EXECUTION COPY
Exhibit 4(a)
TRUST INDENTURE
BY AND BETWEEN
MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION
AND
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
Dated as of March 1, 2019
$134,000,000
Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
Revenue Refunding Bonds
(System Energy Resources, Inc. Project)
Series 2019
Table of Contents
Article I
DEFINITIONS
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SECTION 1.1
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Definitions
4
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SECTION 1.2
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Use of Words and Phrases
7
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Article II
THE BONDS
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SECTION 2.1
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Authorized Form and Amount of Bonds
8
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SECTION 2.2
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Details of Series 2019 Bonds
8
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SECTION 2.5
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Limited Obligations
9
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SECTION 2.6
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Authentication
9
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SECTION 2.7
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Delivery of the Bonds
10
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SECTION 2.8
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Mutilated, Destroyed or Lost Bonds
10
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SECTION 2.9
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Registration and Exchange of Bonds
11
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SECTION 2.10
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Cremation and Other Dispositions
11
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SECTION 2.11
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Additional Bonds
12
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SECTION 2.12
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Temporary Bonds
12
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SECTION 2.13
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Book-Entry System.
13
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SECTION 2.14
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Payments to Securities Depository.
15
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Article III
REDEMPTION OF BONDS BEFORE MATURITY
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SECTION 3.1
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Optional Redemption
16
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SECTION 3.2
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Special Optional Redemption
16
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SECTION 3.3
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Special Mandatory Redemption
16
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SECTION 3.5
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Redemption Payments
17
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SECTION 3.6
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Cancellation
17
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SECTION 3.7
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Partial Redemption of Bonds
18
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Article IV
GENERAL COVENANTS
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SECTION 4.1
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Payment of Principal, Premium, If Any, and Interest
19
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SECTION 4.2
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Performance of Covenants
19
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SECTION 4.3
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Instruments of Further Assurance
19
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SECTION 4.4
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Inspection of Books
20
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SECTION 4.5
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Rights Under Loan Agreement
20
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SECTION 4.6
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Tax Covenants
20
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Article V
REVENUES AND FUNDS
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SECTION 5.1
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Creation of Bond Fund
21
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SECTION 5.2
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Payments Into Bond Fund
21
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SECTION 5.3
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Use of Moneys in Bond Fund
21
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SECTION 5.4
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Withdrawals from Bond Fund
21
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SECTION 5.5
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Non-Presentment of Bonds
21
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SECTION 5.6
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Administration Expenses
21
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SECTION 5.7
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Moneys to be Held in Trust
22
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SECTION 5.8
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Refund to Company of Excess Payments
22
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Article VI
BOND PROCEEDS FUND; APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS OF BONDS
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SECTION 6.1
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Creation of Bond Proceeds Fund
23
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SECTION 6.2
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Deposit of Proceeds of Bonds
23
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Article VII
INVESTMENTS
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SECTION 7.1
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Investment of Moneys
24
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SECTION 7.2
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Arbitrage Law Requirements
24
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Article VIII
RIGHTS OF THE COMPANY
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SECTION 8.1
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Rights of Company Under Loan Agreement and Note.
26
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SECTION 8.2
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Enforcement of Rights and Obligations
26
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Article IX
DISCHARGE OF LIEN
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SECTION 9.1
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Discharge of Lien
27
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Article X
DEFAULT PROVISIONS AND REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND BONDHOLDERS
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SECTION 10.1
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Events of Default
28
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SECTION 10.2
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Acceleration
28
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SECTION 10.3
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Other Remedies; Rights of Bondholders
29
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SECTION 10.4
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Right of Bondholders to Direct Proceedings
29
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SECTION 10.5
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Appointment of Receiver
29
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SECTION 10.7
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Application of Moneys
30
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SECTION 10.8
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Remedies Vested in Trustee
31
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SECTION 10.9
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Rights and Remedies of Bondholders
31
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SECTION 10.10 Termination of Proceedings
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32
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SECTION 10.11 Waivers of Events of Default
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32
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Article XI
THE TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENTS
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SECTION 11.1
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Acceptance of Trusts
33
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SECTION 11.2
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Fees, Charges and Expenses of Trustee and Paying Agents
36
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SECTION 11.3
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Notice to Bondholders of Default
36
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SECTION 11.4
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Intervention by Trustee
36
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SECTION 11.5
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Merger or Consolidation of Trustee
37
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SECTION 11.6
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Resignation by Trustee
37
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SECTION 11.7
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Removal of Trustee
37
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SECTION 11.8
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Appointment of Successor Trustee
37
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SECTION 11.9
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Concerning Any Successor Trustee
38
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SECTION 11.10
Reliance Upon Instruments
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38
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SECTION 11.11
Appointment of Co-Trustee
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38
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SECTION 11.12
Designation and Succession of Paying Agents
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39
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SECTION 11.13 Several Capacities
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39
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SECTION 11.14 No Transfer of Note Held by the Trustee
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39
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SECTION 11.15
Insurance
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40
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Article XII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
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SECTION 12.1
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Supplemental Indentures Without Bondholder Consent
41
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SECTION 12.2
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Supplemental Indentures Requiring Bondholder Consent
42
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SECTION 12.3
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Consent of Company
42
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SECTION 12.4
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Opinion of Bond Counsel
42
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Article XIII
AMENDMENT OF LOAN AGREEMENT and note
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SECTION 13.1
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Amendments With and Without the Consent of Bondholders
44
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SECTION 13.2
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Notice to Bondholders
44
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SECTION 13.3
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Opinion of Bond Counsel
44
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Article XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
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SECTION 14.1
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Consents, etc. of Bondholders
45
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SECTION 14.2
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Limitation of Rights
45
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SECTION 14.3
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Severability
45
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SECTION 14.5
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Applicable Provisions of Law
47
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SECTION 14.6
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Counterparts
47
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SECTION 14.7
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Successors and Assigns
47
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SECTION 14.9
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Bonds Owned by the Issuer or the Company
47
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SECTION 14.10 Holidays
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48
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EXHIBIT A
Form of Bond
Trust Indenture
This
Trust Indenture
dated as of
March 1, 2019
(together with any amendments and supplements hereto, this "Indenture") is by and between the
Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
(as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof), a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi (the "Issuer") authorized to exercise the powers conferred by the Act (as defined below), and
The Bank of New York Mellon
(as more fully defined in Section 1.1. hereof), a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS
, the Issuer is authorized by the provisions of Sections 57-10-201
et seq.
, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended and supplemented (the "Act"), among other things, to provide financial assistance to businesses in the State of Mississippi (the "State") by providing loans, guarantees, insurance and other assistance to businesses, thereby encouraging the investment of private capital in businesses in the State, and to finance such assistance to businesses by the issuance of revenue bonds; and
WHEREAS
, System Energy Resources, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas and duly qualified to do business in the State (the "Company"), has requested that the Issuer issue $134,000,000 of its Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019 (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof, the "Series 2019 Bonds") for the purpose of currently refunding its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 1998 (the "1998 Bonds") issued in the original principal amount of $216,000,000, which 1998 Bonds were issued for the purpose of providing funds to refinance the Company's obligations incurred to finance the cost of acquiring an undivided 90% interest in certain air and water pollution control facilities and sewage and solid waste disposal facilities (the "Project") at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Electric Generating Station located in Claiborne County, Mississippi (the "Plant"); and
WHEREAS
, concurrently with the issuance of the Series 2019 Bonds hereunder, the Issuer and the Company will enter into the Loan Agreement (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof) pursuant to which the Issuer will loan the proceeds derived from the sale of the Series 2019 Bonds to the Company for the purposes described herein, and the Company will agree to make payments in an amount sufficient to make timely payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Series 2019 Bonds and to pay such other amounts as are required by the Loan Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
the Issuer is authorized under the provisions of the Act and other constitutional and statutory authority to issue the Series 2019 Bonds for such purposes and the Issuer has determined that it is most advantageous to the Issuer and necessary for it to issue its revenue refunding bonds as hereinafter provided for such purposes; and
WHEREAS
, to evidence the loan and repayment obligations under the Loan Agreement in respect of the Series 2019 Bonds, the Company will deliver to the Trustee the Note (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof) in accordance with Section 5.4 of the Loan Agreement; and
WHEREAS,
the fully registered Series 2019 Bonds and the certificate of authentication by the Trustee to be endorsed thereon with respect to the Series 2019 Bonds are to be in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A hereto with all necessary and appropriate variations, omissions and insertions as permitted or required under this Indenture; and
WHEREAS
, the Issuer may authorize and issue Additional Bonds (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof) pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Loan Agreement and Section 2.11 of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS
, all acts, conditions and things required by the laws of the State to happen, exist and be performed precedent to and in the execution and delivery of this Indenture have happened, exist and have been performed as so required in order to make this Indenture a valid and binding agreement in accordance with its terms; and
WHEREAS
, the execution and delivery of this Indenture have been duly authorized by the Issuer and the Trustee; and
WHEREAS
, each of the parties hereto represents that it is fully authorized to enter into and perform and fulfill the obligations imposed upon it under this Indenture and the parties are now prepared to execute and deliver this Indenture;
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH
:
GRANTING CLAUSES
That the Issuer, in consideration of the premises and the acceptance by the Trustee of the trusts hereby created and of the purchase and acceptance of the Bonds (as more fully defined in Section 1.1. hereof) by the holders and owners thereof, and the sum of One Dollar ($1.00), lawful money of the United States of America, to it duly paid by the Trustee, at or before the execution and delivery of these presents, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in order to secure the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds according to their tenor and effect and to secure the performance and observance by the Issuer of all the covenants expressed or implied herein and in the Bonds, subject to all of the provisions hereof, does hereby grant, bargain, sell, convey, assign and pledge unto the Trustee, and unto its successor or successors in trust, and to them and their assigns forever, for the securing of the performance of the obligations of the Issuer hereinafter set forth:
GRANTING CLAUSE FIRST
All the rights and interest of the Issuer in and to the (i) Loan Agreement (except for the rights of the Issuer under Sections 5.4(b), 5.6, 5.7 and 8.5 of the Loan Agreement and any rights of the Issuer to receive notices, certificates, requests, requisitions, directions and other communications under the Loan Agreement), (ii) the Note, and (iii) all Revenues (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof) and the proceeds of all thereof.
GRANTING CLAUSE SECOND
All the rights and interest of the Issuer in and to the Bond Fund and the Bond Proceeds Fund (in each case as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof), and all moneys and investments therein, but subject to the provisions of the Loan Agreement and this Indenture pertaining thereto, including those pertaining to the making of disbursements therefrom.
GRANTING CLAUSE THIRD
All moneys, securities and obligations from time to time held by the Trustee under the terms of this Indenture and any and all real and personal property of every kind and nature from time to time hereafter by delivery or by writing of any kind conveyed, pledged, assigned or transferred, as and for additional security hereunder by the Issuer or by anyone on its behalf or with its written consent to the Trustee, which is hereby
authorized to receive any and all such property at any and all times and to hold and apply the same subject to the terms hereof; except for moneys, securities or obligations deposited with or paid to the Trustee for redemption or payment of Bonds which are deemed to have been paid in accordance with Article IX hereof and funds held pursuant to Section 5.5 hereof, which shall be held by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of said Article IX or Section 5.5, as the case may be.
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD
all of the same with all privileges and appurtenances hereby conveyed and assigned, or agreed or intended so to be, to the Trustee and its successors in said trusts and to them and their assigns forever;
IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS
, upon the terms and trusts herein set forth for the equal and proportionate benefit and security of all owners of the Bonds issued under and secured by this Indenture without preference, priority or distinction as to lien of any Bonds over any other Bonds, except insofar as any sinking, amortization or other fund, or any terms or conditions of redemption or purchase, established under this Indenture may afford additional benefit or security for the Bonds of any particular series.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER
, that if the Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid to the owners of the Bonds the principal of and premium, if any, and interest to become due thereon at the times and in the manner stipulated therein, and if the Issuer shall keep, perform and observe all and singular the covenants and promises in the Bonds and in this Indenture expressed as to be kept, performed and observed by it on its part, all as provided in and subject to the provisions of Article IX hereof, then and in that case these presents and the estate and rights hereby granted, except as otherwise provided in Article IX, shall cease, determine and be void, and thereupon the Trustee shall cancel and discharge the lien of this Indenture and execute and deliver to the Issuer such instruments in writing as shall be requisite to evidence the discharge hereof pursuant to the provisions of said Article IX; otherwise this Indenture to be and remain in full force and effect.
THIS INDENTURE FURTHER WITNESSETH
, and it is expressly declared, that all Bonds issued and secured hereunder are to be issued, authenticated and delivered, and the Trust Estate (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof) and the other estate and rights hereby granted, are to be dealt with and disposed of, under, upon and subject to the terms, conditions, stipulations, covenants, agreements, trusts, uses and purposes as hereinafter expressed, and the Issuer has agreed and covenanted, and does hereby agree and covenant, with the Trustee and with the respective owners, from time to time, of the Bonds, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions
. In addition to the words and terms elsewhere defined in this Indenture, the following words and terms as used in this Indenture shall have the following meanings:
"Act"
shall have the meaning set forth in the first recital of this Indenture.
"Additional Bonds"
shall mean Bonds in addition to the Series 2019 Bonds that are issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.11 of this Indenture.
"Administration Expenses"
shall mean the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the Issuer with respect to the Loan Agreement, this Indenture and any transaction or event contemplated by the Loan Agreement or this Indenture including the compensation and reimbursement of expenses and advances payable to the Trustee, any Paying Agent, and the Bond Registrar.
"Authorized Company Representative"
shall mean any treasurer, assistant treasurer or vice president of the Company or the person or persons at the time designated to act on behalf of the Company by any one of said officers, such designation in each case, to be evidenced by a certificate furnished to the Issuer and the Trustee containing the specimen signature of such person or persons and signed on behalf of the Company by said officer.
"Authorized Officer"
shall mean the Executive Director or Secretary of the Issuer or such other person or persons who are duly authorized to act on behalf of the Issuer.
"Bond" or "Bonds"
shall mean the Series 2019 Bonds and any Additional Bonds (or any one of such Bonds) issued by the Issuer pursuant to this Indenture.
"Bond Counsel"
shall mean any firm of nationally recognized municipal bond counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Issuer and the Trustee.
"Bond Fund"
shall mean the fund by that name created and established under and in accordance with Section 5.1 of this Indenture.
"Bond Proceeds Fund"
shall mean the fund by that name created and established under and in accordance with Section 6.1 of this Indenture.
"Bond Registrar"
shall mean the registrar of Bonds named herein.
"Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as heretofore or hereafter amended and the Regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Company"
shall mean System Energy Resources, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas, duly qualified to do business in the State, together with any permitted successors or assigns under the Loan Agreement.
"DTC"
shall mean The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and its successors.
"DTC Letter"
shall mean the Blanket Issuer Letter of Representations between the Issuer and DTC dated June 15, 1995.
"DTC Participant"
shall mean (i) any person for which, from time to time, DTC, or, in the event that a successor Securities Depository to DTC is acting as such under Section 2.13 hereof, such successor Securities Depository, effectuates book-entry transfers and pledges of securities pursuant to the book-entry system referred to in Section 2.13 hereof or (ii) any securities broker or dealer, bank, trust company or other person that clears through or maintains a custodial relationship with the person referred to in clause (i).
"Electronic Means"
shall mean the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.
"Event of Default"
shall mean any event of default specified in Section 10.1 hereof.
"Government Obligations"
shall mean (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged, or (b) obligations issued by a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an instrumentality of the United
States of America, the timely payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on which such obligations is fully and unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America
"Holder" or "holder"
or
"bondholder"
or
"owner of the Bonds"
or
"Bondholder"
shall mean the registered owner of any Bond.
"Issuer"
shall mean the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State, including the Act, or any successor to its rights and obligations under the Loan Agreement and this Indenture
.
"Loan Agreement"
or
"Agreement"
shall mean the Loan Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2019, by and between the Issuer and the Company, and any amendments and supplements thereto.
"Maturity Date"
shall mean April 1, 2022.
"Note"
shall mean the Promissory Note dated as of March 1, 2019, of the Company delivered to the Issuer and assigned to the Trustee.
"1954 Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and supplemented.
"1998 Bonds"
shall have the meaning set forth in the second recital of this Indenture.
"outstanding,"
when used with reference to the Bonds, shall mean, as of any particular date, all Bonds authenticated and delivered under this Indenture except:
(a)
Bonds canceled at or prior to such date or delivered to or acquired by the Trustee at or prior to such date for cancellation;
(b)
Bonds deemed to be paid in accordance with Article IX of this Indenture;
(c)
Bonds in lieu of or in exchange or substitution for which other Bonds shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture; and
(d)
Bonds registered in the name of the Issuer.
"Paying Agent"
shall mean any bank or trust company designated pursuant to this Indenture as the place at which the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds of a series are payable, and any successor designated pursuant to this Indenture. With respect to the Series 2019 Bonds, the Trustee is the original Paying Agent.
"Person" or "person"
shall mean, as the case may be, any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including without limitation, general and limited partnerships), joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government, any agency or political subdivision thereof, or public corporation
"Plant"
shall have the meaning set forth in the second recital of this Indenture.
"Project"
shall have the meaning set forth in the second recital of this Indenture.
"Record Date"
shall mean, with respect to any interest payment date of the Bonds occurring on the first day of any month, the fifteenth day of the calendar month next preceding such interest payment date; and with respect to any interest payment date of the Bonds occurring on the fifteenth day of any month, the first day of such month.
"Refunding Date"
shall mean March 28, 2019, or such later date as may be established by the Company; provided, however, that the Refunding Date shall not be later than ninety (90) days following the date of delivery of the Series 2019 Bonds to the Underwriter.
"Regulations"
shall mean the applicable proposed, temporary or final Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Responsible Officer"
shall mean, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of the Trustee's obligations under this Indenture.
"Revenues"
shall mean all moneys paid or payable by the Company to the Trustee for the account of the Issuer in respect of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, including, without limitation, amounts paid or payable by the Company pursuant to Sections 5.2 and 9.1 of the Loan Agreement as Loan Payments, and all receipts of the Trustee credited under the provisions of this Indenture against such payments.
"Securities Depository"
shall mean DTC and any other "clearing agency" registered under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Series 2019 Bonds"
shall mean the $134,000,000 Mississippi Business Finance Corporation's Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019 issued pursuant to this Indenture.
"State"
shall have the meaning set forth in the first recital of this Indenture.
"Tax Certificate"
shall mean the Tax Compliance and No Arbitrage Certificate of the Issuer and the Company dated the issue date of any series of Bonds issued under this Indenture.
"Trustee"
shall mean the banking corporation or association designated as Trustee herein, and its successor or successors as such Trustee. The original Trustee is The Bank of New York Mellon.
"Trust Estate"
shall mean the property conveyed to the Trustee pursuant to the Granting Clauses hereof.
"Underwriter"
shall mean, in respect of the Series 2019 Bonds, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and, in respect of any Additional Bonds, any underwriter designated as such in connection with the issuance of such Additional Bonds.
SECTION 1.2 Use of Words and Phrases
. "Herein," "hereby," "hereunder," "hereof," "hereinabove," "hereinafter," and other equivalent words and phrases refer to this Indenture and not solely to the particular portion thereof in which any such word is used. The definitions set forth in Section 1.1 hereof include both singular and plural. Whenever used herein, any pronoun shall be deemed to include both
singular and plural and to cover all genders. Words of the masculine gender shall be deemed and construed to include correlative words of the feminine and neuter genders. Unless the context shall otherwise indicate, the words "Bond," "owner," "holder" and "person" shall include the plural, as well as the singular, number.
