MARYLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION REOFFERING AGREEMENT Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Potomac Electric Project) 2006 Series
MARYLAND
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$109,500,000
Pollution
Control Revenue Refunding Bonds
(Potomac
Electric Project)
2006
Series
This is a Reoffering Agreement dated
March 10, 2009 among Potomac Electric Power Company (the “Company”), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
& Co. Incorporated, as remarketing agent (the “Remarketing Agent”) under the
Indenture (as hereinafter defined) and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated,
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc., SunTrust Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc. and Wachovia
Bank, National Association (collectively, the “Underwriters”).
SECTION
1.
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BACKGROUND.
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(a) The
Maryland Economic Development Corporation (the “Issuer”) issued $109,500,000
of its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (the “Bonds”) on April 13,
2006. The proceeds of the Bonds were used to refinance a portion of
the cost of acquiring, constructing, installing and equipping certain (a) air
pollution control facilities at the Chalk Point Generating Station, a coal-fired
generating station located in Prince George’s County, Maryland previously owned
by the Company and (b) air and water pollution control facilities at the
Dickerson Generating Station, a coal-fired generating station located in
Xxxxxxxxxx County, Maryland previously owned by the Company.
(b) The
Bonds were issued pursuant to a Trust Indenture, dated as of April 1, 2006 (as
heretofore amended and supplemented, the “Original Indenture”) between
the Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New
York), as trustee (the “Trustee”). At the
Closing Time (as defined below), the Issuer and the Trustee will enter into a
second supplemental indenture supplementing and amending the Original Indenture
for the purpose of (i) modifying the redemption provisions of the Bonds and (ii)
providing that the Bonds will automatically accelerate upon an acceleration of
the Senior Notes (as defined below) (the “Indenture Supplement”) (the
Original Indenture, as so supplemented and amended, the “Indenture”). The
Bonds are limited obligations of the Issuer payable, except to the extent
payable from Bond proceeds or investment earnings thereon, solely from and are
secured solely by a pledge of, revenues received by the Issuer under a Loan
Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2006 (as heretofore amended and supplemented,
the “Loan Agreement”) between the Issuer
and the Company.
(c) As
security for the Bonds, the Trustee holds $109,500,000 principal amount of
senior notes (the “Senior
Notes”) issued under an Indenture dated as of November 17, 2003 (as
heretofore amended and supplemented, the “Original Senior Indenture”)
between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known
as The Bank of New York), as Trustee (the “Senior Indenture
Trustee”). At the
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Closing
Time, the Company will execute a supplemental officer’s certificate for the
purpose of (i) adding an additional covenant with respect to the release date
under the Original Senior Indenture and (ii) providing for redemption of the
Senior Notes upon an acceleration of the Bonds (the “Supplemental Officer’s
Certificate”) (the Original Senior Indenture, as so amended and
supplemented, the “Senior
Indenture”). The Senior Notes are secured by $109,500,000
principal amount of first mortgage bonds (the “Collateral Bonds”) issued
under a Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated July 1, 1936 between the Company and
The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York and as
successor-in-interest to The Xxxxx National Bank of Washington, D.C.), as
trustee (as heretofore amended and supplemented, the “Mortgage”).
(d) In
accordance with the Indenture, the Company has elected to convert the interest
rate mode on the Bonds to the “term rate” (as defined in the Indenture, the
“Term
Rate”). The Bonds, subject to certain conditions, are expected
to be converted on March 17, 2009 (the “Conversion Date”) to bear
interest from that date at a fixed rate until maturity. Accordingly,
the conversion to a fixed rate requires the Remarketing Agent to offer for sale
and use its best efforts to sell the Bonds.
(e) A
preliminary reoffering circular dated March 5, 2009, including the Appendices
thereto and all documents incorporated therein by reference (the “Preliminary Reoffering
Circular”), which the Company deems final as of its date, except for the
omission of the interest rate and selling compensation and other terms of the
Bonds depending on such matters, and a reoffering circular dated March 10, 2009,
which includes the information omitted from the Preliminary Offering Circular,
will be distributed in connection with the reoffering of the
Bonds. The reoffering circular, as it may be amended or supplemented,
including the Appendices thereto (collectively, the “Appendix”), and all documents
incorporated therein by reference is collectively referred to as the “Reoffering
Circular.”
(f) The
Remarketing Agent shall not incur any liability to the Company for its actions
as Remarketing Agent or Underwriter, as the case may be, pursuant to the terms
hereof or of the Indenture except for (i) its negligence or willful misconduct
and (ii) the liabilities for which the Remarketing Agent and each Underwriter
has agreed to indemnify the Company and others pursuant to Section
5(a)(ii).
SECTION
2.
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
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(a) The
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries contained or
incorporated by reference in the Appendix to the Reoffering Circular present
fairly the financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the
results of its operations for the periods specified; such financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied (except as stated therein) with
respect to the periods involved; the schedules incorporated by reference in the
Appendix present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the
financial statements and other financial data incorporated by reference in the
Appendix comply as of the date hereof, and as of the Closing Time
will
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comply,
in all material respects with the requirements of paragraph (e) of Item 10 of
Regulation S-K.
(b) PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, which audited certain of the financial statements incorporated by reference
into the Appendix are independent public accountants as required by the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) The
Reoffering Circular does not, and, at the Closing Time, the Reoffering Circular,
as it may be amended and supplemented, will not, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided, however, that (i) none of the representations
and warranties in this paragraph (c) shall apply to any statements in or
omissions from the Reoffering Circular made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Remarketing Agent,
the Underwriters or the Issuer expressly for use therein, or to the information
contained under the headings “THE ISSUER” and “TAX MATTERS,” and the information
in Appendices B and C, and (ii) at any time prior to the Closing Time, the
Company shall have the right to require, and shall have the right of prior
approval of, any amendment or supplement to the Reoffering
Circular.
(d) The
documents specified in the Appendix as being incorporated by reference therein,
when they were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), complied in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the
regulations promulgated thereunder and any documents which become incorporated
by reference after the date hereof and prior to the termination of the
reoffering of the Bonds, when they are filed with the Commission, will comply in
all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(e) The
Company hereby confirms the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements on the part of the Company in the Loan Agreement and in the Tax
Certificate and Agreement (the “Tax Agreement”) dated as of
April 13, 2006, executed and delivered by the Company. Any
information supplied in writing by the Company to XxXxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxx
LLP and designated as being for use by such firm to render its opinion as Bond
Counsel, is true, correct and complete in all material respects.
(f) There
is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation at law or in equity or
before or by any public board or body pending to which the Company is a party
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the
Company, wherein the decision, ruling or finding would (i) have a material
adverse effect on the transactions contemplated by this Reoffering Agreement or
the Reoffering Circular or have a material adverse effect on the validity or
enforceability of the Bonds, the Senior Indenture or this Reoffering Agreement
or (ii) except as set forth in the Reoffering Circular, have a material adverse
effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise)
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or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse
Effect”).
(g) Since
April 1, 2008, the Company has filed timely all reports and all definitive proxy
and information statements required to be filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder; the
Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“PHI”); and
PHI meets the “Registrant Requirements” for eligibility for the use of Form S-3
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
(h) The
Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of
Virginia with all corporate power and other authority, including franchises,
necessary to own or lease its properties and conduct its business and enter into
this Reoffering Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Reoffering
Circular. The Company is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation in all other states and jurisdictions wherein the nature of the
business transacted by the Company or its ownership or leasing of properties
requires such qualification, except to the extent where a failure to so qualify
would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) The
Company has no “significant subsidiaries” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation
S-X.
