited financial
statements have beet published by virtue of the provisions of sub-paragraph
(a)
above or before, on or at any time after such date by virtue of the provisions
of this sub-paragraph (ii).
A
certificate by two directors of the Issuer that, in their opinion, a Subsidiary
of the Issuer is or is not or was or was not at any particular time or
throughout any specified period a Principal Subsidiary may be relied upon by
the
Trustee without father enquiry or evidence and the Trustee will not be
responsible or liable for any loss occasioned by acting on such a certificate
and, if relied upon by the Trustee, shall, in the absence of manifest error,
be
conclusive and binding on all parties, whether or not addressed to each such
party.
10. ENFORCEMENT
10.1 Enforcement
by the Trustee
The
Trustee may at any time, at its discretion and without notice, take such
proceedings against the Issuer as it may think fit to enforce the provisions
of
the Trust Deed, the Notes and the Coupons, but it shall not be bound to take
any
such proceedings or any other action in relation to the Trust Decd, the Notes
or
the Coupons unless (a) it has been so directed by an Extraordinary Resolution
of
the Noteholders or so requested in writing by the holders of at least
one-quarter in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding and (b) it has
been indemnified and/or secured to its satisfaction.
10.2 Enforcement
by the Noteholders
No
Noteholder or Couponholder shall be entitled to proceed directly against the
Issuer unless the Trustee, having become bound so to proceed, fails so to do
within a reasonable period and the failure shall be continuing.
11. |
REPLACEMENT
OF NOTES AND COUPONS
|
Should
any Note or Coupon be lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced or destroyed it may
be
replaced at the specified office of the Principal Paying Agent upon payment
by
the claimant of the expenses incurred in connection with the replacement and
on
such terms as to evidence and indemnity as the Issuer may reasonably require.
Mutilated or defaced Notes or Coupons must be surrendered before replacement,
will be issued.
12. NOTICES
12.1 Notices
to the Noteholders
All
notices to the Noteholders will be valid if published in a leading English
language daily newspaper published in London or such outer English language
daily newspaper with general circulation in Europe as the Trustee may approve.
It is expected that publication will normally be made in the Financial Times.
The Issuer shall also ensure that notices are duly published in a manner which
complies with the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or other relevant
authority on which the Notes are for the time being listed or traded. Any such
notice will be deemed to have been given on the date of the first publication
or, where required to be published in more
than
one
newspaper, on the date of the first publication in all required newspapers.
If
publication as provided above is not practicable, notice will be given in such
other manner, and shall be deemed to have been given on such date, as the
Trustee may approve. Couponholders will be deemed for all purposes to have
notice of the contents of any notice given to the Noteholders in accordance
with
this paragraph.
12.2 Notices
from the Noteholders
Notices
to be given by any Noteholder shall be in writing and given by lodging the
same,
together with the relative Note or Notes, with the Principal Paying Agent or,
if
the Notes are held in a clearing system, may be given through the clearing
system in accordance with its standard rules and procedures.
13. SUBSTITUTION
The
Trustee may, without the consent of the Noteholders or Couponholders, agree
with
the Issuer to the substitution of certain other entities (other than an Excluded
Subsidiary) in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute under this
Condition) as the principal debtor under the Notes, the Coupons and the Trust
Deed, subject to:
(a) | the Notes being unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the Issuer, |
(b) | the Trustee being satisfied that the interests of the Noteholders will not be materially prejudiced by the substitution; and |
(c)
|
certain
other conditions set out in the Trust Deed being complied
with.
|
14. MEETINGS
OF NOTEHOLDERS, MODIFICATION, WAIVER, AUTHORISATION AND
DETERMINATION
14.1 Meetings
of Noteholders
The
Trust
Deed contains provisions for convening meetings of the Noteholders to consider
any matter affecting their interests, including the modification or abrogation
by Extraordinary Resolution of any of these Conditions or any of the provisions
of the Trust Deed. The quorum at any meeting for passing an Extraordinary
Resolution will be one or more persons present holding or representing more
than
50 per cent. in principal amount of the Notes for the time being outstanding,
or
at any adjourned such meeting one or more persons present whatever the principal
amount of the Notes held or represented by him or them, except that, at any
meeting the business of which includes the modification or abrogation of certain
of the provisions of these Conditions and certain of the provisions of the
Trust
Deed, the necessary quorum for passing an Extraordinary Resolution will be
one
or more persons present holding or representing not less than three-quarters,
or
at any adjourned such meeting not less than one-quarter, of the principal amount
of the Notes for the time being outstanding. An Extraordinary Resolution passed
at any meeting of the Noteholders will be binding on all Noteholders, whether
or
not they are present at the meeting, and on all Couponholders.
14.2 Modification,
Waiver, Authorisation and Determination
The
Trustee may agree, without the consent of the Noteholders or Couponholders,
to
airy modification of, or to the waiver or authorisation of any breach or
proposed breach of, any of these Conditions or any of the provisions of the
Trust Deed, or determine, without any such consent as aforesaid, that any Event
of Default or Potential Event of Default (as defined in the Trust Deed) shall
not be treated as such (provided that, in any such case, it is not, in the
opinion of the Trustee, materially prejudicial to the interests of the
Noteholders) or may agree, without any such consent as aforesaid, to any
modification which, in its opinion, is of a formal, minor or technical nature
or
to correct a manifest error.