Unless the context shall otherwise indicate, "Person" or "person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
ARTICLE II
THE BONDS
SECTION 2.1 Authorized Form and Amount of Bonds
. No Bonds may be issued under the provisions of this Indenture except in accordance with this Article. All Bonds issued hereunder shall be in the form of registered Bonds without coupons. The total principal amount of Bonds that may be issued is hereby expressly limited to $134,000,000, except as provided in Sections 2.8, 2.11 and 2.12 hereof.
SECTION 2.2 Details of Series 2019 Bonds
. The Series 2019 Bonds (i) shall be designated "Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019," (ii) shall be in the aggregate principal amount of $134,000,000, (iii) shall be issued in denominations of $5,000 and any integral multiple thereof, (iv) shall be numbered consecutively from R-1 upwards in order of issuance according to the records of the Trustee, (v) shall be dated as hereinafter provided, (vi) shall bear interest as hereinafter provided, payable semiannually on April 1 and October 1 of each year commencing October 1, 2019, and (vii) shall mature on the Maturity Date.
The
Series 2019
Bonds shall bear interest from and including the date thereof until the principal thereof shall have become due and payable in accordance with the provisions hereof, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, at the rate of two and one-half percent (2.50%) per annum. Overdue principal of the Series 2019 Bonds shall bear interest at the rate of two and one-half percent (2.50%) per annum. Overdue installments of interest shall not bear interest. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year, consisting of twelve 30-day months.
Series 2019
Bonds issued before October 1, 2019, shall be dated March 28, 2019, and
Series 2019
Bonds issued on or subsequent to October 1, 2019, shall be dated as of the interest payment date next preceding the date of authentication and delivery thereof by the Trustee, unless such date of authentication and delivery shall be an interest payment date, in which case they shall be dated as of such date of authentication and delivery; provided, however, that if, as shown by the records of the Trustee, interest on any Bonds surrendered for transfer or exchange shall be in default, the Bonds issued in exchange for Bonds surrendered for transfer or exchange shall be dated as of the date to which interest has been paid in full on the Bonds surrendered.
The
Series 2019
Bonds shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto with such appropriate variations, omissions and insertions as are permitted or required by this Indenture.
SECTION 2.3 Payment
. The principal of and premium, if any, on the Bonds shall be paid upon the presentation and surrender of said Bonds at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee. The interest on the Bonds shall be payable by check drawn upon the Trustee and mailed to the registered owners as of the close of business on the Record Date with respect to the interest payment date at their respective addresses
as such appear on the bond registration books kept by the Trustee. All payments shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America.
SECTION 2.4 Execution.
The Bonds shall be executed on behalf of the Issuer with the manual or facsimile signatures of the President or Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer, and shall have impressed or imprinted thereon the official seal of the Issuer or a facsimile thereof.
If any of the officers whose manual or facsimile signatures shall be upon the Bonds shall cease to be such officers of the Issuer before such Bonds shall have been actually authenticated by the Trustee or delivered by the Issuer, such Bonds nevertheless may be authenticated, issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though the person or persons whose signature shall be upon such Bonds had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Issuer; and also any such Bonds may be signed and sealed on behalf of the Issuer by those persons who, at the actual date of the execution of such Bond, shall be the proper officers of the Issuer, although at the nominal date of such Bonds any such person shall not have been such officer of the Issuer.
SECTION 2.5 Limited Obligations
. The Bonds shall be limited obligations of the Issuer, payable by the Issuer solely out of the Revenues (including all sums deposited in any fund from time to time pursuant to this Indenture, the Loan Agreement, the Note and in certain events, as provided herein, out of amounts attributable to Bond proceeds or amounts obtained through the exercise of any remedy provided herein upon occurrence of an Event of Default under this Indenture). The Bonds shall never be paid out of any other funds of the Issuer except such Revenues. No recourse under the Bonds shall be had against any past, present or future officer or trustee of the Issuer. The Bonds shall never be paid in whole or in part out of any funds raised or to be raised by taxation or out of any other revenues or assets of the Issuer or the State except those Revenues pledged by this Indenture.
THE BONDS ARE NOT A GENERAL OBLIGATION OF THE ISSUER AND ARE NOT AN INDEBTEDNESS OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF. NEITHER THE FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE ISSUER NOR THE FAITH AND CREDIT OR THE TAXING POWER OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF IS PLEDGED TO THE PAYMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE BONDS, OR PREMIUM, IF ANY, OR THE INTEREST THEREON OR OTHER COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO. THE ISSUER HAS NO TAXING POWER.
SECTION 2.6 Authentication
. Only such Bonds as shall have endorsed thereon a Certificate of Authentication substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto duly executed by the Trustee shall be entitled to any right or benefit under this Indenture. No Bond shall be valid and obligatory for any purpose unless and until such Certificate of Authentication shall have been duly executed by the Trustee, and such Certificate of the Trustee upon any such Bond shall be conclusive evidence that such Bond has been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. The Trustee's Certificate of Authentication on any Bond shall be deemed to have been executed if signed by an authorized officer of the Trustee, but it shall not be necessary that the same officer sign the Certificate of Authentication on all of the Bonds issued hereunder.
SECTION 2.7 Delivery of the Bonds
. The Issuer shall execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate the Bonds of any series and deliver said Bonds to the Underwriter as may be directed hereinafter in this Section 2.7, in Section 2.11 hereof, or in any supplemental indenture.
Prior to the delivery on original issuance by the Trustee of any authenticated Bonds of any series, there shall be or have been delivered to the Trustee:
(a)
An original duly executed counterpart or a duly certified copy of this Indenture and, in the case of Additional Bonds, a supplemental indenture by and between the Issuer and the Trustee setting forth the details concerning such Bonds,
(b)
An original duly executed counterpart or a duly certified copy of the Loan Agreement and, in the case of Additional Bonds, an amendment of or supplement to the Loan Agreement, if any,
(c)
An original duly executed Note pursuant to Section 5.4 of the Loan Agreement,
(d)
A written order to the Trustee by the Issuer to authenticate and deliver the Bonds of such series to the Underwriter upon payment to Trustee, but for the account of the Issuer, of a sum specified in such order, and with such request and authorization specifying the amounts to be deposited in the funds created hereunder,
(e)
A copy, duly certified by an Assistant Secretary, of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees of the Issuer authorizing the issuance of the Bonds, and
(f)
A written opinion of Bond Counsel to the effect that the issuance of such Bonds and the execution thereof have been duly authorized, that all conditions precedent to the delivery thereof have been fulfilled, and in the case of any series of Additional Bonds, that the excludability of the interest on the Series 2019 Bonds and any Additional Bonds theretofore issued from gross income for federal income tax purposes will not be affected by the issuance of the Bonds being issued.
SECTION 2.8
Mutilated, Destroyed or Lost Bonds
. In case any Bond issued hereunder shall become mutilated or be destroyed or lost, the Issuer shall, if not then prohibited by law, cause to be executed and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a new Bond of the same series of like date, number, maturity and tenor in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation of such mutilated Bond, or in lieu of and in substitution for such Bond destroyed or lost, upon the holder's paying the reasonable expenses and charges of the Issuer and Trustee in connection therewith, and, in the case of a Bond destroyed or lost, his filing with the Trustee evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee that such Bonds were destroyed or lost, and of his ownership thereof, and furnishing the Issuer, the Company and the Trustee with security and/or indemnity satisfactory to them. The Trustee is hereby authorized to authenticate any such new Bond. In the event any such Bonds shall have matured, instead of issuing a new Bond, the Issuer may pay the same without the surrender thereof.
SECTION 2.9 Registration and Exchange of Bonds
. The Issuer hereby constitutes and appoints the Trustee as Bond Registrar of the Issuer, and as Bond Registrar the Trustee shall keep books for the registration and for the transfer of the Bonds as provided in this Indenture at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee. The person in whose name any Bond shall be registered shall be deemed and regarded as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and payment of or on account of the principal of and interest on any such Bond shall be made only to or upon the order of the registered owner thereof or his legal representative, and neither the Issuer, the Trustee, nor the Bond Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary but such registration may be changed as herein provided. All payments shall be valid and effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability upon such Bond to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
Bonds may be transferred on the books of registration kept by the Trustee by the registered owner in person or by his duly authorized attorney, upon surrender thereof, together with a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered owner or his duly authorized attorney in such form as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. Upon surrender for transfer of any Bond at the designated corporate office of the
Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Bond or Bonds in the same aggregate principal amount and of any authorized denomination or denominations.
Bonds may be exchanged at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee for an equal aggregate principal amount of Bonds of any other authorized denomination or denominations of the same series with corresponding maturities. The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Bonds which the bondholder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing numbers not then outstanding. The execution by the Issuer of any Bond of any denomination shall constitute full and due authorization of such denomination and the Trustee shall thereby be authorized to authenticate and deliver such Bond.
Such transfers of registration or exchanges of Bonds shall be without charge to the holders of such Bonds, but any taxes or other governmental charges required to be paid with respect to the same shall be paid by the holder of the Bond requesting such transfer or exchange as a condition precedent to the exercise of such privilege.
The Trustee shall not be required to transfer or exchange any Bond after the mailing of notice calling such Bond for redemption has been made, nor during the period of fifteen (15) days next preceding mailing of a notice of redemption of any Bonds.
SECTION 2.10 Cremation and Other Dispositions
. All Bonds surrendered for the purpose of payment or retirement, or for exchange, or for replacement or payment as provided above, or for cancellation, shall be canceled upon surrender thereof to the Trustee and, at the option of the Trustee, either cremated, shredded or otherwise disposed of. The Trustee shall execute and forward to the Issuer an appropriate certificate describing the Bonds involved and the manner of disposition.
SECTION 2.11 Additional Bonds
. The Issuer, at the request of the Company and to the extent permitted by law in effect at the time thereof, may in its sole discretion issue from time to time one or more series of Additional Bonds for the purposes provided in Section 4.2 of the Loan Agreement. Additional Bonds shall be secured equally and ratably with the Series 2019 Bonds and any other Additional Bonds theretofore issued and then outstanding, except insofar as any sinking, amortization or other fund, or any terms or conditions of redemption or purchase, established under this Indenture may afford additional benefit or security for the Bonds of any particular series. Before any Additional Bonds are authenticated there shall be delivered to the Trustee the items required for the issuance of Bonds by Section 2.7 hereof.
The right to issue Additional Bonds set forth in this Indenture shall not imply that the Issuer may not issue, and the Issuer expressly reserves the right to issue, to the extent permitted by law, obligations under another indenture or indentures to provide additional funds to pay the cost of additional facilities at the Plant, or to refund all or any principal amount of all or any series of Bonds, or any combination thereof, and the provisions of this Indenture governing the issuance of Additional Bonds shall not apply thereto.
The proceeds of the issuance and sale of any series of Additional Bonds, including purchase premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, thereon to the date of delivery thereof paid by the Underwriter, shall be applied simultaneously with the delivery of such Additional Bonds in the manner provided in this Indenture and in the supplemental indenture authorizing such Additional Bonds.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Additional Bonds shall be issued unless (i) the Loan Agreement is in effect, and (ii) at the time of issuance there is no Event of Default (as defined in the Loan Agreement) under the Loan Agreement or Event of Default under this Indenture.
SECTION 2.12 Temporary Bonds
. Until Bonds in definitive form are ready for delivery, the Issuer may execute, and upon the request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, subject to the provisions, limitations and conditions set forth herein, one or more Bonds in temporary form, whether printed, typewritten, lithographed or otherwise produced, substantially in the form of the definitive Bonds, with appropriate omissions, variations and insertions, and in authorized denominations. Until exchanged for Bonds in definitive form, such Bonds in temporary form shall be entitled to the lien and benefit of this Indenture. Upon the presentation and surrender of any Bond or Bonds in temporary form, the Issuer shall, without unreasonable delay, prepare, execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange therefor, a Bond or Bonds in definitive form. Such exchange shall be made by the Trustee without making any charge therefor to the holder of such Bond in temporary form.
SECTION 2.13 Book-Entry System.
(a)
DTC will act as the initial Securities Depository for the Bonds. The Bonds shall be initially issued in the form of a single fully registered Bond for each series registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC, as Registered Owner of the Bonds, and held in the custody of DTC. So long as Cede & Co. is the Registered Owner of the Bonds, as nominee of DTC, references herein to Registered Owners, Bondholders or holders of the Bonds shall mean Cede & Co. and shall not mean the beneficial owners of the Bonds.
(b)
While DTC is the Securities Depository, the ownership interest of each of the beneficial owners of the Bonds will be recorded through the records of a DTC Participant. Transfers of beneficial ownership interests in the Bonds which are registered in the name of Cede & Co. will be accompanied by book entries made by DTC and, in turn, by the DTC Participants who act on behalf of the beneficial owners of the Bonds.
(c)
With respect to Bonds registered in the name of the Securities Depository, the Issuer, the Bond Registrar, the Paying Agent, any co-paying agent and the Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any Person on behalf of whom such Securities Depository holds an interest in the Bonds, except as provided in this Indenture. Without limiting the immediately preceding sentence, the Issuer, the Bond Registrar, the Paying Agent, any co-paying agent and the Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation with respect to (i) the accuracy of the records of the Securities Depository with respect to any ownership interest in the Bonds, (ii) the delivery to any Person, other than a Bondholder, as shown on the Bond Register, of any notice with respect to the Bonds, including any notice of redemption, or (iii) the payment to any Person, other than a Registered Owner, as shown in the Bond Register of any amount with respect to principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Bonds.
(d)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the Issuer, the Bond Registrar, the Paying Agent, any co-paying agent and the Trustee shall be entitled to treat and consider the Person in whose name each Bond is registered in the Bond Register as the absolute owner of such Bond for the purpose of payment of principal, and premium, if any, and interest with respect to such Bond, for the purpose of giving notices of redemption and other matters with respect to such Bond, for the purpose of registering transfers with respect to such Bond, and for all other purposes whatsoever. The Paying Agent shall pay all principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds only to or upon the order of the respective owners, as shown in the Bond Register as provided in this Indenture, or their respective attorneys duly authorized in writing, and all such payments shall be valid and effective to fully satisfy and discharge the Issuer's obligations with respect to payment
of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds to the extent of the sum or sums so paid.
(e)
No Person other than a Registered Owner, as shown in the Bond Register, shall receive a Bond certificate evidencing the obligation of the Issuer to make payments of principal, and premium, if any, and interest, pursuant to this Indenture.
(f)
Except in the case of payment upon maturity or redemption if the book-entry system is not in effect, any provision of this Indenture permitting or requiring the delivery of Bonds shall, while the book-entry system is in effect, be satisfied by the notation on the books of the Securities Depository, of the transfer of the beneficial owner's interest in such Bond.
(g)
So long as the book-entry system is in effect, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, any co-paying agent and the Bond Registrar shall comply with the terms of the DTC Letter.
(h)
The Securities Depository may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to the Bonds at any time by giving reasonable written notice and all relevant information on the beneficial owners of the Bonds, which shall include, without limitation, the name, address of record and taxpayer identification number of each such beneficial owner of the Bonds, to the Issuer and the Trustee. If there is no successor Securities Depository appointed by the Issuer, the Trustee, based solely upon information provided to it in writing by the Securities Depository, which shall include, without limitation, the name, address of record and taxpayer identification number of each such beneficial owner of the Bonds, shall authenticate and deliver Bonds to the beneficial owners thereof. In the event that the Company determines that the Securities Depository is incapable of discharging its responsibilities described herein or in any agreement among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Securities Depository, the Issuer, at the direction of the Company, shall (i) appoint a successor securities depository, qualified to act as such under Section 17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, notify the Securities Depository of the appointment of such successor securities depository and transfer one or more separate Bonds to such successor securities depository or (ii) notify the Securities Depository and the beneficial owners, identified by the Securities Depository, of the availability through the Securities Depository of Bonds and transfer one or more separate Bonds to the beneficial owners, identified in writing by the Securities Depository as having Bonds credited to their accounts. In such event, the Bonds shall no longer be restricted to being registered in the Bond Register in the name of the Securities Depository, but may be registered in the name of the successor securities depository, or its nominee, or in whatever name or names Bondholders transferring or exchanging Bonds shall designate, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Upon the written consent of 100% of the beneficial owners of the Bonds, the Trustee, in accordance with any agreement among the Issuer, the Trustee, and the Securities Depository, shall withdraw the Bonds from the Securities Depository, and authenticate and deliver Bonds fully registered to the assignees of the Securities Depository or its nominee. If the request for such withdrawal is not the result of any Issuer action or inaction, such withdrawal, authentication and delivery shall be at the cost and expense (including costs of printing, preparing and delivering such Bonds) of the Persons requesting such withdrawal, authentication and delivery.
SECTION 2.14 Payments to Securities Depository.
(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture to the contrary, so long as any Bond is registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, all payments with respect to
principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on such Bond and all notices with respect to such Bond shall be made and given, respectively, pursuant to DTC's rules and procedures or, in the case of a successor Securities Depository, pursuant to any agreement among the Issuer, the Trustee, the Bond Registrar, the Paying Agent, any co-paying agent, and/or the Securities Depository.
(b)
With respect to Bonds registered in the name of a Securities Depository (or its nominee) neither the Trustee, the Issuer, the Paying Agent nor the Company shall have any obligation to any of its members or participants or to any Person on behalf of whom an interest is held in the Bonds.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF BONDS BEFORE MATURITY
SECTION 3.1 Optional Redemption
. The Series 2019 Bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Issuer on or after April 1, 2021, in whole or in part, at the written direction of the Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date but without redemption premium.
If less than all of the Bonds of a series shall be called for redemption, the particular Bonds or portions of Bonds to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee by lot or in such other random manner as the Trustee in its discretion may determine.
SECTION 3.2 Special Optional Redemption
. The Series 2019 Bonds are subject to special optional redemption by the Issuer, at the written direction of the Company, in whole but not in part, at any time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date but without redemption premium if:
(a)
the Company shall have determined that the continued operation of the Plant is impracticable, uneconomical or undesirable for any reason;
(b)
the Company shall have determined that the continued operation of the Project is impracticable, uneconomical or undesirable due to (1) the imposition of taxes, other than ad valorem taxes currently levied upon privately-owned property used for the same general purpose as the Project, or other liabilities or burdens with respect to the Project or the operation thereof, (2) changes in technology, in environmental standards or legal requirements or in the economic availability of materials, supplies, equipment or labor or (3) destruction of or damage to all or part of the Project;
(c)
all or substantially all of the Project or the Plant shall have been condemned or taken by eminent domain; or
(d)
the operation of the Project or the Plant shall have been enjoined or shall have otherwise been prohibited by an order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or of any federal, state or local regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body.
SECTION 3.3
Special Mandatory Redemption
. The Series 2019 Bonds are also subject to mandatory redemption, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount being redeemed plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date, but without redemption premium, on the 180th day (or such earlier date as may be designated by the Company) after a final determination by a court of competent
jurisdiction or an administrative agency to the effect that as a result of a failure by the Company to observe any covenant, agreement or representation contained in the Agreement or the Issuer to observe any covenant, agreement or representation in this Indenture, the interest payable on the Series 2019 Bonds is not excludable for federal income tax purposes from the gross income of the owners thereof (other than any owner who is a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person" within the meaning of Section 103(b)(13) of the 1954 Code). No determination by any court or administrative agency will be considered final unless the Company has received timely notice of and has had an opportunity to participate in the proceeding which resulted in such determination. The Series 2019 Bonds will be redeemed, either in whole or in part, in such principal amount that the interest payable on the Series 2019 Bonds remaining outstanding after such redemption would not under Section 103 of the 1954 Code be included in the gross income of any owner thereof (other than an owner who is a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person" within the meaning of Section 103(b)(13) of the 1954 Code).
