Exhibit 1(a)
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
Underwriting Agreement
Dated November 18, 2020
AGREEMENT made between AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (the Company), and the several persons, firms and corporations (the Underwriters) named in Exhibit 1 hereto.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company proposes to issue and sell $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 0.75% Senior Notes, Series M, due 2023 (the Series M Notes), $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 1.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2025 (the Series N Notes) and $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Floating Rate Notes, Series A, due 2023 (the Series A Notes and collectively with the Series M Notes and Series N Notes, the Notes) to be issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of May 1, 2001, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the Trustee), as heretofore supplemented and amended and as to be further supplemented and amended (said Indenture as so supplemented being hereafter referred to as the Indenture); and
WHEREAS, the Underwriters have designated the persons signing this Agreement (collectively, the Representatives) to execute this Agreement on behalf of the respective Underwriters and to act for the respective Underwriters in the manner provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company has prepared and filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-249918), which was effective upon filing with the Commission, and a prospectus relating to, among other securities, its senior notes; and
WHEREAS, such registration statement, including the financial statements, the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference, and the exhibits thereto, being herein called, collectively, the Registration Statement, and the prospectus, including the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference, constituting a part of such Registration Statement, as it may be last amended or supplemented prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement, but excluding any amendment or supplement relating solely to securities other than the Notes, being herein called the Basic Prospectus, and the Basic Prospectus, as amended and supplemented, including documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated November 18, 2020, immediately prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), being herein called the Pricing Prospectus, and the Basic Prospectus included in the Registration Statement, as it is to be supplemented by a final prospectus supplement (the Prospectus Supplement) to include information relating to the Notes, including the names of the Underwriters, the price and terms of the offering, the interest rate, maturity date and certain other information relating to the Notes, which will be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Commission’s General Rules and Regulations under the Act (the Rules), including all documents then incorporated or deemed to have been incorporated therein by reference, being herein called the Prospectus.
For purposes of this Agreement, the Applicable Time is 3:45 p.m. (New York Time) on the date of this Agreement and the documents listed in Exhibit 2, taken together, collectively being herein called the Pricing Disclosure Package.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein contained, it is agreed between the parties as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale: Upon the basis of the warranties and representations and on the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the respective Underwriters named in Exhibit 1 hereto, severally and not jointly, and the respective Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company, the respective principal amounts of the Notes set opposite their names in Exhibit 1 hereto, together aggregating all of the Notes, at a price for the Series M Notes equal to 99.566% of the principal amount thereof, at a price for the Series N Notes equal to 99.169% of the principal amount thereof and at a price for the Series A Notes equal to 99.650% of the principal amount thereof.
2. Payment and Delivery: Payment for the Notes shall be made to the Company by wire transfer in immediately available funds or in such other manner as the Company and the Representatives shall mutually agree upon in writing, upon the delivery of the Notes to BofA Securities, Inc. for the respective accounts of the Underwriters against receipt therefor signed by BofA Securities, Inc. on behalf of the Representatives and for the other Underwriters. Such delivery shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York Time, on November 20, 2020 (or on such later business day, not more than five business days subsequent to such day, as may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters), unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 hereof, at the offices of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166, or at such other place as the Company and the Representatives shall mutually agree in writing. The time at which payment and delivery are to be made is herein called the Time of Purchase.
The delivery of the Notes shall be made in fully registered form, registered in the name of CEDE & CO., to the offices of The Depository Trust Company in New York, New York and the Representatives shall accept such delivery on behalf of themselves and the other Underwriters.
3. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations: The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the warranties and representations on the part of the Company on the date hereof, at the Applicable Time, and at the Time of Purchase and to the following other conditions:
(a)That all legal proceedings to be taken and all legal opinions to be rendered in connection with the issue and sale of the Notes shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Underwriters.
(b)That, at the Time of Purchase, the Representatives shall be furnished with the following opinions, dated the day of the Time of Purchase, with conformed copies or signed counterparts thereof for the other Underwriters, with such changes therein as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Representatives with the approval of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Underwriters:
1.Opinion of David C. House, Esq. or William E. Johnson, Esq., counsel to the Company, substantially in the form heretofore previously provided to the Representatives;
2.Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, special tax counsel to the
Company, substantially in the form heretofore previously provided to the Representatives; and
3.Opinion and related negative assurance letter of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, substantially in the forms heretofore previously provided to the Representatives.
(c)That the Representatives shall have received on the date hereof and shall receive at the Time of Purchase letters from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (i) dated the date hereof and (ii) dated the date of the Time of Purchase, respectively, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (which may refer to the letter previously delivered to the Representatives, as applicable) (x) confirming that with respect to the Company they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) thereunder, (y) stating that in their opinion the consolidated financial statements audited by them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus and Prospectus, respectively, complied as to form in all material respects with the then applicable accounting requirements of the Commission, including the applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission, and (z) covering as of a date not more than three business days prior to the date of each such letter, as applicable, such other matters as the Representatives reasonably request.
(d)The Pricing Term Sheet (as defined in Section 6(a) hereof) contemplated by Section 6(b) hereof, and any other material required pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed by the Company with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed by Rule 433 under the Act.
(e)That no amendment to the Registration Statement and that no supplement to the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus of the Company (other than the Pricing Prospectus or amendments, prospectuses or prospectus supplements relating solely to securities other than the Notes) relating to the Notes and no document which would be deemed incorporated in the Pricing Prospectus or Prospectus by reference filed subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the Time of Purchase shall contain material information substantially different from that contained in the Pricing Prospectus which is unsatisfactory in substance to the Representatives or unsatisfactory in form to Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, counsel to the Underwriters.
(f)That, prior to the Time of Purchase, no stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Act by the Commission or proceedings therefor initiated.
(g)That, from the date hereof to the Time of Purchase, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the business, properties or financial condition of the Company from that set forth in the Pricing Prospectus (other than changes referred to in or contemplated by the Pricing Prospectus), and that the Company shall, at the Time of Purchase, have delivered to the Representatives a certificate of an executive officer of the Company to the effect that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, there has been no such change.
(h)That the Company shall have performed such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed at or before the Time of Purchase by the terms hereof.
4. Certain Covenants of the Company: In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants as follows:
(a)As soon as practicable, and in any event within the time prescribed by Rule 424 under the Act, to file the Prospectus with the Commission and make any other required filings pursuant to Rule 433 under the Act; as soon as the Company is advised thereof, to advise the Representatives and confirm the advice in writing of any request made by the Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus or Prospectus or for additional information with respect thereto or of the entry of an order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or of the initiation or threat of any proceedings for that purpose and, if such an order should be entered by the Commission, to make every reasonable effort to obtain the prompt lifting or removal thereof.
(b)To deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, as soon as practicable (and in any event within 24 hours after the date hereof), and from time to time thereafter during such period of time (not exceeding nine months) after the date hereof as they are required by law to deliver a prospectus (or required to deliver but for Rule 172 under the Act), as many copies of the Prospectus (as supplemented or amended if the Company shall have made any supplements or amendments thereto, other than supplements or amendments relating solely to securities other than the Notes) as the Representatives may reasonably request; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus after the expiration of nine months after the date hereof, to furnish to any Underwriter, upon request, at the expense of such Underwriter, a reasonable quantity of a supplemental prospectus or of supplements to the Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act.
(c)To furnish to the Representatives a copy, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, of the Registration Statement as initially filed with the Commission and of all amendments thereto (exclusive of exhibits), other than amendments relating solely to securities other than the Notes and, upon request, to furnish to the Representatives sufficient plain copies thereof (exclusive of exhibits) for distribution to the other Underwriters.
(d)For such period of time (not exceeding nine months) after the date hereof as they are required by law to deliver a prospectus (or required to deliver but for Rule 172 under the Act), if any event shall have occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or not omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, forthwith to prepare and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to dealers (whose names and addresses will be furnished to the Company by the Representatives) to whom principal amounts of the Notes may have been sold by the Representatives for the accounts of the Underwriters and, upon request, to any other dealers making such request, copies of such amendments to the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or supplements to the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus.
(e)As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Underwriters an earnings statement or statement of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 under the Act.