14.3 Trustee
to have Regard to Interests of Noteholders as a Class
In
connection with the exercise by it of any of its trusts, powers, authorities
and
discretions (including, without limitation, any modification, waiver,
authorisation, determination or substitution), the Trustee shall have regard
to
the general interests of the Noteholders as a class but shall not have regard
to
any interests arising from circumstances particular to individual Noteholders
or
Couponholders (whatever their number) and, in particular but without limitation,
shall not have regard to the consequences of any such exercise for individual
Noteholders or Couponholders (whatever their number) resulting from their being
for any purpose domiciled or resident in, or otherwise connected with, or
subject to the jurisdiction of, any particular territory or any political
sub-division thereof and the Trustee shall not be entitled to require, nor
shall
any Noteholder or Couponholder be entitled to claim, from the Issuer, the
Trustee or any other person any indemnification or payment in respect of any
tax
consequence of any such exercise upon individual Noteholders or Couponholders
except to the extent already provided for in Condition 7 and/or any undertaking
given in addition to, or in substitution for, Condition 7 pursuant to the Trust
Deed.
14.4 Notification
to the Noteholders
Any
modification, abrogation, waiver, authorisation, determination or substitution
shall be binding on the Noteholders and the Couponholders and, unless the
Trustee agrees otherwise, any modification or substitution shall be notified
by
the Issuer to the Noteholders as soon as practicable thereafter in accordance
with Condition 12.
15. INDEMNIFICATION
OF THE TRUSTEE AND IT'S CONTRACTING WITH THE ISSUER
15.1 Indemnification
of the Trustee
The
Trust
Deed contains provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee and for its
relief firm responsibility, including provisions relieving it from taking action
unless indemnified and/or secured to its satisfaction.
15.2 Trustee
Contracting with the Issuer
The
Trust
Deed also contains provisions pursuant to which the Trustee is entitled, inter
alia, (a) to enter into business transactions with the Issuer and/or any of
its
Subsidiaries and to act as trustee for the holders of any other securities
issued or guaranteed by, or relating to, the Issuer and/or any of its
Subsidiaries, (b) to exercise and enforce its rights, comply with its
obligations and perform its duties under or in relation to any such transactions
or, as case may be, any such trusteeship without regard to the interests of
or
consequences for, the Noteholders or Couponholders, and (c) to retain and not
be
liable to account for any profit made or any other amount or benefit received
thereby or in connection therewith.
16. |
FURTHER
ISSUES
|
The
Issuer is at liberty from time to time without the consent of the Noteholders
or
Couponholders to create and issue further notes or bonds (whether in bearer
or
registered form) either (a) ranking par/ passu in all respects (or in all
respects save for the first payment of interest thereon) and so that the same
shall be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding notes or
bonds of any series (including the Notes) constituted by the Trust Deed or
any
supplemental deed or (b) upon such terms as to ranking, interest, conversion,
redemption and otherwise as the Issuer may determine at the time of the issue.
Any thither notes or bonds which are to form a single series with the
outstanding notes or bonds of any series (including the Notes) constituted
by
the Trust Deed or any supplemental deed shall, and any other further notes
or
bonds may (with the consent of the Trustee), be constituted by a deed
supplemental to the Trust Deed. The Trust Iced contains provisions for convening
a single meeting of the Noteholders and the holders of notes or bonds of other
series in certain circumstances where the Trustee so decides.
17. GOVERNING
LAW
The
Trust
Deed, the Notes and the Coupons are governed by, and will be construed in
accordance with, English law.
18. RIGHTS
OF THIRD PARTIES
No
rights
are conferred on any person under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Xxx
0000 to enforce any term of this Note, but this does not affect any right or
remedy of any person which exists or is available apart from that
Act.
Form
of Coupon
On
the
front:
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
£225,000,000
4.80436 per cent. Notes due 2037
Coupon
for £2,402.18 due on 21 December
20[07/08/09/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37].
This
Coupon is payable to bearer (subject to the Conditions endorsed on the Note
to
which this Coupon relates, which shall be binding upon the holder of this Coupon
whether or not it is for the time being attached to such Note) at the specified
offices of the Paying Agents set out on the reverse hereof (or any further
or
other Paying Agents or specified offices duly appointed or nominated and
notified to the Noteholders).
If
the
Note to which this Coupon relates shall have become due and payable before
the
maturity date of this Coupon, this Coupon shall become void and no payment
shall
be made in respect of it.
ANY
UNITED STATES PERSON WHO HOLDS THIS OBLIGATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS
UNDER THE UNITED STATES INCOME TAX LAWS, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED
IN
SECTIONS 165(j) AND 1287(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
By:
[Director]
Cp
No.
|
Denomination
|
ISIN
|
Series
|
Certif.
No.
|
£50,000
|
XS00280014282
|
On
the
back:
PRINCIPAL
PAYING AGENT
HSBC
Bank
plc
Xxxxx
00
0
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Form
of Talon
On
the
front:
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
£225,000,000
4.80436 per cent. Notes due 2037
Note
in
the principal amount of £50,000
Talon
for
further Coupons.
