Great Plains Energy Incorporated 5,000,000 Equity Units (Initially Consisting of 5,000,000 Corporate Units) UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT dated May 12, 2009 Goldman, Sachs & Co. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Exhibit 1.2
EXECUTION VERSION
Great Plains Energy Incorporated
5,000,000 Equity Units
(Initially Consisting of 5,000,000 Corporate Units)
(Initially Consisting of 5,000,000 Corporate Units)
dated May 12, 2009
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
May 12, 2009
XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
and
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Great Plains Energy Incorporated, a Missouri corporation (the “Company”), confirms its
agreement with each of the underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”), subject to the
terms and conditions stated herein, with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the
purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of
5,000,000 Equity Units (“Equity Units”) of the Company (the “Initial Securities”) set forth
opposite their names in Schedule A, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the
Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to
purchase all or any part of an additional 750,000 Equity Units (the “Option Securities,” and,
together with the Initial Securities, the “Securities”) to cover sales of Equity Units in excess of
the number of Initial Securities, if any. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the
“Representatives ”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.
Each Equity Unit has a stated amount of $50 (the “Stated Amount”) and initially consists of
(i) a stock purchase contract (each, a “Stock Purchase Contract”) under which the holder will agree
to purchase, and the Company will agree to sell, on June 15, 2012 (the “Purchase Contract
Settlement Date”), subject to early settlement of such Stock Purchase Contract pursuant to the
provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement (the “Purchase Contract and Pledge
Agreement”), to be dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below), among the Company, The Bank of
New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as collateral agent, custodial agent and securities
intermediary, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as stock purchase contract agent
(the “Stock Purchase Contract Agent”), for a price equal to the Stated Amount per Equity Unit, a
number of shares of common stock (the
“Issuable Common Stock”) of the Company, no par value (the “Common Stock”), determined
pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement and (ii) a 1/20, or 5.0%,
undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of the Company’s 10.00%
subordinated notes due June 15, 2042 (the “Notes”).
The Notes will be issued pursuant to a subordinated indenture (the “Base Indenture”), to be
dated as of the Closing Date between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company,
N.A. (successor to BNY Midwest Trust Company), as trustee (the “Trustee ”). Certain terms of the
Notes will be established pursuant to a supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”) in
accordance with Article Thirteen of the Base Indenture (together with the Base Indenture, the
“Indenture”). The Notes will be issued in book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee
of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), pursuant to a Blanket Issuer Letter of
Representations, dated June 14, 2004 (the “DTC Agreement”), from the Company to the Depositary.
A holder’s ownership interest in the Notes initially will be pledged to secure such holder’s
obligation to purchase the Issuable Common Stock on the Purchase Contract Settlement Date, such
pledge to be on the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement.
The Stock Purchase Contracts will be issued pursuant to the Purchase Contract and Pledge
Agreement. The Stock Purchase Contracts together with the related Notes are herein referred to as
the “Corporate Units.”
A holder of Corporate Units, at its option, may, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement, elect to create “Treasury Units” by substituting
pledged U.S. treasury securities for any pledged ownership interests in the Notes. Unless otherwise
indicated, the term “Equity Units” includes both Corporate Units and Treasury Units.
Pursuant to a remarketing agreement (the “Remarketing Agreement”), the form of which is
attached to the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement, to be entered into among the Company, the
Stock Purchase Contract Agent and the reset agents and remarketing agents to be named therein (the
“Reset Agents and Remarketing Agents”), the Notes will be remarketed, subject to certain terms and
conditions set forth in the Remarketing Agreement.
The “Component Securities” means, collectively, the Stock Purchase Contracts, the Notes and
the Issuable Common Stock.
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Securities (including the Component
Securities) shall be as specified in (i) the Indenture or (ii) the Purchase Contract and Pledge
Agreement (each document listed in clauses (i) and (ii), together with the Remarketing Agreement, a
“Securities Agreement” and collectively, the “Securities Agreements”).
The Company is concurrently publicly offering shares of Common Stock (the “Common Stock
Offering”) through the Representatives and any other underwriters. The offering of the Securities
is not contingent upon completion of the Common Stock Offering; the Common Stock
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Offering is not contingent upon the completion of the offering of the Securities; and the
shares of Common Stock are not being offered together with the Securities.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-159131), to be used in connection
with, among other securities, the public offering and sale of stock purchase contracts of the
Company, debt securities of the Company and units comprised of a combination of the foregoing,
including the Securities. Such registration statement, including the financial statements,
exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the
“Securities Act”), including any required information deemed to be a part of the registration
statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, is called
the “Registration Statement”. The term “Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus dated May
11, 2009 relating to the Securities. The term “Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary
prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, together with the Base Prospectus, that is first
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). The term “Prospectus” shall mean the final
prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, together with the Base Prospectus, that is first
filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this Agreement is executed (the
“Execution Time”) and delivered by the parties hereto. Any reference herein to the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents that are or are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of
Form S-3 under the Securities Act prior to 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on May 12, 2009 (the “Initial
Sale Time”). All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include
any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval System (“XXXXX”).
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information
which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary
Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Initial Sale Time; and all references in this
Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any
Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “Exchange Act”), which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, after the
Initial Sale Time.
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as of the date
hereof, as of the Initial Sale Time, as of the Closing Date (as defined herein) and as of each
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Date of Delivery (if any) (as defined herein) (in each case, a “Representation Date”), as
follows:
(a) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at
the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3)
of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report
filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the time
the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule
163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the
exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, and (iv) as of the Execution Time (with such date
being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (iv)), the Company was and is a
“well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Registration
Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement”, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act, the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the
Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form and the Company
has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form.
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets the requirements for use of
Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has become effective under the
Securities Act on May 11, 2009 and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by
the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been
complied with. In addition, the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto
became effective and at each Representation Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments
thereto (i) complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act, and (ii) did not and will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments
or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued
and at the Closing Date (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at each Date of Delivery),
included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and
warranties in this subsection shall not apply to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which
constitutes the Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act
or (ii) statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Company in writing by any of the Underwriters through the
Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such
information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section
8(b) hereof.
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Each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time each was filed with the
Commission, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering
of the Securities will, at the time of such delivery, be identical to any electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(c) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary
Prospectus dated May 11, 2009, (ii) each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), if any,
identified in Annex I hereto (each, an “Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus”) and (iii) any
other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to
treat as part of the Disclosure Package. The term “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any
“issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (“Rule 433”),
relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or
(ii) is a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i),
whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, in each case in the form filed or required
to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the
Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g). The term “Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus”
means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
At the Initial Sale Time, neither (x) the Disclosure Package nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited
Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered with the Disclosure Package, included any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package or
Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use
therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of
any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.
(d) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (i) at the
time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and (ii) when read together with the other
information in the Disclosure Package, at the Initial Sale Time, and when read together with the
other information in the Prospectus, at the date of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date (and, if
any Option Securities are purchased, at each Date of Delivery), did not or will not include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) Not an Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration
Statement that the Company or another offering participant makes a bona fide offer (within the
meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) of the Securities and (ii) as of the Execution
Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the
Company was not or is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act),
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without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the
Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.
(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue
date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offering and sale of
Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as
described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that
conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. If at any time following issuance of an
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of
which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information
contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Company
has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and has promptly amended or
supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to
statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. Except as described in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have
any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.