(f)To use its best efforts to qualify the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and shall maintain such qualifications so long as required for the offering and sale of the Notes within six months after the date hereof and itself to pay, or to reimburse the Underwriters and their counsel for, reasonable filing fees and expenses in connection therewith in an amount not exceeding $3,500 in the aggregate (including filing fees and expenses paid and incurred prior to the effective date hereof), provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a consent to service of process or to file annual reports or to comply with any other requirements deemed by the Company to be unduly burdensome.
(g)To pay all expenses, fees and taxes (other than transfer taxes on resales of the Notes by the respective Underwriters) in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Notes, except that the Company shall be required to pay the fees and disbursements (other than disbursements referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 4) of counsel to the Underwriters, only in the events provided in paragraph (h) of this Section 4 and paragraphs (a) and (c) of Section 8, the Underwriters hereby agreeing to pay such fees and disbursements in any other event.
(h)If the Underwriters shall not take up and pay for the Notes due to the failure of the Company to comply with any of the conditions specified in Section 3 hereof, or, if this Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 or 10 hereof, to pay the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters, and, if the Underwriters shall not take up and pay for the Notes due to the failure of the Company to comply with any of the conditions specified in Section 3 hereof, to reimburse the Underwriters for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, in an aggregate amount not exceeding a total of $10,000, incurred in connection with the financing contemplated by this Agreement.
(i)During the period from the date hereof and continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the date which is after the Time of Purchase on which the distribution of the Notes ceases, as determined by the Representatives in their sole discretion, and (ii) the date which is 30 days after the Time of Purchase, the Company agrees not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any Notes of the Company or any substantially similar securities of the Company without the consent of the Representatives.
(j)If at any time when the Notes remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Act 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 Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its reasonable 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 reasonable action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Notes 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.
5. Warranties of the Company: The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with you, as set forth below:
(a)the Registration Statement on its effective date complied with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Rules and the Registration Statement at its effective date and as of the Applicable Time did not, and at the Time of Purchase will not, contain any 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, the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and the Basic Prospectus on the date of this Agreement and the Prospectus as of its date complies, and at the Time of Purchase the Prospectus will comply, with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (Trust Indenture Act), and the rules and regulations of the Commission, the Basic Prospectus and the Prospectus as of their respective dates do not, and the Prospectus at the Time of Purchase will not, contain any 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the Company makes no warranty or representation to the Underwriters with respect to any statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by, or through the Representatives on behalf of, any Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or to any statements in or omissions from that part of the Registration Statement that shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee under the Indenture.
(b)As of the Time of Purchase, the Indenture will have been duly authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when executed and delivered by the Trustee and the Company, will constitute a legal, valid and binding instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and the Notes will have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated and, when paid for by the purchasers thereof, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general, and except as the availability of the remedy of specific performance is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such remedy is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), and by an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
(c)The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Pricing Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and as of such time of filing, when read together with the Pricing Prospectus, the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses and the Prospectus, none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
information contained in a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus listed in Exhibit 2 does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and no such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, taken together with the remainder of the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d)With respect to the Registration Statement, (i) the Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act), (ii) the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement and (iii) the conditions for use of Form S-3, as set forth in the General Instructions thereof, have been satisfied.
(e)(A) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment to the Registration Statement for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or form of prospectus) and (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Notes in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act, the Company was a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act).
(f)Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, except as otherwise referred to or contemplated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the business, properties or financial condition of the Company.
(g)This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(h)The consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated herein is not in violation of its charter or bylaws, will not result in the violation of any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court having jurisdiction over the Company or its properties, and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company under any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its properties may be subject (except for conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be materially adverse to the Company or materially adverse to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
(i)No authorization, approval, consent or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of the Notes or the consummation of the transactions by the Company contemplated in this Agreement, except (A) such as may be required under the Act or the Rules; (B) the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; and (C) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or “Blue Sky” laws.
(j)The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries together with the notes thereto, included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company at the dates or for the
periods indicated; said consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied, apart from reclassifications disclosed therein, on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved; and the selected consolidated financial information of the Company included in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus presents fairly the information shown therein and has been compiled, apart from reclassifications disclosed therein, on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(k)There is no pending action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation, any environmental action, affecting the Company before any court, governmental agency or arbitration that is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial condition or results of operations of the Company, except as disclosed in the Pricing Prospectus.
(l)At the determination date for purposes of the Notes within the meaning of Rule 164(h) under the Act, the Company was not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act.
(m)The Company has not made any filings pursuant to the 1934 Act, or the rules and regulations thereunder, within 24 hours preceding the Applicable Time.
(n)Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
The Company’s covenants, warranties and representations contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any person, and shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Notes hereunder.
6.Free Writing Prospectuses:
(a)The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or one or more free writing prospectuses that contain only preliminary or final terms of the Notes (which may include prices of bonds from comparable issuers) and is not required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433 of the Act or one or more free writing prospectuses that contains information substantially the same as the information contained in the free writing prospectus, dated the date hereof, filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Act relating to the Notes (the Pricing Term Sheet); any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the Representatives (which shall include the Pricing Term Sheet discussed in Section 6(b)) is listed in Exhibit 2 and herein called a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”
(b)The Company agrees to prepare the Pricing Term Sheet, which shall be previously approved by the Representatives, and to file the Pricing Term Sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act within the time period prescribed by such Rule.
(c)The Company and each Underwriter have complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Act applicable to any other Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required and legending.
(d)The Company and each Underwriter agree that if at any time following issuance of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus would conflict in any material respect with the information in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, then (i) the party that first becomes aware of the foregoing will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives and/ or the Company, as applicable, and, (ii) if requested by the Representatives or the Company, as applicable, the Company will prepare and furnish without charge a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission.
(e)Each Underwriter agrees that (i) no information that is conveyed to investors by such Underwriter has been or will be inconsistent with the information contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package, and (ii) if any Underwriter shall use a free writing prospectus that contains information in addition to, or in conflict with, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the liability arising from its use of such additional or conflicting information shall be the sole responsibility of such Underwriter using such free writing prospectus; provided, however, that, for the avoidance of doubt, this clause 6(e)(ii) shall not be interpreted as tantamount to the indemnification obligations contained in Section 8(b) hereof.
7.Warranties of Underwriters: Each Underwriter warrants and represents that the information furnished in writing to the Company through the Representatives for use in the Registration Statement, in the Basic Prospectus, in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, in the Pricing Prospectus, in the Prospectus, or in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented is correct as to such Underwriter. The warranties and representations of such Underwriter contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or other person, and shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Notes hereunder.
8.Indemnification and Contribution:
(a)To the extent permitted by law, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each Underwriter’s employees, agents, officers and directors and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which an Underwriter, they or any of you or them may become subject under the Act or otherwise, and to reimburse the Underwriters, they or any of you or them for any legal or other expenses incurred by you or them in connection with defending any action, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any alleged untrue statement or untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, in the Basic Prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of this Agreement), in the Pricing Prospectus, in any Permitted
Free Writing Prospectus, in any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) or in the Prospectus, or if the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Underwriters any amendments or any supplements to the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, in the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented except to the extent that such amendments or supplements relate solely to securities other than the Notes (provided that if such Prospectus or such Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, is used after the period of time referred to in Section 4(b) hereof, it shall contain such amendments or supplements as the Company deems necessary to comply with Section 10(a) of the Act), or arise out of or are based upon any alleged omission or omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any such alleged untrue statement or omission, or untrue statement or omission which was made in the Registration Statement, in the Basic Prospectus, in the Pricing Prospectus, in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, in any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) or in the Prospectus, or in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or through the Representatives expressly for use therein or with any statements in or omissions from that part of the Registration Statement that shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee under the Indenture. Each Underwriter agrees promptly after its receipt of written notice of the commencement of any action in respect to which indemnity from the Company on account of its agreement contained in this Section 8(a) may be sought by any such Underwriter, or by any person controlling any such Underwriter, to notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the Company of any such action shall not release the Company from any liability which it may have to an Underwriter or to such controlling person otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(a). In case any such action shall be brought against an Underwriter or any such controlling person and an Underwriter shall notify the Company of the commencement thereof, as above provided, the Company shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, including the selection of counsel (such counsel to be reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party), to direct the defense thereof at its own expense. In case the Company elects to direct such defense and select such counsel (hereinafter, Company’s counsel), an Underwriter or any controlling person shall have the right to employ its own counsel, but, in any such case, the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such Underwriter’s or controlling person’s expense unless (i) the Company has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses or (ii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both an Underwriter or any controlling person and the Company and such Underwriter or any controlling person shall have been advised by its counsel that a conflict of interest between the Company and such Underwriter or any controlling person may arise (and the Company’s counsel shall have concurred in good faith with such advice) and for this reason it is not desirable for the Company’s counsel to represent both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party (it being understood, however, that the Company 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 reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for the Underwriters or any controlling person (plus any local counsel retained by the Underwriters or any controlling person in their reasonable judgment), which firm (or firms) shall be designated in writing by the Underwriters or any controlling person).