After
all
the Coupons relating to the Note to which this Talon relates have matured,
further Coupons (including if appropriate a Talon for further Coupons) shall
be
issued at the specified offices of the Paying Agents set out on the reverse
hereof (or any further or other Paying Agents or specified offices duly
appointed or nominated and notified to the Noteholders).
ANY
UNITED STATES PERSON WHO HOLDS THIS OBLIGATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS
UNDER THE UNITED STATES INCOME TAX LAWS, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED
IN
SECTIONS 165(j) AND 1287(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
By:
[Director]
Cp
No.
|
Denomination
|
ISIN
|
Series
|
Certif.
No.
|
£50,000
|
XS00280014282
|
On
the
back:
PRINCIPAL
PAYING AGENT
HSBC
Bank
plc
Xxxxx
00
0
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X00 0XX
Schedule
2
Part
1
Form
of Temporary Global Note
ISIN:
XS00280014282
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
(Incorporated
with limited liability in England and Wales)
£225,000,000
4.80436
per cent. Notes due 2037
Temporary
Global Note
This
is
to certify that the bearer is entitled on 21 December 2037, or on such earlier
date as the Notes designated above (the “Notes”)
may be
redeemed or repaid to such sum as is determined to be payable on such redemption
or repayment in accordance with the terms and conditions (the “Conditions”)
of the
Notes set out in Schedule 1 to the trust deed dated 21 December 2006 (the
“Trust
Deed”)
between Western Power Distribution (South Wales) plc (the “Issuer”)
and
HSBC Trustee (C.I.) Limited as trustee (the “Trustee”))
upon
presentation and surrender of this Temporary Global Note and to interest at
the
rate of 4.80436 per cent. per annum on the outstanding nominal amount of the
Notes in arrear on 21 December in each year, subject to and in accordance with
the Conditions.
On
or
after 30 January 2007 (the “Exchange
Date”)
this
Temporary Global Note may be exchanged in whole or part (free of charge to
the
holder) by its presentation and, on exchange in full, surrender to or to the
order of the Principal Paying Agent for interests in a Global Note (the
“Global
Note”)
in
bearer form in an aggregate nominal amount equal to the nominal amount of this
Temporary Global Note submitted for exchange with respect to which there shall
be presented to the Principal Paying Agent a certificate dated no earlier than
the Exchange Date from Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”)
or
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream,
Luxembourg”)
substantially to the following effect:
“CERTIFICATE
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
£225,000,000
4.80436
per cent. Notes due 2037
Common
Code 028001428 ISIN XS00280014282 (the “Notes”)
This
is
to certify that, based solely on certificates we have received in writing,
by
tested telex or by electronic transmission from member organisations appearing
in our records as persons being entitled to a portion of the nominal amount
set
out below (our“Member
Organisations”)
substantially to the effect set out in the temporary global Note in respect
of
the Notes, as of the date hereof, £225,000,000 nominal amount of the Notes (1)
is owned by persons that are not citizens or residents of the United States,
domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income
of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of
its
source (“United
States persons”),
(2)
is owned by United States persons that (a) are foreign branches of United States
financial institutions (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section
1.165-12(c)(1)(iv) (“financial
institutions”))
purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) acquired the Notes
through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold
the Notes through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof
(and in either case (a) or (b), each such United States financial institution
has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise the
Issuer or the Issuer’s agent that it will comply with the requirements of
Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (3) is owned by United States
or
foreign financial institutions for purposes of resale during the restricted
period (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7),
and to the further effect that United States or foreign financial institutions
described in clause (3) above (whether or not also described in clause (1)
or
(2)) have certified that they have not acquired the Notes for purposes of resale
directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the
United States or its possessions.
We
further certify (1) that we are not making available herewith for exchange
(or,
if relevant, exercise of any rights or collection of any interest) any portion
of such temporary global Note excepted in such certificates and (2) that as
of
the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member
Organisations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organisation
with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or,
if
relevant, exercise of any rights or collection of any interest) are no longer
true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.
We
understand that this certificate is required in connection with certain tax
laws
of the United States. In connection therewith, if administrative or legal
proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this
certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorise you to produce
this certificate to any interested party in such proceedings.
Yours
faithfully
[EUROCLEAR
BANK S.A./N.V.] or [CLEARSTREAM BANKING, SOCIÉTÉ ANONYME]
By:
|
Dated:
|
Any
person appearing in the records of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg as
entitled to an interest in this Temporary Global Note may require the exchange
of an appropriate part of this Temporary Global Note for an equivalent interest
in the Global Note by delivering or causing to be delivered to Euroclear or
Clearstream, Luxembourg a certificate dated not more than 15 days before the
Exchange Date in substantially the following form (copies of which will be
available at the office of Euroclear in Brussels and Clearstream, Luxembourg
in
Luxembourg):
“CERTIFICATE
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
£225,000,000
4.80436
per cent. Notes due 2037
Common
Code 028001428 ISIN XS00280014282 (the “Notes”)
To:
|
Euroclear
Bank S.A./N.V. or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme
|
This
is
to certify that as of the date hereof, and except as set out below, the Notes
held by you for our account (1) are owned by person(s) that are not citizens
or
residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations
or
any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source (“United
States person(s)”),
(2)
are owned by United States person(s) that (a) are foreign branches of United
States financial institutions (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section
1.165-12(c)(1)(iv) (“financial
institutions”))
purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) acquired the Notes
through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold
the Notes through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof
(and in either case (a) or (b), each such United States financial institution
hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, that you may advise
the
Issuer or the Issuer’s agent that it will comply with the requirements of
Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (3) are owned by United States
or
foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted
period (as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)),
and in addition if the owner of the Notes is a United States or foreign
financial institution described in clause (3) above (whether or not also
described in clause (1) or (2)) this is to further certify that such financial
institution has not acquired the Notes for purposes of resale directly or
indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States
or
its possessions.