SECTION 3.4 Notice
. Notice of any redemption, identifying the Bonds or portions thereof being called and the date on which they shall be presented for payment, shall be given by the Trustee by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the registered owner of each such Bond addressed to such registered owner at his registered address and placed in the mails not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption; provided, however, that failure to give such notice by mailing, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of any proceeding for the redemption of any Bond with respect to which no such failure or defect has occurred.
Any notice mailed as provided in this Section shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder or owner receives the notice.
With respect to notice of redemption of the Bonds at the option of the Issuer (at the written direction of the Company), unless moneys sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds to be redeemed shall have been received by the Trustee prior to the giving of such notice, such notice shall state that said redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt of such moneys by the Trustee on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption. So long as Cede & Co. is the registered owner of the Bonds, as nominee of DTC, notice of any redemption will be given by the Trustee to Cede & Co., not to the beneficial owners of the Bonds. If such moneys shall not have been so received, such notice shall be of no force and effect, the Issuer shall not redeem such Bonds and the Trustee shall give notice, in the manner in which the notice of redemption was given, that such moneys were not so received.
SECTION 3.5 Redemption Payments
. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 3.4 hereof, on or prior to the date fixed for redemption, funds shall be deposited with the Trustee to pay, and the Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to apply such funds to the payment of, the Bonds or portions thereof to be redeemed, together with accrued interest thereon to the redemption date and any required premium. Upon the giving of notice and the deposit of funds for redemption, interest on the Bonds or portions thereof thus redeemed shall no longer accrue after the date fixed for redemption.
SECTION 3.6 Cancellation
. All Bonds which have been redeemed shall not be reissued but shall be canceled and disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof.
SECTION 3.7 Partial Redemption of Bonds
. Upon surrender of any Bond for redemption in part only, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the holder thereof a new Bond or Bonds of the same series and the same maturity of authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Bond surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
GENERAL COVENANTS
SECTION 4.1 Payment of Principal, Premium, If Any, and Interest
. The Issuer covenants that it will promptly pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on every Bond issued under this Indenture at the place, on the dates and in the manner provided herein and in the Bond according to the true intent and meaning thereof; provided, however, that the obligation of the Issuer hereunder to make or cause to be made any payment to the Trustee in respect of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds shall be reduced by the amount of moneys, if any, on deposit in the Bond Fund and available to be applied by the Trustee toward the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds. The principal and premium, if any, and interest (except interest, if any, paid from the proceeds from the sale of the Bonds) are payable solely from the Revenues, which Revenues are hereby specifically pledged and assigned for the payment thereof in the manner and to the extent herein specified, and nothing in the Bonds or this Indenture should be considered as assigning or pledging any funds or assets of the Issuer other than the Revenues and the right, title and interest of the Issuer in the Loan Agreement (except for the rights of the Issuer under Sections 5.4(b), 5.6, 5.7, and 8.5 of the Loan Agreement and any rights of the Issuer to receive notices, certificates, requests, requisitions, directions and other communications under the Loan Agreement) and the Note in the manner and to the extent herein specified. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, it is understood that whenever the Issuer makes any covenant involving financial commitments, including, without limitation, those in the various sections of this Article IV, it pledges no funds or assets other than the Revenues and the right, title and interest of the Issuer in the Loan Agreement (except for the rights of the Issuer under Sections 5.4(b), 5.6, 5.7, and 8.5 of the Loan Agreement and any rights of the Issuer to receive notices, certificates, requests, requisitions, directions and other communications under the Loan Agreement), the Note, the Bond Fund and the Bond Proceeds Fund in the manner and to the extent herein specified, but nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Issuer from using any other funds or assets.
SECTION 4.2 Performance of Covenants
. The Issuer covenants that it will faithfully perform at all times any and all covenants, undertakings, stipulations and provisions contained in this Indenture, in any and every Bond executed, authenticated and delivered hereunder and in all resolutions pertaining thereto. The Issuer covenants that it is duly authorized under the Constitution and laws of the State, including particularly and without limitation the Act, to issue Bonds authorized hereby and to execute this Indenture, to accept, assign and pledge the Note and the Loan Agreement and the amounts payable under the Loan Agreement and the Note and to make the pledge and covenants in the manner and to the extent herein set forth; that all action on its part for the issuance of the Bonds and the execution and delivery of this Indenture has been duly and effectively taken; and that the Bonds in the hands of the holders and owners thereof are and will be valid and enforceable obligations of the Issuer according to the import thereof.
SECTION 4.3 Instruments of Further Assurance
. The Issuer covenants that it will do, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be done, executed, acknowledged and delivered, such indenture or indentures supplemental hereto and such further acts, instruments and transfers as the Trustee may reasonably require for the better assuring, transferring, pledging, assigning and confirming unto the Trustee of the Trust Estate.
SECTION 4.4 Inspection of Books
. The Issuer and the Trustee covenant and agree that all books and documents in their possession, if any, relating to the Project and the revenues derived from the Project
shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by such accountants or other agencies as the other party may from time to time designate and by the Company.
SECTION 4.5 Rights Under Loan Agreement
. The Loan Agreement, a duly executed counterpart of which has been filed with the Trustee, sets forth covenants and obligations of the Issuer and the Company, including provisions that subsequent to the issuance of Bonds and prior to their payment in full or provision for payment thereof in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Loan Agreement may not be effectively amended, changed, modified, altered or terminated, or any provision waived without the written consent of the Trustee, and reference is hereby made to the same for a detailed statement of said covenants and obligations of the Company thereunder, and the Issuer agrees that the Trustee in its name or in the name of the Issuer may enforce all rights of the Issuer and all obligations of the Company under and pursuant to the Loan Agreement or the Note, for and on behalf of the bondholders, whether or not the Issuer is in default hereunder.
SECTION 4.6 Tax Covenants
. The Issuer and the Company will not directly or indirectly use or permit the use of any proceeds of the Bonds or any other funds of the Issuer or the Company, or take or omit to take any action that would cause the Bonds to be "arbitrage bonds" within the meaning of Section 148(a) of the Code or result in the loss of the excludability from gross income for federal income tax purposes of the interest paid on the Bonds to the extent afforded under Section 103 of the 1954 Code. To that end, the Issuer and the Company will also comply with all requirements of the Code and the 1954 Code to the extent applicable to the Bonds. In the event that at any time the Issuer or the Company is of the opinion that for purposes of this Section 4.6 it is necessary to restrict or limit the yield on the investment of any moneys held by the Trustee under this Indenture, the Issuer or the Company shall so instruct the Trustee in writing, and the Trustee shall take such action as may be necessary in accordance with such instruction.
The Company and the Issuer covenant to comply with the provisions of the Tax Certificate as the Tax Certificate may be amended or supplemented in accordance with its terms; provided that said compliance shall not be required if the Issuer or the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion of Bond Counsel to the effect that compliance is not required to preserve the excludability from gross income for federal income tax purposes of interest paid on the Bonds. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Tax Certificate and the provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of the Tax Certificate shall govern. This covenant shall survive payment in full or defeasance of the Bonds.
ARTICLE V
REVENUES AND FUNDS
SECTION 5.1 Creation of Bond Fund
. There is hereby created and ordered to be established with the Trustee a special account of the Issuer to be designated "Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019 Bond Fund" (the "Bond Fund").
SECTION 5.2 Payments Into Bond Fund
. There shall be deposited into the Bond Fund as and when received:
(a)
Any accrued interest received at the time of the issuance and delivery of the Bonds;
(b)
All Revenues; and
(c)
All moneys received by the Trustee under and pursuant to any of the provisions of the Loan Agreement or this Indenture which are not directed to be paid into a fund (or held) other than the Bond Fund.
SECTION 5.3
Use of Moneys in Bond Fund
. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5.8 and 11.2 hereof, moneys in the Bond Fund shall be used solely for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds and for the redemption or purchase of Bonds.
SECTION 5.4 Withdrawals from Bond Fund
. The Bond Fund shall be in the name of the Issuer, designated as set forth in Section 5.1, and the Issuer hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Trustee to withdraw from the Bond Fund sufficient funds to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds at maturity and redemption prior to maturity and to use such funds for the purpose of paying principal, premium, if any, and interest in accordance with the provisions hereof pertaining to payment, which authorization and direction the Trustee hereby accepts.
SECTION 5.5 Non-Presentment of Bonds
. In the event any Bond shall not be presented for payment when the principal thereof becomes due, either at maturity or otherwise, or at the date fixed for redemption thereof, if there shall have been deposited with the Trustee for that purpose, or left in trust if previously so deposited, funds sufficient to pay the principal thereof, and premium, if any, together with all interest unpaid and due thereon, to the due date thereof, for the benefit of the holder thereof, all liability of the Issuer to the holder thereof for the payment of the principal thereof, and premium, if any, and interest thereon, shall forthwith cease, terminate and be completely discharged, and thereupon it shall be the duty of the Trustee to hold such fund or funds, without liability for interest thereon, for the benefit of the holder of such Bond, who shall thereafter be restricted exclusively to such fund or funds for any claim of whatever nature on his part under this Indenture or on, or with respect to, the Bond.
SECTION 5.6 Administration Expenses
. It is understood and agreed that pursuant to the provisions of Sections 5.4 and 5.6 of the Loan Agreement, the Company agrees to pay the Administration Expenses of the Issuer. All such payments under the Loan Agreement which are received by the Trustee shall not be paid into the Bond Fund, but shall be segregated by the Trustee and expended solely for the purpose for which such payments are received.
SECTION 5.7 Moneys to be Held in Trust
. All moneys required to be deposited with or paid to the Trustee for deposit into the Bond Fund under any provision of this Indenture and all moneys withdrawn from the Bond Fund and held by any Paying Agent, shall be held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent in trust, and except for moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee for the redemption of Bonds, notice of which redemption has been duly given, and for moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee pursuant to Article IX hereof, shall, while held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent, constitute part of the Trust Estate and be subject to the lien hereof. Any moneys received by or paid to the Trustee pursuant to any provision of the Loan Agreement calling for the Trustee to hold, administer and disburse the same in accordance with the specific provisions of the Loan Agreement shall be held, administered and disbursed pursuant to such provisions, and where required by the provisions of the Loan Agreement the Trustee shall set the same aside in a separate account. The Issuer agrees that if it shall receive any moneys pursuant to applicable provisions of the Loan Agreement, it will forthwith upon receipt thereof pay the same over to the Trustee to be held, administered and disbursed by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Agreement pursuant to which the Issuer may have received the same.
SECTION 5.8 Refund to Company of Excess Payments
. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee is authorized and directed to refund to the Company, upon written request, all
excess amounts as specified in the Loan Agreement, whether such excess amounts be in the Bond Fund or in special accounts.
ARTICLE VI
BOND PROCEEDS FUND; APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS OF BONDS
SECTION 6.1 Creation of Bond Proceeds Fund
. There is hereby created and ordered to be established with the Trustee a trust fund of and in the name of the Issuer to be designated "Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019 Bond Proceeds Fund" (the "Bond Proceeds Fund").
SECTION 6.2 Deposit of Proceeds of Bonds
. All of the proceeds of the Series 2019 Bonds shall be deposited in the Bond Proceeds Fund and transferred on the Refunding Date to the paying agent for the 1998 Bonds in order to redeem, together with moneys of the Company deposited with such paying agent, all of the outstanding 1998 Bonds on the Refunding Date. Any excess funds remaining in the Bond Proceeds Fund after the Refunding Date shall be transferred to the Bond Fund. The proceeds of the sale of any Additional Bonds shall be applied pursuant to Section 2.11 of this Indenture.
ARTICLE VII
INVESTMENTS
SECTION 7.1 Investment of Moneys
. Any moneys held in the Bond Fund or the Bond Proceeds Fund shall be invested and reinvested by the Trustee at the request of, and as directed in writing by, the Company in Government Obligations or other obligations or securities then permitted by law. Such investments may be made through the investment department of the Trustee. Any such investments shall be held by or under the control of the Trustee and shall be deemed at all times to be a part of the Bond Fund or the Bond Proceeds Fund and the interest accruing thereon and any profit realized from such investments shall be credited to the Bond Fund or the Bond Proceeds Fund and subject to the provisions of Section 7.2 hereof, any loss resulting from such investments shall be charged to the Bond Fund or the Bond Proceeds Fund. The Trustee, upon written direction of the Company, shall sell and reduce to cash a sufficient amount of such investments whenever the cash balance in the Bond Fund is insufficient to pay the principal of or redemption premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds when due. The Trustee shall not be liable or responsible for any loss resulting from any investment made in the manner provided in this Section 7.1.
SECTION 7.2 Arbitrage Law Requirements
. In compliance with the provisions of Section 148 of the Code and regulations thereunder and the Tax Certificate, all investments and reinvestments made under this Article VII shall be subject to the following:
(a)
In the event that the Issuer or the Company is of the opinion that it is necessary or advisable to restrict or limit the yield on the investment of any moneys held in the Bond Fund, the Bond Proceeds Fund or any other fund in order to avoid the Bonds being considered "arbitrage bonds" within the meaning of Section 148 of the Code, or any proposed, temporary or final regulations thereunder as such regulations may apply to obligations issued as of the date of original issuance and delivery of the Bonds, the Issuer or the Company may issue to the Trustee a written certificate to
such effect together with appropriate written instructions so as to restrict or limit the yield on such investment in accordance with such certificate and instructions.
(b)
The Trustee shall establish and maintain within the Bond Fund, the Bond Proceeds Fund or any other fund, in respect of each series of Bonds issued hereunder, a separate account into which shall be deposited as and when received any amounts which are subject or could be subject to rebate to the United States under Section 148(f)(6) of the Code, which amounts shall be held in such separate accounts until paid to the United States pursuant to said Section or until the Trustee determines that no such payment is required.
(c)
The Issuer and the Trustee shall not make or agree to make any payments or participate in any non-arms-length transaction which would have the effect of reducing the earnings on investments, thereby reducing the amount required to be rebated to the United States under Section 148(f) of the Code and regulations thereunder.
The Company has undertaken in the Loan Agreement to make the determinations required by paragraph (b) of this Section 7.2 and to provide statements to the Trustee to the effect that all actions with respect to the Bonds required by Section 148(f) of the Code have been taken. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon such determinations and statements as sufficient evidence of the facts therein contained.
ARTICLE VIII
RIGHTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 8.1 Rights of Company Under Loan Agreement and Note.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to impair the rights and privileges of the Company set forth in the Loan Agreement or the Note, and an Event of Default hereunder shall not constitute an "Event of Default" under the Loan Agreement or the Note unless by the terms of the Loan Agreement or the Note it constitutes an "Event of Default" thereunder.
SECTION 8.2 Enforcement of Rights and Obligations
. The Issuer and the Trustee agree that the Company in its own name or in the name of the Issuer may enforce all of the rights of the Issuer, all obligations of the Trustee, and all of the Company's rights provided for in this Indenture.
ARTICLE IX
DISCHARGE OF LIEN
SECTION 9.1 Discharge of Lien
. If the Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid to the holders and owners of the Bonds the principal thereof and premium, if any, and interest to become due thereon at the times and in the manner stipulated therein, and if the Issuer shall keep, perform and observe all and singular the covenants and promises in the Bonds and in this Indenture expressed as to be kept, performed and observed by it on its part and shall pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer, and all amounts due the Issuer under the Loan Agreement have been paid, then these presents and the estate and rights hereby granted shall cease, terminate and be void, and thereupon the Trustee shall cancel and discharge the lien of
this Indenture, and execute and deliver to the Issuer such instruments in writing as shall be requisite to satisfy the lien hereof, and reconvey to the Issuer the estate hereby conveyed, and assign and deliver to the Issuer any property at the time subject to the lien of this Indenture which may then be in its possession, except moneys or Government Obligations held by it for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds.
Any Bond shall be deemed to be paid within the meaning of this Article when payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Bond (whether at maturity or upon redemption as provided in this Indenture, or otherwise), either (a) shall have been made or caused to be made in accordance with the terms thereof, or (b) shall have been provided for by irrevocably depositing with the Trustee, in trust and irrevocably set aside exclusively for such payment, (i) moneys sufficient to make such payment or (ii) Government Obligations (provided that in either case the Trustee shall have received an opinion of Bond Counsel to the effect that such deposit will not affect the excludability of the interest on any of the Bonds from gross income for purposes of federal income taxation or cause any of the Bonds to be treated as arbitrage bonds within the meaning of Section 148(a) of the Code) maturing as to principal and interest in such amounts and at such times as will provide sufficient moneys to make such payment when due, and all necessary and proper fees, compensation and expenses of the Trustee and any Paying Agent pertaining to the Bonds with respect to which such deposit is made and all other liabilities of the Company under the Loan Agreement, pertaining to the Bonds with respect to which such deposit is made, shall have been paid or the payment thereof provided for to the satisfaction of the Trustee. No deposit under (b) above shall constitute such discharge and satisfaction until the Company shall have irrevocably notified the Trustee of the date for payment of such Bond either at maturity or on a date on which such Bond may be redeemed in accordance with the provisions hereof and notice of such redemption shall have been given or irrevocable provisions shall have been made for the giving of such notice.
The Issuer or the Company may at any time surrender to the Trustee for cancellation by it any Bonds previously authenticated and delivered hereunder, which the Issuer or the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and such Bonds, upon such surrender and cancellation, shall be deemed to be paid and retired.
ARTICLE X
DEFAULT PROVISIONS AND REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND BONDHOLDERS
SECTION 10.1 Events of Default
. Each of the following events shall constitute and is referred to in this Indenture as an "Event of Default":
(a)
default in the due and punctual payment of any interest on any Bond hereby secured and outstanding and the continuance thereof for a period of sixty (60) days;
(b)
default in the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, on any Bond hereby secured and outstanding, whether at the stated maturity thereof, or upon unconditional proceedings for redemption thereof, or upon the maturity thereof by acceleration;
(c)
an "Event of Default" as such term is defined in Section 8.1 (except clause (b) thereof) of the Loan Agreement; or
(d)
default in the payment of any other amount required to be paid under this Indenture or in the performance or observance of any other of the covenants, agreements or conditions contained in this Indenture, or in the Bonds issued under this Indenture, and continuance thereof for a period of ninety (90) days after written notice specifying such failure and requesting that it be remedied, shall have been given to the Issuer and the Company by the Trustee, which may give such notice in its discretion and shall give such notice at the written request of holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding, unless the Trustee, or the Trustee and holders of an aggregate principal amount of Bonds not less than the aggregate principal amount of Bonds the holders of which requested such notice, as the case may be, shall agree in writing to an extension of such period prior to its expiration; provided, however, that the Trustee, or the Trustee and the holders of such principal amount of Bonds, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have agreed to an extension of such period if corrective action is instituted by the Issuer, or the Company on behalf of the Issuer, within such period and is being diligently pursued. The term "default," as used in this clause (d), shall mean default by the Issuer in the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or conditions on its part contained in this Indenture, or in the Bonds outstanding hereunder, exclusive of any period of grace required to constitute an "Event of Default" as hereinabove provided.
SECTION 10.2 Acceleration
. If any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b) or (c) of Section 10.1 hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the owners of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Bonds then outstanding shall, by notice in writing to the Issuer and the Company, declare the principal of all Bonds then outstanding to be immediately due and payable; and upon such declaration the principal of all of the Bonds, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of acceleration, shall become due and payable immediately at the place of payment provided therein, anything in the Indenture or in the Bonds to the contrary notwithstanding. Immediately after any acceleration hereunder, the Trustee, to the extent it has not already done so, shall notify in writing the Issuer and the Company of the occurrence of such acceleration. Upon the occurrence of any acceleration hereunder, the Trustee shall immediately declare all payments under the Loan Agreement pursuant to Section 5.2 thereof to be due and payable immediately.