(h) Due Incorporation and Qualification. The Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of Missouri with
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, the Component Securities, the Securities, and each
Securities Agreement (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”); and 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 to so qualify and be in good standing would not
result in a Material Adverse Change (as defined herein).
(i) Subsidiaries. Each “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of
Regulation S-X) of the Company (each, a “Subsidiary” and together, the “Subsidiaries”) has been
duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
and 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 Change; except as otherwise disclosed in
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the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock owned directly or indirectly by the Company of each such Subsidiary have been duly authorized
and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or
through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
claim or equity; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued
in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. The
Company has no significant subsidiaries other than Kansas City Power & Light Company and KCP&L
Greater Missouri Operations Company.
(j) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as
set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the
caption “Capitalization and Short-Term Debt.” 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;
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) Accountants. Each firm of accountants who issued their reports on the financial
statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities
Act.
(l) Financial Statements. The historical financial statements and any supporting schedules of
the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus (in each case, other than pro forma financial information) present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated
and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods specified; except as stated
therein, said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis; and any such
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly, in all material
respects, the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the
summary financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus (in each case, other than pro forma financial information) present fairly, in
accordance with GAAP, the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent
with that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The historical pro forma
financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act, as applicable. The assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects
directly attributable to the transactions or events described therein; the related pro forma
adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions in all material respects; and the pro
forma columns therein reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding
historical financial statement amounts in all material respects.
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(m) Authorization of the Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
(n) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act, conforms in all material respects to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission applicable to an indenture that is qualified
thereunder, has been duly authorized by the Company, at the Closing Date, will have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and when validly executed and delivered by the Company and
the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the
effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(o) Authorization of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement. The Purchase Contract and
Pledge Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company, at the Closing Date, will have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and when validly executed and delivered by the Company and
the other parties thereto, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(p) Authorization of the Remarketing Agreement. The Remarketing Agreement has been duly
authorized by the Company and when validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other
parties thereto, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the
effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and except that rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited
by federal or state securities laws or public policy.
(q) Authorization of the Notes. The Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have
been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the
Closing Date and each Date of Delivery, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by
the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement
of creditors’ rights and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and will be entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture.
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(r) Authorization of the Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance
and sale pursuant to this Agreement, the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement and the Indenture
and, at the Closing Date and each Date of Delivery, will have been duly executed and delivered by
the Company and when authenticated pursuant to the provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge
Agreement and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement and the Indenture, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the
extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(s) Accurate Disclosure. The Securities, the Component Securities and the Securities
Agreements conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus and the factual statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” are accurate in all
material respects and fairly present the information provided.
(t) Authorization of the Issuable Common Stock. The shares of Issuable Common Stock have been
duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when issued and delivered pursuant to
the provisions of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement and Stock Purchase Contracts, will be
duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to
the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to the
instruments defining the same; and the issuance of the Issuable Common Stock will not be subject to
any preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. No holder of the Issuable
Common Stock will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.
(u) Material Changes or Material Transactions. Since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
except as may otherwise be stated therein or contemplated thereby, (a) there has been no material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Change”) and (b) there have been no
transactions entered into by the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise other
than those in the ordinary course of business which are material with respect to the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(v) No Defaults. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its
articles of incorporation, charter or by-laws. Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, neither the Company nor
any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement,
note, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by
which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or
any of the Subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Agreement or Instrument” and,
9
collectively, the “Agreements and Instruments”). The execution and delivery of the
Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, any
material Agreements and Instruments, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions
of the Articles of Incorporation, charter or by-laws of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or
any applicable law, administrative regulation or administrative or court order or decree.
(w) Regulatory Approvals. The Company has made all necessary filings and obtained all
necessary consents, orders or approvals in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities
or will have done so by the time the Securities shall be issued and sold, and no consent, approval,
authorization, order or decree of any other court or governmental agency or body is required for
the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as
may be required under state securities laws.
(x) Legal Proceedings; Contracts. Except as may be set forth, incorporated or deemed
incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit or
proceeding before or by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending,
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting, the Company or its
subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change, or might
materially and adversely affect its properties or assets or would reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; and there are no contracts or documents which are required to be filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement by the Securities Act which have not been so filed.
(y) Franchises. The Company and the Subsidiaries hold, to the extent required, valid and
subsisting franchises, licenses and permits authorizing them to carry on the regulated utility
businesses in which they are engaged in the territories from which substantially all of the
Company’s consolidated gross operating revenue is derived, except where the failure to hold such
franchises, licenses and permits would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
(z) Environmental Laws. Except as described, incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference
in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, (A) neither the Company
nor any of the Subsidiaries is 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, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous
Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively,
10
“Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and the Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations
and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each 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 or any of the Subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances
that would 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 or any of the Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any
Environmental Laws.
(aa) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, upon the issuance and sale of the
Securities as contemplated herein and the application of the net proceeds thereof as described in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment
company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(bb) ERISA. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with
all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no
“reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as
defined in ERISA) for which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries would have any material
liability; the Company and the Subsidiaries have not incurred and do not expect to incur any
material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal
from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Section 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each
“pension plan” for which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries would have any liability that is
intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects
and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of
such qualification.
(cc) Insurance. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance
in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective
businesses and the value of their respective properties.
(dd) Taxes. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and local
income and franchise tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof and have paid all
taxes due thereon, except such as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and
no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which has
had, nor does the Company have any knowledge of any tax deficiency which, if determined adversely
to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material
Adverse Change.
(ee) Internal Controls. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (A) make and keep accurate
books and records and (B) maintain internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance
that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, (ii) transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements and to maintain
accountability for its assets, (iii) access to its assets is permitted only
11
in accordance with management’s authorization and (iv) the reported accountability for its
assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals. Except as described in the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal
year, there has been (I) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting (whether or not remediated) and (II) no change in the Company’s internal control over
financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(ff) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx. The Company is in compliance, in all material respects, with all
applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated
in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans, and the requirement that the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries maintain the following, among other, controls and
procedures:
(i) a system of “internal accounting controls” as contemplated in
Section 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act;
(ii) “disclosure controls and procedures” as such term is defined in
Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act; and
(iii) “internal control over financial reporting” as such term is defined in
Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act.
(gg) Pending Proceedings and Examinations. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a
pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, and the Company
is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection
with the offering of the Securities.
(hh) Regulation M. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action prohibited by Regulation M under the Exchange Act in connection with the offering of
Securities.
Any certificate signed by any director or officer of the Company and delivered to the
Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by
the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby on the date of such certificate
and, unless subsequently amended or supplemented, at each Representation Date subsequent thereto.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained
and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to
purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per Equity Unit set forth in Schedule B, the
number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus
any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase
pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.
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(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants to
the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, the right to purchase, at their election, at a Date of
Delivery that will occur on or prior to the thirteenth calendar day immediately following, and
including, the Closing Date, up to an additional 750,000 Option Securities, at the purchase price
per Equity Unit set forth in Schedule B, for the sole purpose of covering sales of Equity Units in
excess of the aggregate number of Initial Securities. Any such election to purchase Option
Securities may be exercised only by written notice from the Representatives to the Company setting
forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the
option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and
date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but in no event
earlier than the later of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) the second business day after the date of
such notice (unless the Representatives and the Company agree in writing to a shorter period), and
unless the Representatives and the Company otherwise agree in writing, no later than 10 business
days after the date of such notice.