(b)Each Underwriter agrees, to the extent permitted by law, severally and not jointly, to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse the Company, its directors and such of its officers as shall have signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, to the same extent and upon the same terms as the indemnity agreement of the Company set forth in Section 8(a) hereof, but only with respect to untrue statements or alleged untrue statements or omissions or alleged omissions made in the Registration Statement, or in the Basic Prospectus (if used prior to the effective date of this Agreement), or in the Pricing Prospectus, or in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or in the Prospectus, or in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use therein. The Company agrees promptly after the receipt by it of written notice of the commencement of any action in respect to which indemnity from you on account of your agreement contained in this Section 8(b) may be sought by the Company, or by any person controlling the Company, to notify you in writing of the commencement thereof, but the Company’s omission so to notify you of any such action shall not release you from any liability which you may have to the Company or to such controlling person otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 8(b).
(c)If recovery is not available or insufficient to hold the indemnified party harmless under Section 8(a) or 8(b) hereof for any reason other than as specified therein, the indemnified party shall be entitled to contribution for any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses for which such indemnification is so unavailable or insufficient under this Section 8(c). In determining the amount of contribution to which such indemnified party is entitled, there shall be considered the portion of the proceeds of the offering of the Notes realized by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand, the relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and any equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) without reference to the considerations called for in the previous sentence. No Underwriter or any person controlling such Underwriter shall be obligated to contribute any amount or amounts hereunder which in the aggregate exceeds the total price of the Notes purchased by such Underwriter under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of any damages which such Underwriter and its controlling persons have otherwise been required to pay in respect of the same claim or any substantially similar 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. An Underwriter’s obligation to contribute under this Section 8 is in proportion to its purchase obligation and not joint with any other Underwriter.
(d)No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 8 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding
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 such indemnified party.
(e)In no event shall any indemnifying party have any liability or responsibility in respect of the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim effected without its prior written consent.
The agreements contained in this Section 8 hereof shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any person, and shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Notes hereunder.
9. Default of Underwriters: If any Underwriter under this Agreement shall fail or refuse (otherwise than for some reason sufficient to justify, in accordance with the terms hereof, the cancellation or termination of its obligations hereunder) to purchase and pay for the principal amount of Notes which it has agreed to purchase and pay for hereunder, and the aggregate principal amount of Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions which the amounts of Notes set forth opposite their names in Exhibit 1 hereto bear to the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on the terms set forth herein; provided that in no event shall the principal amount of Notes which any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 9 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such principal amount of Notes without the written consent of such Underwriter. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes and the aggregate principal amount of Notes with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter; provided, however, that the non-defaulting Underwriters may agree, in their sole discretion, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on the terms set forth herein. In the event of any such termination, the Company shall not be under any liability to any Underwriter (except to the extent, if any, provided in Section 4(h) hereof), nor shall any Underwriter (other than an Underwriter who shall have failed or refused to purchase the Notes without some reason sufficient to justify, in accordance with the terms hereof, its termination of its obligations hereunder) be under any liability to the Company or any other Underwriter.
Nothing herein contained shall release any defaulting Underwriter from its liability to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
10. Termination of Agreement by the Underwriters: This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Time of Purchase by the Representatives if, after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Time of Purchase, in the Representatives’ reasonable judgment, the Underwriters’ ability to market the Notes shall have been materially adversely affected because:
(a)trading in securities on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) shall have been generally suspended by the Commission or by the NYSE or trading in the securities of the Company shall have been suspended by the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or
(b)there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other national or international calamity or crisis, or
(c)a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities, or
(d)there shall have been any decrease in the ratings of the Company’s debt securities by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (Moody’s) or S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc. (S&P) or either Moody’s or S&P shall publicly announce that it has such debt securities under consideration for possible downgrade.
If the Representatives elect to terminate this Agreement, as provided in this Section 10, the Representatives will promptly notify the Company by telephone or by telex or facsimile transmission, confirmed in writing. If this Agreement shall not be carried out by any Underwriter for any reason permitted hereunder, or if the sale of the Notes to the Underwriters as herein contemplated shall not be carried out because the Company is not able to comply with the terms hereof, the Company shall not be under any obligation under this Agreement and shall not be liable to any Underwriter or to any member of any selling group for the loss of anticipated profits from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (except that the Company shall remain liable to the extent provided in Section 4(h) hereof) and the Underwriters shall be under no liability to the Company nor be under any liability under this Agreement to one another.
11. Notices: All notices hereunder shall, unless otherwise expressly provided, be in writing and be delivered at or mailed to the following addresses or by telex or facsimile transmission confirmed in writing to the following addresses: if to the Underwriters, to the Representatives at BofA Securities, Inc., 1540 Broadway, NY8-540-26-02, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal, Fax No. (212) 901-7881, E-mail: dg.hg_ua_notices@bofa.com; MUFG Securities Americas Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor, New York, New York 10020, Attention: Capital Markets Group, Fax No. (646) 434-3455; Scotia Capital (USA) LLC, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 10281, Attention: Debt Capital Markets, U.S., E-mail: US.legal@scotiabank.com or TD Securities (USA) LLC, 31 West 52nd Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Transaction Management Group, E-mail: ustmg@tdsecurities.com; and if to the Company, to American Electric Power Company, Inc., c/o American Electric Power Service Corporation, 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43215, Attention: General Counsel (fax 614-716-1560).
12. Parties in Interest: The agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company (including the directors thereof and such of the officers thereof as shall have signed the Registration Statement), the controlling persons, if any, referred to in Section 8 hereof, and their respective successors, assigns, executors and administrators, and, except as expressly otherwise provided in Section 9 hereof, no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by the virtue of this Agreement. The Company acknowledges and agrees that in connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by this Underwriting Agreement, the Company and the Underwriters have an arm’s length business relationship that creates no fiduciary duty on the part of any party and each expressly disclaims any fiduciary relationship.
13. Definition of Certain Terms: If there be two or more persons, firms or corporations named in Exhibit 1 hereto, the term “Underwriters”, as used herein, shall be deemed to mean the several persons, firms or corporations, so named (including the Representatives herein mentioned, if so named) and any party or parties substituted pursuant to Section 9 hereof, and the term “Representatives”, as used herein, shall be deemed to mean the representative or representatives designated by, or in the manner authorized by, the Underwriters. All obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are several and not joint. If there shall be only one person, firm or corporation named in Exhibit 1 hereto, the term “Underwriters” and the term “Representatives”, as used herein, shall mean such person, firm or corporation. The term
“successors” as used in this Agreement shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Notes from any of the respective Underwriters.
14. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes: In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (x) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (y) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
15. Conditions of the Company’s Obligations: The obligations of the Company hereunder are subject to the Underwriters’ performance of their obligations hereunder, and the further condition that at the Time of Purchase the Commission shall not have issued a stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.
16. Applicable Law: This Agreement will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
17. Patriot Act: In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title DI of Pub. L.107 - 56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information and identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
18. Execution of Counterparts: This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be regarded as an original and all of which shall constitute one and the same document.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, on the date first above written.
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AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Julia A. Sloat
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Name:Julia A. Sloat
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Title: Treasurer
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BofA SECURITIES, INC.
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MUFG SECURITIES AMERICAS INC.
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SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
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TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
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as Representatives and on behalf
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of the Underwriters named in Exhibit 1 hereto
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BofA SECURITIES, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Shawn Cepeda
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Name: Shawn Cepeda
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Title: Managing Director
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MUFG SECURITIES AMERICAS INC.
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By:
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/s/ Richard Testa
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Name: Richard Testa
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Title: Managing Director
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SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.