SECTION 10.3 Other Remedies; Rights of Bondholders
. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee may, in addition or as an alternative, pursue any available remedy by suit at law or in equity to enforce the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds then outstanding hereunder, then due and payable.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred, and if it shall have been requested so to do by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding hereunder and shall have been secured and/or indemnified as provided in Section 11.1 hereof, the Trustee shall be obligated to exercise such one or more of the rights and powers conferred upon it by this Section as the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall deem most expedient in the interests of the bondholders.
No remedy by the terms of this Indenture conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee (or to the Bondholders) is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, but each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to any other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute.
No delay or omission to exercise any right or power accruing upon any default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or Event of Default or acquiescence therein; and every such right and power may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient.
No waiver of any default or Event of Default hereunder, whether by the Trustee or by the Bondholders, shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or Event of Default or shall impair any rights or remedies consequent thereon.
SECTION 10.4 Right of Bondholders to Direct Proceedings
. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding hereunder shall have the right, at any time, by an instrument or instruments in writing executed and delivered to the Trustee, to direct the method and place of conducting all proceedings to be taken in connection with the enforcement of the terms and conditions of this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or any other proceeding hereunder; provided that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of law and of this Indenture.
SECTION 10.5 Appointment of Receiver
. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, and upon the filing of a suit or other commencement of judicial proceedings to enforce the rights of the Trustee and of the Bondholders under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled, as a matter of right, to the appointment of a receiver or receivers of the Trust Estate and of the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, products and profits thereof, pending such proceedings with such powers as the court making such appointment shall confer.
SECTION 10.6 Waiver
. In case of an Event of Default on the part of the Issuer, as aforesaid, to the extent that such rights may then lawfully be waived, neither the Issuer nor anyone claiming through it or under it shall or will set up, claim, or seek to take advantage of any appraisement, valuation, stay, extension or redemption laws now or hereafter in force, in order to prevent or hinder the enforcement of this Indenture, but the Issuer, for itself and all who may claim through or under it, hereby waives, to the extent that it lawfully may do so, the benefit of all such laws and all right of appraisement and redemption to which it may be entitled under the laws of the State.
SECTION 10.7 Application of Moneys
. Available moneys remaining after discharge of costs, charges and liens (including the reasonable fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee) prior to this Indenture shall be applied by the Trustee as follows:
(a)
Unless the principal of all the Bonds shall have become due and payable, all such moneys shall be applied:
First: To the payment to the persons entitled thereto of all installments of interest then due, in the order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, and, if the amount available shall not be sufficient to pay in full any particular installment, then to the payment ratably, according to the amounts due on such installment, to the persons entitled thereto, without any discrimination or privilege;
Second: To the payment to the persons entitled thereto of the unpaid principal of any of the Bonds which shall have become due (other than Bonds called for redemption for the payment of which moneys are held pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture), in the order of their due dates, with interest on such Bonds from the respective dates upon which they become due, and, if the amount available shall not be sufficient to pay in full Bonds due on any particular date, together with such interest, then to the payment ratably, according to the amount of principal due on such date, to the persons entitled thereto without any discrimination or privilege of any Bond over any other Bond and without preference or priority of principal over interest or of interest over principal; and
Third: To the payment of the interest on and the principal of the Bonds, and to the redemption of Bonds, all in accordance with the provisions of Article V of this Indenture.
(b)
If the principal of all the Bonds shall have become due and payable, all such moneys shall be applied to the payment of the principal and interest then due and unpaid upon the Bonds, without preference or priority of principal over interest or of interest over principal, or of any Bond over any other Bond, ratably, according to the amounts due respectively for principal and interest, to the persons entitled thereto without discrimination or privilege.
(c)
If the principal of all the Bonds shall have become due and payable, and if acceleration of the maturity of the Bonds by reason of an Event of Default shall thereafter have been rescinded and annulled under the provisions of this Article, then, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section in the event that the principal of all the Bonds shall later become due and payable, the moneys shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section.
Whenever moneys are to be applied by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Section, such moneys shall be applied by it at such times, and from time to time, as it shall determine, having due regard to the amount of such moneys available for application and the likelihood of additional moneys becoming available for such application in the future. Whenever the Trustee shall apply such funds, it shall fix the date (which shall be an interest payment date unless it shall deem another date more suitable) upon which such application is to be made and upon such date interest on the amounts of principal paid on such date shall cease to accrue. The Trustee shall give such notice as it may deem appropriate of the deposit with it of any such moneys and of the fixing of any such date and shall not be required to make payment to the holder of any Bond until such Bond shall be presented to the Trustee for appropriate endorsement or for cancellation if fully paid.
SECTION 10.8 Remedies Vested in Trustee
. All rights of action (including the right to file proof of claim) under this Indenture or under any of the Bonds may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Bonds or the production thereof in any trial or other proceeding relating thereto and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its name as Trustee, without the necessity of joining as plaintiffs or defendants any holders of the Bonds hereby secured, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the outstanding Bonds.
SECTION 10.9 Rights and Remedies of Bondholders
. No holder of any Bond shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law for the enforcement of this Indenture or for the execution of any trust hereof or for the appointment of a receiver or any other remedy hereunder, unless a default has occurred of which the Trustee has been notified as provided in subsection (g) of Section 11.1, or of which by said subsection it is deemed to have notice, nor unless such default shall have become an Event of Default and the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding hereunder shall have made written request to the Trustee and shall have offered it reasonable opportunity either to proceed to exercise the powers hereinbefore granted or to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name, nor unless also they have offered to the Trustee satisfactory security and/or indemnity as provided in Section 11.1, nor unless also the Trustee shall thereafter fail or refuse to exercise the powers hereinbefore granted, or to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name; and such notification, request and offer of security and/or indemnity are hereby declared in every such case at the option of the Trustee to be conditions precedent to the execution of the powers and trusts of this Indenture, and to any action or cause of action for the enforcement of this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder; it being understood and intended that no one or more holders of the Bonds shall have any right in any manner whatsoever to affect, disturb or prejudice the lien of this Indenture by his or their action or to enforce any
right hereunder except in the manner herein provided, and that all proceedings at law or in equity shall be instituted, held and maintained in the manner herein provided for the equal benefit of the holders of all Bonds outstanding hereunder. Nothing in this Indenture contained shall, however, affect or impair the right of any Bondholders to enforce the payment of the principal of and interest on any Bonds at and after the maturity thereof, or the obligation of the Issuer to pay the principal of and interest on each of the Bonds issued hereunder to the respective holders thereof at the time and place in said Bonds expressed.
SECTION 10.10 Termination of Proceedings
. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture by the appointment of a receiver or otherwise, and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder with respect to the property herein conveyed, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee shall continue as if no such proceedings had been taken, except to the extent the Trustee is legally bound by such adverse determination.
SECTION 10.11 Waivers of Events of Default
. To the extent not precluded by law, the Trustee may in its discretion waive any Event of Default hereunder and its consequences and rescind any declaration of maturity of principal, and shall do so upon the written request of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Bonds then outstanding; provided, however, that there shall not be waived (a) any Event of Default in the payment of the principal or premium, if any, of any outstanding Bonds at the date of maturity specified therein or the date fixed for redemption thereof or (b) any Event of Default in the payment when due of interest on any such Bonds, unless prior to such waiver or rescission, all arrears of interest, or all arrears of payment of principal then due, as the case may be, together with interest on overdue principal (to the extent permitted by law) at the rate of interest borne by the respective Bonds, and all Administration Expenses of the Trustee in connection with such Event of Default shall have been paid or provided for, and in case of any such waiver or rescission, or in case any proceeding taken by the Trustee on account of any such Event of Default shall have been discontinued or abandoned or determined adversely, then and in every such case the Issuer, the Trustee and the Bondholders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, but no such waiver or rescission shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default, or impair any right consequent thereon.
ARTICLE XI
THE TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENTS
SECTION 11.1 Acceptance of Trusts
. The Trustee hereby accepts the trust imposed upon it by this Indenture, and agrees to perform said trust, but only upon and subject to the following express terms and conditions:
(a)
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the duties, rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs.
(b)
Except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee shall not be liable hereunder except for such duties of the Trustee which shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set
forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied obligations and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, covenants, shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
(c)
The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereof and perform any duties required of it by or through attorneys, agents, receivers or employees, and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters of trusts hereof and its duties hereunder, and may in all cases pay reasonable compensation to all such attorneys, agents, receivers and employees as may reasonably be employed in connection with the trusts hereof, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any negligence or misconduct on the part of any such attorney, agent, receiver or employee appointed with due care. The Trustee may act upon the opinion or advice of any attorney, surveyor, engineer or accountant selected by it in the exercise of reasonable care, or, if selected or retained by the Issuer prior to the occurrence of a default of which the Trustee has been notified as provided in subsection (g) of this Section 11.1, or of which by said subsection the Trustee is deemed to have notice, approved by the Trustee in the exercise of such care. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from an action or non-action in accordance with any such opinion or advice.
(d)
The Trustee shall not be responsible for any recital herein, or in the Bonds (except in respect to the certificate of the Trustee endorsed on such Bonds), or for insuring the Project or collecting any insurance moneys, or for the validity of the execution by the Issuer of this Indenture or of any supplemental indentures or instrument of further assurance, or for the sufficiency of the security for the Bonds issued hereunder or intended to be secured hereby, or for the value of the title of the property herein conveyed or otherwise as to the maintenance of the security hereof; except that in the event the Trustee enters into possession of a part or all of the property herein conveyed pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, it shall use due diligence in preserving such property; and the Trustee shall not be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any covenants, conditions and agreements aforesaid as to the condition of the Project.
(e)
The Trustee (not in its capacity as trustee) may become the owner of Bonds secured hereby with the same rights which it would have if not Trustee.
(f)
The Trustee shall be protected in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate, order, affidavit, letter, telegram or other paper or document believed by it, in the exercise of reasonable care, to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons. Any action taken by the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture upon the request or authority or consent of the owner of any Bond secured hereby shall be conclusive and binding upon all future owners of the same Bond and upon Bonds issued in exchange therefor or in place thereof.
(g)
As to the existence or non-existence of any fact or as to the sufficiency or validity of any instrument, paper or proceeding, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the Issuer signed by the President, the Vice President, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer, as sufficient evidence of the facts therein contained and prior to the occurrence of a default of which it has been notified as provided in subsection (g) of this Section 11.1, or of which by that subsection it is deemed to have notice, and shall also be at liberty to accept a similar certificate to the effect that any particular dealing, transaction or action is necessary or expedient, but may at its discretion, at the reasonable expense of the Issuer, in every case secure such further evidence as it may think necessary or advisable but shall in no case be bound to secure the same. The Trustee may accept a certificate of an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer under its seal to the effect that a resolution in the form therein set forth has been adopted by the Issuer as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted and is in full force and effect.
(h)
The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee.
(i)
The Trustee shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any default hereunder (except a default under Section 10.1(a) or (b) hereof concerning which the Trustee shall be deemed to have notice) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall be specifically notified in writing of such default by the Issuer or by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding hereunder, and all notices or other instruments required by this Indenture to be delivered to the Trustee must, in order to be effective, be delivered to the office of the Trustee, and in the absence of such notice so delivered, the Trustee may conclusively assume there is no such default except as aforesaid.
(j)
The Trustee shall not be personally liable for any debts contracted or for damages to persons or to personal property injured or damaged, or for salaries or for non-fulfillment of contracts during any period in which it may be in the possession of or managing the real and tangible personal property as in this Indenture provided.
(k)
At any and all reasonable times the Trustee, and its duly authorized agents, attorneys, experts, engineers, accountants and representatives, shall have the right fully to inspect any and all of the property herein conveyed, including all books, papers and records of the Issuer pertaining to the Project and the Bonds, and to take such memoranda from the Project and in regard thereto as may be desired; provided, however, that nothing contained in this subsection or in any other provision of this Indenture shall be construed to entitle the above named persons to any information or inspection involving the confidential know-how or expertise or proprietary secrets of the Company.
(l)
The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the said trusts and powers or otherwise in respect of the premises.
(m)
Notwithstanding anything elsewhere in this Indenture contained, the Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to demand, in respect of the authentication of any Bonds, the withdrawal of any cash, the release of any property, or the taking of any action whatsoever within the purview of this Indenture, any showings, certificates, opinions, appraisals, or other information, or corporate action or evidence thereof, in addition to that by the terms hereof required as a condition of such action by the Trustee, deemed desirable for the purpose of establishing the right of the Issuer to the authentication of any Bonds, the withdrawal of any cash, the release of any property, or the taking of any other action by the Trustee. Before taking such action hereunder, the Trustee may require that it be furnished security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it for the reimbursement to it of all expenses to which it may be put and to protect it against all liability, except liability which is adjudicated to have resulted from the negligence or willful default of the Trustee, by reason of any action so taken by the Trustee.
(n)
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend, advance or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not satisfactorily assured to it.
(o)
The Trustee shall have no responsibility, opinion or liability with respect to any information, statements or recitals in any offering document or disclosure material prepared or distributed with respect to the issuance of the Bonds. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of any of the Bonds or of the proceeds thereof.
(p)
In respect of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the Person sending notices, consents, instructions, requests, directions, resolutions, certificates, statements, acknowledgements, orders, instruments, documents, communications or other information by Electronic Means is, in fact, a Person authorized to give such notices, consents, instructions, requests, directions, resolutions, certificates, statements, acknowledgements, orders, instruments, documents, communications or other information on behalf of the party purporting to send such electronic transmission; and the Trustee shall not have any liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by any party as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such instructions, directions, reports, notices or other communications or information. Each other party agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of electronic methods to submit notices, consents, instructions, requests, directions, resolutions, certificates, statements, acknowledgements, orders, instruments, documents, communications or other information to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized notices, consents, instructions, requests, directions, resolutions, certificates, statements, acknowledgements, orders, instruments, documents, communications or other information, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
SECTION 11.2 Fees, Charges and Expenses of Trustee and Paying Agents
. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be entitled to payment and/or reimbursement for reasonable fees, costs and expenses for services rendered hereunder and all advances, counsel fees and other fees, costs and expenses reasonably and necessarily made or incurred in and about the execution of the trusts created by this Indenture. The Issuer has made provisions in the Loan Agreement for the payment of such Administration Expenses and reference is hereby made to the Loan Agreement for the provisions so made. In this regard, it is understood that the Issuer pledges no funds or revenues other than those derived from and the avails of the Trust Estate to the payment of any obligation of the Issuer set forth in this Indenture, including the obligations set forth in this Section 11.2. Upon an Event of Default, but only upon an Event of Default, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have a first lien with right of payment prior to payment on account of principal or interest of any Bond issued hereunder upon the Trust Estate for such reasonable and necessary advances, fees, costs and expenses incurred by them respectively.
SECTION 11.3 Notice to Bondholders of Default
. The Trustee shall be required to make demand upon and give notice to the Company and each registered owner of Bonds then outstanding as follows:
(a)
If the Company shall fail to make any payment under the Loan Agreement on the day such payment is due and payable, the Trustee shall give notice to and make demand upon the Company on the next succeeding business day.
(b)
If a default occurs of which the Trustee is pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.1(g) deemed to have or is given notice, the Trustee shall promptly give notice to the Company and to the Bondholders.
SECTION 11.4 Intervention by Trustee
. In any judicial proceeding to which the Issuer is a party and which in the opinion of the Trustee and its counsel has a substantial bearing on the interests of holders of Bonds issued hereunder, the Trustee may intervene on behalf of Bondholders and shall do so if requested
in writing by the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding hereunder. The rights and obligations of the Trustee under this Section 11.4 are subject to the approval of the court having jurisdiction in the premises.
SECTION 11.5 Merger or Consolidation of Trustee
. Any bank or trust company with which the Trustee may be merged, or with which it may be consolidated, or to which it may sell or transfer its trust business and assets as a whole or substantially as a whole, or any bank or trust company resulting from any such sale, merger, consolidation or transfer to which the Trustee is a party, ipso facto, shall be and become successor trustee hereunder and shall be vested with all of the title to the whole property or Trust Estate and all its predecessor's trusts, powers, discretions, immunities, privileges, and other matters, without the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act, deed or conveyance on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding; provided, however, that such successor trustee shall have capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
SECTION 11.6 Resignation by Trustee
. The Trustee and any successor trustee may at any time resign from the trusts hereby created by giving thirty (30) days' written notice to the Issuer and to the Company, and such resignation shall take effect at the end of such thirty (30) days, or upon the earlier appointment of a successor trustee by the Bondholders or by the Issuer. Such notice may be served personally or sent by registered mail.
SECTION 11.7 Removal of Trustee
. The Trustee may be removed at any time by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing delivered to the Trustee and to the Issuer and signed by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding hereunder. The transfer of accounts and funds to a successor trustee shall not be required to take place sooner than 31 days from notice to Trustee. In addition, the Trustee may be removed at any time for cause by the Issuer and a successor appointed by the Issuer, subject to the approval of the Company.
SECTION 11.8 Appointment of Successor Trustee
. In case the Trustee hereunder shall resign or be removed, or be dissolved, or shall be in course of dissolution or liquidation, or shall otherwise become incapable of acting hereunder, or in case it shall be taken under the control of any public officer or officers or of a receiver appointed by the court, a successor may be appointed by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Bonds outstanding hereunder, by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing signed by such holders, or by their attorneys in fact, duly authorized; provided, nevertheless, that in case of such vacancy the Issuer, subject to the approval of the Company, by an instrument executed and signed by the President, Vice President, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Issuer under its seal, shall appoint a temporary trustee to fill such vacancy until a successor trustee shall be appointed by the Bondholders in the manner above provided; and any such temporary trustee so appointed by the Issuer shall immediately and without further act be superseded by the trustee so appointed by such Bondholders. Every such temporary trustee and every such successor trustee shall be a trust company or bank in good standing, having capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000.
If no appointment of a successor trustee shall be made pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section within 60 days after the Trustee shall have given the Issuer written notice as provided in Section 11.6 or after a vacancy in the office of Trustee shall have occurred by removal or otherwise, the Trustee or a Bondholder may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor trustee. Said Court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper, appoint a successor trustee.
SECTION 11.9 Concerning Any Successor Trustee
. Every successor or temporary trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and also to the Issuer an instrument in
writing accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor or temporary trustee, without any further act or conveyance, shall become fully vested with all the estates, properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of its predecessor; but such predecessor shall, nevertheless, on the written request of the Issuer or of its successor trustee, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all the estate, properties, rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor hereunder; and every predecessor trustee shall deliver all securities, moneys and any other property held by it as trustee hereunder to its successor. Should any instrument in writing from the Issuer be required by any successor trustee for more fully and certainly vesting in such successor the estates, rights, powers and duties hereby vested or intended to be vested in the predecessor trustee, any and all such instruments in writing shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Issuer. The resignation of any trustee and the instrument or instruments removing any trustee and appointing a successor hereunder, together with all other instruments provided for in this Article shall, at the expense of the Issuer, be forthwith filed and/or recorded by the successor trustee in each recording office, if any, where the Indenture shall have been filed and/or recorded.
SECTION 11.10 Reliance Upon Instruments
. The resolutions, opinions, certificates and other instruments provided for in this Indenture may be accepted and relied upon by the Trustee as conclusive evidence of the facts and conclusions stated therein and shall be full warrant, protection and authority to the Trustee for its actions taken hereunder.
