Iowa
|
94-2213782
|
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
|
666
Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa
|
50309
|
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
|
(515)
242-4300
|
||
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
|
||
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
|
3
|
||
18
|
||
29
|
||
29
|
||
30
|
||
30
|
||
30
|
||
30
|
||
30
|
||
30
|
||
31
|
||
32
|
Item
1.
|
As
of
|
|||||||
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
598,921
|
$
|
837,353
|
|||
Short-term
investments
|
115,293
|
123,550
|
|||||
Restricted
cash and short-term investments
|
125,922
|
129,316
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable, net
|
728,804
|
695,761
|
|||||
Amounts
held in trust
|
158,059
|
111,708
|
|||||
Inventories
|
68,908
|
125,079
|
|||||
Other
current assets
|
165,728
|
141,194
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
1,961,635
|
2,163,961
|
|||||
Properties,
plants and equipment, net
|
11,679,031
|
11,607,264
|
|||||
Goodwill
|
4,285,132
|
4,306,751
|
|||||
Regulatory
assets
|
413,754
|
451,830
|
|||||
Other
investments
|
270,905
|
261,575
|
|||||
Equity
investments
|
212,115
|
210,430
|
|||||
Deferred
charges and other assets
|
899,394
|
901,751
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
19,721,966
|
$
|
19,903,562
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
400,883
|
$
|
410,319
|
|||
Accrued
interest
|
187,278
|
197,813
|
|||||
Accrued
property and other taxes
|
157,358
|
166,639
|
|||||
Amounts
held in trust
|
158,059
|
111,708
|
|||||
Other
liabilities
|
451,476
|
420,452
|
|||||
Short-term
debt
|
9,355
|
9,090
|
|||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
638,964
|
1,145,598
|
|||||
Current
portion of parent company subordinated debt
|
188,543
|
188,543
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
2,191,916
|
2,650,162
|
|||||
Other
long-term accrued liabilities
|
2,233,417
|
2,171,616
|
|||||
Parent
company senior debt
|
2,773,090
|
2,771,957
|
|||||
Parent
company subordinated debt
|
1,586,370
|
1,585,810
|
|||||
Subsidiary
and project debt
|
6,358,792
|
6,304,923
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
1,320,243
|
1,281,833
|
|||||
Total
liabilities
|
16,463,828
|
16,766,301
|
|||||
Deferred
income
|
60,592
|
62,443
|
|||||
Minority
interest
|
14,623
|
14,119
|
|||||
Preferred
securities of subsidiaries
|
89,246
|
89,540
|
|||||
Commitments
and contingencies (Note 9)
|
|||||||
Stockholders'
equity:
|
|||||||
Zero-coupon convertible preferred stock - authorized 50,000 shares,
no par
|
|||||||
value,
41,263 shares issued and outstanding
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Common stock - authorized 60,000 shares, no par value, 9,081 shares
issued
|
|||||||
and
outstanding
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
1,950,663
|
1,950,663
|
|||||
Retained
earnings
|
1,309,257
|
1,156,843
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss, net
|
(166,243
|
)
|
(136,347
|
)
|
|||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
3,093,677
|
2,971,159
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$
|
19,721,966
|
$
|
19,903,562
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||
Operating
revenue
|
$
|
1,804,233
|
$
|
1,762,582
|
|||
Costs
and expenses:
|
|||||||
Cost
of sales
|
812,152
|
748,632
|
|||||
Operating
expense
|
407,343
|
375,563
|
|||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
159,618
|
169,787
|
|||||
Total
costs and expenses
|
1,379,113
|
1,293,982
|
|||||
Operating
income
|
425,120
|
468,600
|
|||||
Other
income (expense):
|
|||||||
Interest
expense
|
(231,595
|
)
|
(225,792
|
)
|
|||
Capitalized
interest
|
3,615
|
3,608
|
|||||
Interest
and dividend income
|
8,414
|
7,168
|
|||||
Other
income
|
20,983
|
8,367
|
|||||
Other
expense
|
(3,886
|
)
|
(2,960
|
)
|
|||
Total
other income (expense)
|
(202,469
|
)
|
(209,609
|
)
|
|||
Income from continuing operations before income tax expense, minority interest | |||||||
and
preferred dividends of subsidiaries and equity
income
|
222,651
|
258,991
|
|||||
Income
tax expense
|
73,951
|
98,357
|
|||||
Minority
interest and preferred dividends of subsidiaries
|
2,851
|
2,753
|
|||||
Income
from continuing operations before equity income
|
145,849
|
157,881
|
|||||
Equity
income
|
4,891
|
3,468
|
|||||
Income
from continuing operations
|
150,740
|
161,349
|
|||||
Income
(loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax (Note
3)
|
1,674
|
(14,159
|
)
|
||||
Net
income available to common and preferred
stockholders
|
$
|
152,414
|
$
|
147,190
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
|
(Unaudited)
|
||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|||||||
Income
from continuing operations
|
$
|
150,740
|
$
|
161,349
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile income from continuing operations to cash flows
from
|
|||||||
continuing
operations:
|
|||||||
Distributions
less income on equity investments
|
(1,474
|
)
|
(1,014
|
)
|
|||
(Gain)
loss on other items
|
(6,685
|
)
|
92
|
||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