(j) The
authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth
in the Reoffering Circular. The shares of issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by PHI; none of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive
or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(k) Since
the respective dates as of which information contained in the Reoffering
Circular is given, and except as set forth therein or contemplated thereby,
there has not been any material adverse change in, the business, condition
(financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business (such change, a “Material Adverse
Change”).
(l) Prior
to the original issuance of the Bonds, the Company filed with the District of
Columbia Public Service Commission (“DCPSC”) an application and any
necessary amendment or amendments thereto, and obtained from the DCPSC an
appropriate order authorizing the borrowing from the Issuer of the proceeds from
the sale of the Bonds pursuant to the Loan Agreement and the transactions
related thereto and the Company has complied with all terms and conditions
contained in such order. The Company is not required to obtain any
other consents, approvals or authorizations in connection with the transactions
contemplated in the Reoffering Circular.
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(m) The
Reoffering Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company.
(n) The
sale of the Bonds to the Remarketing Agent will not be subject to any Maryland
issuance, transfer or other documentary stamp taxes.
(o) The
Company is in compliance with all previous undertakings made by it pursuant to
Section (b)(5)(i) of Rule 15c2-12 of the Commission (“Rule 15c2-12”) under the
Exchange Act.
(p) The
Senior Indenture has been duly authorized, and the Senior Indenture (excluding
the Supplemental Officer’s Certificate) has been, and at the Closing Time, the
Senior Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company; and
the Senior Indenture (excluding the Supplemental Officer’s Certificate)
constitutes, and, at the Closing Time, the Senior Indenture will constitute, the
valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(q) The
Senior Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company
and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, and
will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture ratably with all other
securities outstanding thereunder.
(r) The
Mortgage has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; and
the Mortgage constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting mortgagees’ and other creditors’
rights and to general equity principles and except to the extent that the law of
the jurisdictions in which the mortgaged property is located may limit or deny
certain remedial provisions of the Mortgage.
(s) The
Collateral Bonds have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity
principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Mortgage ratably with
all other securities outstanding thereunder.
(t) The
descriptions of the Bonds (except for information relating to the status of
interest on the Bonds for tax purposes), the Indenture, the Senior Notes,
the
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Senior
Indenture, the Mortgage and the Collateral Bonds in the Reoffering Circular are
accurate in all material respects.
(u) The
Company has good and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company
and described in the Mortgage as subject to the lien thereof, and good title to
all other property owned by the Company and so described as subject to such
lien, in each case, subject only to such exceptions, defects and qualifications
as do not (A) affect the value of any such properties that are material to the
business of the Company in any material respect or (B) affect the use made or
proposed to be made of such properties by the Company in any material respect;
and the descriptions of all such property contained in the Mortgage are correct
and adequate for purposes of the lien purported to be created by the
Mortgage.
(v) The
Mortgage constitutes a valid first lien upon and security interest in the
interest held by the Company in its property covered by the Mortgage, subject to
no mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance of any
kind (collectively, “Liens”) prior to the lien of
the Mortgage except “permitted liens” (as defined in the Mortgage) and other
Liens permitted by the Mortgage and to such other matters as do not materially
affect the security for the Collateral Bonds. The Mortgage by its
terms effectively subjects to the lien thereof all property (except property of
the kinds specifically excepted from the lien of the Mortgage) acquired by the
Company after the date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage, subject to
no Lien prior to the lien of the Mortgage except (A) “permitted liens” (as
defined in the Mortgage), (B) any Lien thereon existing at the time of such
acquisition, (C) any Lien for unpaid portions of the purchase price thereof
placed thereon at the time of such acquisition, (D) with respect to real
property, any Lien placed thereon following the acquisition thereof by the
Company and prior to the recording and filing of a supplemental indenture or
other instrument specifically describing such real property, (E) as otherwise
provided in Article XII of the Mortgage, (F) except for possible claims in
bankruptcy and possible claims for taxes and (G) such other matters as would not
materially affect the security for the Collateral Bonds. The Mortgage
has been duly recorded in the only counties in which any real property subject
to the lien of the Mortgage is located, and all requisite steps have been taken
to perfect the security interest of the Mortgage in personal property of the
Company; all taxes and recording and filing fees required to be paid with
respect to the execution, recording or filing of the Mortgage, the filing of
financing statements and similar documents and the issuance of the Collateral
Bonds will have been paid.
(w) The
Company is not in violation of its articles of incorporation or by-laws or in
default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant
or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property
or assets of the Company is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”)
except for such defaults as have not resulted, and are not reasonably expected
to result, in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and
performance of this Reoffering Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein (including the remarketing of the Bonds and the
use of the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds as
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described
in the Reoffering Circular) and compliance by the Company with its obligations
hereunder, under the Senior Indenture, under the Mortgage and under the Loan
Agreement do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or
passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or
Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien, other than the Lien of the Mortgage, upon any property
or assets of the Company pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for
such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Liens as would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or any applicable law,
statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Company or any of its assets, properties or operations. As
used herein, a “Repayment
Event” means any event or condition that gives the holder of any note,
debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such
holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of
all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company.
(x) No
labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of
the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or
imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers,
manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either case, could reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) The
Company possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other
authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued
by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or
bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by it and is in compliance
with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except (a) as
disclosed in the Reoffering Circular or (b) where the failure so to possess any
such Governmental License or to comply therewith would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are
valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such
Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full
force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has
not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of any such Governmental Licenses, the revocation or modification
of which would, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(z) All
of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company, and under
which the Company holds properties described in the Reoffering Circular, are in
full force and effect, and the Company has no notice of any claim of any sort
asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company under any of the leases
or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the
Company to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under
any such lease or sublease, that, if the subject of an adverse decision, ruling
or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(aa) The
Company is not, and upon the sale of the Bonds as herein contemplated and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Reoffering
Circular will not be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an
“investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
(bb) Except
as described in the Reoffering Circular and except as would not, singly or in
the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company is not in
violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule,
regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or
administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative
order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human
health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface
water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including,
without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened
release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances,
hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to
the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the
Company has all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any
applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with their requirements, (C)
there are no pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters,
claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or
proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company and (D) to the
knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances that could
reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or
remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or
governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company relating to
Hazardous Materials or Environmental Laws.
(cc) (i) The
Company has established and maintains the following:
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(A) a
system of “internal accounting controls” as contemplated in Section
13(b)(2)(B) of the 1934 Act (the “Accounting
Controls”);
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(B) “disclosure
controls and procedures” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under
the 1934 Act (the “Disclosure Controls”);
and
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(C) “internal
control over financial reporting” as such term is defined in Rule
13a-15(f) under the 1934 Act (the “Reporting Controls” and,
together with the Accounting Controls and the Disclosure Controls, the
“Internal
Controls”);
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(ii) The
Internal Controls are evaluated by the Company periodically as appropriate
and, in any event, as required by
law;
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(iii) Based
on the most recent evaluations of the Accounting Controls, the Accounting
Controls perform the functions for which they were established in all
material respects;
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(iv) As
of the most recent date as of which the effectiveness of the design and
operation of the Disclosure Controls were evaluated by the Company, the
Disclosure Controls were effective to provide reasonable assurance that
material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries that is
required to be disclosed in reports filed with, or submitted to, the
Commission under the Exchange Act (I) is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission rules and
forms and (II) is accumulated and communicated to management, including
its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate,
to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure;
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(v) As
of December 31, 2008 (the most recent date as of which the Reporting
Controls were evaluated by the Company), the Reporting Controls were
effective based on criteria established in Internal Control–Integrated
Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Xxxxxxxx Commission; and
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(vi) Since
the respective dates as of which the Internal Controls were last
evaluated, nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has
caused the Company to conclude that (I) the Accounting Controls do not
perform the functions for which they were established in all material
respects or (II) the Disclosure Controls or the Reporting Controls are not
effective (within the meaning of the evaluation standards identified
above).