SECTION 11.11 Appointment of Co-Trustee
. The Issuer and the Trustee shall have power to appoint a co-trustee. Upon the request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall for such purpose join with the Trustee in the execution of all instruments necessary or proper (a) to appoint another corporation or one or more persons, approved by the Trustee and satisfactory to the Company, so long as there is no termination of the interest of the Company by virtue of an Event of Default or otherwise, either to act as co-trustee or co-trustees jointly with the Trustee of all or any of the property subject to the lien hereof, or to act as separate trustee or co-trustee of all or any such property, with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and (b) to vest in such corporation or person or persons as such separate trustee or co-trustee any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable. In the event that the Issuer shall not have joined in such appointment within fifteen (15) days after the receipt by it of a request so to do, the Trustee alone shall have the power to make such appointment. Should any deed, conveyance or instrument in writing from the Issuer be required by any separate trustee or co-trustee so appointed for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to him or to it such properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations, any and all such deeds, conveyances and instruments in writing shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged and delivered by the Issuer. Every such co-trustee and separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by law, be appointed subject to the following provisions and conditions, namely:
(a)
The Bonds shall be authenticated and delivered, and all powers, duties, obligations and rights conferred upon the Trustee in respect of the custody of all money and securities pledged or deposited hereunder shall be exercised, solely by the Trustee; and
(b)
The Trustee, at any time by an instrument in writing, may remove any such separate trustee or co-trustee.
Every instrument, other than this Indenture, appointing any such co-trustee or separate trustee, shall refer to this Indenture and the conditions of this Article expressed, and upon the acceptance in writing by such separate trustee or co-trustee, he, they or it shall be vested with the estate or property specified in such instrument, jointly with the Trustee (except insofar as local law makes it necessary for any separate trustee to act alone), subject to all the trusts, conditions and provisions of this Indenture. Any such separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time, by an instrument in writing, constitute the Trustee as his, their or its agent or
attorney-in-fact with full power and authority, to the extent authorized by law, to do all acts and things and exercise all discretion authorized or permitted by him, them or it, for and on behalf of him, them or it and in his, their or its name. In case any separate trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, all the estate, properties, rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of said separate trustee or co-trustee shall vest in and be exercised by the Trustee until the appointment of a new trustee or a successor to such separate trustee or co-trustee.
SECTION 11.12 Designation and Succession of Paying Agents
. The Trustee and any other banks or trust companies, if any, designated as Paying Agent or Paying Agents in any supplemental indenture providing for the issuance of Additional Bonds as provided in Section 2.11 hereof or in an instrument appointing a successor Trustee, shall be the Paying Agent or Paying Agents for the applicable series of Bonds.
Any bank or trust company with which or into which any Paying Agent may be merged or consolidated, or to which the assets and business of such Paying Agent may be sold, shall be deemed the successor of such Paying Agent for the purposes of this Indenture. If the position of Paying Agent shall become vacant for any reason, the Issuer shall, within thirty (30) days thereafter, appoint such bank or trust company as shall be specified by the Company as such Paying Agent to fill such vacancy; provided, however, that, if the Issuer shall fail to appoint such Paying Agent within said period, the Trustee shall make such appointment.
The Paying Agents shall enjoy the same protective provisions in the performance of their duties hereunder as are specified in Section 11.1 hereof with respect to the Trustee insofar as such provisions may be applicable.
SECTION 11.13 Several Capacities
. Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the same entity may serve hereunder as the Trustee, the Paying Agent, and the Bond Registrar and in any other combination of such capacities, to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 11.14 No Transfer of Note Held by the Trustee
. Except as required to effect an assignment to a successor Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not sell, assign or transfer the Loan Agreement or the Note and the Trustee is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Company to such effect.
SECTION 11.15 Insurance
. The Trustee shall have no duty or responsibility to receive, retain or review any policies of insurance in connection with the Project or the Plant.
ARTICLE XII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 12.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Bondholder Consent
. The Issuer and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, without the consent of or notice to the Bondholders, enter into supplemental indentures as follows:
(a)
to cure any formal defect, omission, inconsistency or ambiguity in this Indenture;
(b)
to grant to or confer or impose upon the Trustee for the benefit of the bondholders any additional rights, remedies, powers, authority, security, liabilities or duties which may lawfully be granted, conferred or imposed and which are not contrary to or inconsistent with this Indenture as
theretofore in effect; provided that no such additional liabilities or duties shall be imposed upon the Trustee without its consent;
(c)
to add to the covenants and agreements of, and limitations and restrictions upon, the Issuer in this Indenture other covenants, agreements, limitations and restrictions to be observed by the Issuer which are not contrary to or inconsistent with this Indenture as theretofore in effect;
(d)
to confirm, as further assurance, any pledge under, and the subjection to any claim, lien or pledge created or to be created by, this Indenture of the Revenues of the Issuer from the Loan Agreement or of any other moneys, securities or funds;
(e)
to authorize the issuance and sale of one or more series of Additional Bonds;
(f)
to comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as from time to time amended;
(g)
to provide for the registration and registration of transfer of the Bonds through a book-entry or similar method, whether or not the Bonds are evidenced by certificates;
(h)
to modify, alter, amend or supplement this Indenture in any other respect which is not materially adverse to the Bondholders and which does not involve a change described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of Section 12.2 hereof and which, in the judgment of the Trustee, is not to the prejudice of the Trustee; or
(i)
to make such changes as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the 1954 Code or the Code relating to the excludability of interest on the Bonds from gross income thereunder and which are not materially adverse to the Bondholders.
SECTION 12.2
Supplemental Indentures Requiring Bondholder Consent
. Subject to the terms and provisions contained in this Section, and not otherwise, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds then outstanding shall have the right, from time to time, anything contained in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, to consent to and approve the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of such indenture or indentures supplemental hereto as shall be deemed necessary and desirable by the Issuer for the purpose of modifying, altering, amending, adding to or rescinding, in any particular, any of the terms or provisions contained in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall permit, or be construed as permitting, unless approved by the holders of all Bonds then outstanding, (a) an extension of the maturity (or mandatory sinking fund or other mandatory redemption date) of the principal of or the interest on any Bond issued hereunder, or (b) a reduction in the principal amount of or redemption premium or rate of interest on any Bond issued hereunder, or (c) the creation of any lien ranking prior to or on a parity with the lien of this Indenture on the Trust Estate or any part thereof, except as hereinbefore expressly permitted, or (d) a privilege or priority of any Bond or Bonds over any other Bond or Bonds, or (e) a reduction in the aggregate principal amount of the Bonds required for consent to such supplemental indenture, or (f) depriving the holder of any Bond then outstanding of the lien hereby created on the Trust Estate. Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed as making necessary the approval of Bondholders of the execution of any supplemental indenture as provided in Section 12.1 of this Article.
If at any time the Issuer shall request the Trustee to enter into any supplemental indenture for any of the purposes of this Section, the Trustee shall, at the expense of the Issuer, cause notice of the proposed
execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed by first class mail to each registered owner of the Bonds. Such notice shall briefly set forth the nature of the proposed supplemental indenture and shall state that copies thereof are on file at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee for inspection by Bondholders. The Trustee shall not, however, be subject to any liability to any Bondholder by reason of its failure to mail such notice, and any such failure shall not affect the validity of such supplemental indenture when consented to and approved as provided in this Section. If the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds outstanding at the time of the execution of any such supplemental indenture shall have consented to and approved the execution thereof as herein provided, no holder of any Bond shall have any right to object to any of the terms and provisions contained therein, or the operation thereof, or in any manner to question the propriety of the execution thereof, or to enjoin or restrain the Trustee or the Issuer from executing the same or from taking any action pursuant to the provisions thereof. Upon the execution of any such supplemental indenture, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith.
SECTION 12.3 Consent of Company
. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, a supplemental indenture under this Article shall not become effective unless and until the Company shall have consented to the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture.
SECTION 12.4 Opinion of Bond Counsel.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, a supplemental indenture under this Article shall not become effective unless and until the Trustee shall have received an opinion of Bond Counsel to the effect that (i) such supplemental indenture will not affect the excludability of interest on the Bonds from gross income for purposes of federal income taxation; (ii) such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture; and (iii) all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture have been satisfied.
ARTICLE XIII
AMENDMENT OF LOAN AGREEMENT AND NOTE
SECTION 13.1 Amendments With and Without the Consent of Bondholders
. The Trustee may from time to time, and at any time, consent to any amendment, change or modification of the Loan Agreement and the Note for the purpose of curing any ambiguity or formal defect or omission or making any other change therein which, in the reasonable judgment of the Trustee, is not to the prejudice of the Trustee or the holders of the Bonds. The Trustee shall not consent to any other amendment, change or modification of the Loan Agreement or the Note without the approval or consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Bonds at the time outstanding, evidenced in the manner provided in Section 14.1 hereof; provided the Trustee shall not, without the unanimous consent of the holders of all Bonds then outstanding, evidenced in the manner provided in Section 14.1 hereof, consent to any amendment which would change the obligations of the Company under Section 5.2 of the Loan Agreement
SECTION 13.2 Notice to Bondholders
. If at any time the Issuer or the Company shall request the Trustee's consent to a proposed amendment, change or modification of the Loan Agreement or the Note requiring Bondholder approval under Section 13.1 hereof, the Trustee, shall, at the expense of the requesting party, cause notice of such proposed amendment, change or modification to the Loan Agreement or the Note to be mailed in the same manner as provided by Section 12.2 hereof with respect to supplemental indentures. Such notice shall briefly set forth the nature of such proposed amendment, change or modification and shall state that copies of the instrument embodying the same are on file in the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee for inspection by any interested Bondholder. The Trustee shall not, however, be subject to any
liability to any Bondholder by reason of its failure to publish or mail such notice, and any such failure shall not affect the validity of such amendment, change or modification when consented to by the Trustee in the manner herein provided.
SECTION 13.3 Opinion of Bond Counsel
. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, any amendment to the Loan Agreement or the Note shall not become effective unless and until the Trustee shall have received an opinion of Bond Counsel to the effect that (i) such amendment will not affect the excludability of interest on the Bonds from gross income for purposes of federal income taxation; (ii) such amendment is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture; and (iii) all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 14.1 Consents, etc. of Bondholders
. Any request, direction, objection or other instrument required by this Indenture to be signed and executed by the Bondholders may be in any number of concurrent writings of similar tenor and may be signed or executed by such Bondholders in person or by agent appointed in writing. Proof of the execution of any such request, direction, objection or other instrument or of the writing appointing any such agent and of the ownership of Bonds, if made in the following manner, shall be sufficient for any of the purposes of this Indenture, and shall be conclusive in favor of the Trustee with regard to any action taken by it under such request or other instrument, namely:
(a)
The fact and date of the execution by any person of any such writing may be proved by the certificate of any officer in any jurisdiction who by law has power to take acknowledgments within such jurisdiction that the person signing such writing acknowledged before him the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of any witness to such execution.
(b)
The fact of ownership of Bonds and the amount or amounts, numbers and other identification of such Bonds, and the date of holding the same shall be proved by the registration books of the Issuer maintained by the Trustee as Bond Registrar.
SECTION 14.2 Limitation of Rights
. With the exception of rights herein expressly conferred, nothing expressed or mentioned in or to be implied from this Indenture, or the Bonds issued hereunder, is intended or shall be construed to give to any person or company other than the parties hereto, the Company, and the holders of the Bonds secured by this Indenture any legal or equitable rights, remedy or claim under or in respect to this Indenture or any covenants, conditions and provisions herein contained; this Indenture and all of the covenants, conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, the Company, and the holders of the Bonds hereby secured as herein provided.
SECTION 14.3 Severability
. If any provisions of this Indenture shall be held or deemed to be or shall, in fact, be inoperative or unenforceable as applied in any particular case in any jurisdiction or jurisdictions or in all jurisdictions or in all cases because it conflicts with any provisions of any constitution or statute or rule of public policy, or for any other reason, such circumstances shall not have the effect of rendering the provision in question inoperative or unenforceable in any other case, circumstance or jurisdiction, or of rendering any other provision or provisions herein contained invalid, inoperative or unenforceable to any extent whatever.
The invalidity of any one or more phrases, sentences, clauses or paragraphs in this Indenture contained shall not affect the remaining portions of this Indenture or any part thereof.
SECTION 14.4 Notices
. Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, all notices, certificates or other communications shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given when mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Issuer, the Company, the Trustee and any Paying Agent. Notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent to the following addresses:
|
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Company:
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System Energy Resources, Inc.
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639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113
ATTN: Steven C. McNeal, Vice President and Treasurer
Phone: 504-576-4363
Email: smcneal@entergy.com
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Issuer:
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Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
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735 Riverside Drive, Ste. 300
Jackson, MS 39202
ATTN: E. F. "Buddy" Mitcham, Executive Director
Phone: 601-355-6232
Email: bmitcham@mbfc.cc
Trustee, Paying
Agent and Bond
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Registrar:
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The Bank of New York Mellon
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Corporate Trust Division
10161 Centurion Parkway N, 2nd Floor
Jacksonville, FL 32256
ATTN: Geraldine Creswell, Vice President
Phone: 904-998-4724
Fax: 904-645-1921
Email: geri.creswell@bnymellon.com
Any Paying Agent
other than the
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Trustee:
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At the address designated to the Issuer and the Trustee
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Any of the foregoing may, by notice given hereunder, designate any further or different addresses to which subsequent notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent.
The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions ("Instructions") given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Issuer or the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions ("Authorized Officers") and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Issuer or the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer or the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Issuer or the Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by
an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Issuer or the Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Issuer or the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Issuer or the Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuer or the Company agrees: (a) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (b) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Issuer or the Company; (c) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (d) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.
SECTION 14.5 Applicable Provisions of Law
. This Indenture shall be considered to have been executed in the State and it is the intention of the parties that the substantive law of the State govern as to all questions of interpretation, validity and effect.
SECTION 14.6 Counterparts
. This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 14.7 Successors and Assigns
. All the covenants, stipulations, provisions, agreements, rights, remedies and claims of the parties hereto in this Indenture contained shall bind and inure to the benefit of their successors and assigns.
SECTION 14.8 Captions
. The captions or headings in this Indenture are for convenience only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of any provisions or sections of this Indenture.
SECTION 14.9 Bonds Owned by the Issuer or the Company
. In determining whether Bondholders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of the Bonds have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Bonds which are owned by the Issuer or the Company or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Bonds which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Bonds so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Bonds and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or the Company or any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 14.10 Holidays
. If the date for making any payment or the last date for performance of any act or the exercising of any right, as provided in this Indenture, shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the city in which is located the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee are authorized by law to remain closed, such payment may be made or act performed or right exercised on the next succeeding day not a legal holiday or a day on which such banking institutions are authorized by law
to remain closed, with the same force and effect as if done on the nominal date provided in this Indenture, and no interest on the amount so payable shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
[Signature Page to Trust Indenture]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the Issuer has caused this Indenture to be executed by its Executive Director and has caused the seal of the Issuer to be affixed hereto and attested by its Secretary, and the Trustee has caused this Indenture to be executed in its behalf by a duly Authorized Officer and its seal to be impressed hereon, all as of the day and year above written.
MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE
CORPORATION
(SEAL])
By:
/s/ E.F. “Buddy” Mitcham, Jr.
E. F. "Buddy" Mitcham
Executive Director
ATTEST:
By:
/s/ Larry W. Mobley
Larry W. Mobley
Secretary
(SEAL)
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Trustee
By:
/s/ David O’Brien
Title: Vice President
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF BOND
UNLESS THIS BOND IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), TO THE TRUSTEE (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL IN AS MUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN
No. 1
$134,000,000
Dated Date: March 28, 2019
CUSIP: 605279MG0
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION
REVENUE REFUNDING BOND
(System Energy Resources, Inc. Project)
Series 2019
MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION
(herein called the "Issuer"), a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi, for value received, hereby promises to pay, solely from the special fund provided therefor as hereinafter set forth, to Cede & Co. or registered assigns or legal representative, on the 1st day of April, 2022 (or earlier as hereinafter referred to), upon the presentation and surrender hereof at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee (hereinafter defined), the principal sum of One Hundred Thirty-four Million Dollars ($134,000,000) in any coin or currency of the United States of America which on the date of payment thereof is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay, solely from said special fund, to the registered owner hereof by check or draft mailed to the registered owner at his address as it appears on the bond registration books of the Issuer, interest on said principal sum from the latest semiannual interest payment date to which interest has been paid on Bonds of this series preceding the date hereof, unless the date hereof is an interest payment date to which interest is being paid, in which case from the date hereof, or unless the date hereof is prior to October 1, 2019, in which case from March 28, 2019, at the rate of two and one-half percent (2.50%) per annum until payment of said principal sum, such interest being payable semiannually on the 1st days of April and October (commencing October 1, 2019) in each year in like coin or currency.
The interest payable on any April 1 or October 1 will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture (hereinafter defined), be paid to the person in whose name this Bond is registered at the close of business on the record date, which shall be the March 15 or September 15, as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date or, if such March 15 or September 15 shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Jacksonville, Florida, are authorized to close, the next preceding day which shall not be a legal holiday or a day on which such institutions are so authorized to close.
The Issuer is a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi. The Bonds (hereinafter defined) are authorized to be issued for purposes for which bonds are authorized to be issued under the provisions of Sections 57-10-201
et seq.
, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended and supplemented (the "Act"). This Bond and the interest hereon shall not be deemed to constitute a debt, liability or obligation of the Issuer or the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof, or a pledge of the faith and credit of the Issuer or the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof, but this Bond shall be payable solely from the revenues provided therefor as hereinafter described and the Issuer is not obligated to pay this Bond or the interest hereon except from the revenues and proceeds pledged therefor and neither the faith and credit nor the taxing power of the Issuer or the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof is pledged to the payment of the principal of or the redemption premium, if any, or interest on this Bond. No covenant or agreement contained in this Bond shall be deemed to be a covenant or agreement of any member, officer, agent or employee of the Issuer in his individual capacity and no member of the Board of Directors of the Issuer nor any officer of the Issuer executing this Bond shall be liable personally on this Bond or be subject to any personal liability in connection with the issuance of this Bond.
This Bond is one of a duly authorized series of revenue refunding bonds of the Issuer known as "Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019," issued for the purpose of currently refunding its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 1998 issued in the original principal amount of $216,000,000, which 1998 Bonds were issued for the purpose of providing funds to refinance obligations of the Company (as hereinafter defined) incurred to finance the cost of acquiring an undivided 90% interest in certain air and water pollution control facilities and sewage and solid waste disposal facilities (the "Project") at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Electric Generating Station located in Claiborne County, Mississippi (the "Plant"). The Indenture provides for the issuance, under the conditions, limitations and restrictions therein set forth, of additional bonds for the purpose of refunding Bonds of any series issued under the Indenture.
The Bonds of this series and all such additional Bonds (herein called collectively the "Bonds") are issued or are to be issued under and pursuant to a trust indenture (said trust indenture, together with all trust indentures supplemental thereto as therein permitted, being herein called the "Indenture"), dated as of March 1, 2019, by and between the Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (said bank and any successor trustee under the Indenture being herein called the "Trustee"), an executed counterpart of which Indenture is on file at the designated corporate office of the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the provisions, among others, with respect to the custody and application of the proceeds of Bonds issued under the Indenture, the collection and disposition of revenues, a description of the funds charged with and pledged to the payment of the principal of and redemption premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, the nature and extent of the security, the terms and conditions under which the Bonds are or may be issued, the rights, duties and obligations of the Issuer and of the Trustee, the rights of the holders of the Bonds and the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Indenture and the Agreement (hereinafter defined) may be amended, and, by the acceptance of this Bond, the holder hereof assents to all of the provisions of the Indenture.
This Bond is issued and the Indenture was made and entered into under and pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi, and particularly the Act, and under and pursuant to resolutions duly adopted by the Issuer.