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By:
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/s/ Elsa Wang
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Name: Elsa Wang
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Title: Managing Director and Head, Transaction Advisory
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TD SECURITIES (USA) LLC
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By:
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/s/ Luiz Lanfredi
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Name: Luiz Lanfredi
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Title: Director
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EXHIBIT 1
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Underwriter
|
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Principal Amount
of Series M Notes
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Principal Amount
of Series N Notes
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Principal Amount
of Series A Floating Rate Notes
|
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BofA Securities, Inc.
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$
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68,625,000
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|
|
$
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68,625,000
|
|
|
$
|
91,500,000
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|
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MUFG Securities Americas Inc.
|
|
68,625,000
|
|
|
68,625,000
|
|
|
91,500,000
|
|
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Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
|
|
68,625,000
|
|
68,625,000
|
|
91,500,000
|
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TD Securities (USA) LLC
|
|
68,625,000
|
|
|
68,625,000
|
|
|
91,500,000
|
|
|
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC
|
|
52,875,000
|
|
|
52,875,000
|
|
|
70,500,000
|
|
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Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
|
|
52,875,000
|
|
|
52,875,000
|
|
|
70,500,000
|
|
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Truist Securities, Inc.
|
|
52,875,000
|
|
|
52,875,000
|
|
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70,500,000
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Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
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16,875,000
|
|
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16,875,000
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22,500,000
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Total
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$
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450,000,000
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$
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450,000,000
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$
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600,000,000
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EXHIBIT 2
PRICING DISCLOSURE PACKAGE
a.Prospectus dated November 6, 2020
b.Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated November 18, 2020 (including incorporated documents)
c.Permitted Free Writing Prospectus
i.the Pricing Term Sheet
Exhibit 4(a)
November 20, 2020
Company Order and Officers’ Certificate
0.75% Senior Notes, Series M, due 2023
1.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2025
Floating Rate Notes, Series A, due 2023
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee
2 North LaSalle Street, 7th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Article Two of the Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2001 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”), from American Electric Power Company, Inc. (the “Company”) to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as successor to The Bank of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and the Board Resolutions dated [October 22, 2019], a copy of which, as certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, is being delivered herewith under Section 2.01 of the Indenture, and unless otherwise provided in a subsequent Company Order pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Indenture,
1. The Company’s 0.75% Senior Notes, Series M, due 2023 (the “Series M Notes”), 1.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2025 (the “Series N Notes”) and Floating Rate Notes, Series A, due 2023 (the “Series A Notes”) are hereby established. The Series M Notes and the Series N Notes collectively referred to herein as the “Fixed Rate Notes”. The Fixed Rates Notes and the Series A Notes are collectively referred to herein as the “Notes”. The Notes shall be in substantially the forms attached hereto as Exhibits 1, 2 and 3.
2. The terms and characteristics of the Notes shall be as follows (the numbered clauses set forth below corresponding to the numbered subsections of Section 2.01 of the Indenture, with terms used and not defined herein having the meanings specified in the Indenture or in the Notes):
(i) The aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture initially shall be limited to $450,000,000 for the Series M Notes, $450,000,000 for the Series N Notes and $600,000,000 for the Series A Notes, except as contemplated in Section 2.01(i) of the Indenture and except that such principal amount may be increased from time to time; all Series M Notes, all Series N Notes and all Series A Notes need not be issued at the same time and each such series may be reopened at any time, without the consent of any securityholder, for issuance of additional Notes, which Notes will have the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as those initially issued (other than the date of issuance, the issue price and, in some circumstances, the initial interest accrual date and initial interest payment date);
(ii) The date on which the principal of the Series M Notes shall be payable shall be November 1, 2023, the date on which the principal of the Series N Notes shall be payable shall be November 1, 2025 and the date on which the principal of the Series A Notes shall be payable shall be November 1, 2023;
(iii) (a) Interest shall accrue from the date of issuance of the Fixed Rate Notes; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable for the Fixed Rate Notes shall be May 1 and November 1, and the Regular Record Date for the determination of holders of the Fixed Rate Notes to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Date shall be the April 15 or October 15 preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date; provided that the first Interest Payment Date for the Fixed Rate Notes shall be May 1, 2021 and interest payable on the Stated Maturity Date or any Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal shall be paid;
(b) Interest shall accrue from the date of issuance of the Series A Notes; the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable for the Series A Notes shall be February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, and the Regular Record Date for the determination of holders of the Series A Notes to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Date shall be the close of business on the Business Day before the applicable Interest Payment Date, provided that if the Series A Notes are not in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day before the applicable Interest Payment Date; provided further that the first Interest Payment Date for the Series A Notes shall be February 1, 2021 and interest payable on the Stated Maturity Date or any Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal shall be paid;
(iv) (a) The interest rate at which the Series M Notes shall bear interest shall be 0.75% per annum and the interest rate at which the Series N Notes shall bear interest shall be 1.00% per annum.
(b) The per annum interest rate at which the Series A Notes shall bear interest for the period from the issue date to the first LIBOR Rate Reset shall be equal to the Three-Month LIBOR Rate as determined by the Calculation Agent on November 18, 2020 plus 0.48% (the “Margin”). Following the initial interest period the per annum interest rate on the Series A Notes for each subsequent interest period shall, subject to the provisions set forth below, be equal to the Three Month LIBOR Rate as determined by the Calculation Agent on the related LIBOR Rate Reset Date, plus the Margin. Such interest rate will be reset on the 1st day of the months of February, May, August and November of each year beginning in February 2021 (each, a “LIBOR Rate Reset Date”). An interest period is the period commencing on an Interest Payment Date (or, in the case of the initial interest period, commencing on November 20, 2020) and ending on the day preceding the next Interest Payment Date. Promptly upon such determination, the Calculation Agent will notify the Trustee for the Series A Notes, if the person serving as the Trustee is not then serving as the Calculation Agent, of the interest rate for the new interest period. The interest rate determined by the Calculation Agent, absent manifest error, shall be binding and conclusive upon the beneficial owners and registered holders of the Series A Notes, the Company and the Trustee.
If any LIBOR Rate Reset Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that if that Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, the LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be the next preceding Business Day. The interest rate in effect on any LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be the applicable rate as reset on that date. The interest rate applicable to any other day will either be the initial Interest Rate or the interest rate as reset on the immediately preceding LIBOR Rate Reset Date.
The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the relevant quarterly period (including the first day of the quarterly period and excluding the last day of the quarterly period) divided by 360. If any Interest Payment Date, other than the maturity date of the Series A Notes, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the Interest Payment
Date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that if that Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the maturity date of the Series A Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of interest and principal will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment will accrue for the period from and after the maturity date.
Accrued interest on any Series A Note will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of the Series A Note by an accrued interest factor. The accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which interest is being paid. The interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the interest rate applicable to that day by 360.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Company (or the Designee) determines on or prior to the relevant LIBOR Interest Determination Date that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the then current Benchmark, then (i) the Company shall promptly provide notice of such determination to the Calculation Agent and (ii) the provisions set forth below under “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event”, which is referred to as the “Benchmark Transition Provisions,” will thereafter apply to all determinations, calculations and quotations made or obtained for the purposes of calculating the rate and amount of interest payable on the Notes of this series during the relevant interest period. In accordance with the Benchmark Transition Provisions, after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred, the Interest Rate that will be payable for each interest period will be an annual rate equal to the sum of the Benchmark Replacement and the Margin. However, if the Company (or the Designee) determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the then current Benchmark, but for any reason the Benchmark Replacement has not been determined as of the relevant LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the interest rate for the applicable interest period will be equal to the interest rate for the immediately preceding interest period, as determined by the Company (or the Designee). Any percentage resulting from any calculation of any interest rate for the Series A Notes less than 0.00% will be deemed to be 0.00% (or 0.0000).
Effect of Benchmark Transition Event
Benchmark Replacement. If the Company (or the Designee) determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any determination of the Benchmark on any date, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the Series A Notes in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.
Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Company (or the Designee) will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.
Decisions and Determinations. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Company (or the Designee) pursuant to the Benchmark Transition Provisions, including any determination with respect to tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, will be made in the Company’s (or the Designee’s) sole discretion, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Indenture, shall become effective
without consent from the holder of this Note or any other party. Neither the Trustee nor the Calculation Agent will have any liability for any determination made by or on behalf of the Company or the Designee in connection with a Benchmark Transition Event or a Benchmark Replacement.