159,618
|
169,787
|
|||||
Amortization
of regulatory assets and liabilities
|
20,620
|
1,976
|
|||||
Amortization
of deferred financing costs
|
7,916
|
5,076
|
|||||
Provision
for deferred income taxes
|
45,670
|
57,088
|
|||||
Other
|
14,074
|
18,266
|
|||||
Changes
in other items:
|
|||||||
Accounts
receivable and other current assets
|
53,319
|
22,794
|
|||||
Accounts
payable and other accrued liabilities
|
(53,292
|
)
|
77,341
|
||||
Deferred
income
|
(1,684
|
)
|
(1,307
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash flows from continuing operations
|
388,822
|
511,448
|
|||||
Net
cash flows from discontinued operations
|
(172
|
)
|
(23,402
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash flows from operating activities
|
388,650
|
488,046
|
|||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|||||||
Capital
expenditures relating to operating projects
|
(164,877
|
)
|
(128,334
|
)
|
|||
Construction
and other development costs
|
(63,356
|
)
|
(77,274
|
)
|
|||
Purchases
of available-for-sale securities
|
(660,437
|
)
|
(473,568
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from sales of available-for-sale securities
|
666,937
|
434,193
|
|||||
Acquisitions,
net of cash acquired
|
(666
|
)
|
(807
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from note receivable
|
-
|
97,000
|
|||||
Proceeds
from affiliate notes, net
|
-
|
9,964
|
|||||
Other
|
22,741
|
822
|
|||||
Net
cash flows from continuing operations
|
(199,658
|
)
|
(138,004
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash flows from discontinued operations
|
2,810
|
(419
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash flows from investing activities
|
(196,848
|
)
|
(138,423
|
)
|
|||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from subsidiary and project debt
|
6,123
|
10,584
|
|||||
Proceeds
from parent company senior debt
|
-
|
249,765
|
|||||
Repayments
of subsidiary and project debt
|
(433,785
|
)
|
(33,239
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from (repayment of) subsidiary short-term debt, net
|
87
|
(45,061
|
)
|
||||
Purchase
and retirement of common stock
|
-
|
(20,000
|
)
|
||||
(Increase)
decrease in restricted cash and investments
|
3,352
|
(85,720
|
)
|
||||
Redemption
of preferred securities of subsidiaries
|
(294
|
)
|
(1,724
|
)
|
|||
Other
|
(358
|
)
|
(3,531
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash flows from continuing operations
|
(424,875
|
)
|
71,074
|
||||
Net
cash flows from discontinued operations
|
186
|
(136,673
|
)
|
||||
Net
cash flows from financing activities
|
(424,689
|
)
|
(65,599
|
)
|
|||
Effect
of exchange rate changes
|
(5,545
|
)
|
6,842
|
||||
Net
change in cash and cash equivalents
|
(238,432
|
)
|
290,866
|
||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
837,353
|
587,689
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
|
598,921
|
$
|
878,555
|
|||
Supplemental
Disclosure:
|
|||||||
Interest
paid, net of interest capitalized
|
$
|
236,626
|
$
|
225,671
|
|||
Income
taxes (refunded) paid
|
$
|
8,987
|
$
|
(74,620
|
)
|
1.
|
General
|
2.
|
New
Accounting Pronouncements
|
3. | Discontinued Operations - Zinc Recovery Project and Mineral Assets |
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Operating
revenue
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
721
|
|||
Losses
from discontinued operations
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
(23,928
|
)
|
||
Proceeds
from disposal activities, net
|
2,835
|
-
|
|||||
Income
tax (expense) benefit
|
(1,161
|
)
|
9,769
|
||||
Income
(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
$
|
1,674
|
$
|
(14,159
|
)
|
4.
|
Properties,
Plants and Equipment, Net
|
|
Depreciation
|
March
31,
|
December
31,
|
|||||||
|
Life
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||||
Utility
generation and distribution system
|
10-50
years
|
$
|
10,104,467
|
$
|
10,149,818
|
|||||
Interstate
pipelines’ assets
|
3-87
years
|
3,587,179
|
3,566,578
|
|||||||
Independent
power plants
|
10-30
years
|
1,383,999
|
1,384,660
|
|||||||
Mineral
and gas reserves and exploration assets
|
5-30
years
|
107,376
|
101,472
|
|||||||
Utility
non-operational assets
|
3-30
years
|
466,670
|
465,297
|
|||||||
Other
assets
|
3-10
years
|
170,820
|
167,150
|
|||||||
Total
operating assets
|
15,820,511
|
15,834,975
|
||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation and amortization
|
(4,920,355
|
)
|
(4,800,372
|
)
|
||||||
Net
operating assets
|
10,900,156
|
11,034,603
|
||||||||
Construction
in progress
|
778,875
|
572,661
|
||||||||
Properties,
plants and equipment, net
|
$
|
11,679,031
|
$
|
11,607,264
|
5.
|
Equity
Investments
|
6.
|
Other
Income
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Gains
on sales of investments and other assets
|
$
|
11,891
|
$
|
1,108
|
|||
Allowance
for equity funds used during construction
|
4,727
|
3,557
|
|||||
Corporate-owned
life insurance income
|
707
|
901
|
|||||
Other
|
3,658
|
2,801
|
|||||
Total
other income
|
$
|
20,983
|
$
|
8,367
|
7.
|
Debt
Issuances, Redemptions, Maturities and Subsequent
Events
|
8.
|
Regulatory
Matters
|
9
.