The Issuer has entered into a Loan Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2019 (herein called the "Agreement"), with System Energy Resources, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas and qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in the State of Mississippi (herein called the "Company"), under the provisions of which the Issuer has loaned the proceeds of the Bonds of this series to the Company and has agreed to loan the proceeds of any additional series of Bonds to the
Company (herein called the "Loan"). In order to evidence the Loan and the Company's repayment obligation, the Company has executed and delivered its non-negotiable promissory note and has agreed to issue additional such notes concurrently with the issuance of any additional series of Bonds (herein called the "Notes"). The Notes provide for the repayment by the Company of the Loan, including interest thereon, in installments sufficient to pay the principal of and redemption premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds as the same shall become due and payable. The Notes provide that the amounts so to be paid thereunder shall be paid directly to the Trustee as assignee of the Issuer; such payments are to be deposited to the credit of the Bond Fund as defined in and created under the Indenture which special fund is pledged to and charged with the payment of the principal of and redemption premium, if any, and interest on all Bonds issued under the Indenture and such amounts so to be paid thereunder have been duly pledged and assigned for that purpose. In addition, certain other rights of the Issuer under the Agreement have been assigned to the Trustee to secure payment of such principal, redemption premium, if any, and interest under the Indenture.
The Bonds are subject to optional redemption by the Issuer on or after April 1, 2021, in whole or in part, at the written direction of the Company, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date but without redemption premium.
If less than all of the Bonds of a series shall be called for redemption, the particular Bonds or portions of Bonds to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee by lot or in such other random manner as the Trustee in its discretion may determine.
The Bonds are subject to special optional redemption by the Issuer, at the written direction of the Company, in whole but not in part, at any time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date but without redemption premium if:
(a)
the Company shall have determined that the continued operation of the Plant is impracticable, uneconomical or undesirable for any reason;
(b)
the Company shall have determined that the continued operation of the Project is impracticable, uneconomical or undesirable due to (1) the imposition of taxes, other than ad valorem taxes currently levied upon privately owned property used for the same general purpose as the Project, or other liabilities or burdens with respect to the Project or the operation thereof, (2) changes in technology, in environmental standards or legal requirements or in the economic availability of materials, supplies, equipment or labor or (3) destruction of or damage to all or part of the Project;
(c)
all or substantially all of the Project or the Plant shall have been condemned or taken by eminent domain; or
(d)
the operation of the Project or the Plant shall have been enjoined or shall have otherwise been prohibited by an order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or of any federal, state or local regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body.
The Bonds are also subject to mandatory redemption, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount being redeemed plus accrued interest thereon to the redemption date, but without redemption premium, on the 180th day (or such earlier date as may be designated by the Company) after a final determination by a court of competent jurisdiction or an administrative agency to the effect that as a result of a failure by the Company to observe any covenant, agreement or representation contained in the Agreement or the Issuer to observe any covenant, agreement or representation in this Indenture, the interest payable on the Bonds is not excludable for federal income tax purposes from the gross income of the owners thereof (other than any owner who is a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person" within the meaning of
Section 103(b)(13) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (the "1954 Code"). No determination by any court or administrative agency will be considered final unless the Company has received timely notice of and has had an opportunity to participate in the proceeding which resulted in such determination. The Bonds will be redeemed, either in whole or in part, in such principal amount that the interest payable on the Bonds remaining outstanding after such redemption would not under Section 103 of the 1954 Code be included in the gross income of any owner thereof (other than an owner who is a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person" within the meaning of Section 103(b)(13) of the 1954 Code).
Notice of any redemption, identifying the Bonds or portions thereof being called and the date on which they shall be presented for payment, shall be given by the Trustee by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the registered owner of each such Bond addressed to such registered owner at his registered address and placed in the mails not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for redemption; provided, however, that failure to give such notice by mailing, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of any proceeding for the redemption of any Bond with respect to which no such failure or defect has occurred.
Any notice mailed as provided above shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder or owner receives the notice.
With respect to notice of redemption of the Bonds at the option of the Issuer (at the direction of the Company), unless moneys sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds to be redeemed shall have been received by the Trustee prior to the giving of such notice, such notice shall state that said redemption shall be conditional upon the receipt of such moneys by the Trustee on or prior to the date fixed for such redemption. So long as Cede & Co. is the registered owner of the Bonds, as nominee of DTC, notice of any redemption will be given by the Trustee to Cede & Co., not to the beneficial owners of the Bonds. If such moneys shall not have been so received, such notice shall be of no force and effect, the Issuer shall not redeem such Bonds and the Trustee shall give notice, in the manner in which the notice of redemption was given, that such moneys were not so received.
Subject to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on or prior to the date fixed for redemption, funds shall be deposited with the Trustee to pay, and the Trustee is authorized and directed by the Indenture to apply such funds to the payment of, the Bonds or portions thereof to be redeemed, together with accrued interest thereon to the redemption date and any required premium. Upon the giving of notice and the deposit of funds for redemption, interest on the Bonds or portions thereof thus redeemed shall no longer accrue after the date fixed for redemption.
The holder of this Bond shall have no right to enforce the provisions of the Indenture or to institute action to enforce the covenants therein, or to take any action with respect to any event of default under the Indenture or to institute, appear in or defend any suit or other proceeding with respect thereto, except as provided in the Indenture.
In certain events, on the conditions, in the manner and with the effect set forth in the Indenture, the principal of all the Bonds then outstanding under the Indenture may become or may be declared due and payable before the stated maturity thereof, together with the interest accrued thereon.
Modifications or alterations of the Indenture or any trust indenture supplemental thereto or of the Agreement may be made only to the extent and in the circumstances permitted by the Indenture.
The transfer of this Bond may be registered by the registered owner hereof in person or by his attorney or legal representative at the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee, but only in the manner and
subject to the limitations and conditions provided in the Indenture and upon surrender and cancellation of this Bond. Upon any such registration of transfer the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for this Bond a new registered Bond or Bonds without coupons, registered in the name of the transferee, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of this Bond, of the same series and maturity and bearing interest at the same rate.
This Bond is issued with the intent that the laws of the State of Mississippi shall govern its construction. As declared by the Act and other applicable laws of the State of Mississippi, this Bond shall have all the qualities and incidents, including negotiability, of an investment security under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Mississippi.
All acts, conditions and things required to happen, exist and be performed precedent to and in the issuance of this Bond and the execution of the Indenture have happened, exist and have been performed as so required.
This Bond shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or be entitled to any benefit or security under the Indenture until it shall have been authenticated by the execution by the Trustee of the certificate of authentication endorsed hereon.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, by resolution of its Board of Directors, has caused this Bond to be executed in its name and on its behalf by the facsimile signature of its Executive Director, and by the manual or facsimile signature of its Secretary and a facsimile of its seal to be imprinted hereon.
MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION
(SEAL)
By
Executive Director
Attest
Secretary
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This Bond is one of the Bonds of the series designated therein and issued under the provisions of the within mentioned Indenture.
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Dated:
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
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By
Authorized Signature
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
COUNTY OF HINDS
The undersigned, Secretary of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, does hereby certify that the within Bond has been duly registered by me pursuant to law in a book kept in my office for that purpose; and that the within Bond has been validated by decree of the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, rendered on the 20
th
day of March, 2019.
Secretary of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
ASSIGNMENT
FOR VALUE RECEIVED
The undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto (Please insert name, address and Social Security Number or other identifying number of Assignee)
the within Bond of the MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION and does hereby constitute and appoint ____________________________________________ as attorney to transfer the said Bond on the books of the within named Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
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Signature guaranteed
Insert Social Security Number or Other Tax Identification Number of Assignor:
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Registered Owner
Notice: Signature(s) to this assignment must correspond with the name(s) of the Registered Owner(s) as it appears on the face of the within Bond in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever and must be guaranteed by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange or a commercial bank or trust company who is a member of a Medallion Signature Guarantee Program.
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EXECUTION COPY
Exhibit 4(b)
Loan Agreement
BY AND BETWEEN
Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
and
System Energy Resources, Inc.
Dated as of March 1, 2019
$134,000,000
Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
Revenue Refunding Bonds
(System Energy Resources, Inc. Project)
Series 2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1
Definitions
3
SECTION 1.2
Use of Words and Phrases
5
SECTION 1.3
Nontaxability
6
Article II
REPRESENTATIONS
SECTION 2.1
Representations and Warranties of the Issuer
7
SECTION 2.2
Representations and Warranties of the Company
7
Article III
THE PROJECT
SECTION 3.1
Maintenance of Project; Remodeling
9
SECTION 3.2
Insurance
9
SECTION 3.3
Condemnation; Eminent Domain.
9
Article IV
ISSUANCE OF BONDS; DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS OF BONDS
SECTION 4.1
Issuance of the Series 2019 Bonds
10
SECTION 4.2
Additional Bonds
10
SECTION 4.3
Disposition of Bond Proceeds; Bond Proceeds Fund
10
SECTION 4.4
Agreement to Redeem 1998 Bonds
10
SECTION 4.5
Compliance with Trust Indenture for 1998 Bonds
10
Article V
THE LOAN; OTHER OBLIGATIONS
SECTION 5.1
Loan
11
SECTION 5.2
Loan Payments
11
SECTION 5.3
Bond Fund
11
SECTION 5.4
Delivery of Notes by Company; Other Amounts Payable
11
SECTION 5.5
Payments Assigned; Obligation Absolute
12
SECTION 5.6
Indemnification
12
SECTION 5.7
Payment of Taxes; Discharge of Liens
14
Article VI
SPECIAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.1
Maintenance of Existence
15
SECTION 6.2
Arbitrage Covenant
15
SECTION 6.3
Bonds are Limited Obligations
16
SECTION 6.4
Tax-Exempt Status of Bonds
16
SECTION 6.5
Compliance with Law
17
SECTION 6.6
No Warranty
17
SECTION 6.7
Continuing Disclosure
18
Article VII
ARTICLE ASSIGNMENT, LEASING AND SELLING
SECTION 7.1
Limitation
19
SECTION 7.2
Issuer's Rights of Assignment
19
SECTION 7.3
Assignment by the Company
19
Article VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 8.1
Events of Default
20
SECTION 8.2
Force Majeure
21
SECTION 8.3
Remedies on Default
21
SECTION 8.4
No Remedy Exclusive
22
SECTION 8.5
Agreement to Pay Attorneys' Fees and Expenses
22
SECTION 8.6
Waiver of Breach
22
Article IX
REDEMPTION OR PURCHASE OF BONDS
SECTION 9.1
Redemption of Bonds
23
SECTION 9.2
Purchase of Bonds
23
Article X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.1
Notices
24
SECTION 10.2
Severability
25
SECTION 10.3
Execution of Counterparts
25
SECTION 10.4
Amounts Remaining in Bond Fund
25
SECTION 10.5
Amendments, Changes and Modifications
25
SECTION 10.6
Governing Law
26
SECTION 10.7
Authorized Company Representatives
26
SECTION 10.8
Term of the Agreement
26
SECTION 10.9
No Personal Liability
26
SECTION 10.10
Parties in Interest
26
Exhibit A
-
Form of Note
27
Loan Agreement
This
LOAN AGREEMENT
dated as of March 1, 2019 (together with any amendments or supplements hereto, this "Agreement") is by and between the
Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
(as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof)
(the "Issuer"), a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi (the "State"), authorized to exercise the powers conferred by Section 57-10-201
et seq.
, Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended and supplemented from time to time (the "Act"), and
System Energy Resources, Inc.
, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas, duly qualified to do business in the State (together with any permitted successors or assigns under this Agreement, the "Company").
W I T N E S S E T H
:
WHEREAS
, the Issuer is authorized by the provisions of the Act, among other things, to provide financial assistance to businesses in the State by providing loans, guarantees, insurance and other assistance to businesses, thereby encouraging the investment of private capital in businesses in the State, and to finance such assistance to businesses by the issuance of revenue bonds; and
WHEREAS
, the Company has requested that the Issuer issue $134,000,000 of its Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019 (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof, the "Series 2019 Bonds") for the purpose of currently refunding its Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 1998 (the "1998 Bonds") issued in the original principal amount of $216,000,000, which 1998 Bonds were issued for the purpose of providing funds to refinance the Company's obligations incurred to finance the cost of acquiring an undivided 90% interest in certain air and water pollution control facilities and sewage and solid waste disposal facilities (the "Project") at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Electric Generating Station located in Claiborne County, Mississippi (the "Plant"); and
WHEREAS
, the Issuer may authorize and issue Additional Bonds (as defined in Section 1.1 of this Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.11 of the Trust Indenture dated as of March 1, 2019 (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof, the "Indenture") by and between the Issuer and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (as more fully defined in Section 1.1 hereof, the "Trustee"), and Section 4.2 of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS
, in consideration of the issuance of the Bonds (as defined in Section 1.1 of this Agreement) by the Issuer, the Company will agree to make payments in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds pursuant to this Agreement and the Note (as defined in Section 1.1 of this Agreement), said Bonds to be paid solely from the Revenues (as defined in Section 1.1 of this Agreement), and said Bonds shall not constitute an indebtedness or pledge of the general credit of the Issuer or the State, within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation of indebtedness or otherwise; and
WHEREAS
, the execution and delivery of this Agreement under the Act have been in all respects duly and validly authorized by resolution duly adopted by the Issuer.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration and the mutual benefits, covenants and agreements herein expressed, the Issuer and the Company agree as follows (provided that any obligation of the Issuer created by or arising out of this Agreement shall not impose a debt or pecuniary liability upon the State or any political subdivision thereof, or a charge upon the general credit or taxing powers of such bodies, but shall be payable solely out of the Revenues and, to the extent provided in this Agreement, out of the proceeds of the sale of the Series 2019 Bonds and any temporary investment thereof as herein provided).
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1
Definitions
. In addition to the words and terms elsewhere defined in this Agreement or in the Indenture, the following words and terms as used in this Agreement shall have the following meanings unless the context or use indicates another or different meaning:
"Act"
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
"Additional Bonds"
shall mean Bonds in addition to the Series 2019 Bonds that are issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.11 of the Indenture.
"Administration Expenses"
shall mean the reasonable and necessary fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Issuer with respect to this Agreement, the Indenture and any transaction or event contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture including the compensation and reimbursement of fees, costs and expenses and advances payable to the Trustee, any Paying Agent and the Bond Registrar.
"Authorized Company Representative"
shall mean any treasurer, assistant treasurer or vice president of the Company or the person or persons at the time designated to act on behalf of the Company by any one of said officers, such designation in each case, to be evidenced by a certificate furnished to the Issuer and the Trustee containing the specimen signature of such person or persons and signed on behalf of the Company by said officer.
"Bond Counsel"
shall mean any firm of nationally recognized municipal bond counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Issuer and the Trustee.
"Bond Fund"
shall mean the fund by that name created and established under and in accordance with Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
"Bond Proceeds Fund"
shall mean the fund by that name created and established under and in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Indenture.
"Bonds"
shall mean the Series 2019 Bonds and any Additional Bonds issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture.
"Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as heretofore or hereafter amended and the Regulations promulgated thereunder.
"Company"
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
"Costs of Issuance"
shall mean all fees, charges and expenses incurred in connection with the authorization, preparation, sale, issuance and delivery of the Bonds including, without limitation, financial, legal and accounting fees, expenses and disbursements, rating agency fees, the Issuer's expenses attributable to the issuance of the Bonds, the cost of printing, engraving and reproduction services and the initial or acceptance fee of the Trustee.
"Electronic Means"
shall mean the following communications methods: e-mail, facsimile transmission, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.
"Event of Default"
shall mean any event of default specified in Section 8.1 hereof.
"Indenture"
shall mean the Trust Indenture dated as of March 1, 2019, by and between the Issuer and the Trustee securing the Bonds, and any amendments and supplements thereto.
"Issuer"
shall mean the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State, including the Act, or any successor to its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Indenture.
"Loan"
shall mean the loan to be made by the Issuer to the Company of the proceeds (which shall be deemed to include the underwriting discount, if any, and original issue discount, if any) of the sale of the Bonds, exclusive of any accrued interest paid by the Underwriter upon the delivery thereof.
"Loan Payments"
shall mean the payments to be made by the Company pursuant to Sections 5.2 and 9.1 of this Agreement.
"1954 Code"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended and supplemented.
"1998 Bonds"
shall mean the $216,000,000 (original principal amount) Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project), Series 1998.
"Note"
shall mean the non-negotiable promissory note of the Company issued pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof, in the form set forth as Exhibit A hereto.
"outstanding",
when used with reference to the Bonds, shall mean, as of any particular date, all Bonds authenticated and delivered under the Indenture except:
(a)
Bonds canceled at or prior to such date or delivered to or acquired by the Trustee prior to such date for cancellation;
(b)
Bonds deemed to be paid in accordance with Article IX of the Indenture;
(c)
Bonds in lieu of or in exchange or substitution for which other Bonds shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture; and
(d)
Bonds registered in the name of the Issuer.
"Person" or "person"
shall mean, as the case may be, any individual, sole proprietorship, corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including without limitation, general and limited partnerships), joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government, any agency or political subdivision thereof, or public corporation.
"Plant"
shall have the meaning set forth in the second recital of this Agreement.
"Plant Agreements"
shall mean all contracts relating to the ownership, construction and operation of the Plant, including the Project, as from time to time amended or supplemented.
"Prior Bonds"
shall mean the $49,500,000 Claiborne County, Mississippi 9 ½% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Middle South Energy, Inc. Project) Series A and the $206,000,000 Claiborne County, Mississippi 9 ⅞% Pollution Control Revenue Bonds (Middle South Energy, Inc. Project) Series C.
"Project"
shall have the meaning set forth in the second recital of this Agreement.
"Refunding Date"
shall mean March 28, 2019, or such later date as may be established by the Company; provided, however, that the Refunding Date shall not be later than ninety (90) days following the date of delivery of the Series 2019 Bonds to the Underwriter.
"Regulations"
shall mean the applicable proposed, temporary or final Income Tax Regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Revenues"
shall mean all moneys paid or payable by the Company to the Trustee for the account of the Issuer in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, including, without limitation, amounts paid or payable by the Company pursuant to Sections 5.2 and 9.1 of this Agreement as Loan Payments, and all receipts of the Trustee credited under the provisions of the Indenture against such payments.
"Series 2019 Bonds"
shall mean the $134,000,000 Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019 issued pursuant to the Indenture.
"State"
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble of this Agreement.
"Tax Certificate"
shall mean the Tax Compliance and No Arbitrage Certificate of the Issuer and the Company dated as of the issue date of any series of Bonds issued under the Indenture.
"Trustee"
shall mean The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee under the Indenture, and its successors as trustee.
"Underwriter"
shall mean, in respect of the Series 2019 Bonds, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, and in respect of any Additional Bonds, an underwriter designated as such in connection with the issuance of such Additional Bonds.
SECTION 1.2
Use of Words and Phrases
. "Herein," "hereby," "hereunder," "hereof," "hereinabove," "hereinafter," and other equivalent words and phrases refer to this Agreement and not solely to the particular portion thereof in which any such word is used. The definitions set forth in Section 1.1 hereof include both singular and plural. Whenever used herein, any pronoun shall be deemed to include both singular and plural and to cover all genders. Words of the masculine gender shall be deemed and construed to include correlative words of the feminine and neuter genders. Unless the context shall otherwise indicate, the words "Bond," "owner," "holder" and "person" shall include the plural, as well as the singular, number.
Unless the context shall otherwise indicate, "Person" or "person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
SECTION 1.3 Nontaxability
. It is intended by the parties hereto that this Agreement and all action taken hereunder be consistent with and pursuant to the resolution of the governing body of the Issuer relating to the Bonds, and that the interest on the Bonds be excludable from the gross income of the recipients thereof for federal income tax purposes other than with respect to a person who is a "substantial user" of the Project or a "related person" of a "substantial user" within the meaning of the Code and the 1954 Code by reason of the provisions of the Code and the 1954 Code. The Company will not use any of the funds provided by the Issuer hereunder in such a manner as to impair the excludability of interest on any of the Bonds from the gross income of the recipient thereof for federal income tax purposes nor will it take any action that would impair such excludability or fail to take any action if such failure would impair such excludability.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS
SECTION 2.1 Representations and Warranties of the Issuer
. The Issuer makes the following representations and warranties as the basis for the undertakings on the part of the Company herein contained:
(a)
The Issuer is a public corporation duly created and validly existing pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State, including the Act.