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, the Initial
Securities shall be made at the offices of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, 0000 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives, at 9:30
A.M. (Eastern time) on May 18, 2009, or such other time not later than ten business days after such
date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment
and delivery being herein called “Closing Date”).
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the
Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, such Option
Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed
upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice
from the Representatives to the Company.
Payment for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities shall be made to the Company by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against
delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates for
the Initial Securities and the Option Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that
each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for such Underwriter’s account, to accept
delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities, including any
Option Securities, that it has agreed to purchase. Each of Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. and X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc., individually and not in its capacity as representative of the Underwriters, may
(but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Securities, including
any Option Securities, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the
Closing Date or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not
relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option
Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the
Representatives may request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Date or
the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The certificates for the Initial Securities and
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the Option Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and packaging by the
Representatives in The City of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business
day prior to the Closing Date or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.
SECTION 3. Qualified Independent Underwriter.
The Company hereby confirms its engagement of Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. as, and Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx &
Co. hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as, a “qualified independent
underwriter” within the meaning of Rule 2720(b)(15) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(“FINRA”) with respect to the offering and sale of the Securities. Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co., in its
capacity as qualified independent underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the
“QIU”. As compensation for the services of the QIU hereunder, the Company agrees to pay the QIU
$10,000 on the Closing Date.
SECTION 4. Covenants of the Company
The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to
Section 4(b) hereof, will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B under the Securities Act, and
will promptly notify the Representatives, and confirm the notice in writing, of (i) the
effectiveness during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below) of any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of any supplement or amendment to any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (ii) the receipt of any comments from the Commission
during the Prospectus Delivery Period, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus or for additional information, and (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending
the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification
of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of
any proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary
pursuant to Rule 424 and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether
any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424 was received
for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such
document. The Company will use every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order
and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b) Representatives’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period
beginning on the date of this Agreement and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date,
as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, a prospectus relating to the Securities is no
longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities by an Underwriter
or dealer, including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172
under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (including any amendment or
supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the
Company shall furnish, within a reasonable time prior to filing
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such amendment or supplement, to the Representatives for review a copy of each such proposed
amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or
supplement (except for any amendment or supplement filed under the Exchange Act after the Closing
Date) to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. If requested, the Company will furnish or deliver to
the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein) and copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to
the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical
to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each Underwriter, without charge,
as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter may reasonably request, and the
Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act.
The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery
Period, such number of copies of the Prospectus as such Underwriter may reasonably request. Each
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to
the Underwriters will be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the
Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as
contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus. If, at any time during the Prospectus Delivery
Period, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary to
amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or to amend or supplement the Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus in order that the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may
be, will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at
the Initial Sale Time or at the time it is delivered or conveyed to a purchaser, not misleading, or
if it shall be necessary at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or
supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the
Securities Act, the Company will (1) notify the Representatives of any such event, development or
condition, (2) promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 4(b) hereof, such
amendment or supplement (including by filing under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by
reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus) as may be necessary to correct such
statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus comply with such requirements, and (3) the Company will furnish to the Underwriters,
without charge, such number of copies of such amendment or
15
supplement to the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as the Underwriters may reasonably
request.
(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for
the Underwriters to qualify or register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from
the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws of those jurisdictions designated by the
Representatives, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations
and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. The Company
shall not be required to qualify to transact business or to take any action that would subject it
to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where
it would be subject to taxation as a foreign business. The Company will advise the Representatives
promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating
to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of
any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such
qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use every reasonable effort to obtain
the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(g) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities
sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus.
(h) Reservation of Common Stock. The Company will reserve and keep available at all times,
free of preemptive rights, shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to
satisfy any obligation to issue the Issuable Common Stock.
(i) Remarketing Agreement. On or prior to the date that is 30 days prior to the first day of
the Applicable Remarketing Period (as defined in the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement), the
Company shall have entered into, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the
Stock Purchase Contract Agent enter into, the Remarketing Agreement.
(j) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period and subject to
Section 4(b) hereof, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission all reports and
documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.
(k) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Debt Securities. During the period commencing
on the date hereof and ending on the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the prior written
consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the
Representatives), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell,
transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under
the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any
registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the Company
similar to the Notes or securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities similar to
the Notes (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Notes). The
Underwriters agree that commercial paper or other debt securities with scheduled maturities of less
than one year are not subject to this Section 4(k).
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(l) Restriction on Sale of Certain Securities. During a period of 90 days from the date
hereof, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which
consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representatives), (i) directly or indirectly,
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option
or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to sell or lend or otherwise transfer or
dispose of any Common Stock, or similar securities or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable or repayable for Common Stock or similar securities or file any
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter
into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, or similar
securities, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be
settled by delivery of Common Stock, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply
to (A) the Initial Securities or the Option Securities to be sold hereunder, (B) the Common Stock
Offering, (C) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or
warrant or the conversion of a security in each case outstanding on the date hereof and referred to
in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or granted in accordance with clause (D) of this
Section 4(l) or (D) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted
pursuant to existing employee benefit plans, long-term incentive plans, dividend reinvestment or
direct stock purchase plans, employee savings (401-K) plans and executive compensation plans of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the filing of a registration statement relating to any such
plan.
(m) Final Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet containing only a
description of the Securities, in substantially the form attached hereto as Schedule D, and will
file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act within the time required by
such rule (such term sheet, the “Final Term Sheet”). The Final Term Sheet is an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement.
(n) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and
agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents that it has not made, and agrees with the
Company that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it will not make, any
offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus” or that
would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as those terms are defined in Rule 405 of
the Securities Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the
Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the
Representatives shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer General Use Free
Writing Prospectuses included in Annex I hereto and the electronic road show recording relating to
the Securities. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives is
hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus”. The Company agrees that (i) it
has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the
requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record
keeping.
17
(o) Notice of Inability to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form. If at any time
during the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to
Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement
form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new
registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities,
in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such
registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly
notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary
or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated
in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the
Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall
include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.
(p) Registration Statement Renewal Deadline. If immediately prior to the third anniversary
(the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the
Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline file,
if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration
statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If the
Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will
prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration
statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use
its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after
the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit
the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired
registration statement relating to the Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement
shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration
statement, as the case may be.
(q) Filing Fees. The Company agrees to pay the required Commission filing fees relating to
the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) of the Securities Act without regard to
the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act.
(r) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to
constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of
any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(s) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to the Company’s security
holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a period of
at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the
date of this Agreement that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
18
The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in their sole discretion,
waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or
extend the time for their performance.