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(dd) The
Company is in compliance in all material respects with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002 and the rules and regulations of the Commission that have been adopted
thereunder, all to the extent that such Act and such rules and regulations are
in effect and applicable to the Company.
(ee) All
representations, warranties and agreements of the Company shall survive delivery
of the Bonds to the Underwriters regardless of any investigations made by any of
the Underwriters or on its behalf.
SECTION
3.
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REMARKETING
AND CLOSING.
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(a) On
the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities
contained herein and in the other agreements referred to herein and subject to
the terms and conditions set forth herein:
(i) the
Remarketing Agent shall offer and use its best efforts to sell the Bonds
to the Underwriters on the Conversion
Date;
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(ii) the
Underwriters, acting jointly and severally, shall reoffer and use their
best efforts to sell the Bonds on the Conversion Date at a price equal to
100% of the principal amount thereof; and
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(iii) on
the date hereof, the Remarketing Agent (having consulted with the
Underwriters) has determined the Term Rate to be 6.20% per annum and has
provided notice thereof to the
Trustee.
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(b) The
Closing of the transactions contemplated herein shall be held in Washington,
D.C. at the offices of the Company, or at such other place as the Company and
the Remarketing Agent shall mutually agree upon in writing, at 10:00 A.M., New
York City time, on the Conversion Date. The Conversion Date is
sometimes herein called the “Closing Date,” and the hour
and date of closing is herein called the “Closing Time.”
(c) In
connection with the reoffering of the Bonds, the Company shall pay the
Underwriters at the Closing Time a fee in the amount of $739,125, plus
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Such fee shall be paid by wire
transfer in immediately available funds to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
on behalf of the Underwriters. The Company and the Remarketing Agent
acknowledge and agree that no additional fee shall be owing to the Remarketing
Agent in connection with the remarketing of the Bonds under Section 2 of the
Remarketing Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2006, by and between the Company and
the Remarketing Agent.
SECTION
4.
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CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING.
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(a) The
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Time, of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 hereof and in all certificates
of officers of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the
performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder to
be performed at or prior to the Closing Time, and to the following further
conditions:
(i) The
Indenture and the Senior Indenture shall have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered (the Indenture Supplement and the Supplemental
Officer’s Certificate having been executed and delivered in the form
heretofore approved by the Remarketing Agent) and the Underwriters shall
have received executed originals or copies thereof.
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(ii) At
the Closing Time, the Underwriters shall have
received:
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(A) The
opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, of (i) XxXxxxxx Xxxxxxx &
Xxxx LLP, Bond Counsel, in the form attached as Appendix C to the
Reoffering Circular and covering the matters set forth in Xxxxxxxx X-0,
X-0 xxx X-0 xxxxxx, (xx) Xxxx X. Xxxx, Esq., General Counsel of the
Company, covering the matters set forth in Exhibit B hereto, (iii)
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, special counsel to the Company, covering the
matters set forth in Exhibit C hereto, and (iv) Xxxxx
&
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00
XxXxxxx
XXX, counsel to the Underwriters; and such counsel shall have received
such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them
to pass upon such matters;
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(B) A
certificate, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Underwriters, of the Chairman, the President, any Senior Vice President,
any Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the
Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that, to the best of
his or her knowledge: (i) since the respective dates as of which
information contained in the Reoffering Circular is given, and except as
set forth in or contemplated by the Reoffering Circular or a document
incorporated by reference therein, there has not been any Material Adverse
Change; (ii) the Company has duly performed all of its obligations under
such agreements to be performed at or prior to the Closing Time; and (iii)
each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the
Reoffering Agreement is true and correct as of the Closing
Time;
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(C) Evidence,
reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, to the effect that Standard
& Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc.
(“S&P”), shall
have given the Bonds a rating of “BBB+”, Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.
(“Moody’s”) shall
have given the Bonds a rating of “Baa1” and Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”) shall have given
the Bonds a rating of “A”;
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(D) A
letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, dated as of the date of this
Reoffering Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Underwriters and a bringdown with respect to such letter dated the Closing
Date; and
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(E) Such
additional certificates and other documents as the Underwriters may
reasonably request to evidence performance of or compliance with the
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties of this Reoffering
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Reoffering
Circular, all such certificates and other documents to be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and their counsel,
Xxxxx & XxXxxxx LLP.
|
(b) The
Underwriters shall have the right to terminate their obligations hereunder to
reoffer and sell the Bonds (and such termination shall not constitute a default
for purposes of Section 6 hereof) by notice from Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated in writing of their election to do so between the date hereof and
the Closing Time, if at any time hereafter and prior to the Closing
Time:
(i) legislation
shall be passed by the House of Representatives or the Senate of the
Congress of the United States, or favorably reported for passage to either
the House of Representatives or the Senate by any committee of either such
body to which such legislation shall have been referred for consideration,
a
|
11
decision
by a court established under Article III of the Constitution of the United
States or the Tax Court of the United States shall be rendered, or a
ruling, regulation or order of the Treasury Department of the United
States or the Internal Revenue Service shall be made or proposed, in any
case having the purpose or effect of imposing federal income taxation, or
any other event shall have occurred which results in the imposition of
federal income taxation, upon revenues or other income of the general
character to be derived by the Issuer from the Loan Agreement, or upon
interest received on obligations of the general character of the Bonds,
which, in the opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, might
materially and adversely affect the market price of the Bonds, or the
market price generally of obligations of the general character of the
Bonds, or would make it impracticable to market the Bonds on the terms and
in the manner contemplated in the Reoffering Circular;
|
|
(ii) any
legislation, ordinance, rule or regulation shall be enacted or adopted, or
any order or declaration shall be issued, by any governmental body,
department or agency in the State of Maryland or in any other state in
which the Company shall be doing business, or a decision by any court of
competent jurisdiction within such states shall be rendered which, in the
opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, might materially and
adversely affect the market price of the Bonds, or would make it
impracticable to market the Bonds on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Reoffering Circular;
|
|
(iii) a
ruling, regulation or official statement by, or on behalf of, the
Commission shall be issued or made to the effect that the issuance,
offering or sale of the Bonds or obligations of the general character of
the Bonds, as contemplated hereby or by the Reoffering Circular, is or
would be in violation of any provision of the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act or the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture
Act”);
|
|
(iv) legislation
shall be passed by the House of Representatives or the Senate of the
Congress of the United States of America, or favorably reported for
passage to either the House of Representatives or the Senate by any
committee of either such body to which such legislation shall have been
referred for consideration, a decision by a court of the United States of
America shall be rendered, or a ruling, regulation or official statement
by or on behalf of the Commission or other governmental agency having
jurisdiction of the subject matter shall be made or proposed, in any case
to the effect that the Bonds, or obligations of the general character of
the Bonds, are not exempt from registration, qualification or other
requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust
Indenture Act;
|
|
(v) the
information contained or incorporated by reference in the Reoffering
Circular shall be untrue or incorrect in any material respect, shall
contain any untrue or misleading statement of a material fact, or shall
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements
|
12
contained
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
|
|
(vi) legislation
shall be enacted by any legislative body which would adversely affect the
exemption of interest on the Bonds from Maryland income
taxation;
|
|
(vii) additional
material restrictions not in force as of the date hereof shall have been
imposed upon trading in securities generally by any governmental authority
or by any national securities exchange or any suspension of or limitation
on trading in securities generally on any national securities exchange, or
any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company in any such
exchange or in the over-the-counter market or if there is a material
disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the
United States;
|
|
(viii) the
New York Stock Exchange or other national securities exchange or any
governmental authority shall impose, as to the Bonds or similar
obligations, any material restrictions not now in force, or increase
materially those now in force, with respect to the extension of credit by,
or the charge to the net capital requirements of,
underwriters;
|
|
(ix) a
general banking moratorium shall have been established by federal, New
York or Maryland authorities;
|
|
(x) the
Bonds shall not have been rated at least “BBB+” by S&P, “Baa1” by
Moody’s and “A” by Fitch;
|
|
(xi) an
outbreak of hostilities or an escalation thereof, a declaration of war by
Congress, another substantial calamity or crisis or another event or
occurrence of a similar character shall have occurred, which, in the
opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, materially and adversely
affects the market price of the Bonds or would make it impracticable to
market the Bonds on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Reoffering Circular; or
|
|
(xii) there
shall have occurred any change in or affecting the business, properties,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company from that set
forth or incorporated by reference in the Reoffering Circular which, in
the opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, materially and
adversely affects the investment quality or marketability of the
Bonds.