By its acquisition of the Series A Notes, each noteholder (which, for these purposes, includes each beneficial owner) (i) will acknowledge, accept, consent and agree to be bound by the determination of the Three-Month LIBOR Rate or any component thereof by the Company or the Calculation Agent, including as may occur without any prior notice from the Company and without the need for the Company to obtain any further consent from such noteholder, (ii) will waive any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee, the paying agent and the Calculation Agent for, agree not to initiate a suit against the trustee, the paying agent and the Calculation Agent in respect of, and agree that none of the Trustee, the paying agent or the Calculation Agent will be liable for, the determination of or the failure to determine any Three-Month LIBOR Rate and any losses suffered in connection therewith.
In no event shall the Calculation Agent be responsible for determining any substitute for the Three-Month LIBOR Rate, or for making any adjustments to any alternative benchmark or spread thereon, the business day convention, interest determination dates or any other relevant methodology for calculating any such substitute or successor benchmark. In connection with the foregoing, the Calculation Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any determinations made by the Company (or the Designee) and shall have no liability for such actions taken at the direction of the Company.
(v) (a) At any time on or after November 20, 2021, the Company may redeem the Series M Notes in whole or in part at 100% of the principal amount of the Series M Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice delivered to the registered owners of the Series M Notes.
(b) The Series N Notes may be redeemed by the Company at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice delivered to the registered owners of the Series N Notes. At any time prior to October 1, 2025 (the date that is one month prior to maturity (the “Series N Par Call Date”)), the Series N Notes may be redeemed either as a whole or in part at a redemption price calculated by the Independent Investment Banker equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Series N Notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Series N Notes being redeemed that would be due if such Series N Notes matured on the Series N Par Call Date (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to but excluding the date of redemption) discounted (for purposes of determining present value) to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 10 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption. The Series N Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part will be selected in a manner that complies with the requirements of the DTC.
At any time on or after the Series N Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Series N Notes in whole or in part at 100% of the principal amount of the Series N Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice delivered to the registered owners of the Series N Notes.
(c) At any time on or after November 20, 2021, the Company may redeem the Series A Notes in whole or in part at 100% of the principal amount of the Series A Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice delivered to the registered owners of the Series A Notes. The Series A Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part will be selected in a manner that complies with the requirements of DTC.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“remaining life”) of the particular series of Notes to be redeemed (for Series N Notes, assuming, for this purpose, that the Series N Notes would mature on the Series N Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining life of the applicable series of Notes.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means a primary U.S. Government securities dealer or dealers selected by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company and notified to the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company and the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at or before 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
The “Three-Month LIBOR Rate” means the rate determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) On the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the Calculation Agent or its affiliate will determine the Three-Month LIBOR Rate which shall be the rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having a three-month maturity which appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date.
(2) If no rate appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks (which may include affiliates of the underwriters) in the London Inter-Bank Market selected by the Calculation Agent (after consultation with the Company) to provide the Calculation Agent with their offered quotations for deposits in U.S. dollars for the period of three months, commencing on the applicable LIBOR Rate Reset Date, to prime banks in the London Inter-Bank Market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal
amount that is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time.
If at least two quotations are provided, then the Three Month LIBOR Rate will be the average (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundredth (0.01) of a percent) of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, then the Three-Month LIBOR Rate will be the average (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundredth (0.01) of a percent) of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date by three major banks (which may include affiliates of the underwriters) in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent (after consultation with the Company) for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, having a three-month maturity and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If the banks selected by the Calculation Agent are not providing quotations in the manner described by this paragraph, the rate for the period following the LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the rate in effect on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date.
“Reuters Page LIBOR01” means the display so designated on the Reuters 3000 Xtra (or such other page as may replace that page on that service, or such other service as may be nominated by the Company as the information vendor, for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate for U.S. dollar deposits).
“LIBOR Interest Determination Date” means the second LIBOR Business Day preceding each LIBOR Rate Reset Date.
“LIBOR Business Day” means any business day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London Inter-Bank market.
“Calculation Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., or its successor appointed by the Company, acting as calculation agent.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
“Designee” means an independent financial advisor or such other designee of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Calculation Agent or the Trustee be the Designee.
“Benchmark” means, initially, the Three-Month LIBOR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Three-Month LIBOR Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.
“Benchmark Replacement” means the Interpolated Benchmark with respect to the then-current Benchmark, plus the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Interpolated Benchmark (if there is such a Benchmark Replacement Adjustment); provided that if the Company (or the Designee) cannot determine the Interpolated Benchmark as of the Benchmark Replacement Date, then “Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company (or the Designee) as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1)the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(2) the sum of: (a) Compounded SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(4) the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; and
(5) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by the Company (or the Designee) as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any industry accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company (or the Designee) as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) the spread adjustment (which may be positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body or determined by the Company or the Designee in accordance with the method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;
(2) if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; and
(3) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Company (or the Designee) giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time.
The Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall not include the Margin and such Margin shall be applied to the Benchmark Replacement to determine the interest payable on the Series A Notes.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “interest period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenor, and other administrative matters), or any other changes to any other terms or provisions of the Series A Notes, in each case that the Company (or the Designee) decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Company (or the Designee) decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the
Company (or the Designee) determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Company (or the Designee) determines is reasonably necessary).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; or
(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.
For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.
“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then current Benchmark:
(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark;
(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark, the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark, which states that the administrator of the Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark; or
(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.
“Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate being established by the Company (or the Designee) in accordance with:
(1) the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining Compounded SOFR; provided that:
(2) if, and to the extent that, the Company (or the Designee) determines that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that have been selected by the Company (or the Designee) giving due consideration to any industry-accepted market practice for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time.
For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Compounded SOFR shall exclude the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment and the Margin.
“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to a Benchmark Replacement means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.
“Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.
“Interpolated Benchmark” with respect to the Benchmark means the rate determined for the Corresponding Tenor by interpolating on a linear basis between: (1) the Benchmark for the longest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is shorter than the Corresponding Tenor and (2) the Benchmark for the shortest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is longer than the Corresponding Tenor. “Benchmark” as used in clause (1) and (2) of the foregoing definition means the then-current Benchmark for the applicable periods specified in such clauses without giving effect to the applicable index maturity (if any).
“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.
“ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.
“ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.
“Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is the Three-Month LIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m., London time, on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, and (2) if the Benchmark is not the Three- Month LIBOR Rate, the time determined by the Company (or the Designee) in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
“SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator), on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website.
“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for the applicable Corresponding Tenor based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.
(vi) (a) the Notes shall be issued in the form of book-entry notes represented by Global Notes; (b) the Depositary for such Global Notes shall be The Depository Trust Company; and (c) the procedures with respect to transfer and exchange of Global Notes shall be as set forth in the forms of Note attached hereto;
(vii) the title of the Series M Notes shall be “0.75% Senior Notes, Series M, due 2023”; the title of the Series N Notes shall be “1.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2025” and the title of the Series A Notes shall be “Floating Rate Notes, Series A, due 2023”;
(viii) the forms of the Notes shall be as set forth in Paragraph 1, above;
(ix) not applicable;
(x) the Notes shall not be subject to a Periodic Offering;
(xi) not applicable;
(xii) not applicable;
(xiii) Company will pay the principal of the Notes and any premium and interest payable at redemption, if any, or at maturity in immediately available funds at the office of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., 2 North LaSalle Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60602;
(xiv) the Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;
(xv) not applicable;
(xvi) the Notes shall not be issued as Discount Securities;
(xvii) not applicable;
(xviii) not applicable, and
(xix) (A) Restrictive Covenants:
Limitation upon Liens of Certain Subsidiaries
For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, the Company will not create or incur or allow any of
its subsidiaries to create or incur any pledge or security interest on any of the capital stock of a Public Utility Subsidiary held by the Company or one of its subsidiaries or a Significant Subsidiary.
For purposes of this covenant:
(i) Public Utility Subsidiary means, at any particular time, a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company that, as a substantial part of its business, distributes or transmits electric energy to retail or wholesale customers at rates or tariffs that are regulated by either a state or Federal regulatory authority.