SECTION 5. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses
incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities (including all printing and engraving
costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s
counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors to the Company, (iv)
all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and
distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules,
consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the Transaction
Documents, (v) all filing fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or
the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the
qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the
state securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing a “Blue Sky
Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such
qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vi) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review, if any, by
the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the
Securities, (vii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Common Stock,
(viii) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company in
connection with listing of the Corporate Units and Issuable Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange, (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the
Registration Statement, (x) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Representatives
with respect to any road show, including expenses relating to slide production, internet road show
taping and travel, (xi) all fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the
Securities, (xii) all fees charged by the Trustee, the collateral agent, custodial agent and
securities intermediary and the Stock Purchase Contract Agent; (xiii) all fees and expenses
(including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company in connection with approval of
the Notes by the Depositary for “book-entry” transfer and (xiv) all other fees, costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder for which provision is not
otherwise made in this Section 5. Except as provided in this Section 5, Section 7, Section 8 and
Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of their counsel.
SECTION 6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Initial Securities as provided
herein on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties
on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of each Representation Date as though
then made and to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations
hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:
19
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall remain
effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been instituted or be pending or threatened by the Commission, any request on
the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters and the Company shall not have received from
the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the
automatic shelf registration statement form.
(b) Filings under Rule 424 and Rule 433. For the period from the Execution Time to the Closing
Date:
(i) the Company shall have filed any Preliminary Prospectus not previously
filed and the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by
Rule 430B under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period
required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information
required by such Rule 430B, and such post-effective amendment shall have become
effective; and
(ii) the Final Term Sheet and any other material required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act shall have been filed with
the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings under
Rule 433.
(c) Lock-up Agreements. At the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received
agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C
hereto.
(d) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received:
(i) a letter dated the date hereof from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
public or certified public accountants for the Company, addressed to the
Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives with respect
to the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and certain financial
information included or incorporated in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus; and
(ii) a letter dated the date hereof from KPMG LLP, independent public or
certified public accountants for Aquila, Inc., addressed to the Underwriters, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives with respect to the audited
and unaudited consolidated financial statements and certain financial information of
Aquila, Inc. included or incorporated in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(e) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a
letter dated the Closing Date from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public or
20
certified public accountants for the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made
in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (d)(i) of this Section 6, except that the
specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three
business days prior to the Closing Date.
(f) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from the Execution
Time to the Closing Date:
(i) in the judgment of the Representatives, there shall not have occurred any
Material Adverse Change, except as reflected in or contemplated by the Disclosure
Package; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have
been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible
change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating
accorded any securities of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries by any “nationally
recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of
Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.
(g) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinions of (i) Xxxxx & XxXxxxx LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of
such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B-1, and (ii) Xxxx Xxxxxxx, the
Assistant General Counsel of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is
attached as Exhibit B-2.
(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall
have received the favorable opinion of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters, dated
as of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably requested by the
Underwriters.
(i) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a
written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President of the
Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of
such Closing Date, to the effect that, to the best of their knowledge after reasonable
investigation:
(i) the Company has received no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or
threatened by the Commission;
(ii) the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to
Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf
registration statement form;
(iii) there has not occurred any downgrading, and the Company has not received
any notice of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible
change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in
21
the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries by
any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined
for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act;
(iv) for the period from the Execution Time to the Closing Date, there has not
occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(v) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in
Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as
though expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and
(vi) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied
all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to
such Closing Date.
(j) Listing. At the Closing Date, the Company shall have filed a listing application and all
required supporting documents with respect to the Corporate Units and the Issuable Common Stock on
the New York Stock Exchange and the Corporate Units and the Issuable Common Stock shall have been
approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory
distribution, on the New York Stock Exchange, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have
been provided to the Representatives.
(k) Registration of the Corporate Units. The Company will file a registration statement on
Form 8-A with the Commission to register the Corporate Units under the Exchange Act as promptly as
is practicable and shall use its best efforts to have such registration statement become effective
promptly thereafter.
(l) Entry into Securities Agreements. The Company shall have delivered executed copies of
each of the Securities Agreements except the Remarketing Agreement to the Representatives.
(m) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the Underwriters exercise
their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option
Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements
in any certificates furnished by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company hereunder shall be
true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the
Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, shall have received:
(i) Officers’ Certificate. A certificate, dated as of such Date of Delivery,
of the chief executive officer, the President or a Vice President of the Company and
of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that
the certificate delivered at the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6(i) hereof
remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(ii) Opinion of Counsel to the Company. The favorable opinion of Xxxxx &
XxXxxxx LLP, counsel for the Company in form and substance satisfactory to counsel
for the Underwriters, dated as of such Date of Delivery,
22
relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and
otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(g)(i) hereof.
(iii) Opinion of Company General Counsel. The favorable opinion of Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, the Assistant General Counsel of the Company, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such Date of Delivery,
relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and
otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(g)(ii) hereof.
(iv) Opinion of Counsel to the Underwriters. The favorable opinion of Xxxxx
Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating
to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to
the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(h) hereof.
(v) Bring-down Comfort Letter. Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery,
substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the
Representatives pursuant to Section 6(e) hereof, except that the “specified date” in
the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three
days prior to such Date of Delivery.
(n) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date and at each Date of Delivery, the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents
and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of
any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or
agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be
satisfied, this Agreement or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities, on
a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Date, the obligations of the several Underwriters to
purchase the relevant Option Securities may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the
Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be,
and such termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except
that Section 5, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 17 hereof shall at all times be effective and
shall survive such termination.
SECTION 7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this
Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 6 or Section 11(i), the Company
agrees to reimburse the Representative and the other Underwriters, severally, upon demand for all
out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the
Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities,
including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses,
postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
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SECTION 8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter, director,
officer, employee, agent or controlling person may become subject, insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or
is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, including any information
deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact included in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and to reimburse each Underwriter, its
officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons for any and all expenses (including
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives) as such expenses
are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter, officer, director, employee, agent or controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity
agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only
to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers
who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or
expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person may
become subject, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus,
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or
the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,
in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in
24
the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, such director, officer or controlling
person for any and all expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen
by the Company) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Company, such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that
the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the fourth
paragraph concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters and the sixteenth and
seventeenth paragraphs concerning short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover
positions created by short sales by the Underwriters, each under the caption “Underwriting” in the
Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any
liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co., in its capacity as QIU,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the QIU may become
subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or (ii) any act or omission to act or any alleged act or omission
to act by Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. as QIU in connection with any transaction contemplated by this
Agreement or undertaken in preparing for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities, except
as to this clause (iii) to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability results from
the gross negligence or bad faith of Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. in performing the services as QIU, and
will reimburse the QIU for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the QIU in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.
(d) Promptly after receipt by the QIU under subsection (c) above of notice of the commencement
of any action, the QIU shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company
under such subsection, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission
so to notify the Company shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to the QIU
otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against the QIU and
it shall notify the Company of the commencement thereof, the Company shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the QIU (who
shall not, except with the consent of the QIU, be counsel to the Company), and, after notice from
the Company to the QIU of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the Company shall not be
liable to the QIU under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other
expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by the QIU, in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Company shall not, without the written consent of
the QIU, effect the settlement or compromise
25
of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action
or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or
not the QIU is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement,
compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the QIU from all liability arising
out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of QIU.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to
hold harmless Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co., in its capacity as QIU, under subsection (c) above in respect
of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein,
then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the QIU as a result of such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the QIU on
the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the QIU failed to give the notice
required under subsection (d) above, then the Company shall contribute to such amount paid or
payable by the QIU in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits
but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the QIU on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the QIU on the other shall be deemed to be in
the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, bear to the
fee payable to the QIU pursuant to Section 3 hereof. The relative fault 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 relates to information supplied by the
Company on the one hand or the QIU on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access
to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and
the QIU agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection
(e) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (e). The amount paid
or payable by the QIU as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or
defending any such action or claim. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability
which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of the Act.