|
SECTION
5.
|
COVENANTS.
|
(a) (i) The
Company will indemnify and hold harmless (A) the Remarketing Agent and each
Underwriter, any member, director, officer, official or employee of the
Remarketing Agent or any Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls the
Remarketing Agent or any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and (B) the Issuer, any
director, officer, official or employee of the Issuer and each person, if any,
who controls the Issuer
13
within
the meaning of Section 15 or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively, the
“Issuer Indemnified
Parties”), against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
whatsoever caused by any untrue or misleading statement or alleged untrue or
misleading statement of a material fact contained in the Reoffering Circular, as
it may be amended or supplemented, distributed in connection with the reoffering
of the Bonds or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages and
liabilities shall have been caused by an untrue or misleading statement or
omission or an alleged untrue or misleading statement or omission which shall
have been based upon (X) with respect to the indemnification of the parties
referred to in clause (A) above, information relating to the Remarketing Agent
or any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Remarketing Agent
or such Underwriter expressly for use therein and (Y) with respect to the
indemnification of the Issuer Indemnified Parties, information relating to the
Issuer furnished to the Company in writing by the Issuer expressly for use
therein.
(ii) The
Remarketing Agent agrees, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless (A) the Company, any member, director,
officer or employee, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, and (B) the Issuer Indemnified Parties, against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities whatsoever caused by any untrue or misleading statement
or alleged untrue or misleading statement of a material fact contained in the
Reoffering Circular, as it may be amended or supplemented, distributed in
connection with the reoffering of the Bonds or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the
extent and only to the extent such untrue or misleading statement or alleged
untrue or misleading statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any
such documents in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished
to the Company in writing by the Remarketing Agent or such Underwriter expressly
for use in the Reoffering Circular or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(iii) In
case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be
instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity is
required pursuant to any of the two preceding paragraphs, such person
(hereinafter called the “indemnified party”) shall
promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought
(hereinafter called the “indemnifying party”) in
writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall
retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such
proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to
such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall
have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such
indemnified party shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i)
the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to
the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such
proceeding
14
(including
any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to local counsel) for all such indemnified parties, unless representation of
more than one indemnified party by the same counsel would be inappropriate due
to actual or potential differing interests between them, and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the event
of such a conflict, such firm shall be designated in writing (x) by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
(a)(i)(A) of this Section 5, (y) by the Issuer in the case of the Issuer
Indemnified Parties and (z) by the Company in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to (a)(ii) of this Section 5. The indemnifying party shall
not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its prior
written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses contemplated by the third
sentence of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after the receipt by
the indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party for the fees and expenses to
which such indemnified party is entitled hereunder in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any
indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(iv) If
the indemnification provided for in (a)(i)(A) or (a)(ii)(A) of this
Section 5 is unavailable to an indemnified party under such paragraph, in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then
the indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party,
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one
hand, and the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from
the reoffering and sale of the Bonds or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the
Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages and
liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the
one hand, and the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters, on the other hand,
shall be deemed to be in the
15
same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the reoffering and sale of the Bonds
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total
commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith. The
relative fault of the Company, and the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters,
shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein not misleading relates to information supplied by
the Company or by the Remarketing Agent or an Underwriter and the parties’
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Remarketing Agent and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section, neither the
Remarketing Agent nor any Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount
in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Bonds were
reoffered and distributed to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that
the Remarketing Agent or such Underwriter, as the case may be, has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.
(v) The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 5 and the
representations and warranties of the Company shall remain operative and in full
force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Reoffering Agreement,
(ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Remarketing
Agent, their respective officers or directors or any other person controlling
the Company or the Remarketing Agent and (iii) sale and delivery of any of the
Bonds.
(vi) The
provisions of this Section 5 shall inure to the benefit of the Issuer
Indemnified Parties as third party beneficiaries.
(b) The
Company hereby authorizes the use by the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters
of the Reoffering Circular and the information contained therein in connection
with the reoffering and sale of the Bonds. The Company will promptly
notify Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated of any Material Adverse Change
occurring before the Closing Date or until distribution of the Bonds is complete
which would require a change in the Reoffering Circular (including the Appendix)
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading in connection with the sale of the
Bonds. After such notification, if, in the
16
opinion
of the Company, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated or counsel for the
Underwriters, a change would be required in the Reoffering Circular in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, true and not misleading, then such change will be made in the Reoffering
Circular and the Company will supply copies of the Reoffering Circular as so
amended to the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters for
distribution. The Company may deem the distribution of the Bonds to
be complete on the Closing Date unless otherwise notified by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
& Co. Incorporated on or prior to such date. The Company will
provide to the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters, not less than two
business days after the date hereof, such number of copies of the Reoffering
Circular as the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters shall request for
distribution to purchasers of the Bonds.
(c) The
Company will advise Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated promptly of the
institution of any legal or regulatory proceedings prior to the Closing Time
affecting the transactions contemplated by this Reoffering
Agreement.
(d) At
or prior to the Closing Time, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished
to the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters, to the extent not publicly
available, copies of the Indenture, the Senior Indenture and all amendments and
supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such
quantities as the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters may reasonably
request.
SECTION
6.
|
PAYMENT
OF EXPENSES.
|
Whether or not the Bonds are
remarketed, the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters shall be under no
obligation to pay expenses incident to the transactions contemplated hereby. All
reasonable expenses and costs to effect the reoffering and sale of the Bonds
(including, without limitation, the fee payable to the Underwriters and the
out-of-pocket expenses of the Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters, the
reasonable fees and disbursements of XxXxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, the
reasonable fees and disbursements of Xxxxx & XxXxxxx LLP, the expenses and
costs for the preparation, printing, photocopying, execution and delivery of the
Reoffering Circular, the Indenture, the Senior Indenture, this Reoffering
Agreement and all other agreements and documents contemplated hereby, as well as
all accountants’ fees, rating agency fees and all trustee fees) shall be paid by
the Company. Nothing in this Section 6 shall limit the right of the
Company to refrain from paying, or from proceeding against the Remarketing Agent
or the Underwriters with respect to, such costs and expenses if the Remarketing
Agent or the Underwriters shall have defaulted hereunder.