(ii) Significant Subsidiary means, at any particular time, any direct subsidiary of the Company whose consolidated gross assets or consolidated gross revenues (having regard to the Company’s direct beneficial interest in the shares, or the like, of that subsidiary) represent at least 25% of the Company’s consolidated gross assets or consolidated gross revenues appearing in the most recent audited financial statements of the Company as of the date of determination.
Limitation upon Mergers, Consolidations and Sale of Assets
The provisions of Article Ten of the Indenture shall be applicable to the Notes.
(B) Waivers:
Waiver of Replacement Capital Covenant
The Notes will not be entitled to benefit in any way from the Replacement Capital Covenant, dated as of March 1, 2008, entered into by the Company in favor of certain holders of the Company’s debt, and subsequently amended by an amendment dated as of February 29, 2012 (as amended, the “Replacement Capital Covenant”). The Notes are not, and will never become, Eligible Debt or Covered Debt (as such terms are defined in the Replacement Capital Covenant), and the holders of the Notes are not, and will never be entitled to become, Covered Debtholders (as defined in the Replacement Capital Covenant). Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring a Note or any interest in the Notes will be deemed to have agreed to this waiver of the Replacement Capital Covenant.
(xx) Certain Tax Information.
In order to comply with applicable tax laws (inclusive of rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) related to the Indenture, this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate and the Notes in effect from time to time (“Applicable Law”) that a foreign financial institution, issuer, trustee, paying agent or other party is or has agreed to be subject to, the Company agrees (i) to provide to the Trustee and any paying agent sufficient information about the parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so the Trustee and any paying agent can determine whether it has tax related obligations under Applicable Law and (ii) that the Trustee and any paying agent shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which the Trustee and any paying agent shall not have any liability.
3. You are hereby requested to authenticate on the date hereof $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 0.75% Senior Notes, Series M, due 2023, $450,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 1.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2025 and $600,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Notes, Series A, due 2023, executed by the Company and delivered to you concurrently with this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, in the manner provided by the Indenture, by manual, facsimile or electronic signature, provided that any such electronic signature is a true representation of the signatory’s actual signature.
4. You are hereby requested to hold the Global Notes as custodian for DTC in accordance with the Blanket Issuer Letter of Representations dated March 14, 2008, from the Company to DTC.
5. Concurrently with this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel under Sections 2.04 and 13.06 of the Indenture is being delivered to you.
6. The undersigned Renee V. Hawkins and David C. House, the Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, respectively, of the Company do hereby certify that:
(i) we have read the relevant portions of the Indenture, including without limitation the conditions precedent provided for therein relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested in this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, and the definitions in the Indenture relating thereto;
(ii) we have read the Board Resolutions of the Company and the Opinion of Counsel referred to above;
(iii) we have conferred with other officers of the Company, have examined such records of the Company and have made such other investigation as we deemed relevant for purposes of this certificate;
(iv) in our opinion, we have made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable us to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such conditions have been complied with; and
(v) on the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture relating to the action proposed to be taken by the Trustee as requested herein have been complied with.
Kindly acknowledge receipt of this Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, including the documents listed herein, and confirm the arrangements set forth herein by signing and returning the copy of this document attached hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be executed.
Very truly yours,
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AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
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By:
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Name: Renee V. Hawkins
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Assistant Treasurer
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And:
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Name: David C. House
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Assistant Secretary
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Acknowledged by Trustee:
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
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By:
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Authorized Signatory
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Name:
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Title:
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Exhibit 1
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depository or to a successor Depository or to a nominee of such successor Depository.
No. R1
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
0.75% Senior Notes, Series M, due 2023
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CUSIP: 025537 AQ4/US025537AQ41
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Original Issue Date: November 20, 2020
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Stated Maturity: November 1, 2023
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Interest Rate: 0.75%
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Principal Amount: $450,000,000
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Redeemable:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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In Whole:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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In Part:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein referred to as the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the Principal Amount specified above on the Stated Maturity specified above, and to pay interest on said Principal Amount from the Original Issue Date specified above or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 in each year, commencing on May 1, 2021, at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the Principal Amount shall have been paid or duly provided for. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, as provided in the Indenture, as hereinafter defined, shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) shall have been registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date with respect to such Interest Payment Date, which shall be the April 15 or October 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately prior to such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable on the Stated Maturity or any redemption date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and shall be paid as provided in said Indenture.
If any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or Stated Maturity is not a Business Day, then payment of the amounts due on this Note on such date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such amounts for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, with the same force and effect as if made on such
date. The principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Note shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest (other than interest payable on the Stated Maturity or any redemption date) may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to the account designated by the person entitled thereto.
This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Notes of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the “Notes”), specified in the Indenture, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of May 1, 2001 duly executed and delivered between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States, as successor to The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein referred to as the “Trustee”) (such Indenture, as originally executed and delivered and as thereafter supplemented and amended being hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto or Company Orders reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Notes. By the terms of the Indenture, the Notes are issuable in series which may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of the series of Notes designated on the face hereof.
At any time on or after November 20, 2021, this Note may be redeemed by the Company at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice delivered to the registered owners of the Notes, at 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption. The Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part will be selected in a manner that complies with the requirements of the DTC.
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the outstanding Notes of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) register the transfer of or exchange of any Notes of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. This Global Note is exchangeable for Notes in definitive registered form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture.
In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series, of like tenor, for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender of this Note.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Notes may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Note upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.
As described in the Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, the Company is subject to a covenant regarding making certain tax information available to the Trustee and, so long as this Note is outstanding, the Company is subject to such other restrictive covenants and waivers as described therein.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of each series affected at the time outstanding voting as one class, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Notes of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of a Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the Indenture, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected; (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or reduce the percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to waive any default and its consequences, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby; or (iii) modify any provision of Section 6.01(c) of the Indenture (except to increase the percentage of principal amount of securities required to rescind and annul any declaration of amounts due and payable under the Notes), without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Note (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and of any Note issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Note is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company as may be designated by the Company accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.
The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual, facsimile or electronic signature, provided that the electronic signature is a true representation of the signatory’s actual signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be executed.
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
By: ___________________________
Name: Renee V. Hawkins
Title: Assistant Treasurer
By: ___________________________
Name: David C. House
Title: Assistant Secretary
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes of the series of Notes designated in accordance with, and referred to in, the within‑mentioned Indenture.
Dated: November 20, 2020
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
By: ___________________________
Authorized Signatory
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
_______________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF
________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNEE) the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby
________________________________________________________________
irrevocably constituting and appointing such person attorney to
________________________________________________________________
transfer such Note on the books of the Issuer, with full
________________________________________________________________
power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: ________________________ _________________________
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever and NOTICE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a financial institution that is a member of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (“SEMP”) or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (“MSP”).
Exhibit 2
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depository or to a successor Depository or to a nominee of such successor Depository.
No. R1
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
1.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2025
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CUSIP: 025537 AR2/US025537AR24
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Original Issue Date: November 20, 2020
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Stated Maturity: November 1, 2025
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Interest Rate: 1.00%
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Principal Amount: $450,000,000
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Redeemable:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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In Whole:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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In Part:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein referred to as the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the Principal Amount specified above on the Stated Maturity specified above, and to pay interest on said Principal Amount from the Original Issue Date specified above or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 in each year, commencing on May 1, 2021, at the Interest Rate per annum specified above, until the Principal Amount shall have been paid or duly provided for. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, as provided in the Indenture, as hereinafter defined, shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) shall have been registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date with respect to such Interest Payment Date, which shall be the April 15 or October 15 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately prior to such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable on the Stated Maturity or any redemption date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and shall be paid as provided in said Indenture.
If any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or Stated Maturity is not a Business Day, then payment of the amounts due on this Note on such date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such amounts for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, with the same force and effect as if made on such
date. The principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Note shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest (other than interest payable on the Stated Maturity or any redemption date) may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to the account designated by the person entitled thereto.
This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Notes of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the “Notes”), specified in the Indenture, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of May 1, 2001 duly executed and delivered between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States, as successor to The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein referred to as the “Trustee”) (such Indenture, as originally executed and delivered and as thereafter supplemented and amended being hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto or Company Orders reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Notes. By the terms of the Indenture, the Notes are issuable in series which may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of the series of Notes designated on the face hereof.