(g) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but
26
the failure to so notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under
paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and
such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses
and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any liability other than the
indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity
from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the
extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by
written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice
from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to such
indemnified party; provided, however, such indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own
counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of
such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party, unless: (i) the employment of such
counsel has been specifically authorized by the indemnifying party; (ii) the indemnifying party has
failed promptly to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party; or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both
such indemnified party and the indemnifying party or any affiliate of the indemnifying party, and
such indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that either (x) there may be one or more
legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party or such affiliate of the indemnifying party or (y) a conflict may exist between
such indemnified party and the indemnifying party or such affiliate of the indemnifying party (it
being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such
action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising
out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more
than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to a single firm of local counsel) for all such
indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by (i) the Representatives, in the
case of indemnification pursuant to Section 8(a) hereof, or (ii) the Company, in the case of
indemnification pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof, and that all such reasonable fees and expenses
shall be reimbursed as they are incurred).
(h) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent
or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense 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 of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(g) hereof, 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 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such
settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party 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, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any
pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
27
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that
are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as
to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.
SECTION 9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8
hereof is for any reason unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the
offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause
(i) above 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 Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering
of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this
Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discount
received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus
bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and
the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 8(g) hereof, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in
connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in
Section 8(g) hereof with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for
contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall
be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8(g) hereof
for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount received by such Underwriter in
connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty
28
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. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are
several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth
opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer,
employee and agent of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution
as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
SECTION 10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the
Closing Date or on a Date of Delivery, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or
refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date (the
“Defaulted Securities”), then the Representatives shall have the right, within 36 hours thereafter,
to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters,
to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be
agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth.
If, however, the Underwriters shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36-hour
period, and if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities
to be purchased on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the
proportion to the number of Securities set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A
bears to the number of such Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the
consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase such Securities which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date.
If, on the Closing Date or on a Date of Delivery, any one or more of the Underwriters shall
fail or refuse to purchase such Securities and the number of such Securities with respect to which
such default occurs exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, and
arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such
Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without
liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 5, Section 8,
Section 9 and Section 17 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
In any such case, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone
the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if
any, to the Registration Statement, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person
substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under
29
this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any
default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
SECTION 11. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if at any time
(i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or materially
limited by the New York Stock Exchange or the Commission, or trading in securities generally on the
NASDAQ Global Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially
limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on either of such stock
exchanges by the Commission or the FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been
declared by any federal or New York authorities; (iii)there shall have occurred any outbreak or
escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any material
adverse change in the United States or international financial markets, or any change or
development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international
political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities in
the manner and on the terms described in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to enforce
contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives, there shall have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) there shall have occurred a material disruption in
commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States. Any
termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company
to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the
Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5 and Section 7 hereof, (b) any
Underwriter to the Company, or (c) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions
of Section 8, Section 9 and Section 17 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive
such termination.
SECTION 12. No Fiduciary Duty. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this
Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any
related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company,
on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand; (ii) in connection with the
offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and
has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the
Company or its affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no
Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of
the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto
(irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other
matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering
contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several
Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that
involve interests that differ from those of the Company; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided
any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby
and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent
it deemed appropriate.
30
The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims
that the Company may have against the several Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged
breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
SECTION 13. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this
Agreement (i) will remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (A) any
investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the
officers or employees of any Underwriter, or any person controlling the Underwriter, or the
Company, the officers or employees of the Company, or any person controlling the Company, as the
case may be or (B) acceptance of the Securities and payment for them hereunder and (ii) will
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this
Agreement.
SECTION 14. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be mailed, hand delivered or faxed and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Registration Department
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Registration Department
and
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk
with a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
If to the Company:
31
Great Plains Energy Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxx & XxXxxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X’Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X’Xxxxx
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice
to the others.
SECTION 15. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10
hereof, and to the benefit of the directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons
referred to in Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, and in each case their respective successors and
assigns, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors and
assigns” shall not include any purchaser of the Securities as such from any of the Underwriters
merely by reason of such purchase.
SECTION 16. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of
any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or
provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there
shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to
make it valid and enforceable.
SECTION 17. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THAT STATE.
SECTION 18. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all
contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter
hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an
original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties
hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each
party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Section headings herein are for the convenience
of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
32
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was
adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including,
without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 hereof and the contribution
provisions of Section 9 hereof, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the
parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 hereof fairly
allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs
and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto),
as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
33
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and
return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all
counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, GREAT PLAINS ENERGY INCORPORATED |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President — Investor Relations and Treasurer |
|||
34
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives
as of the date first above written.
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO. | ||||
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC. | ||||
Acting as Representatives of the | ||||
several Underwriters named in | ||||
the attached Schedule A. | ||||
By:
|
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. | |||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. | |||
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. | ||||
By:
|
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. | |||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X’Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: Xxxxxxx X’Xxxxxxx | ||||
Title: Managing Director |
35
SCHEDULE A
Amount of | ||||
Securities to | ||||
Underwriters | be Purchased | |||
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. |
1,550,000 | |||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
1,550,000 | |||
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC |
600,000 | |||
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
400,000 | |||
ABN AMRO Incorporated |
250,000 | |||
SunTrust Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc. |
250,000 | |||
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC |
250,000 | |||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx & Co., Inc. |
150,000 | |||
Total |
5,000,000 |
Schedule A
SCHEDULE B
1. The purchase price per Equity Unit to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $48.25,
being an amount equal to the initial public offering purchase price of $50.00 per Equity Unit less
underwriting discounts and commissions of $1.75 per Equity Unit.
Schedule B
SCHEDULE C
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF GREAT PLAINS ENERGY
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
Director | |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Director, President and Chief Operating Officer | |
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Director | |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
|
Director | |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
Director | |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Director | |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
Director | |
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
|
Director | |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Executive Vice President – Finance and Strategic Development and Chief Financial Officer | |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Secretary | |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
Vice President, Investor Relations and Treasurer | |
Xxxx Xxxxxx
|
Vice President and Controller | |
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary |
Schedule C
SCHEDULE D
Final Term Sheet
Pricing Term Sheet dated May 12, 2009 | Registration No. 333-159131 | |
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433 | ||
Supplementing the Preliminary | ||
Prospectus Supplements | ||
dated May 11, 2009 | ||
(To Prospectus dated May 11, 2009) |
Great Plains Energy Incorporated
Concurrent Offerings of
Concurrent Offerings of
10,000,000 Shares of Common Stock, no par value
(the “Common Stock Offering”)
and
(the “Common Stock Offering”)
and
5,000,000 Equity Units
(Initially Consisting of 5,000,000 Corporate Units)
(the “Equity Units Offering”)
(Initially Consisting of 5,000,000 Corporate Units)
(the “Equity Units Offering”)
The information in this pricing term sheet relates only to the Common Stock Offering and the Equity
Units Offering and should be read together with (i) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated May
11, 2009 relating to the Common Stock Offering, including the documents incorporated by reference
therein, (ii) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated May 11, 2009 relating to the Equity Units
Offering, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, and (iii) the related base
prospectus dated May 11, 2009, each filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, Registration Statement No. 333-159131. Terms used but not defined herein have the
meanings ascribed to them in the relevant preliminary prospectus supplement.