As
used
herein, “United
States”
means
the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia)
and its “possessions”
include
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and
the
Northern Mariana Islands.
We
undertake to advise you promptly by tested telex on or prior to that date on
which you intend to submit your certificate relating to the Notes held by you
for our account in accordance with your documented procedures if any applicable
statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such
notification it may be assumed that this certificate applies as of such
date.
This
certificate excepts and does not relate to £[•] nominal amount of such interest
in the Notes in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which
we
understand exchange for an equivalent interest in the Global Note (or, if
relevant, exercise of any rights or collection of any interest) cannot be made
until we do so certify.
We
understand that this certificate is required in connection with certain tax
laws
of the United States. In connection therewith, if administrative or legal
proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this
certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorise you to produce
this certificate to any interested party in such proceeding.
Dated:
By:
[Name
of
person giving certificate]
As,
or as
agent for the beneficial owner(s) of the above Notes to which this certificate
relates.”
Upon
any
exchange of a part of this Temporary Global Note for an equivalent interest
in
the Global Note, the portion of the nominal amount hereof so exchanged shall
be
endorsed by or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent in the Schedule hereto,
whereupon the nominal amount hereof shall be reduced for all purposes by the
amount so exchanged and endorsed.
The
Global Note will be exchangeable in accordance with its terms for definitive
Notes (the “Definitive
Notes”)
in
bearer form with Coupons attached.
This
Temporary Global Note is subject to the Conditions and the Trust Deed and until
the whole of this Temporary Global Note shall have been exchanged for equivalent
interests in the Global Note its holder shall be entitled to the same benefits
as if he were the holder of the Global Note for interests in which it may be
exchanged (or the relevant part of it as the case may be) except that (unless
exchange of this Temporary Global Note for the relevant interest in the Global
Note shall be improperly withheld or refused by or on behalf of the Issuer)
no
person shall be entitled to receive any payment on this Temporary Global
Note.
This
Temporary Global Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
until authenticated by or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent.
This
Temporary Global Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
English law.
In
witness whereof the Issuer has caused this Temporary Global Note to be signed
on
its behalf.
Dated
21
December 2006
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
By:
This
Temporary Global Note is authenticated by or on behalf of the Principal Paying
Agent.
By:
Authorised
Signatory
ANY
UNITED STATES PERSON WHO HOLDS THIS OBLIGATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS
UNDER THE UNITED STATES INCOME TAX LAWS, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED
IN
SECTIONS 165(j) AND 1287(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
Schedule
of Exchanges for Interests in the Global Note
The
following exchanges of an interest in this Temporary Global Note for an interest
in the Global Note have been made:
Date
of Exchange
|
Amount
of decrease in nominal amount of this Temporary Global
Note
|
Nominal
amount of this Temporary Global Note following such
decrease
|
Notation
made by or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent
|
Schedule
2
Part
2
Form
of Global Note
ISIN:
XS00280014282
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
(Incorporated
with limited liability in England and Wales)
£225,000,000
4.80436
per cent. Notes due 2037
Global
Note
This
is
to certify that the bearer is entitled on 21 December 2037, or on such earlier
date as the Notes designated above (the “Notes”)
may be
redeemed or repaid to such sum as is determined to be payable on such redemption
or repayment in accordance with the terms and conditions (the “Conditions”)
of the
Notes set out in Schedule 1 to the trust deed dated 21 December 2006 (the
“Trust
Deed”)
between Western Power Distribution (South Wales) plc (the “Issuer”)
and
HSBC Trustee (C.I.) Limited as trustee (the “Trustee”))
upon
presentation and surrender of this Global Note and to interest at the rate
of
4.80436 per cent. per annum on the outstanding nominal amount of the Notes
in
arrear on 21 December in each year, subject to and in accordance with the
Conditions.
The
aggregate nominal amount from time to time of this Global Note shall be that
amount not exceeding £225,000,000 as shall be shown by the latest entry in the
fourth column of Schedule A hereto, which shall be completed by or on behalf
of
the Principal Paying Agent upon exchange of the whole or a part of the Temporary
Global Note initially representing the Notes for a corresponding interest herein
or upon the redemption or purchase and cancellation of Notes represented hereby
or exchanged for Definitive Notes as described below.