This Note may be redeemed by the Company at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice delivered to the registered owners of the Notes. At any time prior to October 1, 2025 (the date that is one month prior to maturity (the “Par Call Date”)), the Notes may be redeemed either as a whole or in part at a redemption price calculated by the Independent Investment Banker equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes being redeemed that would be due if such Notes matured on the Par Call Date (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to but excluding the date of redemption) discounted (for purposes of determining present value) to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 10 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption.
At any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem this Note in whole or in part at 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption. The Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part will be selected in a manner that complies with the requirements of the DTC.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (“remaining life”) of the Notes (assuming, for this purpose, that the Notes would mature on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining life of the Notes.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means a primary U.S. Government securities dealer or dealers selected by the Company and notified by the Company to the Trustee.
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company and notified to the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company and the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at or before 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated by using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the outstanding Notes of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) register the transfer of or exchange of any Notes of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. This Global Note is exchangeable for Notes in definitive registered form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture.
In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series, of like tenor, for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender of this Note.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Notes may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Note upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.
As described in the Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, the Company is subject to a covenant regarding making certain tax information available to the Trustee and, so long as this Note is outstanding, the Company is subject to such other restrictive covenants and waivers as described therein.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of each series affected at the time outstanding voting as one class, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Notes of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of a Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the Indenture, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected; (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or reduce the percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to waive any default and its consequences, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby; or (iii) modify any provision of Section 6.01(c) of the
Indenture (except to increase the percentage of principal amount of securities required to rescind and annul any declaration of amounts due and payable under the Notes), without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Note (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and of any Note issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Note is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company as may be designated by the Company accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.
The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual, facsimile or electronic signature, provided that the electronic signature is a true representation of the signatory’s actual signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be executed.
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
By: ___________________________
Name: Renee V. Hawkins
Title: Assistant Treasurer
By: ___________________________
Name: David C. House
Title: Assistant Secretary
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes of the series of Notes designated in accordance with, and referred to in, the within‑mentioned Indenture.
Dated: November 20, 2020
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
By: ___________________________
Authorized Signatory
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
_______________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF
________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNEE) the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby
________________________________________________________________
irrevocably constituting and appointing such person attorney to
________________________________________________________________
transfer such Note on the books of the Issuer, with full
________________________________________________________________
power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: ________________________ _________________________
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever and NOTICE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a financial institution that is a member of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (“SEMP”) or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (“MSP”).
Exhibit 3
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depository or to a successor Depository or to a nominee of such successor Depository.
No. R1
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
Floating Rate Notes, Series A, due 2023
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CUSIP: 025537 AS0/US025537AS07
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Original Issue Date: November 20, 2020
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Stated Maturity: November 1, 2023
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Principal Amount: $600,000,000
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Redeemable:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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In Whole:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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In Part:
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Yes x
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No ¨
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AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York (herein referred to as the “Company”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the Principal Amount specified above on the Stated Maturity specified above, and to pay interest on said Principal Amount from the Original Issue Date specified above or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing on February 1, 2021 at the per annum interest rate equal to the sum of the Three-Month LIBOR Rate plus 0.48% (the “Margin”), subject to the terms herein, until the Principal Amount shall have been paid or duly provided for. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days for which interest is payable in the relevant interest period, divided by 360.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, as provided in the Indenture, as hereinafter defined, shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) shall have been registered at the close of business on the Business Day before each Interest Payment Date (the “Regular Record Date”), provided that if the Notes are not in book-entry only form, the record date for each Interest Payment Date will be the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day before the applicable Interest Payment Date; provided further that interest payable on the Stated Maturity or on the date of redemption shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and shall be paid as provided in said Indenture.
If any LIBOR Rate Reset Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day, except that if that Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar month, the LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be the next preceding Business Day. The Interest Rate in effect on any LIBOR Rate Reset Date will be the applicable rate as reset on that date. The Interest Rate applicable to any other day will either be the initial Interest Rate or the Interest Rate as reset on the immediately preceding LIBOR Rate Reset Date.
The amount of interest payable will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the relevant quarterly period (including the first day of the quarterly period and excluding the last day of the quarterly period) divided by 360.
If any Interest Payment Date (other than at the Stated Maturity) is not a Business Day, then such Interest Payment Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day, except that if such Business Day is in the next calendar month, such Interest Payment Date shall be the immediately preceding Business Day. If the Stated Maturity of this Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue on such amounts for the period from and after such Stated Maturity. The principal of and the interest on this Note shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest (other than interest payable on the Stated Maturity) may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to the account designated by the person entitled thereto.
Accrued interest on any Note will be calculated by multiplying the principal amount of the Note by an accrued interest factor. The accrued interest factor will be computed by adding the interest factors calculated for each day in the period for which interest is being paid. The interest factor for each day is computed by dividing the Interest Rate applicable to that day by 360.
This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Notes of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the “Notes”), specified in the Indenture, all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of May 1, 2001 duly executed and delivered between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States, as successor to The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein referred to as the “Trustee”) (such Indenture, as originally executed and delivered and as thereafter supplemented and amended being hereinafter referred to as the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto or Company Orders reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Notes. By the terms of the Indenture, the Notes are issuable in series which may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of the series of Notes designated on the face hereof.
At any time on or after November 20, 2021, this Note may be redeemed by the Company at its option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, upon not less than thirty but not more than sixty days’ prior notice delivered to the registered owners of the Notes, at 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption. The Notes to be redeemed in whole or in part will be selected in a manner that complies with the requirements of the DTC.
This Note will bear interest for each quarterly interest period at a per annum rate (“Interest Rate”) determined by the Calculation Agent, subject to the maximum interest rate permitted by New York or other applicable state law, as such law may be modified by United States law of general application. The Interest Rate for the period from the issue date to the first LIBOR Rate Reset Date shall be equal to the Three-Month LIBOR Rate as determined by the Calculation Agent on November 18, 2020 plus the Margin. Following the initial interest period the Interest Rate for each subsequent interest period shall, subject to the provisions set forth below, be equal to the Three Month LIBOR Rate as determined by the Calculation Agent on the related LIBOR Rate Reset Date, plus the Margin. Such Interest Rate will be reset on the 1st day of the months of February, May, August and November of each year beginning in February 2021 (each, a “LIBOR Rate Reset Date”). An interest period is the period commencing on an Interest Payment Date (or, in the case of the initial interest period, commencing on November 20, 2020) and ending on the day preceding the next Interest Payment Date. Promptly upon such determination, the Calculation Agent will notify the Trustee for the Notes, if the person serving as the Trustee is not then serving as the Calculation Agent, of the Interest Rate for the new interest period. The Interest Rate determined by the Calculation Agent, absent manifest error, shall be binding and conclusive upon the beneficial owners and registered holders of this Note, the Company and the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the above, if the Company (or the Designee) determines on or prior to the relevant LIBOR Interest Determination Date that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the then current Benchmark, then (i) the Company shall promptly provide notice of such determination to the Calculation Agent and the provisions set forth below under “Effect of Benchmark Transition Event”, which is referred to as the “Benchmark Transition Provisions,” will thereafter apply to all determinations, calculations and quotations made or obtained for the purposes of calculating the rate and amount of interest payable on the Notes of this series during the relevant interest period. In accordance with the Benchmark Transition Provisions, after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred, the Interest Rate that will be payable for each interest period will be an annual rate equal to the sum of the Benchmark Replacement and the Margin. However, if the Company (or the Designee) determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the then current Benchmark, but for any reason the Benchmark Replacement has not been determined as of the relevant LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the Interest Rate for the applicable interest period will be equal to the Interest Rate for the immediately preceding interest period, as determined by the Company (or the Designee). Any percentage resulting from any calculation of any Interest Rate less than 0.00% will be deemed to be 0.00% (or 0.0000).
Effect of Benchmark Transition Event
Benchmark Replacement. If the Company (or the Designee) determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior to the Reference Time in respect of any determination of the Benchmark on any date, the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to this Note in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.
Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Company (or the Designee) will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.