(b)
The Issuer has the power to enter into the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to carry out its obligations hereunder. By proper action of the governing body of the Issuer, the Issuer has been duly authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement.
(c)
The Issuer has not assigned, and will not, except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law, assign its interest in this Agreement other than to secure the Bonds.
SECTION 2.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company
. The Company makes the following representations and warranties as the basis for the undertakings on the part of the Issuer herein contained:
(a)
The Company is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas and is in good standing in the State of Arkansas, is duly qualified and in good standing to do business in the State, is not in violation of any provision of its organizational documents, has power to enter into this Agreement and to perform and observe the agreements and covenants on its part contained herein, and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement by proper action of its governing body.
(b)
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor the fulfillment of or compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Note, conflicts with or results in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of any restriction or any agreement or instrument to which the Company is now a party or by which the Company is bound, or constitutes a default under any of the foregoing, or results in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance whatsoever upon any of the property or assets of the Company except any interests created herein or under the Indenture.
(c)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved all matters relating to the Company's participation in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which require said approval, and no other consent, approval, authorization or other order of any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body is legally required for the Company's participation therein, except such as may have been obtained or may be required under the securities laws of any state or in connection with the issuance of series of Additional Bonds.
ARTICLE III
THE PROJECT
SECTION 3.1 Maintenance of Project; Remodeling
. The Company shall, at its expense, exercise all of its rights, powers, elections and options under the Plant Agreements to cause the Project, and every element and unit thereof, to be maintained, preserved and kept in good repair, working order and condition, and from time to time to cause all needful and proper repairs, replacements, additions, betterments and improvements to be made thereto; provided, however, that the Company may exercise all of such rights,
powers, elections and options to cause the discontinuance of the operation of, or reduce the capacity of, the Project, or any element or unit thereof, if, in the judgment of the Company, any such action is necessary or desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company, or if the Company is ordered so to do by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction in the premises, or if the Company intends to sell or dispose of the same and within a reasonable time shall endeavor to effectuate such sale.
The Company may at its own expense cause the Project to be remodeled or cause substitutions, modifications and improvements to be made to the Project from time to time as it, in its discretion, may deem to be desirable for its uses and purposes, which remodeling, substitutions, modifications and improvements shall be included under the terms of this Agreement as part of the Project.
SECTION 3.2 Insurance
. The Company shall, at its expense, exercise all of its rights, powers, elections and options under the Plant Agreements to cause the Project to be kept insured against fire to the extent that property of similar character is usually so insured by companies similarly situated and operating like properties, to a reasonable amount, by reputable insurance companies or, in lieu of or supplementing such insurance in whole or in part, adopt some other method or plan of protection against loss by fire at least equal in protection to the method or plan of protection against such loss of companies similarly situated and operating like properties. All proceeds of such insurance, or such other method or plan, shall be for the account of the Company.
SECTION 3.3 Condemnation; Eminent Domain.
(a)
In the event that title to or the temporary use of the Project, or any part thereof, shall be taken in condemnation or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain by any governmental body or by any person, firm or corporation acting under governmental or statutory authority, any proceeds from any award or awards in respect of the Project or any part thereof made in such condemnation or eminent domain proceedings, after payment of all expenses incurred in the collection thereof, shall be paid for the account of the Company.
(b)
The Company shall be entitled to the entire proceeds of any condemnation award or portion thereof made for damages to or takings of its own property other than the Project.
ARTICLE IV
ISSUANCE OF BONDS; DISPOSITION OF PROCEEDS OF BONDS
SECTION 4.1 Issuance of the Series 2019 Bonds
. The Issuer shall issue the Series 2019 Bonds under and in accordance with the Indenture, subject to the provisions of any bond purchase agreement between the Issuer and the Underwriter. The Company hereby approves the issuance of the Series 2019 Bonds and all terms and conditions thereof.
SECTION 4.2 Additional Bonds
. So long as the Company shall not be in default hereunder, and at the request of the Company, the Issuer may in its sole discretion authorize and issue Additional Bonds in aggregate principal amounts specified from time to time by the Company in order to provide funds for the purpose of refunding the Series 2019 Bonds or any series of Additional Bonds, in whole or in part, or any combination thereof. Any such issuance of Additional Bonds shall be in accordance with the Indenture, including Sections 2.7 and 2.11 thereof.
The right to issue Additional Bonds set forth in this Agreement and the Indenture shall not imply that the Issuer and the Company may not enter into, and the Issuer and the Company expressly reserve the right
to enter into, to the extent permitted by law, another agreement or agreements with respect to the issuance by the Issuer, under an indenture or indentures other than the Indenture, of bonds to fund additional facilities at the Plant or refunding bonds to refund all or any principal amount of all or any series of Bonds, and the provisions of this Agreement and the Indenture governing the issuance of Additional Bonds shall not apply thereto.
SECTION 4.3 Disposition of Bond Proceeds; Bond Proceeds Fund
. In consideration of the Loan by the Issuer to the Company of the proceeds of the sale of the Series 2019 Bonds as provided in Section 5.1 hereof, the Company agrees that the proceeds of the Series 2019 Bonds shall be deposited with the Trustee in the Bond Proceeds Fund in accordance with the Indenture for disbursement and investment in accordance with the Indenture in order to redeem, together with moneys of the Company deposited with the Paying Agent for the 1998 Bonds, all of the outstanding 1998 Bonds on the Refunding Date. The proceeds from the sale of any Additional Bonds shall be applied simultaneously with the delivery of such Additional Bonds in the manner provided in the Indenture and in the supplemental indenture authorizing such Additional Bonds.
SECTION 4.4 Agreement to Redeem 1998 Bonds
. On the date of delivery of the Series 2019 Bonds, the Company agrees to pay to the Paying Agent for the 1998 Bonds any amount necessary to pay interest due on the 1998 Bonds through the Refunding Date. The Company shall pay out of its own money and not out of proceeds of the Bonds all reasonable Costs of Issuance with respect to the Bonds.
SECTION 4.5 Compliance with Trust Indenture for 1998 Bonds
. The Issuer shall, at the request of the Company, take all steps as may be necessary under the trust indenture for the 1998 Bonds to effect the redemption of all of the outstanding 1998 Bonds on the Refunding Date as provided in the trust indenture for the 1998 Bonds and as contemplated herein.
ARTICLE V
THE LOAN; OTHER OBLIGATIONS
SECTION 5.1 Loan
. The proceeds of the sale of the Series 2019 Bonds which are deposited into the Bond Proceeds Fund pursuant to the Indenture are hereby loaned by the Issuer to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The Issuer hereby agrees in its sole discretion to make additional loans to the Company from time to time from the proceeds of any Additional Bonds issued by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture.
SECTION 5.2 Loan Payments
. To repay the Loan, the Company shall make or cause to be made Loan Payments as provided in this Agreement and the Note in installments, so as to provide amounts for the timely payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds on the dates and in the amounts and in the manner provided in the Indenture for the Issuer to cause payment to be made to the Trustee of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds, whether at maturity, upon redemption or acceleration, or otherwise; provided, however, that the obligation of the Company to make any such payment hereunder shall be reduced by the amount of any reduction under the Indenture of the amount of the corresponding payment required to be made by the Issuer thereunder in respect of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Bonds.
SECTION 5.3 Bond Fund
. The Company shall pay the Loan Payments required of it under this Agreement by remitting or causing to be remitted the same directly to the Trustee for deposit in the Bond Fund established under the Indenture and administered by the Trustee as provided in the Indenture.
SECTION 5.4 Delivery of Notes by Company; Other Amounts Payable
.
(a)
In order to evidence the Loan and the repayment obligation of the Company, the Company shall execute and deliver for each series of Bonds a Note in a principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, and having the same stated rate or rates of interest as, such series of Bonds. Each Note shall be dated the date of the initial issuance of, and mature on the same maturity date or dates as, the series of Bonds issued concurrently therewith. Pursuant to the Note, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid to the Issuer, in immediately available funds, a sum equal to the aggregate principal amount of each series of Bonds issued under the Indenture, and redemption premium, if any, and interest on the unpaid balances thereof at the rates payable by the Issuer on such Bonds at the times such principal, redemption premium, if any, and interest is payable by the Issuer irrespective of any original issue discount with respect to such Bonds. If, at the date any payment on such Bonds is due, there are any available moneys in the Bond Fund, such moneys shall be credited against said payment, first in respect of interest and then, to the extent of remaining moneys, in respect of principal.
(b)
The Company shall also pay (i) all Administration Expenses including the fees, charges and reasonable expenses of the Trustee and any Paying Agents under the Indenture, such fees, charges and reasonable expenses to be paid directly to the Trustee or Paying Agents for their respective accounts as and when such fees, charges and reasonable expenses become due and payable, (ii) all Costs of Issuance, (iii) any expenses in connection with any redemption of the Bonds, and (iv) any amounts owed under the Tax Certificate.
SECTION 5.5 Payments Assigned; Obligation Absolute
. It is understood and agreed that all Loan Payments to be made by the Company are, by the Indenture, to be pledged by the Issuer to the Trustee, and that all rights and interest of the Issuer hereunder (except for the Issuer's rights under Sections 5.4(b), 5.6, 5.7, and 8.5 hereof and any rights of the Issuer to receive notices, certificates, requests, requisitions, directions and other communications hereunder), are to be pledged and assigned to the Trustee. The Company assents to such pledge and assignment and agrees that the obligation of the Company to make the Loan Payments shall be absolute, irrevocable and unconditional and shall not be subject to cancellation, termination or abatement, or to any defense other than payment or to any right of set-off, counterclaim or recoupment arising out of any breach under this Agreement, the Indenture or otherwise by the Issuer or the Trustee or any other party, or out of any obligation or liability at any time owing to the Company by the Issuer, the Trustee or any other party, and, further, that the Loan Payments and the other payments due hereunder shall continue to be payable at the times and in the amounts specified herein, whether or not the Project or the Plant, or any portion thereof, shall have been destroyed by fire or other casualty, or title thereto, or the use thereof, shall have been taken by the exercise of the power of eminent domain, and that there shall be no abatement of or diminution in any such payments by reason thereof, whether or not the Project or the Plant shall be used or useful, and whether or not any applicable laws, regulations or standards shall prevent or prohibit the use of the Project or the Plant, or for any other reason.
SECTION 5.6 Indemnification
. To the extent permitted by law, the Company agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and their officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the "Indemnified Persons") against any and all fees, costs and charges, losses, damages, claims, actions, liabilities and expenses of any conceivable nature, kind or character (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, consultants and other experts, litigation and court costs, amounts paid in settlement and amounts paid to discharge judgments) to which the Indemnified Persons, or any of them, may become subject under or any statutory law (including federal or state securities laws) or at common law or otherwise (collectively, "Liabilities"), arising out of or based upon or in any way relating to:
(a)
the Bonds, the Indenture, this Agreement, or the Note (collectively, the "Documents") or the execution or amendment hereof or thereof or in connection with transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including the issuance, sale or resale of the Bonds;
(b)
the performance and observance by or on behalf of the Issuer or the Trustee of those things on the part of the Issuer or the Trustee, as applicable, agreed to be performed or observed hereunder and under the Documents;
(c)
any act or omission of the Company or any of their agents, contractors, servants, employees, tenants or licensees in connection with the Project, the operation of the Project, or the condition, environmental or otherwise, occupancy, use, possession, conduct or management of work done in or about, or from the planning, design, acquisition, installation or construction of, the Project or any part thereof;
(d)
any lien or charge upon payments by the Company to the Issuer and the Trustee hereunder, or any taxes (including, without limitation, all ad valorem taxes and sales taxes), assessments, impositions and other charges imposed on the Issuer or the Trustee in respect of any portion of the Project;
(e)
any violation of any environmental laws with respect to, or the release of any hazardous substances from, the Project or any part thereof;
(f)
the defeasance and/or redemption, in whole or in part, of the Bonds;
(g)
any untrue statement or misleading statement or alleged untrue statement or alleged misleading statement of a material fact relating to the Company or the Project contained in any offering or disclosure document or disclosure or continuing disclosure document for the Bonds or any of the documents relating to the Bonds, or any omission or alleged omission from any offering or disclosure document or disclosure or continuing disclosure document for the Bonds relating to the Company or the Project of any material fact necessary to be stated therein in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(h)
any declaration of taxability of interest on the Bonds, or allegations that interest on the Bonds is taxable or any regulatory audit or inquiry regarding whether interest in the Bonds is taxable;
(i)
the Trustee's acceptance or administration of the trust of the Indenture, or the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties thereunder or under any of the Documents; or
(j)
any injury to or death of any Person or damage to property in or upon the Project or growing out of or connected with the use, nonuse, condition or occupancy of the Project;
except in the case of the foregoing indemnification of the Indemnified Persons, to the extent such damages are caused by the negligence or bad faith of the Trustee.
In the event that any action or proceeding is brought against any Indemnified Person with respect to which indemnity may be sought hereunder, the Company, upon written notice from the Indemnified Person, shall assume the investigation and defense thereof, including the employment of counsel selected by the Indemnified Person, and shall assume the payment of all expenses related thereto, with full power to litigate, compromise or settle the same in their sole discretion; provided that the Indemnified Person shall have the right to review and approve or disapprove any such compromise or settlement. Each Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action or proceeding and participate in the investigation and defense thereof, and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel; provided, however, that such Indemnified Person may only employ separate counsel at the expense of the Company if in the judgment of such Indemnified Person a conflict of interest exists by reason of common representation or if all parties commonly represented do not agree as to the action (or inaction) of counsel.
The rights of any persons to indemnity hereunder and rights to payment of fees and reimbursement of expenses shall survive the final payment or defeasance of the Bonds and in the case of the Trustee any resignation or removal. The provisions of this Section shall remain valid and in effect notwithstanding repayment of the Loan or payment, redemption or defeasance of the Bonds or termination of this Agreement or the Indenture.
SECTION 5.7 Payment of Taxes; Discharge of Liens
. The Company shall: (a) pay, or make provision for payment of, all lawful taxes and assessments, including income, profits, property or excise taxes, if any, or other municipal or governmental charges, levied or assessed by any federal, state or municipal government or political body upon the Issuer upon any amounts payable hereunder; and (b) pay or cause to be satisfied and discharged or make adequate provision to satisfy and discharge, within sixty (60) days after the same shall accrue, any lien or charge upon any amounts payable hereunder, and all lawful claims or demands for labor, materials, supplies or other charges which, if unpaid, might be or become a lien upon such amounts; provided, that, if the Company shall first notify the Issuer and the Trustee, in writing, of its intention so to do, the Company may in good faith contest any such lien or charge or claims or demands in appropriate legal proceedings, and in such event may permit the items so contested to remain undischarged and unsatisfied during the period of such contest and any appeal therefrom, unless by nonpayment of any such items the lien of the Indenture as to the amounts payable hereunder will be materially endangered, in which event the Company shall promptly pay and cause to be satisfied and discharged all such unpaid items. The Issuer shall cooperate fully with the Company in any such contest.
ARTICLE VI
SPECIAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.1 Maintenance of Existence
. The Company shall maintain its organizational existence, will not dissolve or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and will not consolidate with or merge with or into another entity; provided, however, that the Company may consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets (and thereafter dissolve) to, another entity, organized under the laws of the United States, one of the states thereof or the District of Columbia, if the surviving, resulting or transferee entity, as the case may be (if other than the Company), prior to or simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, assumes, by delivery to the Trustee of an instrument in writing satisfactory in form and substance to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company hereunder, including under the Note, and provided that both immediately prior to such dissolution, disposal, consolidation or merger and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default under this Agreement (or event which, with the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement) shall have occurred and be continuing.
If a consolidation, merger or sale or other transfer is made as permitted by this Section 6.1, the provisions of this Section 6.1 shall continue in full force and effect and no further consolidation, merger or sale or other transfer shall be made except in compliance with the provisions of this Section 6.1.
SECTION 6.2 Arbitrage Covenant
. The Issuer and the Company agree to comply with the terms and provisions of the Tax Certificate and covenant that the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds, the earnings thereon, and any other moneys on deposit in any fund or account maintained in respect of the Bonds (whether such moneys were derived from the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds or from other sources) will not be used in a manner which would cause the Bonds to be treated as "arbitrage bonds" within the meaning of Section 148 of the Code. The Company further covenants that: (a) all actions with respect to the Bonds required by
Section 148(f) of the Code shall be taken; (b) it shall make the determinations required by paragraph (b) of Section 7.2 of the Indenture and promptly notify the Trustee, in writing, of the same, together with supporting calculations; and (c) it shall within twenty-five (25) days after (i) the calendar date which corresponds to the final maturity of the respective series of Bonds and each anniversary thereof falling on or after the date of initial authentication and delivery thereof up to and including the final maturity of such series of the Bonds, unless the final payment, whether upon redemption in whole or at maturity, of such Bonds shall have occurred prior to such anniversary, and (ii) such final payment, file with the Trustee, a statement signed by the chief financial officer of the Company (or person performing similar functions) to the effect that the Company is then in compliance with its covenants contained in clauses (a) and (b) of this sentence, together with supporting calculations; provided, however, that if the Company shall furnish an opinion of Bond Counsel to the Trustee to the effect that no further action by the Company is required for such compliance with respect to the Bonds, the Company shall not thereafter be required to deliver any such statements or calculations.
SECTION 6.3 Bonds are Limited Obligations
. The Bonds shall be limited obligations of the Issuer, payable solely out of the Revenues.
THE BONDS ARE NOT A GENERAL OBLIGATION OF THE ISSUER AND ARE NOT AN INDEBTEDNESS OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF. NEITHER THE FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE ISSUER NOR THE FAITH AND CREDIT OR THE TAXING POWER OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF IS PLEDGED TO THE PAYMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE BONDS, OR PREMIUM, IF ANY, OR THE INTEREST THEREON OR OTHER COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO. THE ISSUER HAS NO TAXING POWER.
SECTION 6.4 Tax-Exempt Status of Bonds
. The Issuer and the Company mutually covenant and agree that neither of them shall take or authorize or permit any action to be taken, and have not taken or authorized or permitted any action to be taken, which results in interest paid on the Bonds being included in gross income for purposes of federal income taxes. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company further covenants, represents and agrees as follows:
(a)
Substantially all of the net proceeds of the sale of the Prior Bonds have been used to undertake the acquisition of air or water pollution control facilities or sewerage or solid waste disposal facilities within the meaning of Section 103(b)(4) of the 1954 Code. All of the proceeds of the Prior Bonds and the 1998 Bonds have been expended.
(b)
The weighted average maturity of the Series 2019 Bonds does not exceed 120% of the reasonably expected economic life of the Project financed with the proceeds of the Prior Bonds.
(c)
The principal amount of the Series 2019 Bonds shall not exceed the outstanding principal amount of the 1998 Bonds.
(d)
The Series 2019 Bonds are not and will not be "federally guaranteed" (as defined in Section 149(b) of the Code).
(e)
None of the proceeds of the Series 2019 Bonds will be used, and none of the proceeds of the Prior Bonds or the 1998 Bonds were used, to provide any airplane, skybox or other private luxury box, or health club facility, any facility primarily used for gambling, or any store the principal business of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises.
(f)
The information furnished by the Company and used by the Issuer in preparing its Tax Certificate dated the issue date of the Series 2019 Bonds is accurate and complete as of the date of the issuance of the Series 2019 Bonds.
(g)
None of the proceeds of the Series 2019 Bonds will be used to finance Costs of Issuance of the Series 2019 Bonds.