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
10.
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
152,414
|
$
|
147,190
|
|||
Other
comprehensive income (loss):
|
|||||||
Foreign
currency translation
|
(24,338
|
)
|
39,749
|
||||
Minimum
pension liability, net of tax of $(477) and $(2,325),
respectively
|
486
|
(5,424
|
)
|
||||
Marketable
securities, net of tax of $(72) and $72,
respectively
|
(108
|
)
|
108
|
||||
Cash
flow hedges, net of tax of $(2,733) and $1,211,
respectively
|
(5,936
|
)
|
2,766
|
||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
$
|
122,518
|
$
|
184,389
|
11.
|
Retirement
Plans
|
Pension
|
Postretirement
|
||||||||||||
2005
|
2004
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||||
Service
cost
|
$
|
6,687
|
$
|
6,598
|
$
|
1,648
|
$
|
1,962
|
|||||
Interest
cost
|
9,172
|
8,700
|
3,589
|
4,183
|
|||||||||
Expected
return on plan assets
|
(9,527
|
)
|
(9,634
|
)
|
(2,321
|
)
|
(1,861
|
)
|
|||||
Amortization
of net transition balance
|
-
|
(198
|
)
|
614
|
1,028
|
||||||||
Amortization
of prior service cost
|
671
|
687
|
-
|
148
|
|||||||||
Amortization
of prior year loss
|
409
|
419
|
421
|
834
|
|||||||||
Net
periodic benefit cost
|
$
|
7,412
|
$
|
6,572
|
$
|
3,951
|
$
|
6,294
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Service
cost
|
$
|
3,972
|
$
|
3,045
|
|||
Interest
cost
|
19,862
|
18,503
|
|||||
Expected
return on plan assets
|
(25,158
|
)
|
(24,778
|
)
|
|||
Amortization
of prior service cost
|
508
|
415
|
|||||
Amortization
of prior year loss
|
5,566
|
4,245
|
|||||
Net
periodic benefit cost
|
$
|
4,750
|
$
|
1,430
|
12.
|
Segment
Information
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Operating
revenue:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
856,278
|
$
|
840,946
|
|||
Kern
River
|
78,576
|
75,613
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
201,201
|
208,387
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
239,217
|
262,608
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
72,241
|
69,591
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
7,929
|
11,180
|
|||||
HomeServices
|
362,260
|
314,686
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
1,817,702
|
1,783,011
|
|||||
Corporate/other
(1)
|
(13,469
|
)
|
(20,429
|
)
|
|||
Total
operating revenue
|
$
|
1,804,233
|
$
|
1,762,582
|
|||
Depreciation
and amortization:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
63,779
|
$
|
82,888
|
|||
Kern
River
|
15,582
|
11,412
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
17,163
|
16,463
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
35,651
|
32,240
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
22,684
|
22,634
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
2,186
|
2,178
|
|||||
HomeServices
|
4,287
|
3,733
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
161,332
|
171,548
|
|||||
Corporate/other
(1)
|
(1,714
|
)
|
(1,761
|
)
|
|||
Total
depreciation and amortization
|
$
|
159,618
|
$
|
169,787
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Operating
income:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
99,351
|
$
|
111,067
|
|||
Kern
River
|
49,012
|
50,054
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
111,725
|
116,201
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
125,680
|
152,442
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
43,866
|
41,601
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
4,369
|
4,678
|
|||||
HomeServices
|
8,122
|
7,812
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
442,125
|
483,855
|
|||||
Corporate/other
(1)
|
(17,005
|
)
|
(15,255
|
)
|
|||
Total
operating income
|
425,120
|
468,600
|
|||||
Interest
expense
|
(231,595
|
)
|
(225,792
|
)
|
|||
Capitalized
interest
|
3,615
|
3,608
|
|||||
Interest
and dividend income
|
8,414
|
7,168
|
|||||
Other
income
|
20,983
|
8,367
|
|||||
Other
expense
|
(3,886
|
)
|
(2,960
|
)
|
|||
Total
income from continuing operations before income tax
expense
|
$
|
222,651
|
$
|
258,991
|
|||
Interest
expense:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
33,776
|
$
|
30,591
|
|||
Kern
River
|
18,495
|
19,535
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
13,261
|
13,124
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
59,622
|
48,798
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
8,639
|
11,259
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
4,617
|
4,794
|
|||||
HomeServices
|
614
|
705
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
139,024
|
128,806
|
|||||
Corporate/other
(1)
|
92,571
|
96,986
|
|||||
Total
interest expense
|
$
|
231,595
|
$
|
225,792
|
|||
Income
from continuing operations before income tax
expense:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
82,692
|
$
|
88,554
|
|||
Kern
River
|
30,290
|
30,472
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
100,111
|
102,656
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
70,292
|
109,206
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
41,618
|
33,789
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
40
|
(23
|
)
|
||||
HomeServices
|
8,172
|
7,353
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
333,215
|
372,007
|
|||||
Corporate/other
(1)
|
(110,564
|
)
|
(113,016
|
)
|
|||
Total
income from continuing operations before
income
tax expense
|
$
|
222,651
|
$
|
258,991
|
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
|||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Total
assets:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
7,316,642
|
$
|
7,274,999
|
|||
Kern
River
|
2,117,016
|
2,135,265
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
2,335,400
|
2,200,846
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
5,500,302
|
5,794,887
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
766,829
|
767,465
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
561,586
|
553,741
|
|||||
HomeServices
|
767,356
|
724,592
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
19,365,131
|
19,451,795
|
|||||
Corporate/other
(1)
|
356,835
|
451,767
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
19,721,966
|
$
|
19,903,562
|
(1)
|
The
remaining differences between the segment amounts and the consolidated
amounts described as “Corporate/other” relate principally to the corporate
functions including administrative costs, interest expense, corporate cash
and related interest income, intersegment eliminations and fair value
adjustments relating to
acquisitions.