SECTION
7.
|
NOTICE.
|
Any notice or other communication to be
given hereunder will be in writing and mailed or delivered to:
17
The
Company:
|
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx,
X.X. 00000
Attention:
Treasurer
|
|
The
Remarketing Agent:
|
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
1221
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
The
Underwriters:
|
|
c/o
Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
1221
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|
The
Issuer:
|
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
0xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Executive
Director
|
|
SECTION
8.
|
APPLICABLE
LAW.
|
This Reoffering Agreement shall be
governed by, and interpreted under, the laws of the State of New
York.
SECTION
9.
|
EXECUTION
OF COUNTERPARTS.
|
This Reoffering Agreement may be
executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be regarded as an original
and all of which shall constitute one and the same document.
SECTION
10.
|
SEVERABILITY.
|
If any clause, provision or section
hereof shall be ruled invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent
jurisdiction, the invalidity or unenforceability of such clause, provision or
section shall not affect any of the remaining clauses, provisions or sections
hereof.
[Signatures
appear on the following page]
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company, the
Remarketing Agent and the Underwriters, intending to be legally bound, have
caused their duly authorized representatives to executive and deliver this
Reoffering Agreement as of the date first written above.
By:
|
/s/
XXXXX X. XxXXXXX
|
|
Name: Xxxxx
X. XxXxxxx
Title: Vice
President and Treasurer
|
XXXXXX
XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED,
as
Remarketing Agent
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
KAYNAZ ROLCHSAR
|
||
Name: Kaynaz
Rolchsar
Title: Vice
President
|
|||
XXXXXX
XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
|
|||
KEYBANC
CAPITAL MARKETS INC.
|
|||
SUNTRUST
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX, INC.
|
|||
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
|
|||
By:
|
XXXXXX
XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
|
||
By:
|
/s/
KAYNAZ ROLCHSAR
|
||
Name: Kaynaz
Rolchsar
Title: Vice
President
|
19
Exhibit
A-1
[LETTERHEAD
OF XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX & XXXX LLP]
March 17,
2009
Maryland
Economic
Development
Corporation
Baltimore,
Maryland
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
KeyBanc
Capital Markets Inc.
SunTrust
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
c/o
Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
1221
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Maryland Economic Development
Corporation (the “Issuer”) has previously issued its Pollution Control Revenue
Refunding Bonds (Potomac Electric Project) 2006 Series (the
“Bonds”). In connection with (1) the conversion on April 17, 2008 of
the interest borne by the Bonds from an Auction Rate to a Weekly Rate (the
“Weekly Rate Conversion”), (2) the modification of the Trust Indenture dated as
of April 1, 2006 (the “Original Indenture”), between the Issuer and The Bank of
New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as trustee (the
“Trustee”) pursuant to the First Supplemental Trust Indenture and Supplemental
Loan Agreement dated as of January 1, 2009 (the “First Supplemental Indenture
and Agreement”), among the Issuer, Potomac Electric Power Company (the
“Company”) and the Trustee (the “First Modification”), (3) the termination on
January 9, 2009 of the financial guaranty insurance policy previously issued by
Ambac Assurance Corporation (“Ambac”) for the benefit of the holders of the
Bonds (the “Bond Insurance Termination”), (4) the conversion on the date hereof
of the interest borne by the Bonds from a Weekly Rate to a Term Rate to maturity
(the “Term Rate Conversion”) and (5) the modification of the Original Indenture,
as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture and Agreement,
pursuant to the Second Supplemental Trust Indenture dated as of March 17, 2009
(the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), between the Issuer and the Trustee (the
“Second Modification”; together with the Weekly Rate Conversion, the First
Modification, the Bond Insurance Termination and the Term Rate Conversion,
collectively, the “Transaction”), we have examined:
(i) the
Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental
Indenture and Agreement and the Second Supplemental Indenture (as so amended and
supplemented, the “Indenture”);
A-1-1
Maryland
Economic
Development
Corporation, et
al.
March 17,
2009
Page
3
(ii) the
Loan Agreement dated as of April 1, 2006, between the Issuer and the Company (as
amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture and Agreement, the
“Loan Agreement”);
(iii) the
Release Agreement dated as of January 9, 2009, among Ambac, the Trustee, the
Issuer, the Company and Pepco BTE, Inc.;
(iv) relevant
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations
thereunder (collectively, the “Code”);
(v) relevant
provisions of Sections 10-101 through 10-132, inclusive, of the Economic
Development Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (the “Act”);
and
(vi) other
proofs submitted to us relative to the Transaction.
All capitalized terms used herein that
are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the
Indenture.
For the purposes of this opinion, we
have assumed, without investigation, that immediately prior to the Transaction,
the interest on the Bonds was excludable from gross income for federal income
tax purposes and the interest on the Bonds was not includible in the alternative
minimum taxable income of individuals, corporations or other taxpayers as an
enumerated item of tax preference or other specific adjustment. We
have also assumed that the Company complied during all periods subsequent to the
issuance of the Bonds and prior to the date hereof, and will continue strictly
to comply, with the provisions of the Loan Agreement, including (without
limitation) Section 5.2 thereof. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, we have made no investigation of, and are rendering no opinion
regarding, (i) the use of the proceeds of the Bonds; (ii) any investment of such
proceeds or of any moneys or securities that may be deemed to be proceeds of the
Bonds under the provisions of the Code; (iii) the use of any portion of the
facilities financed or refinanced with the proceeds of the Bonds; (iv) the
payment of any rebates with respect to the Bonds; or (v) any other matters
occurring prior to or subsequent to the issuance of the Bonds that may affect
the tax exemption for the Bonds.
Based upon the foregoing, it is our
opinion that, under existing statutes, regulations and decisions, the
Transaction, in and of itself, will not adversely affect (i) the excludability
of the interest on the Bonds from gross income for federal income tax purposes
and (ii) the status of interest on the Bonds as not includible in the
alternative minimum taxable income of individuals, corporations or other
taxpayers as an enumerated item of tax preference or other specific
adjustment.
The opinions expressed above are
limited to the matters set forth above, and no other opinions should be inferred
beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to
supplement this opinion if any applicable laws or interpretations
thereof
A-1-2
Maryland
Economic
Development
Corporation, et
al.
March 17,
2009
Page
3
change
after the date hereof or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that
might change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.
This opinion is solely for the use of
the addressees in connection with the Transaction and, without our prior written
consent, may not be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to in any
legal opinion, document or other report, and may not be furnished to any other
person or entity without our prior written consent. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, this opinion may not be relied upon by any
person or entity to whom it is not specifically addressed.
This opinion is furnished by us as Bond
Counsel pursuant to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Reoffering Agreement dated March 10,
2009, among the Company, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, as remarketing
agent, and the underwriters named therein. No attorney-client
relationship has existed or exists between our firm and any addressee in
connection with the Transaction or by virtue of this opinion.
Very truly yours,
X-0-0
Xxxxxxx
X-0
[LETTERHEAD
OF XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX & XXXX LLP]
March 17,
2009
Maryland
Economic
Development
Corporation
Baltimore,
Maryland
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
KeyBanc
Capital Markets Inc.