Company:
|
Great Plains Energy Incorporated | |
Company Stock Ticker:
|
New York Stock Exchange “GXP” | |
Trade Date:
|
May 12, 2009 | |
Closing Price on May 12, 2009:
|
$14.04 | |
Settlement Date:
|
May 18, 2009 | |
Registration Format:
|
SEC Registered | |
Common Stock Offering |
||
Title of Securities:
|
Common stock, no par value, of the Company | |
Shares Offered:
|
10,000,000 (or a total of 11,500,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock in full). |
Schedule D
Public Offering Price:
|
$14.00 per share / approximately $140 million total (excluding the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock). | |
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions:
|
$0.49 per share / approximately $4.9 million total (excluding the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock). |
|
Estimated Net Proceeds to the Company
from the Common Stock Offering:
|
The net proceeds from the sale of common stock in the Common Stock Offering will be approximately $134,600,000 (or approximately $154,865,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of the Company’s common stock in full), after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. |
|
Concessions and Discounts:
|
The Company has been advised by the representatives that the underwriters propose to offer the shares of common stock directly to the public at the Public Offering Price and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $0.294 per share. After the initial public offering the representatives may change the Public Offering Price and selling concession. | |
Joint Book-Running Managers:
|
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. | |
Joint Lead Manager:
|
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC | |
Senior Co-Manager:
|
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. | |
Co-Manager:
|
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx & Co., L.P., Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA), Inc., and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. | |
Equity Units Offering |
||
Title of Securities:
|
Equity Units (initially consisting of Corporate Units) | |
Number of Equity Units Offered:
|
5,000,000 (5,750,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase up to 750,000 additional Equity Units in full). | |
Aggregate Offering Amount:
|
$250,000,000 ($287,500,000 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase up to 750,000 additional Equity Units in full). | |
Stated Amount per Equity Unit:
|
$50 | |
Public Offering Price:
|
$50 per Equity Unit / approximately $250 million total (excluding the underwriters’ option to purchase up to 750,000 additional Equity Units). | |
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions:
|
$1.75 per Equity Unit / approximately $8.75 million total (excluding the underwriters’ option to purchase up to 750,000 additional Equity Units). |
Schedule D
Interest Rate on the Subordinated Notes:
|
10.00% | |
Contract Adjustment Payment Rate:
|
2.00% per year of the Stated Amount per Equity Unit ($1.00 per year per Stated Amount of an Equity Unit), subject to the Company’s right to defer contract adjustment payments, as described in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering. | |
Deferred Contract Adjustment Payments:
|
Deferred contract adjustment payments would accrue additional contract adjustment payments at the rate of 12.00% per year until paid, compounded quarterly, to, but excluding, the payment date. | |
Total Distribution Rate on the Corporate Units:
|
12.00% | |
Reference Price:
|
$14.00 (public offering price in the Company’s concurrent common stock offering) | |
Threshold Appreciation Price:
|
$16.80 (represents appreciation of approximately 20% over the Reference Price). | |
Minimum Settlement Rate:
|
2.9762 shares of the Company’s common stock (subject to adjustment), equal to the $50 Stated Amount divided by the Threshold Appreciation Price | |
Maximum Settlement Rate:
|
3.5714 shares of the Company’s common stock (subject to adjustment), equal to the $50 Stated Amount divided by the Reference Price | |
Purchase Contract Settlement Date:
|
June 15, 2012 | |
Subordinated Note Maturity Date:
|
June 15, 2042 (which may be modified in connection with a successful remarketing) | |
Estimated Net Proceeds to the Company
from the Equity Units Offering:
|
The net proceeds from the sale of Equity Units in the Equity Units Offering will be approximately $240,750,000 (or approximately $276,937,500 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase up to 750,000 additional Equity Units in full), after deducting the underwriters’ discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. |
|
Concessions and Discounts:
|
The Company has been advised by the representatives that the underwriters propose to offer the Equity Units directly to the public at the Public Offering Price and to selling group members at that price less a selling concession of $1.05 per Equity Unit. After the initial public offering the representatives may change the Public Offering Price, selling concession and discount to broker/dealers. | |
Joint Book-Running Managers:
|
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. | |
Joint Lead Manager:
|
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC | |
Senior Co-Manager:
|
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. |
Schedule D
Co-Managers:
|
ABN AMRO Incorporated, BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, SunTrust Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc. and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx & Co., Inc. | |
Subordinated Note Interest Payment
Dates and Contract Adjustment Payment
Dates:
|
March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2009 (subject to the Company’s right to defer the contract adjustment payments and the interest payments as described in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering). As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering, as of the reset effective date for any successful remarketing, solely with respect to notes that were not remarketed in such remarketing, all then-outstanding deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon) will be paid to the holders of such notes on the immediately following scheduled interest payment date, at the Company’s election, in cash or by issuing additional notes to the holders of such notes in principal amount equal to the amount of such deferred interest (including compounded interest thereon). The additional notes will: (i) have a maturity date of June 15, 2014, (ii) bear interest at an annual rate that is equal to the then market rate of interest for similar instruments (not to exceed 15%), as determined by a nationally-recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company, (iii) be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of the Company’s then existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as such term is defined in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering), and on parity with the notes (prior to the modifications to the ranking of the notes in connection with a successful remarketing); and (iv) be redeemable at the Company’s option at any time at their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption. |
|
Listing:
|
The Company will apply to list the Corporate Units on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GXPPRF”. The Company expects trading of the Corporate Units on the New York Stock Exchange to begin on or about the date of initial issuance of the Corporate Units. | |
CUSIP for the Corporate Units:
|
391164 803 | |
ISIN for the Corporate Units:
|
US3911648034 | |
CUSIP for the Treasury Units:
|
391164 886 | |
ISIN for the Treasury Units:
|
US3911648869 | |
CUSIP for the Subordinated Notes:
|
391164 AC4 | |
ISIN for the Subordinated Notes:
|
US391164AC43 | |
Allocation of the Purchase Price:
|
At the time of issuance, the fair market value of the applicable ownership interest in the notes will be $50 (or 100% of the issue price of a Corporate Unit) and the fair market value of each purchase contract will be $0 (or 0% of the issue price of a Corporate Unit). |
Schedule D
Comparable Yield on the Subordinated Notes: |
11.00% |
|
Creating Treasury Units / Recreating Corporate Units: |
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes that are components of the Corporate Units, holders of Corporate Units will have the right, at any time on or prior to 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, to substitute qualifying Treasury securities for the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio that is a component of the Corporate Unit, but holders of Corporate Units can only make this substitution in integral multiples of 800 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of notes). Similarly, if the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes underlying the Corporate Units, holders of Treasury Units will have the right, at any time on or prior to the second business day immediately preceding the purchase contract settlement date, to substitute the applicable ownership interests in the Treasury portfolio for the qualifying Treasury securities that were a component of the Treasury Units, but holders of Treasury Units can only make this substitution in integral multiples of 800 Treasury Units (or such other number of Treasury Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of notes). |
|
Put Right Following a Failed Final Remarketing: |
On page S-87 of the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering, the phrase “, but not any additional notes issued to pay deferred interest on such notes,” in the first sentence of the paragraph under the heading “Put Right Following a Failed Final Remarketing” should be deleted. |
|
Early Settlement:
|
A purchase contract may be settled for cash prior to the Purchase Contract Settlement Date, subject to certain exceptions and conditions described under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Early Settlement” in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering. If a purchase contract is settled early, the number of shares of common stock to be issued per purchase contract will be equal to the Minimum Settlement Rate, (subject to adjustment as described in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering). | |
Upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change,” as defined in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering, each holder will have the right, subject to certain exceptions and conditions described in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering, to accelerate and settle a purchase contract early at the “fundamental change settlement rate,” which will depend on the stock price in such fundamental change and the date such fundamental change occurs, as described in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering. | ||
Holders of Corporate Units may settle early only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units. If the Treasury portfolio has |
Schedule D
replaced the notes that are components of the Corporate Units, holders of the Corporate Units may settle early only in integral multiples of 800 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of notes). | ||
Holders of Treasury Units may settle early only in integral multiples of 20 Treasury Units. | ||
Early Settlement Upon a Fundamental Change: |
The following table sets forth the fundamental change settlement rate per $50 stated amount of Equity Units based on various hypothetical stock prices and effective dates: |
Effective Date | ||||||||||||||||
Stock price | May 18, 2009 | June 15, 2010 | June 15, 2011 | June 15, 2012 | ||||||||||||
$6.00 |
4.6630 | 4.4096 | 4.0819 | 3.5714 | ||||||||||||
$9.00 |
4.0918 | 3.9545 | 3.8013 | 3.5714 | ||||||||||||
$12.00 |
3.7402 | 3.6433 | 3.5423 | 3.5714 | ||||||||||||
$14.00 |
3.5840 | 3.4981 | 3.4006 | 3.5714 | ||||||||||||
$15.00 |
3.5229 | 3.4409 | 3.3429 | 3.3333 | ||||||||||||
$16.00 |
3.4709 | 3.3922 | 3.2939 | 3.1250 | ||||||||||||
$16.80 |
3.4348 | 3.3587 | 3.2606 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$18.00 |
3.3884 | 3.3162 | 3.2193 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$20.00 |
3.3276 | 3.2617 | 3.1696 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$22.50 |
3.2728 | 3.2145 | 3.1310 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$25.00 |
3.2337 | 3.1825 | 3.1080 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$30.00 |
3.1834 | 3.1435 | 3.0834 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$35.00 |
3.1527 | 3.1205 | 3.0692 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$40.00 |
3.1317 | 3.1044 | 3.0584 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$50.00 |
3.1031 | 3.0811 | 3.0420 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$60.00 |
3.0830 | 3.0640 | 3.0302 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$75.00 |
3.0611 | 3.0452 | 3.0180 | 2.9762 | ||||||||||||
$100.00 |
3.0367 | 3.0250 | 3.0057 | 2.9762 |
The exact stock prices and effective dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case: |
• | if the stock price is between two stock prices in the table or the effective date is between two effective dates in the table, the fundamental change early settlement rate will be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of shares set forth for the higher and lower stock prices and the earlier and later effective dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year; | ||
• | if the stock price is greater than $100.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the first column of the table above), the fundamental change early settlement rate will be the minimum settlement rate; or |
Schedule D
• | if the stock price is less than $6.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the stock prices set forth in the first column of the table above), referred to as the “minimum stock price,” the fundamental change early settlement rate will be determined as if the stock price equaled the minimum stock price, and using straight line interpolation, as described above in the first bullet, if the effective date is between two dates on the table. |
The maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock deliverable under a purchase contract is 4.6630, subject to adjustment in the same manner as each fixed settlement rate as set forth under “Description of the Purchase Contracts—Anti-Dilution Adjustments” in the preliminary prospectus supplement for the Equity Units Offering. | ||
If the Treasury portfolio has replaced the notes that are components of the Corporate Units, holders of the Corporate Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 800 Corporate Units (or such other number of Corporate Units as may be determined by the remarketing agent upon a successful remarketing of notes). Otherwise, a holder of Corporate Units or Treasury Units may exercise the fundamental change early settlement right only in integral multiples of 20 Corporate Units or 20 Treasury Units, as the case may be. |
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including preliminary prospectus supplements each
dated May 11, 2009 and an accompanying prospectus dated May 11, 2009) with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offerings to which this communication relates. Before you
invest, you should read the relevant preliminary prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus
and the other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the
issuer and the offerings. You may get these documents for free by visiting XXXXX on the SEC web
site at xxx.xxx.xxx. Alternatively, copies may be obtained from Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co., Attn:
Prospectus Department, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, call toll-free (000) 000-0000, or fax
(000) 000-0000, or email xxxxxxxxxx-xx@xx.xxxxx.xx.xxx; or from X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.,
National Statement Processing, Prospectus Library, 0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX
00000, (000) 000-0000.
This communication should be read in conjunction with the preliminary prospectus supplements dated
May 11, 2009 and the accompanying prospectus. The information in this communication supersedes the
information in the relevant preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to
the extent inconsistent with the information in such preliminary prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus.
ANY DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES THAT MAY APPEAR BELOW ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMUNICATION AND
SHOULD BE DISREGARDED. SUCH DISCLAIMERS OR OTHER NOTICES WERE AUTOMATICALLY GENERATED AS A RESULT
OF THIS COMMUNICATION BEING SENT VIA BLOOMBERG OR ANOTHER EMAIL SYSTEM.
Schedule D
ANNEX I
LIST OF ISSUER GENERAL USE FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES
1. Final Term Sheet dated May 12, 2009
ANNEX I
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOCK UP FROM DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
FORM OF LOCK UP FROM DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
, 2008
XXXXXXX, XXXXX & CO.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
and
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Re: Proposed Public Offering by Great Plains Energy Incorporated
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, a stockholder and an officer and/or director of Great Plains Energy
Incorporated, a Missouri corporation (the “Company”), understands that the Representatives propose
to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company providing
for the public offering of Equity Units of the Company (the “Securities”). In recognition of the
benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder and an officer
and/or director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be
named in the Underwriting Agreement that, during a period of 90 days from the date of the
Underwriting Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written
consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell,
sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to sell or lend, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Company’s
common stock , no par value (the “Common Stock”) or similar securities or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable or repayable for Common Stock or similar
securities, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the
undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, or file, or cause to be filed, any
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to any of the
foregoing (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”) or (ii) enter into any swap or any other
agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the
economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction
is to be settled by delivery of any Lock-Up Securities or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise.
A-1
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Securities (i) as a
bona fide gift or gifts, (ii) to the immediate family of the undersigned or (iii) to any trust for
the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned,
provided that (1) such donee, transferee or trustee of the trust agree to be bound in writing by
the restrictions set forth herein, (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value,
(3) any such transfer shall not be required to be reported pursuant to Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise
and (4) such donee, transferee or trustee of the trust shall not voluntarily make a filing under
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period. For purposes of this Lock-Up
Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more
remote than first cousin. The undersigned now has, and, except as contemplated by clause (i),
(ii), or (iii) above, for the duration of this Lock-Up Agreement will have, good and marketable
title to the Undersigned’s Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims
whatsoever. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions
with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities
except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
Very truly yours, | ||||||
Signature: | ||||||
Print Name: | ||||||
X-0
XXXXXXX X-0
FORM OF OPINION OF ISSUER’S COUNSEL
1. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act; each of the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus has been filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) in accordance with
Rule 424(b); the Final Term Sheet has been filed pursuant to Rule 433 in accordance with Rule 433;
and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is
in effect nor are any proceedings for such purpose pending before or threatened by the Commission.