This
Global Note is exchangeable in whole but not in part (free of charge to the
holder) for the Definitive Notes described below (1) upon the happening of
an
Event of Default (as defined in Condition 9) by such holder giving notice to
the
Trustee or the Principal Paying Agent, or (2) if this Global Note is held on
behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or the Alternative Clearing
System (each as defined under “Notices”
below)
and any such clearing system is closed for business for a continuous period
of
14 days (other than by reason of holidays, statutory or otherwise) or announces
an intention permanently to cease business or does in fact do so by such holder
giving notice to the Trustee or the Principal Paying Agent or (3) if the Issuer
would suffer a material disadvantage in respect of the Notes as a result of
a
change in the laws or regulations (taxation or otherwise) of any jurisdiction
referred to in Condition 7 which would not be suffered were the Notes in
definitive form and a certificate to such effect signed by two directors of
the
Issuer is delivered to the Trustee, by the Issuer giving notice to the Trustee,
Principal Paying Agent and the Noteholders, of its intention to exchange this
Global Note for Definitive Notes on or after the Exchange Date specified in
the
notice.
On
or
after the Exchange Date the holder of this Global Note may surrender this Global
Note to or to the order of the Principal Paying Agent. In exchange for this
Global Note, the Issuer shall deliver, or procure the delivery of, an equal
aggregate nominal amount of duly executed and authenticated Definitive Notes
having attached to them all Coupons in respect of interest which has not already
been paid on this Global Note.
“Exchange
Date”
means
a
day falling not less than 60 days after that on which the notice requiring
exchange is given and on which banks are open for business in the city in which
the specified office of the Principal Paying Agent is located and except in
the
case of exchange pursuant to (2) above in the cities in which Euroclear and
Clearstream, Luxembourg or, if relevant, the Alternative Clearing System (each
as defined under “Notices”
below)
are located.
Except
as
otherwise described herein, this Global Note is subject to the Conditions and
the Trust Deed and, until it is exchanged for Definitive Notes, its holder
shall
be entitled to the same benefits as if it were the holder of the Definitive
Notes for which it may be exchanged and as if such Definitive Notes had been
issued on the date of this Global Note.
The
Conditions shall be modified with respect to Notes represented by this Global
Note by the following provisions:
Payments
Principal,
any premium and interest in respect of this Global Note shall be paid to its
holder against presentation and (if no further payment falls to be made on
it)
surrender of it to or to the order of the Principal Paying Agent in respect
of
the Notes (or to or to the order of such other Paying Agent as shall have been
notified to the Noteholders for this purpose) which shall endorse such payment
or cause such payment to be endorsed in the appropriate Schedule hereto (such
endorsement being prima
facie
evidence
that the payment in question has been made). References in the Conditions to
Coupons and Couponholders shall be construed accordingly. No person shall
however be entitled to receive any payment on this Global Note falling due
after
the Exchange Date, unless exchange of this Global Note for Definitive Notes
is
improperly withheld or refused by or on behalf of the Issuer. Condition 5.7(c)
and Condition 7.1(d) will apply to the Definitive Notes only.
Notices
So
long
as this Global Note is held on behalf of Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”)
or
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream,
Luxembourg”)
or
such other clearing system as shall have been approved by the Trustee (the
“Alternative
Clearing System”),
notices required to be given to Noteholders may be given by their being
delivered to Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg or, as the case may be,
the
Alternative Clearing System, rather than by publication as required by the
Conditions and any such notice shall be deemed to have been given to the
Noteholders on the day after the day on which such notice is delivered to
Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, or, as the case may be, the Alternative
Clearing System.
Prescription
Claims
in
respect of principal, any premium and interest in respect of this Global Note
will become void unless it is presented for payment within a period of 10 years
(in the case of principal and premium) and five years (in the case of interest)
from the appropriate Relevant Date (as defined in Condition 7).
Meetings
For
the
purposes of any meeting of Noteholders, the holder hereof shall (unless this
Global Note represents only one Note) be treated as two persons for the purposes
of any quorum requirements of a meeting of Noteholders and, at any such meeting,
as having one vote in respect of each £50,000 nominal amount of Notes for which
this Global Note may be exchanged.
Purchase
and Cancellation
Cancellation
of any Note represented by this Global Note which is required by the Conditions
to be cancelled will be effected by reduction in the nominal amount of this
Global Note on its presentation to or to the order of the Principal Paying
Agent
for notation in Schedule A. Notes may only be purchased by the Issuer or any
of
its respective Subsidiaries if (where they should be cancelled in accordance
with the Conditions) they are purchased together with the right to receive
interest therein.
Trustee’s
Powers
In
considering the interests of Noteholders in circumstances where this Global
Note
is held on behalf of any one or more of Euroclear, Clearstream, Luxembourg
and
an Alternative Clearing System, the Trustee may, to the extent it considers
it
appropriate to do so in the circumstances, (a) have regard to such information
as may have been made available to it by or on behalf of the relevant clearing
system or its operator as to the identity of its accountholders (either
individually or by way of category) with entitlements in respect of this Global
Note and (b) consider such interests on the basis that such accountholders
were
the holder of this Global Note.
Redemption
at the option of Noteholders on a Restructuring Event
The
option of the Noteholders provided for in Condition 6.4 may be exercised by
the
holder of this Global Note giving notice to the Principal Paying Agent within
the time limits relating to the deposit of Notes with a Paying Agent set out
in
that Condition substantially in the form of the redemption notice available
from
any Paying Agent and stating the nominal amount of Notes in respect of which
the
option is exercised and at the same time presenting this Global Note to the
Principal Paying Agent for notation accordingly in Schedule C
hereto.
This
Global Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until
authenticated by or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent.
This
Global Note is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English
law.
In
witness whereof the Issuer has caused this Global Note to be signed on its
behalf.