|
Northern
|
CE
|
CalEnergy
|
||||||
MidAmerican
|
Kern
|
Natural
|
Electric
|
Generation
|
Home-
|
|||
Energy
|
River
|
Gas
|
UK
|
Domestic
|
Services
|
Total
|
||
Goodwill
at December 31, 2004
|
$
2,121,125
|
$
33,900
|
$
354,912
|
$
1,329,791
|
$
72,494
|
$
394,529
|
$
4,306,751
|
|
Goodwill
from acquisitions during the year
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
376
|
376
|
|
Other
goodwill adjustments
(1)
|
(9
)
|
-
|
(6,455
)
|
(15,529
)
|
(1
)
|
(1
)
|
(21,995
)
|
|
Goodwill
at March 31, 2005
|
$
2,121,116
|
$
33,900
|
$
348,457
|
$
1,314,262
|
$
72,493
|
$
394,904
|
$
4,285,132
|
(1)
|
Other
goodwill adjustments include income tax and foreign currency translation
adjustments
.
|
· |
CE
Electric UK’s operating income for the three months ended March 31,
2005, decreased $26.7 million, or 17.5%, to $125.7 million from
$152.4 million for the same period in 2004. Operating
revenue decreased $23.4 million, or 8.9%, to $239.2 million from
$262.6 million for the same period in 2004 due to lower distribution
revenue at both Northern Electric and Yorkshire Electricity, partially
offset by the impact of the exchange rate between U.S. Dollars and Pounds
Sterling. During the three months ended March 31, 2004, Northern
Electric recognized above normal distribution revenue of $9.4 million
related to additional units distributed during the regulatory year ended
March 31, 2004. Additionally, distribution revenue
decreased in 2005 due to actual billings being lower than the allowed
income at each distribution company, resulting in an under recovered
position at March 31, 2005. This position is expected to reverse over
the next twelve months, as the tariffs charged to customers were adjusted
beginning April 1, 2005.
|
· |
MidAmerican Energy’s
operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2005, decreased
$11.7 million, or 10.5%, to $99.4 million from $111.1 million for the same
period in 2004. Regulated electric revenue decreased $50.6 million,
or 13.9%, to $312.6 million from $363.2 million for the same period in
2004. This decrease is primarily due to a 43.7% decrease in
wholesale sales volumes resulting in lower wholesale operating revenue
of $43.0 million and lower wholesale margins of $19.2
million. The timing of planned generation outages, mainly for the
Louisa Generation Station, and the loss of generating capacity at the
Ottumwa Generating Station Unit No.1 (“OGS Unit No. 1”), which
experienced a failure of its step-up transformer on February 20,
2005, resulted in lost wholesale sales opportunities and required
MidAmerican Energy to generate or purchase more costly replacement
power. OGS Unit No. 1 returned to service on May 3, 2005.
Additionally,
a change in the mix of higher priced on-peak and lower priced off-peak
sales caused a decrease in the average electric wholesale price
per megawatt-hour, reducing regulated electric revenue by
$10.1 million. Total regulated electric cost of sales decreased
$25.4 million due mainly to the decrease in wholesale sales volumes and
lower charges for electric capacity, partially offset by an increase in
the average wholesale cost per
megawatt-hour.
|
· |
In
February 2005, a subsidiary of CE Electric UK exercised a call option to
purchase, and then cancelled, its £155.0 million Variable Rate Reset
Trust Securities, due in 2020. A charge to exercise the call option of
$10.2 million
was recognized in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated
statement of operations.
|
· |
Other
income increased mainly due to $9.9 million of gains recorded on the
sale of interests in two non-strategic, passive
investments.