Decisions and Determinations. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Company (or the Designee) pursuant to the Benchmark Transition Provisions, including any determination with respect to tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence
or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error, will be made in the Company’s (or the Designee’s) sole discretion, and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Indenture, shall become effective without consent from the holder of this Note or any other party. Neither the Trustee nor the Calculation Agent will have any liability for any determination made by or on behalf of the Company or the Designee in connection with a Benchmark Transition Event or a Benchmark Replacement.
By its acquisition of this Note, each holder of the Note (which, for these purposes, includes each beneficial owner) (i) will acknowledge, accept, consent and agree to be bound by the determination of the Three-Month LIBOR Rate or any component thereof by the Company or the Calculation Agent, including as may occur without any prior notice from the Company and without the need for the Company to obtain any further consent from such holder of the Note, (ii) will waive any and all claims, in law and/or in equity, against the Trustee, the paying agent and the Calculation Agent for, agree not to initiate a suit against the trustee, the paying agent and the Calculation Agent in respect of, and agree that none of the Trustee, the paying agent or the Calculation Agent will be liable for, the determination of or the failure to determine any Three-Month LIBOR Rate and any losses suffered in connection therewith.
In no event shall the Calculation Agent be responsible for determining any substitute for the Three-Month LIBOR Rate, or for making any adjustments to any alternative benchmark or spread thereon, the business day convention, interest determination dates or any other relevant methodology for calculating any such substitute or successor benchmark. In connection with the foregoing, the Calculation Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on any determinations made by the Company (or the Designee) and shall have no liability for such actions taken at the direction of the Company.
The “Three-Month LIBOR Rate” means the rate determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) On the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the Calculation Agent or its affiliate will determine the Three-Month LIBOR Rate which shall be the rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars having a three-month maturity which appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date.
(2) If no rate appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, the Calculation Agent will request the principal London offices of each of four major reference banks (which may include affiliates of BofA Securities, Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Truist Securities, Inc. or Fifth Third Securities, Inc.) in the London Inter-Bank Market selected by the Calculation Agent (after consultation with the Company) to provide the Calculation Agent with their offered quotations for deposits in U.S. dollars for the period of three months, commencing on the applicable LIBOR Rate Reset Date, to prime banks in the London Inter-Bank Market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time.
If at least two quotations are provided, then the Three Month LIBOR Rate will be the average (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundredth (0.01) of a percent) of those quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided, then the Three-Month LIBOR Rate will be the average (rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundredth (0.01) of a percent) of the rates quoted at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the LIBOR
Interest Determination Date by three major banks (which may include affiliates of BofA Securities, Inc., MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., TD Securities (USA) LLC, BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Truist Securities, Inc. or Fifth Third Securities, Inc.) in New York City selected by the Calculation Agent (after consultation with the Company) for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks, having a three-month maturity and in a principal amount that is representative for a single transaction in U.S. dollars in that market at that time. If the banks selected by the Calculation Agent are not providing quotations in the manner described by this paragraph, the rate for the period following the LIBOR Interest Determination Date will be the rate in effect on that LIBOR Interest Determination Date.
“Calculation Agent” means The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., or its successor appointed by the Company, acting as calculation agent.
“LIBOR Business Day” means any business day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London Inter-Bank market.
“LIBOR Interest Determination Date” means the second LIBOR Business Day preceding each LIBOR Rate Reset Date.
“Reuters Page LIBOR01” means the display so designated on the Reuters 3000 Xtra (or such other page as may replace that page on that service, or such other service as may be nominated by the Company as the information vendor, for the purpose of displaying rates or prices comparable to the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate for U.S. dollar deposits).
“Designee” means an independent financial advisor or such other designee of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the Calculation Agent or the Trustee be the Designee.
“Benchmark” means, initially, the Three-Month LIBOR Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the Three-Month LIBOR Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement.
“Benchmark Replacement” means the Interpolated Benchmark with respect to the then-current Benchmark, plus the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Interpolated Benchmark (if there is such a Benchmark Replacement Adjustment); provided that if the Company (or the Designee) cannot determine the Interpolated Benchmark as of the Benchmark Replacement Date, then “Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company (or the Designee) as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) the sum of: (a) Term SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(2) the sum of: (a) Compounded SOFR and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(3) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;
(4) the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; and
(5) the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by the Company (or the Designee) as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor giving due consideration to any industry accepted rate of interest as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the Company (or the Designee) as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:
(1) the spread adjustment (which may be positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body or determined by the Company or the Designee in accordance with the method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body, in each case for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;
(2) if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; and
(3) the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Company (or the Designee) giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time.
The Benchmark Replacement Adjustment shall not include the Margin and such Margin shall be applied to the Benchmark Replacement to determine the Interest Rate.
“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “interest period”, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenor, and other administrative matters), or any other changes to any other terms or provisions of this Note, in each case that the Company (or the Designee) decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Company (or the Designee) decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the Company (or the Designee) determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the Company (or the Designee) determines is reasonably necessary).
“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:
(1) in the case of clause (1) or (2) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; or
(2) in the case of clause (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.
For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.
“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then current Benchmark:
(1) a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark;
(2) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark, the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark, which states that the administrator of the Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark; or
(3) a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.
“Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate being established by the Company (or the Designee) in accordance with:
(1) the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining Compounded SOFR; provided that:
(2) if, and to the extent that, the Company (or the Designee) determines that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that have been selected by the Company (or the Designee) giving due consideration to any industry-accepted market practice for U.S. dollar denominated floating rate notes at such time.
For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Compounded SOFR shall exclude the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment and the Margin.
“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to a Benchmark Replacement means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.
“Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source.
“Interpolated Benchmark” with respect to the Benchmark means the rate determined for the Corresponding Tenor by interpolating on a linear basis between: (1) the Benchmark for the longest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is shorter than the Corresponding Tenor and (2) the Benchmark for the shortest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is longer than the Corresponding Tenor. “Benchmark” as used in clause (1) and (2) of the foregoing definition means the then-current Benchmark for the applicable periods specified in such clauses without giving effect to the applicable index maturity (if any).
“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.
“ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.
“ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.
“Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is the Three-Month LIBOR Rate, 11:00 a.m., London time, on the LIBOR Interest Determination Date, and (2) if the Benchmark is not the Three- Month LIBOR Rate, the time determined by the Company (or the Designee) in accordance with the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.
“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor thereto.
“SOFR” with respect to any day means the secured overnight financing rate published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, as the administrator of the benchmark (or a successor administrator), on the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Website.
“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for the applicable Corresponding Tenor based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.
“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.
The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the outstanding Notes of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) register the transfer of or exchange of any Notes of any series or portions thereof called for redemption. This Global Note is exchangeable for Notes in definitive registered form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture. In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series, of like tenor, for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender of this Note.
In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Notes may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Note upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.
As described in the Company Order and Officers’ Certificate, the Company is subject to a covenant regarding making certain tax information available to the Trustee and, so long as this Note is outstanding, the Company is subject to such other restrictive covenants and waivers as described therein.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of each series affected at the time outstanding voting as one class, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Notes of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of a Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the Indenture, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected; (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, or reduce the percentage of Notes, the holders of which are required to waive any default and its consequences, without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby; or (iii) modify any provision of Section 6.01(c) of the Indenture (except to increase the percentage of principal amount of securities required to rescind and annul any declaration of amounts due and payable under the Notes), without the consent of the holder of each Note then outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of the Holders of the Notes of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Note (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and of any Note issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Note at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Note is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company as may be designated by the Company accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be
made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.
Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.
The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations, Notes of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee by manual, facsimile or electronic signature, provided that the electronic signature is a true representation of the signatory’s actual signature.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be executed.
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
By: ___________________________
Name: Renee V. Hawkins
Title: Assistant Treasurer
By: ___________________________
Name: David C. House
Title: Assistant Secretary
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes of the series of Notes designated in accordance with, and referred to in, the within‑mentioned Indenture.
Dated: November 20, 2020
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
By: ___________________________
Authorized Signatory
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)
_______________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF
________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNEE) the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby
________________________________________________________________
irrevocably constituting and appointing such person attorney to
________________________________________________________________
transfer such Note on the books of the Issuer, with full
________________________________________________________________
power of substitution in the premises.
Dated: ________________________ _________________________
NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within Note in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever and NOTICE: Signature(s) must be guaranteed by a financial institution that is a member of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”), the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (“SEMP”) or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program (“MSP”).