Dated
21
December 2006
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
By:
This
Global Note is authenticated by or on behalf of the Principal Paying
Agent.
By:
Authorised
Signatory
ANY
UNITED STATES PERSON WHO HOLDS THIS OBLIGATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO LIMITATIONS
UNDER THE UNITED STATES INCOME TAX LAWS, INCLUDING THE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED
IN
SECTIONS 165(j) AND 1287(a) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
Schedule
A
Nominal
Amount of this Global Note
The
aggregate nominal amount of this Global Note is as shown by the latest entry
made by or on behalf of the nominal Paying Agent in the fourth column below.
Increases in the nominal amount of this Global Note following exchanges of
a
part of the Temporary Global Note for interests in this Global Note and
reductions in the nominal amount of this Global Note following redemption or
the
purchase and cancellation of Notes are entered in the second and third columns
below.
Date
|
Reason
for change in the nominal amount of this Global Note
|
Amount
of such change
|
Initial
nominal amount and nominal amount of this Global Note following such
change
|
Notation
made by or on behalf of the nominal Paying Agent (other than in respect
of
the initial nominal amount)
|
21
December 2006
|
Not
applicable
|
Not
applicable
|
£
zero
|
Not
applicable
|
Schedule
B
Interest
Payments in respect of this Global Note
The
following payments of interest in respect of this Global Note and the Notes
represented by this Global Note have been made:
Date
made
|
Amount
of interest due and payable
|
Amount
of interest paid
|
Notation
made by or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent
|
Schedule
C
Exercise
of Noteholders’ Option on Restructuring Event
The
following exercises of the option of the Noteholders provided for in Condition
6.4 have been made in respect of the stated nominal amount of this Global
Note:
Date
of Exercise
|
Nominal
amount of this Global Note in respect of which exercise is
made
|
Date
on which redemption of such nominal amount is due
|
Notation
made by or on behalf of the Principal Paying Agent
|
Schedule
3
Provisions
for Meetings of Noteholders
Interpretation
1
|
In
this Schedule:
|
1.1
|
references
to a meeting are to a meeting of Noteholders and include, unless
the
context otherwise requires, any
adjournment
|
1.2
|
“agent”
means a holder of a voting certificate or a proxy for a
Noteholder
|
1.3
|
“block
voting instruction”
means an instruction issued in accordance with paragraphs 8 to
14
|
1.4
|
“Extraordinary
Resolution”
means a resolution passed at a meeting duly convened and held in
accordance with this Trust Deed by a majority of at least 75 per
cent. of
the votes cast
|
1.5
|
“voting
certificate”
means a certificate issued in accordance with paragraphs 5, 6, 7
and 14
and
|
1.6
|
references
to persons representing a proportion of the Notes are to Noteholders
or
agents holding or representing in the aggregate at least that proportion
in nominal amount of the Notes for the time being
outstanding.
|
Powers
of meetings
2
|
A
meeting shall, subject to the Conditions and without prejudice to
any
powers conferred on other persons by this Trust Deed, have power
by
Extraordinary Resolution:
|
2.1
|
to
sanction any proposal by the Issuer or the Trustee for any modification,
abrogation, variation or compromise of, or arrangement in respect
of, the
rights of the Noteholders and/or the Couponholders against the Issuer,
whether or not those rights arise under this Trust
Deed
|
2.2
|
to
sanction the exchange or substitution for the Notes of, or the conversion
of the Notes into, shares, notes or other obligations or securities
of the
Issuer or any other entity
|
2.3
|
to
assent to any modification of this Trust Deed, the Notes or the Coupons
proposed by the Issuer or the
Trustee
|
2.4
|
to
authorise anyone to concur in and do anything necessary to carry
out and
give effect to an Extraordinary
Resolution
|
2.5
|
to
give any authority, direction or sanction required to be given by
Extraordinary Resolution
|
2.6
|
to
appoint any persons (whether Noteholders or not) as a committee or
committees to represent the Noteholders’ interests and to confer on them
any powers or discretions which the Noteholders could themselves
exercise
by Extraordinary Resolution
|
2.7
|
to
approve a proposed new Trustee and to remove a
Trustee
|
2.8
|
to
approve the substitution of any entity for the Issuer (or any previous
substitute) as principal debtor under this Trust Deed
and
|
2.9
|
to
discharge or exonerate the Trustee from any liability in respect
of any
act or omission for which it may become responsible under this Trust
Deed,
the Notes or the Coupons
|
provided
that the special quorum provisions in paragraph 19 shall apply to any
Extraordinary Resolution (a “special
quorum resolution”)
for
the purpose of sub-paragraph 2.2 or 2.8 or for the purpose of making a
modification to this Trust Deed, the Notes or the Coupons which would have
the
effect of:
(i) |
modifying
the maturity of the Notes or the dates on which interest is payable
on
them or
|
(ii) |
modifying
the outstanding nominal amount of, or interest on, or other amounts
in
respect of or reducing or altering the method of calculating the
rate of
interest on, or any redemption amount of, the Notes
or
|
(iii) |
changing
the currency of payment of the Notes or the Coupons
or
|
(iv) |
modifying
the provisions in this Schedule concerning the quorum required at
a
meeting or the majority required to pass an Extraordinary Resolution
or
|
(v) |
amending
this proviso.
|
Convening
a meeting
3
|
The
Issuer or the Trustee may at any time convene a meeting. If it receives
a
written request by Noteholders holding at least 10 per cent. in nominal
amount of the Notes for the time being outstanding and is indemnified
to
its satisfaction against all costs and expenses, the Trustee shall
convene
a meeting. Every meeting shall be held at a time and place approved
by the
Trustee.
|
4
|
At
least 21 days’ notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given
and of the day of the meeting) shall be given to the Noteholders.