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Operating
revenue:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
856.3
|
$
|
840.9
|
|||
Kern
River
|
78.6
|
75.6
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
201.2
|
208.4
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
239.2
|
262.6
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
72.2
|
69.6
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
7.9
|
11.2
|
|||||
HomeServices
|
362.3
|
314.7
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
1,817.7
|
1,783.0
|
|||||
Corporate/other
|
(13.5
|
)
|
(20.4
|
)
|
|||
Total
operating revenue
|
$
|
1,804.2
|
$
|
1,762.6
|
|||
Operating
income:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
99.4
|
$
|
111.1
|
|||
Kern
River
|
49.0
|
50.1
|
|||||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
111.7
|
116.2
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
125.7
|
152.4
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Foreign
|
43.9
|
41.6
|
|||||
CalEnergy
Generation-Domestic
|
4.4
|
4.7
|
|||||
HomeServices
|
8.1
|
7.8
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
442.2
|
483.9
|
|||||
Corporate/other
|
(17.1
|
)
|
(15.3
|
)
|
|||
Total
operating income
|
$
|
425.1
|
$
|
468.6
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Operating
revenue:
|
|||||||
Regulated
electric
|
$
|
312.6
|
$
|
363.2
|
|||
Regulated
gas
|
467.5
|
393.5
|
|||||
Non-regulated
|
76.2
|
84.2
|
|||||
Total
operating revenue
|
856.3
|
840.9
|
|||||
Cost
of sales:
|
|||||||
Regulated
electric
|
88.8
|
114.2
|
|||||
Regulated
gas
|
387.0
|
310.8
|
|||||
Non-regulated
|
66.6
|
75.1
|
|||||
Total
cost of sales
|
542.4
|
500.1
|
|||||
Margin:
|
|||||||
Regulated
electric
|
223.8
|
249.0
|
|||||
Regulated
gas
|
80.5
|
82.7
|
|||||
Non-regulated
|
9.6
|
9.1
|
|||||
Total
margin
|
313.9
|
340.8
|
|||||
Operating
expense
|
150.7
|
146.8
|
|||||
Depreciation
expense
|
63.8
|
82.9
|
|||||
Operating
income
|
$
|
99.4
|
$
|
111.1
|
Three
Months
|
|||||||
Ended
March 31,
|
|||||||
2005
|
2004
|
||||||
Capital
expenditures:
|
|||||||
MidAmerican
Energy
|
$
|
142.9
|
$
|
112.4
|
|||
Northern
Natural Gas
|
10.4
|
16.5
|
|||||
CE Electric UK
|
73.5
|
68.6
|
|||||
Other
reportable segments
|
1.5
|
7.2
|
|||||
Total
reportable segments
|
228.3
|
204.7
|
|||||
Corporate/other
|
-
|
0.9
|
|||||
Total
capital expenditures
|
$
|
228.3
|
$
|
205.6
|
Item
4.
|
Item
1.
|
Item
3.
|
Item
5.
|
Item
6.
|
MIDAMERICAN
ENERGY HOLDINGS COMPANY
|
|
(Registrant)
|
|
/s/
Patrick J. Goodman
|
|
Date:
May 6, 2005
|
Patrick
J. Goodman
Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Exhibit
No.
|
Description
|
31.1
|
Chief
Executive Officer’s Certificate Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2
|
Chief
Financial Officer’s Certificate Pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1
|
Chief
Executive Officer’s Certificate Pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.2
|
Chief
Financial Officer’s Certificate Pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
99.1
|
Trust
Deed made on 5 May 2005 between Northern Electric Finance plc,
Northern Electric Distribution Limited, Ambac Assurance UK Limited and
HSBC Trustee (C.I.) Limited.
|
99.2
|
Reimbursement
and Indemnity Agreement dated 5 May 2005 between Northern Electric
Finance plc, Northern Electric Distribution Limited and Ambac Assurance UK
Limited.
|
99.3
|
Trust
Deed made on 5 May 2005 between Yorkshire Electricity Distribution
plc, Ambac Assurance UK Limited and HSBC Trustee (C.I.)
Limited.
|
99.4
|
Reimbursement
and Indemnity Agreement dated 5 May 2005 between Yorkshire
Electricity Distribution plc and Ambac Assurance UK
Limited.
|
99.5
|
Supplemental
Trust Deed made on 5 May 2005 between CE Electric UK Funding Company,
Ambac Assurance UK Limited and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation
plc.
|
99.6
|
Second
Supplemental Agreement to Insurance and Indemnity Agreement made on
5 May 2005 between CE Electric UK Funding Company and Ambac Assurance
UK Limited.
|
1.
|
I
have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of
MidAmerican
Energy Holdings Company
;
|
||
2.
|
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
|
||
3.
|
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
|
||
4.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant
and we have:
|
||
a)
|
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
prepared;
|
||
b)
|
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period
covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
|
||
c)
|
Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
|
||
5.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function):
|
||
a)
|
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information;
and
|
||
b)
|
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
1.
|
I
have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of
MidAmerican
Energy Holdings Company
;
|
||
2.
|
Based
on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
|
||
3.
|
Based
on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;
|
||
4.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant
and we have:
|
||
a)
|
Designed
such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure
that material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being
prepared;
|
||
b)
|
Evaluated
the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures
and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of
the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period
covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
|
||
c)
|
Disclosed
in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent
fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting; and
|
||
5.
|
The
registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our
most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function):
|
||
a)
|
All
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record,
process, summarize and report financial information;
and
|
||
b)
|
Any
fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
(1)
|
the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period
ended March 31, 2005 (the “Report”) fully complies with the
requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
|
(2)
|
the
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the
Company.
|
(1)
|
the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period
ended March 31, 2005 (the “Report”) fully complies with the
requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)); and
|
(2)
|
the
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the
Company.
|
C L I F F O R D | LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP | ||
C H A N C E |
|
||
EXECUTION COPY | |||
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC FINANCE PLC
£
150,000,000
5.125
per cent. Guaranteed Bonds due 2035
Guaranteed
by
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LTD.
unconditionally
and irrevocably guaranteed as to scheduled payments of principal and
interest
pursuant to a financial guarantee issued by
Ambac Assurance UK Limited
|
|||
TRUST
DEED
|
CONTENTS
|
||
Clause
|
Page
|
1.
|
Interpretation
|
1
|
||||
2.
|
Amount
of the Bonds and covenant to pay
|
6
|
||||
3.