SunTrust
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
c/o
Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
1221
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
As Bond Counsel to Maryland Economic
Development Corporation (the “Issuer”), we rendered legal advice and assistance
in the preparation of the Reoffering Circular dated March 10, 2009 (the
“Reoffering Circular”), relating to the Issuer’s Pollution Control Revenue
Refunding Bonds (Potomac Electric Project) 2006 Series (the
“Bonds”). Rendering such assistance involved, among other things,
reviews of and reports on certain public records, documents and
proceedings. We do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Reoffering Circular
except as expressly provided herein.
Based on such review, the portions of
the Reoffering Circular captioned as follows fairly summarize the legal matters
therein referred to: “The Bonds” (excluding the second and third
sentences of the second paragraph under the caption “Security,” the material
under the caption “Book-Entry Only System” and the references to The Depository
Trust Company’s book-entry only system); “The Agreement” (excluding the material
under the caption “Refunding Certain Prior Bonds; Issuance of Bonds” and the
third paragraph under the caption “Tax-Exempt Status of the Bonds”); and “The
Bond Indenture.” The statements and information under the caption
“Tax Matters” are true and correct in all material respects.
We express no view as to the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Maryland and the federal
laws of the United States of America as currently in effect. The
views expressed above are limited to the matters set forth above, and no
opinions should be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We
assume no obligation to supplement this letter if any applicable laws or
interpretations thereof change after the date hereof or if we become aware of
any facts or circumstances that might change the views expressed herein after
the date hereof.
A-2-1
Maryland
Economic
Development
Corporation, et
al.
March 17,
2009
Page
2
The views expressed herein are solely
for the use of the addressees in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Reoffering Circular and, without our prior
written consent, may not be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to
in any legal opinion, document or other report, and may not be furnished to any
person or entity, provided that this letter may be included in the transcript of
supporting documents in connection with the issuance of the
Bonds. This letter may not be relied upon by the holders of the Bonds
or any other person or entity to whom it is not specifically
addressed.
This letter is furnished by us to meet
the requirement of Section 4(a)(ii) of the Reoffering Agreement dated March 10,
2009 among Potomac Electric Power Company, the remarketing agent for the Bonds
and the underwriters of the Bonds.
Very truly yours,
X-0-0
Xxxxxxx
X-0
[LETTERHEAD
OF XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX & XXXX LLP]
March 17,
2009
Maryland
Economic
Development
Corporation
Baltimore,
Maryland
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
KeyBanc
Capital Markets Inc.
SunTrust
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
c/o
Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
1221
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
As Bond Counsel to Maryland Economic
Development Corporation (the “Issuer”) in connection with the remarketing of the
Issuer’s $109,500,000 Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (Potomac
Electric Project), 2006 Series (the “Bonds”), as limited obligations of the
Issuer, we have examined:
(i) relevant
provisions of Sections 10-101 through 10-132, inclusive, of the Economic
Development Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (the “Act”);
(ii) the
Trust Indenture dated as of April 1, 2006, between the Issuer and The Bank of
New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as trustee (the
“Trustee”), as amended and supplemented, by the First Supplemental Trust
Indenture and Supplemental Loan Agreement dated as of January 1, 2009 (the
“First Supplemental Indenture and Agreement”), among the Issuer, Potomac
Electric Power Company and the Trustee and the Second Supplemental Trust
Indenture dated as of March 17, 2009 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”),
between the Issuer and the Trustee (as amended and supplemented, the
“Indenture”);
(iii) the
Loan Agreement dated as of April 1, 2006, between the Issuer and the Company (as
amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture and Agreement, the
“Loan Agreement”);
(iv) relevant
provisions of the Constitution and laws of the State of Maryland;
and
(v) other
proofs submitted to us relative to the issuance and sale of the
Bonds.
A-3-1
Maryland
Economic
Development
Corporation, et
al.
March 17,
2009
Page
2
In rendering this opinion, we have made
no investigation of, and are rendering no opinion regarding, the title to, liens
on or security interests in real or personal property.
Based upon the foregoing, it is our
opinion that:
(a) The
Indenture and the Loan Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Issuer and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the other parties thereto, the Indenture and the Loan
Agreement constitute the valid and binding obligations of the
Issuer.
(b) The
Indenture and the Loan Agreement are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization and other state and federal laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity, and
enforceability of the indemnification provisions of the Loan Agreement may be
limited by applicable public policy.
We express no opinion as to the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Maryland as currently in
effect. The opinions expressed above are limited to the matters set
forth above, and no other opinions should be inferred beyond the matters
expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion
if any applicable laws or interpretations thereof change after the date hereof
or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that might change the
opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.
This opinion is furnished by us solely
for your use in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Second Supplemental Indenture and, without our prior written
consent, may not be quoted in whole or in part or otherwise referred to in any
legal opinion, document or other report, and may not be furnished to any person
or entity, provided that this opinion may be included in the transcript of
supporting documents in connection with the reoffering of the
Bonds. This opinion may not be relied upon by the holders of the
Bonds or any other person or entity to whom it is not specifically
addressed.
Very truly yours,
A-3-2
Exhibit
B
[PEPCO
LETTERHEAD]
March 17, 2009
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
KeyBanc
Capital Markets Inc.
SunTrust
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
c/o
Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
1221
Avenue of the Americas, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
I am General Counsel of Potomac
Electric Power Company (the “Company”) and am rendering this opinion pursuant to
Section 4(a)(ii) of the Reoffering Agreement, dated March 10, 2009 (the
“Reoffering Agreement”), among the Company, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated, as remarketing agent under the Indenture (as hereinafter defined),
and yourselves, as Underwriters, relating to the reoffering and sale of
$109,500,000 aggregate principal amount of Pollution Control Revenue Refunding
Bonds (Potomac Electric Project) 2006 Series (the “Bonds”) of the Maryland
Economic Development Corporation (the “Issuer”). Terms used herein
and not defined have the meanings provided therefor in the Reoffering
Agreement.
The Bonds were issued under the Trust
Indenture, dated as of April 1, 2006 (as heretofore amended and supplemented,
the “Original Indenture”), by and between the Issuer and The Bank of New York
Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York), as trustee (the
“Trustee”). The Issuer and the Trustee have also entered into a
second supplemental indenture dated as of March 1, 2009 (the “Indenture
Supplement”) for the purpose of (i) modifying the redemption provisions of the
Bonds and (ii) providing that the Bonds will automatically accelerate upon an
acceleration of the Senior Notes (as defined below). The Original
Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the Indenture Supplement, is referred
to herein as the “Indenture.” The Issuer loaned the proceeds of the
Bonds to the Company pursuant to a Loan Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2006,
between the Issuer and the Company for the purpose of refunding a like principal
amount of revenue bonds previously issued by Xxxxxxxxxx County, Maryland and
Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Loan Agreement was amended by a
First Supplemental Trust Indenture and Supplemental Loan Agreement, dated as of
January 1, 2009 (the “First Supplement,” and the Loan Agreement, as so
supplemented, the “Loan Agreement”).