A copy
of the notice shall be given by the party convening the meeting to
the
other parties. The notice shall specify the day, time and place of
meeting
and, unless the Trustee otherwise agrees, the nature of the resolutions
to
be proposed and shall explain how Noteholders may appoint proxies
or
representatives, obtain voting certificates and use block voting
instructions and the details of the time limits
applicable.
|
Arrangements
for voting
5
|
If
a holder of a Note wishes to obtain a voting certificate in respect
of it
for a meeting, he must deposit it for that purpose at least 48 hours
before the time fixed for the meeting with a Paying Agent or to the
order
of a Paying Agent with a bank or other depositary nominated by the
Paying
Agent for the purpose. The Paying Agent shall then issue a voting
certificate in respect of it.
|
6
|
A
voting certificate shall:
|
6.1
|
be
a document in the English language
|
6.2
|
be
dated
|
6.3
|
specify
the meeting concerned and the serial numbers of the Notes deposited
and
|
6.4
|
entitle,
and state that it entitles, its bearer to attend and vote at that
meeting
in respect of those Notes.
|
7
|
Once
a Paying Agent has issued a voting certificate for a meeting in respect
of
a Note, it shall not release the Note until
either:
|
7.1
|
the
meeting has been concluded or
|
7.2
|
the
voting certificate has been surrendered to the Paying
Agent.
|
8
|
If
a holder of a Note wishes the votes attributable to it to be included
in a
block voting instruction for a meeting, then, at least 48 hours before
the
time fixed for the meeting, (i) he must deposit the Note for that
purpose
with a Paying Agent or to the order of a Paying Agent with a bank
or other
depositary nominated by the Paying Agent for the purpose and (ii)
he or a
duly authorised person on his behalf must direct the Paying Agent
how
those votes are to be cast. The Paying Agent shall issue a block
voting
instruction in respect of the votes attributable to all Notes so
deposited.
|
9
|
A
block voting instruction shall:
|
9.1
|
be
a document in the English language
|
9.2
|
be
dated
|
9.3
|
specify
the meeting concerned
|
9.4
|
list
the total number and serial numbers of the Notes deposited, distinguishing
with regard to each resolution between those voting for and those
voting
against it
|
9.5
|
certify
that such list is in accordance with Notes deposited and directions
received as provided in paragraphs 8, 11 and 14
and
|
9.6
|
appoint
a named person (a “proxy”)
to vote at that meeting in respect of those Notes and in accordance
with
that list.
|
A
proxy
need not be a Noteholder.
10
|
Once
a Paying Agent has issued a block voting instruction for a meeting
in
respect of the votes attributable to any
Notes:
|
10.1
|
it
shall not release the Notes, except as provided in paragraph 11,
until the
meeting has been concluded and
|
10.2
|
the
directions to which it gives effect may not be revoked or altered
during
the 48 hours before the time fixed for the
meeting.
|
11
|
If
the receipt for a Note deposited with a Paying Agent in accordance
with
paragraph 8 is surrendered to the Paying Agent at least 48 hours
before
the time fixed for the meeting, the Paying Agent shall release the
Note
and exclude the votes attributable to it from the block voting
instruction.
|
12
|
Each
block voting instruction shall be deposited at least 24 hours before
the
time fixed for the meeting at such place as the Trustee shall designate
or
approve, and in default it shall not be valid unless the chairman
of the
meeting decides otherwise before the meeting proceeds to business.
If the
Trustee requires, a notarially certified copy of each block voting
instruction shall be produced by the proxy at the meeting but the
Trustee
need not investigate or be concerned with the validity of the proxy’s
appointment.
|
13
|
A
vote cast in accordance with a block voting instruction shall be
valid
even if it or any of the Noteholders’ instructions pursuant to which it
was executed has previously been revoked or amended, unless written
intimation of such revocation or amendment is received from the relevant
Paying Agent by the Issuer or the Trustee at its registered office
or by
the chairman of the meeting in each case at least 24 hours before
the time
fixed for the meeting.
|
14
|
No
Note may be deposited with or to the order of a Paying Agent at the
same
time for the purposes of both paragraph 5 and paragraph 8 for the
same
meeting.
|
Chairman
15
|
The
chairman of a meeting shall be such person as the Trustee may nominate
in
writing, but if no such nomination is made or if the person nominated
is
not present within 15 minutes after the time fixed for the meeting
the
Noteholders or agents present shall choose one of their number to
be
chairman, failing which the Issuer may appoint a
chairman.
|
16
|
The
chairman may, but need not, be a Noteholder or agent. The chairman
of an
adjourned meeting need not be the same person as the chairman of
the
original meeting.
|
Attendance
17
|
The
following may attend and speak at a
meeting:
|
17.1
|
Noteholders
and agents
|
17.2
|
the
chairman
|
17.3
|
the
Issuer and the Trustee (through their respective representatives)
and
their respective financial and legal
advisers.
|
No-one
else may attend or speak.