|
Form
and issue of the Bonds
|
9
|
||||
4.
|
Guarantee
and Indemnity
|
11
|
||||
5.
|
Stamp
duties and Taxes
|
13
|
||||
6.
|
The
Trust Deed, the Bonds and the Financial Guarantee
|
14
|
||||
7.
|
Application
of moneys received by the Trustee
|
14
|
||||
8.
|
Ambac
and the Financial Guarantee
|
15
|
||||
9.
|
Covenants
by the Issuer and NEDL
|
17
|
||||
10.
|
Covenants
by Ambac
|
21
|
||||
11.
|
Covenants
by the Issuer and NEDL in favour of Ambac
|
22
|
||||
12.
|
Remuneration
and indemnification of the Trustee
|
25
|
||||
13.
|
Provisions
supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925
|
27
|
||||
14.
|
Trustee
liable for negligence
|
31
|
||||
15.
|
Waiver
|
31
|
||||
16.
|
Trustee
not precluded from entering into contracts
|
32
|
||||
17.
|
Modification
and substitution
|
32
|
||||
18.
|
Appointment,
retirement and removal of the Trustee
|
34
|
||||
19.
|
Coupons
|
35
|
||||
20.
|
Controlling
Party
|
36
|
||||
21.
|
Currency
indemnity
|
36
|
||||
22.
|
Communications
|
37
|
||||
23.
|
Governing
law
|
38
|
||||
24.
|
Counterparts
|
38
|
||||
SCHEDULE
1
|
Form
of Temporary Global Bond
|
39
|
||||
SCHEDULE
2
|
Form
of Permanent Global Bond
|
48
|
||||
SCHEDULE
3
|
Form
of Definitive Bond
|
55
|
||||
SCHEDULE
4
|
Terms
and Conditions of the Bonds
|
60
|
||||
SCHEDULE
5
|
Provisions
for Meetings of Bondholders
|
92
|
||||
SCHEDULE
6
|
Excluded
Rights of the Trustee
|
99
|
(1) |
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC FINANCE PLC
(the
"
Issuer
"),
a public company incorporated in England and Wales with limited liability
under registered number 3070482;
|
(2) |
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LTD ("NEDL")
, a
company incorporated in England and Wales with limited liability under
registered number 02906593;
|
(3) |
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED
("
Ambac
"),
a company incorporated in England and Wales with limited liability under
registered number 3248674; and
|
(4) |
HSBC
TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED
(the "
Trustee
",
which expression shall, where the content so admits, include all persons
for the time being the trustee or trustees of this Trust Deed (as defined
below)).
|
(5) |
The
Issuer has authorised the issue of £150,000,000 5.125 per cent. Guaranteed
Bonds due 2035 to be constituted by this Trust
Deed.
|
(6) |
NEDL
has authorised the giving of its guarantee in relation to the
Bonds.
|
(7) |
The
Trustee has agreed to act as trustee of this Trust Deed on the following
terms and conditions.
|
(8) |
Pursuant
to a financial guarantee dated the date hereof issued by Ambac to the
Trustee (the "
Financial
Guarantee
"),
Ambac unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the scheduled payment of
principal of and interest on such Bonds and certain additional
amounts.
|
1. |
INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
Definitions
|
(a) |
in
relation to the Issuer or NEDL, a director of the Issuer or NEDL (as
applicable) or any person in respect of whom the Issuer or NEDL (as
applicable) has supplied to the Trustee and Ambac a copy, certified by a
director or the secretary of the Issuer or NEDL, as applicable, to be a
true copy and in full force and effect, of a resolution or resolutions of
the board of directors of the Issuer or NEDL, as applicable, authorising
such person to sign on behalf of the Issuer or NEDL, as applicable, all
such certificates and other documents as are referred to therein, together
with a certified specimen signature of such person, and in respect of whom
the Trustee and Ambac have not received written notification from the
Issuer or NEDL, as applicable, that such person has ceased to be so
authorised; and
|
(b) |
in
relation to Ambac, a director of Ambac or any person in respect of whom
Ambac has supplied to the Trustee a copy, certified by a director or the
secretary of Ambac to be a true copy and in full force and effect, of a
resolution or resolutions of the board of directors of Ambac authorising
such person to sign on behalf of Ambac all such certificates and other
documents as are referred to therein, together with a certified specimen
signature of such person, and in respect of whom the Trustee has not
received written notification from Ambac that such person has ceased to be
so authorised;
|
(i) |
the
right to attend and vote at any meeting of the
Bondholders;
|
(ii) |
the
determination of how many and which Bonds are for the time being
outstanding for the purposes of the Conditions and paragraphs 3, 6, 7 and
11 of Schedule 5 (
Provisions
for Meetings of Bondholders
);
|
(iii) |
any
discretion, power or authority contained in this Trust Deed which the
Trustee is required, expressly or impliedly, to exercise in or by
reference to the interests of any of the Bondholders;
and
|
(iv) |
the
determination by the Trustee (if it is the Controlling Party) whether any
of the events specified in Condition 11 (
Issuer
Events of Default
)
is materially adverse to the interests of the
Bondholders,
|
1.2 |
Terms
defined elsewhere
|
1.3 |
Construction
of Certain References
|
1.3.1 |
costs,
charges, remuneration or expenses shall include any value added tax,
turnover tax or similar tax charged in respect
thereof;
|
1.3.2 |
"
£
",
"
pounds
"
and "
sterling
"
shall be construed as references to the lawful currency for the time being
of the United Kingdom;
|
1.3.3 |
any
action, remedy or method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement of
rights of creditors shall include, in respect of any jurisdiction other
than England, references to such action, remedy or method of judicial
proceedings available or appropriate in such jurisdiction as shall most
nearly approximate thereto; and
|
1.3.4 |
all
references in this Trust Deed or the Conditions involving compliance by
the Trustee with a test of reasonableness shall be deemed to include a
reference to a requirement that such reasonableness shall be determined by
reference primarily to the interests of the holders of the Bonds as a
class and in the event of any conflict between such interests and the
interests of any other person, the former shall prevail as being
paramount.