As security for the Bonds, the Trustee
holds $109,500,000 principal amount of senior notes (the “Senior Notes”) issued
under an Indenture dated as of November 17, 2003 (as heretofore amended and
supplemented, the “Original Senior Indenture”) between the Company and The Bank
of New York Mellon (formerly known
X-0
Xxxxx 00,
0000
Xxxx
as The
Bank of New York), as trustee (the “Senior Indenture Trustee”). The
Company has executed a supplemental officer’s certificate, dated as of January
9, 2009 (the “January 2009 Supplemental Officer’s Certificate”), for
the purpose of modifying the transfer restrictions on the Senior Notes, and a
supplemental officer’s certificate, dated as of March 17, 2009 (the “March 2009
Supplemental Officer’s Certificate”) for the purpose of (i) adding an additional
covenant with respect to the release date under the Original Senior Indenture
and (ii) providing for redemption of the Senior Notes upon an acceleration of
the Bonds. The Original Senior Indenture, as amended and supplemented
by the January 2009 Supplemental Officer’s Certificate and the March 2009
Supplemental Officer’s Certificate, is referred to herein as the “Senior
Indenture.”
The Senior Notes are secured by
$109,500,000 principal amount of first mortgage bonds (the “Collateral Bonds”)
issued under a Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated July 1, 1936 between the
Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York
and as successor-in-interest to The Xxxxx National Bank of Washington, D.C.), as
trustee (the “Mortgage Trustee”). The Mortgage and Deed of Trust, as amended and
supplemented by various supplemental indentures, including the supplemental
indenture, dated as of April 1, 2006, establishing the terms of the Collateral
Bonds (the “Mortgage Supplemental Indenture”) is referred to herein as the
“Mortgage.”
I or attorneys under my supervision
have reviewed:
(i) the
Reoffering Agreement;
(ii) the
Reoffering Circular dated March 10, 2009, including the Appendices thereto and
the documents incorporated therein by reference (collectively, the “Reoffering
Circular”), for the remarketing of the Bonds;
(iii) the
Loan Agreement;
(iv) a
facsimile copy of the Bonds received by the Trustee;
(v) the
Original Indenture;
(vi) the
Indenture Supplement;
(vii) the
Original Senior Indenture;
(viii) the January
2009 Supplemental Officer’s Certificate;
(ix) the
March 2009 Supplemental Officer’s Certificate;
(x) a
facsimile copy of the Senior Notes received from the Senior Indenture Trustee in
connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes;
(xi) the
Mortgage;
X-0
Xxxxx 00,
0000
Xxxx
(xii) the
Mortgage Supplemental Indenture;
(xiii) a
facsimile copy of the Collateral Bonds received from the Mortgage Trustee in
connection with the issuance of the Collateral Bonds; and
(xiv) the
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company and its Amended
and Restated By-Laws.
I, or my representatives, also have
examined or caused to be examined originals, or copies that have been certified
or otherwise identified to my or their satisfaction as being true copies, of
such other instruments, certificates and other documents or records as I or they
have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable me to render the opinions set
forth below. In my or my representatives’ review and examination, I
or they have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all
documents submitted to me or them as originals, and the conformity to original
documents of all documents submitted to me or them as copies.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to
the reservations and limitations and exceptions set forth herein, I am of the
opinion that:
1. The
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of each of the District of Columbia and the
Commonwealth of Virginia, with full corporate power to conduct the business now
being conducted by it, to own and operate the properties used and useful in said
business and to execute and deliver and to carry out and perform its obligations
under the Loan Agreement, the Senior Indenture and the Reoffering
Agreement.
2. The
Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is
in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would
not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
3. Each
of the Loan Agreement, the Senior Indenture and the Reoffering Agreement has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
4. The
Senior Notes have
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute
valid securities within the meaning of Section 28:8-110(a)(1) of the District of
Columbia Uniform Commercial Code and Section 8.8A-110(a)(1) of the Virginia
Uniform Commercial Code.
5. The
Mortgage has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and
constitutes a valid and binding instrument of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting mortgagees’ and other creditors’ rights
and to general equity
X-0
Xxxxx 00,
0000
Xxxx
principles
and except to the extent that the law of the jurisdictions in which the
mortgaged property is located may limit or deny certain remedial provisions of
the Mortgage.
6. The
Collateral Bonds are in the form contemplated by the Mortgage, have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles, and
will have been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms, and will be
entitled to the benefits, of the Mortgage.
7. (a)
The execution and delivery of the Loan Agreement, the Senior Indenture and the
Reoffering Agreement, and performance by the Company of its obligations
thereunder, do not and will not violate or constitute a default under (i) the
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or the Amended and Restated
By-Laws of the Company, (ii) any statute, governmental rule or regulation, or
court order by which the Company or its property is bound, (iii) any agreement,
indenture, mortgage, lease, note or other obligation or instrument to which the
Company is a party, excluding, in the case of (ii) or (iii) above, violations or
defaults that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) save and except
for the authorization of the DCPSC duly granted in its Order No. 12713, dated
April 23, 2003 and effective May 16, 2003, in its Formal Case No. 1018, which
order remains in full force and effect, no approval or other action by any
governmental authority or agency is required in connection
therewith.
8. The
Company holds valid and subsisting franchises, licenses and permits authorizing
it to carry on the utility businesses in which it is engaged.
9. The
Company has good and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company
and described in the Mortgage as subject to the lien thereof, subject only to
such exceptions, defects and qualifications as do not (i) affect the value of
any such properties that are material to the business of the Company in any
material respect or (ii) affect the use made or proposed to be made of such
properties by the Company in any material respect; and the descriptions of all
such property contained in the Mortgage are adequate for purposes of the lien
purported to be created by the Mortgage.
10. The
Mortgage constitutes a valid first lien or charge, to the extent that it
purports to be such, upon the interest held by the Company in its property
covered by the Mortgage, subject only to such exceptions, defects,
qualifications and other matters as may be permitted by the Mortgage and to such
other matters as in my opinion do not materially affect the security for the
Collateral Bonds. The Mortgage has been duly recorded in each county
in which real property subject to the lien of the Mortgage is located, and all
requisite steps have been taken to perfect the security interest of the Mortgage
in personal property of the Company; and all taxes and recording and
filing
B-4
March 17,
2009
Page
fees
required to be paid with respect to the execution, recording or filing of the
Mortgage, the filing of financing statements and similar documents and the
issuance of the Collateral Bonds have been paid.
11. The
statements contained in the Reoffering Circular under the captions “THE
AGREEMENT,” “DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR NOTES” and “DESCRIPTION OF FIRST MORTGAGE
BONDS,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of
the Agreement, the Senior Indenture and the Mortgage, are reasonable summaries
of such provisions.
12. The
documents incorporated by reference in Appendix A to the Reoffering Circular
(other than the financial statements, including the notes thereto, and financial
schedules and other financial data included or incorporated therein, or omitted
therefrom, as to which I express no opinion), when they were filed with the
Commission complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
13. The
Company is not an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
In addition, I advise you that, I know
of no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation at law or equity by a
judicial or administrative court or agency, pending or threatened, against the
Company, reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect (i) the validity
or enforceability of the Loan Agreement, the Senior Indenture or the Reoffering
Agreement or (ii) except as disclosed in the Reoffering Circular, the Company or
its business.