Quorum
and Adjournment
18
|
No
business (except choosing a chairman) shall be transacted at a meeting
unless a quorum is present at the commencement of business. If a
quorum is
not present within 15 minutes from the time initially fixed for the
meeting, it shall, if convened on the requisition of Noteholders
or if the
Issuer and the Trustee agree, be dissolved. In any other case it
shall be
adjourned until such date, not less than 14 nor more than 42 days
later,
and time and place as the chairman may decide. If a quorum is not
present
within 15 minutes from the time fixed for a meeting so adjourned,
the
meeting shall be dissolved.
|
19
|
Two
or more Noteholders or agents present in person shall be a
quorum:
|
19.1
|
in
the cases marked “No
minimum proportion”
in the table below, whatever the proportion of the Notes which they
represent
|
19.2
|
in
any other case, only if they represent the proportion of the Notes
shown
by the table below.
|
Column
1
|
Column
2
|
Column
3
|
Any
meeting except one referred to in column 3
|
Meeting
previously adjourned through want of a quorum
|
|
Required
proportion
|
Required
proportion
|
|
To
pass a special quorum resolution
|
75
per cent.
|
25
per cent.
|
To
pass any other Extraordinary Resolution
|
A
clear majority
|
No
minimum proportion
|
Any
other purpose
|
10
per cent.
|
No
minimum proportion
|
20
|
The
chairman may with the consent of (and shall if directed by) a meeting
adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place. Only
business which could have been transacted at the original meeting
may be
transacted at a meeting adjourned in accordance with this paragraph
or
paragraph 18.
|
21
|
At
least 10 days’ notice of a meeting adjourned through want of a quorum
shall be given in the same manner as for an original meeting and
that
notice shall state the quorum required at the adjourned meeting.
No notice
need, however, otherwise be given of an adjourned
meeting.
|
Voting
22
|
Each
question submitted to a meeting shall be decided by a show of hands
unless
a poll is (before, or on the declaration of the result of, the show
of
hands) demanded by the chairman, the Issuer, the Trustee or one or
more
persons representing 2 per cent. of the
Notes.
|
23
|
Unless
a poll is demanded a declaration by the chairman that a resolution
has or
has not been passed shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without
proof
of the number or proportion of the votes cast in favour of or against
it.
|
24
|
If
a poll is demanded, it shall be taken in such manner and (subject
as
provided below) either at once or after such adjournment as the chairman
directs. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution
of
the meeting at which it was demanded as at the date it was taken.
A demand
for a poll shall not prevent the meeting continuing for the transaction
of
business other than the question on which it has been
demanded.
|
25
|
A
poll demanded on the election of a chairman or on a question of
adjournment shall be taken at once.
|
26
|
On
a show of hands every person who is present in person and who produces
a
Note or a voting certificate or is a proxy has one vote. On a poll
every
such person has one vote for each £50,000 nominal amount of Notes so
produced or represented by the voting certificate so produced or
for which
he is a proxy or representative. Without prejudice to the obligations
of
proxies, a person entitled to more than one vote need not use them
all or
cast them all in the same way.
|
27
|
In
case of equality of votes the chairman shall both on a show of hands
and
on a poll have a casting vote in addition to any other votes which
he may
have.
|
Effect
and Publication of an Extraordinary Resolution
28
|
An
Extraordinary Resolution shall be binding on all the Noteholders,
whether
or not present at the meeting, and on all the Couponholders and each
of
them shall be bound to give effect to it accordingly. The passing
of such
a resolution shall be conclusive evidence that the circumstances
justify
its being passed. The Issuer shall give notice of the passing of
an
Extraordinary Resolution to Noteholders within 14 days but failure
to do
so shall not invalidate the
resolution.
|
Minutes
29
|
Minutes
shall be made of all resolutions and proceedings at every meeting
and, if
purporting to be signed by the chairman of that meeting or of the
next
succeeding meeting, shall be conclusive evidence of the matters in
them.
Until the contrary is proved every meeting for which minutes have
been so
made and signed shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held
and
all resolutions passed or proceedings transacted at it to have been
duly
passed and transacted.
|
Trustee’s
Power to Prescribe Regulations
30
|
Subject
to all other provisions in this Trust Deed the Trustee may without
the
consent of the Noteholders prescribe such further regulations regarding
the holding of meetings and attendance and voting at them as it in
its
sole discretion determines including (without limitation) such
requirements as the Trustee thinks reasonable to satisfy itself that
the
persons who purport to make any requisition in accordance with this
Trust
Deed are entitled to do so and as to the form of voting certificates
or
block voting instructions so as to satisfy itself that persons who
purport
to attend or vote at a meeting are entitled to do
so.
|
This
Trust Deed is delivered on the date stated at the beginning.
WESTERN
POWER DISTRIBUTION (SOUTH WALES) PLC
By:
D. C. S.
OOSTHUIZEN By: XXXXX
X. XXXXX
Title: FINANCE
DIRECTOR Title: COMPANY
SECRETARY
HSBC
TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED
By: XXXXX
XXXXXXXX
Title: TRANSACTION
MANAGER