|
1.3.5 |
In
this Trust Deed references to Coupons and Couponholders shall apply only
if Definitive Bonds have been issued by the Issuer in accordance with
Clause
3
(
Form
and Issue of the Bonds
).
|
1.4 |
Headings
|
1.5 |
Schedules
|
2. |
AMOUNT
OF THE BONDS AND COVENANT TO PAY
|
2.1 |
Amount
of the Bonds
|
2.2 |
Covenant
to pay
|
2.3 |
Discharge
|
2.4 |
Payment
after a Default
|
2.4.1 |
by
notice in writing to Ambac, the Issuer, NEDL and the Paying Agents,
require the Paying Agents, until notified by the Trustee to the contrary,
so far as permitted by any applicable law:
|
(a) |
to
act as Paying Agents of the Trustee under this Trust Deed and the Bonds on
the terms of the Paying Agency Agreement (with consequential amendments as
necessary and except that the Trustee's liability for the indemnification,
remuneration and all other out-of-pocket expenses of the Paying Agents
will be limited to the amounts for the time being held by the Trustee in
respect of the Bonds on the terms of this Trust Deed) and thereafter to
hold all Definitive Bonds and Coupons and all moneys, documents and
records held by them in respect of the Bonds and Coupons to the order of
the Trustee; or
|
(b) |
to
deliver all Definitive Bonds and Coupons and all moneys, documents and
records held by them in respect of the Bonds and Coupons (save for such
documents and records which the Paying Agents are obliged not to release
by virtue of any applicable law or regulation or by order of any court of
competent jurisdiction) to the Trustee or as the Trustee directs in such
notice; and
|
2.4.2 |
by
notice in writing to the Issuer and NEDL require it to make all subsequent
payments in respect of the Bonds and Coupons to or to the order of the
Trustee and not to the Principal Paying
Agent.
|
2.5 |
Further
Issues
|
2.5.1 |
The
Issuer shall be at liberty from time to time (but subject always to the
provisions of this Trust Deed) without the consent of the Bondholders or
Couponholders to create and issue further bonds or notes (whether in
bearer or registered form) ranking
pari
passu
in
all respects (or in all respects save for the first payment of interest
thereon), and so that the same shall be consolidated and form a single
series, with the Bonds and/or any further bonds or notes of any series,
provided
that
:
|
(a) |
Ambac
has given its prior written consent (in its absolute discretion) to such
further issue and to amend or substitute the Financial Guarantee so that
the Financial Guarantee also covers such further bonds or notes on the
same terms
mutatis
mutandis
as
apply to the Bonds;
|
(b) |
the
Trustee is satisfied that the rating granted in respect of the Bonds by
S&P and Moody's will not thereby be adversely affected;
|
(c) |
the
Issuer shall not create and issue such further bonds or notes while any
default exists in relation to any payment by the Issuer or NEDL of any
amounts due under this Trust Deed; and
|
(d) |
such
bonds or notes are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by NEDL upon
the same terms,
mutatis
mutandis
,
as the guarantee provided by NEDL herein.
|
2.5.2 |
Any
further bonds or notes which are to be created and issued pursuant to the
provisions of sub-clause
2.5.1
above shall be constituted by a trust deed supplemental to this Trust
Deed. In such case the Issuer and NEDL shall, prior to the issue of such
further bonds or notes, execute and deliver to the Trustee and Ambac a
trust deed supplemental to this Trust Deed (in relation to which all
applicable stamp duties or other documentation fees, duties or taxes have
been paid and, if applicable, duly stamped or denoted accordingly) and
containing a covenant by the Issuer in the form
mutatis
mutandis
of
Clause
2.2
(
Covenant
to Pay
)
in relation to the principal, premium (if any) and interest in respect of
such further bonds or notes and such other provisions (corresponding to
the provisions contained in this Trust Deed, including a guarantee granted
by NEDL in the form of Clause
4
(
Guarantee
and Indemnity
))
as the Trustee shall require.
|
2.5.3 |
A
memorandum of every such supplemental Trust Deed shall be endorsed by the
Trustee on this Trust Deed and by the Issuer, NEDL and Ambac on their
duplicates of this Trust Deed.
|
2.5.4 |
Whenever
it is proposed to create and issue any further bonds or notes the Issuer
shall give to the Trustee and Ambac not less than 14 days' notice in
writing of its intention so to do stating the amount of further bonds or
notes proposed to be created and issued.