(h)
The Company will take no action that would cause any funds constituting gross proceeds of the Series 2019 Bonds to be used in a manner as to constitute a prohibited payment under the applicable regulations pertaining to, or in any other fashion as would constitute failure of compliance with, Section 148 of the Code and the applicable regulations thereunder.
The Company will not knowingly take any action, or knowingly omit to take any action, which action or omission will adversely affect the excludability from gross income of the holders thereof for federal income tax purposes of interest on the Bonds (other than holders who are substantial users of the Project or related persons within the meaning of section 147(a) of the Code) and, in the event of such action or omission (whether taken with knowledge or not), will promptly, upon receiving knowledge thereof, take all lawful actions, based on advice of Bond Counsel and at the Company's expense, as may rescind or otherwise negate such action or omission.
The Company further covenants and agrees that it will not use or permit the use by any person of any of the funds provided by the Issuer hereunder or any other of its funds, directly or indirectly, or direct the Trustee to invest any funds held by it under the Indenture or this Agreement, in such manner as would, or enter into, or allow any "related person" (as defined in Section 103(b)(13) of the 1954 Code) to enter into, any arrangement, formal or informal, that would, or take or omit to take any other action that would, cause any Bond to be an "arbitrage bond" within the meaning of Section 148(a) of the Code or result in the loss of the excludability from gross income for federal income tax purposes of the interest paid on the Bonds to the extent afforded under Section 103 of the 1954 Code. The Company acknowledges Section 7.2 of the Indenture and agrees to perform all duties imposed upon it by such Section including but not limited to its obligations under the Tax Certificate.
The covenants and agreements contained in this Section 6.4 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.5 Compliance with Law
. The Company shall, throughout the term of this Agreement and at no expense to the Issuer, promptly comply or exercise all of its rights, powers, elections and options under the Plant Agreements to cause compliance with all laws, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations and requirements of duly constituted public authorities that are applicable to the Project or to the repair and alteration thereof, or to the use or manner of use of the Project and which, if there is non-compliance, would materially adversely affect or impair the obligations of the Company under this Agreement or the ability of the Company to discharge such obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to contest the legality of any such law, ordinance, order, rule, regulation or requirement as applied to the Project; provided that, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such contest shall not in any way materially adversely affect or impair the obligations of the Company under this Agreement or the ability of the Company to discharge such obligations.
SECTION 6.6 No Warranty
. The Issuer makes no warranty, either express or implied, as to the Project, including, without limitation, title to the Project or the actual or designed capacity of the Project, as to the suitability or operation of the Project for the purposes specified in this Agreement, as to the condition of the Project or as to the suitability thereof for the Company's purposes or needs or as to compliance of the Project with applicable laws and regulations or as to the ability of the Company to discharge the Bonds. The Company covenants with the Issuer that it will make no claim against the Issuer for any deficiency which may at any time exist in the Project, nor will it assert against the Issuer any other claim for breach of warranty with respect to the Project. The obligations of the Company under this Section shall survive any assignment or termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 6.7 Continuing Disclosure
. It is understood, acknowledged and agreed that the Issuer shall have no responsibility for compliance with the continuing disclosure requirements set forth in Rule 15c2-12 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on the date of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Underwriter, the holders of the Bonds or any other person with respect to such disclosure matters. To the extent applicable to the Company, the Company agrees to comply fully with the continuing disclosure requirements of said Rule 15c2-12.
ARTICLE VII
ARTICLE ASSIGNMENT, LEASING AND SELLING
SECTION 7.1 Limitation
. This Agreement shall not be assigned nor shall the Project be leased or sold, in whole or in part, except as provided in this Article VII or in Section 6.1 hereof or in the Indenture.
SECTION 7.2 Issuer's Rights of Assignment
. The Issuer may, only in accordance with the Indenture, assign its rights and interests under this Agreement as set forth in Section 5.5 hereof and pledge the moneys receivable hereunder to the Trustee as security for payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds and all amounts payable under the Indenture, the Bonds and this Agreement. The Company hereby assents to such assignments and agrees that the Trustee may exercise and enforce in accordance with the Indenture any of the rights of the Issuer under this Agreement and the Note. Any such assignment, however, shall be subject to all of the rights and privileges of the Company as provided in this Agreement.
SECTION 7.3 Assignment by the Company
. The Company's interest in this Agreement may be assigned in whole or in part, and the Project may be leased or sold as a whole or in part (whether a specific element or unit or an undivided interest), by the Company, subject, however, to the condition that no assignment, lease or sale (other than as described in Section 6.1 hereof) shall relieve the Company from primary liability for its obligations under Section 5.2 hereof to pay the Loan Payments, or for any other of its obligations hereunder other than those obligations relating to the operation, maintenance and insurance of the Project, which obligations (to the extent of the interest assigned, leased or sold and to the extent assumed by the assignee, lessee or purchaser) shall be deemed to be satisfied and discharged.
After any lease or sale of any element or unit of the Project, or any interest therein, such element or unit, or interest therein, shall no longer be deemed to be part of the Project for the purposes of this Agreement.
Upon any such lease or sale, the Company shall comply with the requirements of Section 6.4 hereof, the 1954 Code and the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder (including, without limitation, the taking of remedial action with respect to the Bonds) as the same may then be applicable.
The Company shall, within fifteen (15) days after the delivery thereof, furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee a true and complete copy of the agreements or other documents effectuating any such assignment, lease or sale.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIESS
SECTION 8.1 Events of Default
. Each of the following events shall constitute and is referred to in this Agreement as an "Event of Default":
(a)
a failure by the Company to make when due any Loan Payments required to be made pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof, which failure shall have resulted in an "Event of Default" under Section 10.1(a) or (b) of the Indenture;
(b)
a failure by the Company to pay when due any other amount required to be paid under this Agreement or to observe and perform any covenant, condition or agreement on its part to be observed or performed, which failure shall continue for a period of ninety (90) days after written notice, specifying such failure and requesting that it be remedied, shall have been given to the Company by the Issuer or the Trustee, unless the Issuer and the Trustee shall agree in writing to an extension of such period prior to its expiration; provided, however, that the Issuer and the Trustee shall be deemed to have agreed to an extension of such period if corrective action is initiated by the Company within such period and is being diligently pursued;
(c)
the expiration of a period of ninety (90) days following:
i.
the adjudication of the Company as an involuntary bankrupt by any court of competent jurisdiction;
ii.
the entry of an order approving an involuntary petition seeking reorganization or arrangement of the Company under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America, or of any state thereof; or
iii.
the appointment in an involuntary proceeding of a trustee or a receiver of all or substantially all of the property of the Company;
unless during such period such adjudication, order or appointment of a trustee or receiver shall be vacated or shall be stayed on appeal or otherwise or shall have otherwise ceased to continue in effect; or
(d)
the filing by the Company of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or the making of an assignment for the benefit of creditors; the consenting by the Company to the appointment of a receiver or trustee of all or any part of its property; the filing by the Company of a petition or answer seeking reorganization, adjustment, composition or arrangement under the federal bankruptcy laws, or any other applicable law or statute of the United States of America, or of any state thereof; or the filing by the Company of a petition to take advantage of any insolvency act.
SECTION 8.2 Force Majeure
. The provisions of Section 8.1 hereof are subject to the following limitations: If by reason of acts of God; strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances; acts of public enemies; orders or other acts of any kind of the government of the United States or of the State of Mississippi, or any other sovereign entity or body politic, or any department, agency, political subdivision, court or official
of any of them, or any civil or military authority; insurrections; riots; epidemics; landslides; lightning; earthquakes; volcanoes; fires; hurricanes; tornados; storms; floods; washouts; droughts; arrests; restraint of government and people; civil disturbances; explosions; breakage of, or accident to, machinery; partial or entire failure of utilities; or any cause or event not reasonably within the control of the Company, the Company is unable in whole or in part to carry out any one or more of its agreements or obligations contained herein, other than its obligations under Section 5.2 hereof to pay the Loan Payments and its obligations under Sections 5.7, 6.1, 6.4 and 9.1 hereof, the Company shall not be deemed in default by reason of not carrying out said agreement or agreements or performing said obligation or obligations during the continuance of such inability. The Company agrees, however, to use its best efforts to remedy with all reasonable dispatch the cause or causes preventing it from carrying out its agreements; provided, that the settlement of strikes, lockouts and other industrial disturbances shall be entirely within the discretion of the Company, and the Company shall not be required to make settlement of strikes, lockouts and other industrial disturbances by acceding to the demands of the opposing party or parties when such course is, in the judgment of the Company, unfavorable to the Company.
SECTION 8.3 Remedies on Default
.
(a)
Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default described in clauses (a), (c) or (d) of Section 8.1 hereof, and further upon the condition that, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Bonds shall have become immediately due and payable pursuant to any provision of the Indenture, the Loan Payments required to be paid pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof shall, without further action, become and be immediately due and payable.
(b)
Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, the Issuer with the prior consent of the Trustee, or the Trustee, may take any action at law or in equity to collect the payments then due and thereafter to become due hereunder, or to enforce performance and observance of any obligation, agreement or covenant of the Company under this Agreement.
(c)
Any amounts collected pursuant to action taken under this Section shall be applied in accordance with the Indenture.
(d)
In case any proceeding taken by the Issuer or the Trustee on account of any Event of Default shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Issuer or the Trustee, then and in every such case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Issuer and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken.
SECTION 8.4
No Remedy Exclusive
. No remedy conferred upon or reserved to the Issuer or the Trustee by this Agreement is intended to be exclusive of any other available remedy or remedies, but each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given under this Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver thereof, but any such right or power may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient. In order to entitle the Issuer or the Trustee to exercise any remedy reserved to it in this Article, it shall not be necessary to give any notice other than such notice as may be required in this Article.
SECTION 8.5 Agreement to Pay Attorneys' Fees and Expenses
. In the event the Company should default under any of the provisions of this Agreement and the Issuer or the Trustee should employ attorneys
or incur other expenses for the collection of payments due hereunder or for the enforcement of performance or observance of any obligation or agreement on the part of the Company contained herein, the Company agrees that it will on demand therefor pay to the Issuer or the Trustee, as the case may be, the reasonable fees of such attorneys and such other expenses so incurred.
SECTION 8.6 Waiver of Breach
. In the event that any agreement contained herein shall be breached by either the Company or the Issuer and such breach shall thereafter be waived by the other party, such waiver shall be limited to the particular breach so waived and shall not be deemed to waive any other breach hereunder. In view of the assignment of the Issuer's rights in and under this Agreement to the Trustee under the Indenture, the Issuer shall have no power to waive any default hereunder by the Company without the consent of the Trustee. Any waiver of any "Event of Default" under the Indenture and a rescission and annulment of its consequences shall constitute a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default hereunder and a rescission and annulment of the consequences thereof.
ARTICLE IX
REDEMPTION OR PURCHASE OF BONDS
SECTION 9.1 Redemption of Bonds
. The Issuer shall take the actions required by the Indenture to discharge the lien thereof through the redemption, or provision for payment or redemption, of all Bonds then outstanding, or to effect the redemption, or provision for payment or redemption, of less than all the Bonds then outstanding, upon receipt by the Issuer and the Trustee from the Company of a notice designating the principal amounts, series and maturities of the Bonds to be redeemed, or for the payment or redemption of which provision is to be made, and, in the case of redemption of Bonds, or provision therefor, specifying the date of redemption, which shall not be less than forty-five (45) days from the date such notice is given (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the Trustee), and the applicable redemption provision of the Indenture. Unless otherwise stated therein or otherwise required by the Indenture, such notice shall be revocable by the Company at any time prior to the time at which the Bonds to be redeemed, or for the payment or redemption of which provision is to be made, are first deemed to be paid in accordance with Article IX of the Indenture. The Company shall furnish, as a prepayment of the Loan Payments, any moneys or Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) required by the Indenture to be deposited with the Trustee or otherwise paid by the Issuer in connection with any of the foregoing purposes.
SECTION 9.2 Purchase of Bonds
. The Company may at any time, and from time to time, furnish moneys to the Trustee accompanied by a written notice directing the Trustee to apply such moneys to the purchase in the open market of Bonds in the principal amounts and of the series and maturities specified in such notice, and any Bonds so purchased shall thereupon be canceled by the Trustee.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.1 Notices
. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices, certificates or other communications shall be sufficiently given and shall be deemed given when mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Issuer, the Company or the Trustee. Copies of each notice, certificate or other communication given hereunder by or to the Company shall be mailed by registered or certified
mail, postage prepaid, to the Trustee; provided, however, that the effectiveness of any such notice shall not be affected by the failure to send any such copies. Notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent to the following addresses:
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Company:
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System Energy Resources, Inc.
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639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70113
ATTN: Steven C. McNeal, Vice President and Treasurer
Phone: 504-576-4363
Email: smcneal@entergy.com
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Issuer:
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Mississippi Business Finance Corporation
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735 Riverside Drive, Ste. 300
Jackson, MS 39202
ATTN: E. F. "Buddy" Mitcham, Executive Director
Phone: 601-355-6232
Email: bmitcham@mbfc.cc
Trustee, Bond
Registrar and
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Paying Agent:
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The Bank of New York Mellon
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Corporate Trust Division
10161 Centurion Parkway N, 2
nd
Floor
Jacksonville, FL 32256
ATTN: Geraldine Creswell, Vice President
Phone: 904-998-4724
Fax: 904-645-1921
Email:
geri.creswell@bnymellon.com
The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions ("Instructions") given pursuant to this Agreement and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Issuer or the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions ("Authorized Officers") and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Issuer or the Company whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer or the Company elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee's understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Issuer or the Company understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Issuer or the Company shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Issuer or the Company and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Issuer or the Company. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee's reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuer or the Company agrees: (a) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and
misuse by third parties; (b) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Issuer or the Company; (c) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (d) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.
Any of the foregoing may, by notice given hereunder, designate any further or different addresses to which subsequent notices, certificates or other communications shall be sent.
SECTION 10.2 Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or deemed to be or shall, in fact, be illegal, inoperative or unenforceable, the same shall not affect any other provision or provisions herein contained or render the same invalid, inoperative, or unenforceable to any extent whatever.
SECTION 10.3 Execution of Counterparts
. This Agreement may be simultaneously executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 10.4 Amounts Remaining in Bond Fund
. It is agreed by the parties hereto that after payment in full of (i) the Bonds (or the provision for payment thereof having been made in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture), (ii) the Administration Expenses of the Issuer, and (iii) all other amounts required to be paid under this Agreement and the Indenture, any amounts remaining in the Bond Fund shall belong to and be paid by the Trustee, upon written instruction, to the Company.
SECTION 10.5 Amendments, Changes and Modifications
. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Indenture, subsequent to the initial issuance of Bonds and prior to payment in full of the Bonds (or provision for payment thereof having been made in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture), this Agreement may not be effectively amended, changed, modified, altered or terminated nor any provision waived without the written consent of the Trustee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
SECTION 10.6 Governing Law
. This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and construed in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Mississippi.
SECTION 10.7 Authorized Company Representatives
. An Authorized Company Representative shall act on behalf of the Company whenever the approval of the Company is required or the Company requests the Issuer to take some action, and the Issuer and the Trustee shall be authorized to act on any such approval or request and neither party hereto shall have any complaint against the other or against the Trustee as a result of any such action taken.
SECTION 10.8 Term of the Agreement
. This Agreement shall be in full force and effect from the date hereof until the right, title and interest of the Trustee in and to the Trust Estate (as defined in the Indenture) shall have ceased, terminated and become void in accordance with Article IX of the Indenture and until all payments required under this Agreement shall have been made.
SECTION 10.9 No Personal Liability
. No covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the covenant or agreement of any official, officer, agent, or employee of the Issuer in his individual capacity, and no such person shall be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.
SECTION 10.10 Parties in Interest
. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Issuer, the Company, the Trustee and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person, firm or corporation shall have any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that any monetary obligation of the Issuer created by or arising out of this Agreement shall be payable solely out of the Revenues and shall not constitute, and no breach of this Agreement by the Issuer shall impose, a pecuniary liability upon the Issuer or a charge upon the Issuer's general credit.
[Signature page to Loan Agreement]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the Issuer and the Company have caused this Agreement to be signed on their behalf by their duly authorized representatives as of the date set forth above.
MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE
CORPORATION
(SEAL)
By:
/s/ E.F. “Buddy” Mitcham, Jr.
E. F. "Buddy" Mitcham, Jr.
Executive Director
ATTEST:
By:
/s/ Larry W. Mobley
Larry W. Mobley
Secretary
SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC
.
(SEAL)
By:
/s/ Steven C. McNeal
Steven C. McNeal
Vice President and Treasurer
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
PROMISSORY NOTE
$134,000,000
March 28, 2019
SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC
., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Arkansas (the "Company"), acknowledges itself indebted and for value received hereby promises to pay to the order of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation (the "Issuer"), and its successors and assigns, the principal sum of One Hundred Thirty-four Million Dollars ($134,000,000) together with interest on the unpaid principal balance thereof from the date hereof until the Company's obligation with respect to the payment of such sum shall be discharged at the rate borne by the Bonds referred to below. As additional interest hereon there shall be payable, and the Company promises to pay when due, amounts which shall equal the redemption premium, if any, due on such Bonds in connection with the redemption thereof.
This Note is issued to evidence the Loan (as defined in the Loan Agreement hereinafter referred to) of the Issuer to the Company and the obligation of the Company to repay the same and shall be governed by and be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of a Loan Agreement (the "Agreement") by and between the Issuer and the Company, dated as of March 1, 2019, pursuant to which the Issuer has loaned to the Company the proceeds of the sale of the Issuer's $134,000,000 Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019 (the "Bonds"). Additional similar Notes may be issued by the Company as provided in the Agreement. This Note (together with the Agreement) has been assigned to The Bank of New York Mellon (the "Trustee"), acting pursuant to a Trust Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019 (the "Indenture") by and between the Issuer and the Trustee, and may not be assigned by the Trustee except to a successor Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Indenture. Such assignment is made as security for the Bonds, and any other bonds which are or may at any time be issued and outstanding under the Indenture. The Bonds are dated and bear interest in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, payable on April 1 and October 1 in each year commencing October 1, 2019 at the rate of two and one-half percent (2.50%) per annum, and mature on April 1, 2022. The Bonds are subject to redemption prior to maturity as provided therein.
Subject to the provisions of the Agreement, payments hereon are to be made by paying to the Trustee, as assignee of the Issuer, in funds which will be immediately available on the date payment is due, amounts which, and at or before times which, shall correspond to the payments with respect to the principal of and redemption premium, if any, and interest on the Bonds whenever and in whatever manner the same shall become due, whether at stated maturity, upon redemption or declaration or otherwise. If at the date any payments on the Bonds are due there are any available moneys in the Bond Fund established under the Indenture, such moneys shall be credited against the payment then due hereunder, first in respect of interest and then, to the extent of remaining moneys, in respect of principal. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, as defined in the Agreement, the principal of and interest on this Note may be declared immediately due and payable as provided in the Agreement.
Neither the officers of the Company nor any persons executing this Note shall be liable personally or shall be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, System Energy Resources, Inc. has caused this Note to be executed in its corporate name and on its behalf by its President, its Treasurer or a Vice President by his or her manual signature, and its corporate seal to be impressed hereon and attested by the manual signature of its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, all as of the date first above written.
SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
(SEAL)
By
Steven C. McNeal
Vice President and Treasurer
ATTEST:
By:
Daniel T. Falstad
Secretary
ASSIGNMENT
Pay to the order of The Bank of New York Mellon, as assignee of the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation, under the Trust Indenture, dated as of March 1, 2019, between the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee, securing the payment of Mississippi Business Finance Corporation Revenue Refunding Bonds (System Energy Resources, Inc. Project) Series 2019, in the original principal amount of $134,000,000.
Dated: March 28, 2019
MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS FINANCE CORPORATION
By
E. F. Mitcham, Jr.
Executive Director