2. The Registration Statement (other than the financial statements, financial data,
statistical data and supporting schedules included therein or omitted therefrom and other than the
documents incorporated by reference therein, as to none of which we express any opinion pursuant to
this paragraph 2), as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement, the Preliminary Prospectus (other
than the financial statements, financial data, statistical data and supporting schedules included
therein or omitted therefrom and other than the documents incorporated by reference therein, as to
none of which we express any opinion pursuant to this paragraph 2), at the Initial Sale Time, and
the Prospectus (other than the financial statements, financial data, statistical data and
supporting schedules included therein or omitted therefrom and other than the documents
incorporated by reference therein, as to none of which we express any opinion pursuant to this
paragraph 2), as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and as of the date hereof, appear on
their face to have complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.
3. The documents incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements, financial data, statistical data and supporting schedules
included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we express no opinion), at the respective times
such documents were filed with the Commission, appear on their face to have complied as to form in
all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
4. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and assuming its due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to
the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
5. Assuming the due authorization and execution of the Notes by the Company, the due
authentication of the Notes by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and that
the Notes have been delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, the Notes constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled
to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Company in
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accordance with the terms of the Notes, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the
effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
6. Assuming the due authorization and execution of the Securities by the Company in accordance
with the terms of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement and that the Securities have been
delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the
Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement and the Indenture, the Securities constitute legal, valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or
affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the effect of general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
7. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase Contract and Pledge
Agreement by the Company, the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the effect of general principles of equity (regardless
of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
8. The Remarketing Agreement, when duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company,
will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and by the
effect of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law) and except that rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited
by federal or state securities laws or public policy.
9. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents
and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby (including the
issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as
described in the Disclosure Package and in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and
compliance by the Company with its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents does not and
will not violate any provision of New York law that in our experience and without independent
investigation, is normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Transaction
Documents (provided no opinion is expressed with respect to state securities or blue sky laws) and
will not contravene any of the Transaction Documents.
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10. No consent, approval, qualification, authorization or order of, or registration or filing
with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is required under
Applicable Laws for the execution and delivery by the Company of, or the performance of the
Company’s obligations under, the Transaction Documents, or for the issue and sale of the
Securities. As used in this paragraph 11, the term “Applicable Laws” means the laws of the State
of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America that, in our experience and
without independent investigation, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated
by the Transaction Documents (provided that the term “Applicable Laws” shall not include federal or
state securities or blue sky laws, including, without limitation, the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”), and respective rules and regulations thereunder).
11. The statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the headings
“Description of the Equity Units,” “Description of the Purchase Contracts,” “Certain Provisions of
the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement,” “Description of the Notes” and “Underwriting” (insofar
as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the Transaction Documents) fairly,
accurately and completely summarize in all material respects the matters therein described.
12. The statements set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading
“Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries
of matters of United States federal income tax law, constitute accurate and complete summaries, in
all material respects, subject to the qualifications set forth therein.
13. The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Securities and application of the
proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an
“investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
14. No facts came to the attention of such counsel that gave such counsel reason to believe
that (i) any part of the Registration Statement, as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Disclosure
Package, as of the Initial Sale Time, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) the Prospectus contained, as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement, or contains, on the date hereof, any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted, as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement, or omits, on the date
hereof, to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that in each case such
counsel may express no opinion or belief with respect to the financial statements, financial data,
statistical data and supporting schedules included or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein or omitted therefrom.
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EXHIBIT B-2
FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY’S ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL
(a) The Company is a validly organized and existing corporation in good standing under the
laws of the State of Missouri and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to do business in the
State of Kansas with corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into
and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
(b) Each of this Agreement, the Indenture, and the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Securities, the Notes and the
Stock Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized, executed, issued, and delivered by the Company.
The Remarketing Agreement has been duly authorized.
(c) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and 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.
(d) The shares of Issuable Common Stock have been duly and validly authorized and reserved for
issuance and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Contract
and Pledge Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable upon payment
of the purchase price therefor pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Contract and Pledge Agreement;
and the issuance of the Issuable Common Stock will not be subject to any preemptive or similar
rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(e) The information in the Base Prospectus under “Description of Common Stock” to the extent
that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company’s charter and bylaws or
legal proceedings, or legal conclusions is correct in all material respects;
(f) Authorization for listing the Corporate Units and the Issuable Common Stock on the New
York Stock Exchange has been given by the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of
issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.
(g) Each Subsidiary has been duly organized or formed and is validly existing as a corporation
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has the
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and 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 Change; except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock owned directly or indirectly by the
Company of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are (in the case of
capital stock) fully paid and non-assessable and, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, such
shares of capital stock owned by the Company, are owned by the Company, directly or through
B-2-1
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or
claim; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in
violation of preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary.
(h) No approval, authorization, consent, certificate or order of any state or federal
commission or regulatory authority (other than (i) as may be required under securities or blue sky
laws of the various states, as to which such counsel need express no opinion, and (ii) as may have
already been obtained or made and shall be in full force and effect on the date hereof) is
necessary with respect to the issue and sale of the Securities as contemplated in the Transaction
Documents.
(i) The Company and the Subsidiaries hold, to the extent required, valid and subsisting
franchises, licenses and permits authorizing them to carry on the regulated utility businesses in
which they are engaged, in the territories from which substantially all of their consolidated gross
operating revenue is derived, except where the failure to hold such franchises, licenses and
permits would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(j) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending or threatened which are required to be disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, other than those disclosed therein, and all pending legal or governmental proceedings
to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their property is the
subject which are not described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including ordinary
routine litigation incidental to the business of the Company, are, considered in the aggregate, not
material to the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(k) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge, the Company is not in violation of its Articles
of Incorporation, or in default in the performance or observance of any material obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material Agreement or Instrument.
(l) The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated therein (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the
use of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Securities as described in the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Use Of Proceeds”) and compliance by the
Company with its obligations under the Transaction Documents do not and will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to any
material Agreement or Instrument, or any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court
order or decree known to such counsel to be applicable to the Company of any court or governmental
agency, authority or body or any arbitrator having jurisdiction over the Company; nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or by-laws of the
Company.
(m) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge, there are no contracts, indentures, mortgages,
loan agreements, notes, leases or other instruments or documents required to be described or
referred to in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement other than those described or referred to therein or filed or
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incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement, the descriptions thereof
or references thereto are correct in all material respects, and no default exists in the due
performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
any Agreement or Instrument described, referred to, filed or incorporated by reference therein.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that he expresses no opinion as to the laws of
any jurisdiction other than the laws of the States of Missouri and Kansas and the federal laws of
the United States of America. Such opinion shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified
by, or that it is otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to
legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of
Business Law (1991).
B-2-3