Further, I am not passing upon and do
not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Reoffering Circular and make no representations that
I have independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
statements, except insofar as such statements refer specifically to
me. However, based on my or my representatives’ examination of the
Reoffering Circular, on my general familiarity with the affairs of the Company
and on my or my representatives’ participation in conferences with officials and
other representatives of, and other counsel for, the Company, with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the independent accountants of the Company, and with
your representatives and your counsel, I do not believe that the Reoffering
Circular as of its date contained, or as of the date hereof contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing
statement is subject to the qualification that I am not expressing any opinion
or belief on (a) the financial statements, including the notes thereto, the
financial schedules and the other financial data included or incorporated by
reference in the Reoffering Circular and (b) any of the information in the
following sections of the Reoffering Circular:
·
|
The
sections of the Reoffering Circular
headed:
|
B-5
March 17,
2009
Page
o
|
“THE
ISSUER,”
|
|
o
|
“-Book-Entry
Only System,” and
|
|
o
|
“TAX
MATTERS” (or any other information relating to the status of interest on
the Bonds for tax purposes).
|
·
|
The
information included in Appendix B of the Reoffering
Circular.
|
·
|
The
information included in Appendix C of the Reoffering
Circular.
|
My opinions in paragraphs 5 and 6 above
are subject to the following limitations and qualifications:
I express no opinion as
to:
(i) waivers
of defenses or other rights or benefits bestowed by operation of
law;
(ii) releases
or waivers of unmatured claims or rights;
(iii) provisions
requiring amendments and waivers to be in writing;
(iv) provisions
making notices effective even if not actually received; or
(v) provisions
purporting to make a party’s determination conclusive.
No opinion is being expressed herein on
any provision relating to indemnification or contribution in connection with
securities laws or relating to indemnification, conditions of exculpation in
connection with willful, reckless, or criminal acts or negligence of the
indemnified person or entity or the person or entity receiving indemnification
or contribution.
This opinion is given as of the date
and time of delivery hereof solely in connection with settlement of the sale of
the Bonds on the date hereof and no opinion is expressed as to any matter not
explicitly set forth in the numbered paragraphs herein. I assume no
obligation to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or
circumstances that may hereafter come to my attention or any changes in laws
which may hereafter occur.
I am a member of the Bar of the
District of Columbia and the Bar of the State of Maryland, and I express no
opinion herein as to any law other than the laws of the District of Columbia,
the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and the federal law of the United States. With respect
to the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, I
B-6
March 17,
2009
Page
have
received advice, satisfactory to me, from Virginia and Pennsylvania counsel
admitted in such jurisdictions whom I deem fully competent to furnish such
advice.
The opinions contained herein are
rendered solely for your benefit and may not be relied on by any other person,
except that I hereby authorize Xxxxx & XxXxxxx LLP, in connection with
rendering its opinion to you on the date hereof relating to the reoffering of
the Bonds, to rely on such opinions with respect to matters governed by the laws
of the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia
and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The opinions expressed in this
letter are limited to the matters set forth herein, and no opinion should be
inferred beyond those opinions expressly stated. I assume no
obligation to advise you of any facts that come to my attention, or any changes
in law, subsequent to the date hereof.
Very truly yours,
B-7
Exhibit
C
[LETTERHEAD
OF XXXXXXXXX & XXXXXXX LLP]
March 17, 2009
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
KeyBanc
Capital Markets Inc.
SunTrust
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
c/o
Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
1221
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We are special counsel to Potomac
Electric Power Company (the “Company”) and are rendering this opinion pursuant
to Section 4(a)(ii) of the Reoffering Agreement, dated March 10, 2009 (the
“Reoffering Agreement”), among the Company, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated, as remarketing agent under the Indenture (as hereinafter defined),
and yourselves, as Underwriters, relating to the reoffering and sale of
$109,500,000 aggregate principal amount of Pollution Control Revenue Refunding
Bonds (Potomac Electric Project) 2006 Series (the “Bonds”) of the Maryland
Economic Development Corporation (the “Issuer”). The Bonds were
issued under the Trust Indenture, dated as of April 1, 2006 and amended on
January 1, 2009 (as amended, the “Original Indenture”), by and between the
Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York),
as trustee (the “Trustee”), which has been amended and supplemented by a second
supplemental indenture, dated as of March 1, 2009, between the Issuer and the
Trustee for the purpose of (i) modifying the redemption provisions of the Bonds
and (ii) providing that the Bonds will automatically accelerate upon an
acceleration of an aggregate principal amount of $109,500,000 Senior Notes,
Medco Series due September 1, 2022.
We have reviewed the Reoffering
Circular, dated March 10, 2009, including the Appendices thereto and the
documents incorporated therein by reference (collectively, the “Reoffering
Circular”), for the reoffering of the Bonds. We also have reviewed
such corporate records, certificates and other documents and such questions of
law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of rendering
this opinion.
We have assumed that all signatures are
genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and that
all copies of documents submitted to us conform to the
originals.
C-1
March 17,
2009
Page
We have made no investigation for the
purpose of verifying the assumptions set forth herein.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject
to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
The offer and resale of the Bonds by
the Company in accordance with the Reoffering Agreement does not require
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In
expressing this opinion, we have assumed, with your permission, and without
having conducted any independent investigation or analysis with respect to the
matter, that the Bonds have been duly and validly issued and that the interest
thereon is not includable (with only the limited exceptions expressly set forth
in the opinions of bond counsel referred to below) in the gross income of the
owners thereof for United States federal income tax purposes. We note
that you have received (i) an opinion from XxXxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, as
bond counsel, dated as of April 13, 2006, regarding, among other
things, (A) the United States federal income tax treatment of the
interest on the Bonds and (B) the valid issuance of the Bonds by the Issuer and
(ii) an opinion from XxXxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, as bond counsel, of even
date herewith, regarding the United States federal income tax treatment of the
interest on the Bonds following (1) the conversion of the interest rate mode on
the Bonds from an auction rate mode to a weekly rate mode, (2) the modification
of the Indenture pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture Trust Indenture
and Supplemental Loan Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2009, among the Issuer,
the Company and the Trustee, (3) the termination of the financial guarantee
insurance policy previously issued by Ambac Assurance Corporation for the
benefit of the holders of the Bonds, (4) the conversion of the interest rate
mode on the Bonds from a weekly rate mode to a term rate mode and (5) the
modification of the Indenture pursuant to the Second Supplemental Trust
Indenture, of even date herewith, between the Issuer and the
Trustee.
In addition, in accordance with our
understanding with the Company as to the scope of our services in connection
with the offering of the Bonds, as special counsel to the Company, we reviewed
the Reoffering Circular and participated in discussions with your
representatives and those of the Company, your counsel and the Company’s
accountants. On the basis of the information which was reviewed by us
in the course of the performance of the services referred to above, considered
in the light of our understanding of the applicable law and the experience we
have gained through our practice under the federal securities laws, we confirm
to you that nothing came to our attention in the course of such review which has
caused us to believe that the Reoffering Circular as of its date contained, or
as of the date hereof contains, any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
The limitations inherent in the
independent verification of factual matters and the character of determinations
involved in the preparation of the Reoffering Circular are such, however, that
we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness
of the statements contained in the Reoffering Circular. Also,
we
C-2
March 17,
2009
Page
do not
express any opinion or belief as to the financial statements, including the
notes thereto, the financial schedules and the other financial and statistical
data included in the Reoffering Circular and on any of the information in the
following sections of the Reoffering Circular:
·
|
The
sections of the Reoffering Circular
headed:
|
o
|
“THE
ISSUER,”
|
|
o
|
“-Book-Entry
Only System,” and
|
|
o
|
“TAX
MATTERS” (or any other information relating to the status of interest on
the Bonds for tax purposes).
|
·
|
The
information included in Appendix B of the Reoffering
Circular.
|
·
|
The
information included in Appendix C of the Reoffering
Circular.
|
We do not express any opinion on any
laws other than federal securities laws of the United States.
This opinion is given solely for your
benefit in your capacity as Underwriters and may not be relied upon by any other
person without our written consent. This opinion may not be disclosed
to any other person without our written consent.
Very truly yours,
C-3