|
3. |
FORM
AND ISSUE OF THE BONDS
|
3.1 |
The
Global Bonds
|
3.2 |
Signature
and Authentication
|
3.3 |
Exchange
for Definitive Bonds
|
3.4 |
The
Definitive Bonds
|
3.5 |
Entitlement
to
treat holder as owner
|
4. |
GUARANTEE
AND INDEMNITY
|
4.1 |
Guarantee
|
4.2 |
Guarantor
as principal debtor
|
4.3 |
Unconditional
payment
|
4.4 |
Unconditional
obligation
|
4.5 |
Guarantor's
obligations continuing
|
4.6 |
Subrogation
of Guarantor's rights
|
4.7 |
Repayment
to the Issuer
|
4.8 |
Suspense
account
|
5. |
STAMP
DUTIES AND TAXES
|
5.1 |
Stamp
Duties
|
5.2 |
Change
of Taxing Jurisdiction
|
6. |
THE
TRUST DEED, THE BONDS AND THE FINANCIAL
GUARANTEE
|
6.1 |
Bonds
incorporated by reference
|
6.2 |
Bonds
and Financial Guarantee subject to Trust
Deed
|
6.3 |
Evidence
of Default
|
7. |
APPLICATION
OF MONEYS RECEIVED BY THE TRUSTEE
|
7.1 |
Declaration
of Trust
|
7.1.1 |
firstly
,
in payment of all costs, charges, expenses and liabilities incurred by the
Trustee (including remuneration payable to the Trustee) in carrying out
its functions under this Trust Deed;
|
7.1.2 |
secondly
,
in payment of any interest owing in respect of the Bonds (including any
amounts owing to Ambac pursuant to its rights of subrogation following any
payment of interest by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee)
pari
passu
and rateably;
|
7.1.3 |
thirdly
,
in payment of any principal and premium (if any) owing in respect of the
Bonds (including any amounts of principal owing to Ambac pursuant to its
rights of subrogation following any payment of principal by Ambac under
the Financial Guarantee)
pari
passu
and rateably; and
|
7.1.4 |
fourthly
,
in payment of the balance (if any) to the Issuer for itself or, if such
moneys were received from NEDL, to NEDL for
itself.
|
7.2 |
Accumulation
|
7.3 |
Investment
|
8. |
AMBAC
AND THE FINANCIAL GUARANTEE
|
8.1 |
Notice
of Demand and Certificate
|
8.2 |
Payments
under Financial Guarantee at Ambac's Option
|
8.3 |
Payments
under Financial Guarantee to go to Principal Paying
Agent
|
8.4 |
Notice
of Ambac's transfer instructions
|
8.5 |
The
Issuer not discharged
|
8.6 |
Return
of Financial Guarantee
|
8.6.1 |
the
redemption in full of the Bonds by the Issuer or NEDL, the payment in full
of accrued interest thereon and the expiry of any applicable preference
period during which the amount of any payments in respect of the Bonds
which are subsequently avoided in whole or in part as a preferential
transaction under applicable law may be required to be paid by Ambac under
the Financial Guarantee; or
|
8.6.2 |
the
payment in full of all amounts which are or may become due under the
Financial Guarantee.
|
8.7 |
Subrogation
|
8.8 |
Conflict
|
9. |
COVENANTS
BY THE ISSUER AND N
EDL
|
9.1 |
Books
of Account
|
9.2 |
Notice
of Issuer Event of Default
|
9.3 |
Information
|
9.4 |
Financial
Statements etc.
|
9.5 |
Certificate
of Director
|
9.6 |
Notices
to Bondholders
|
9.7 |
Further
Assurance
|
9.8 |
Notice
of non-payment
|
9.9 |
Notice
of late payment
|
9.10 |
Listing
|
9.11 |
Maintenance
of Paying Agents
|
9.12 |
Change
in Agents
|
9.13 |
Early
Redemption
|
9.14 |
Negative
Pledge
|
9.15 |
Obligations
under Paying Agency Agreement
|
9.16 |
List
of authorised signatories
|
9.17 |
Director's
Certificate
|
9.17.1 |
specifying
the aggregate amount of any Relevant Indebtedness of the Issuer or
guaranteed by the Issuer, NEDL or any of their respective Subsidiaries in
respect of which a Security Interest or Security Interests has or have
been created or is or are outstanding, such certificate to be provided
before the Issuer, NEDL or such Subsidiary creates or has outstanding any
new Security Interest in respect of Relevant
Indebtedness;
|
9.17.2 |
specifying
the then current Interest Cover ratio, such certificate to be provided by
NEDL not more than 60 days after 30 June and 31 December of each
year;
|
9.17.3 |
specifying
the then current ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt to RAV, such
certificate to be provided before the Issuer or, as applicable, NEDL
incurs any Financial Indebtedness (other than Permitted Financial
Indebtedness) or recommends, makes or pays any Distribution to any of its
shareholders;
|
9.17.4 |
specifying
details of:
|
(a) |
any
revocation or surrender or any modification to the terms and conditions of
NEDL's Electricity Distribution Licence which is requisite to the conduct
of NEDL's business at the relevant time;
|
(b) |
any
legislation enacted which removes, qualifies or amends (other than an
amendment which is of a formal, minor or technical nature) the duties of
the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (or any successor) and/or
OFGEM under the Electricity Act as in force on the Issue Date; and
|
(c) |
any
proposal of any amendment to the provisions of the memorandum and articles
of association for the time being of the Issuer or NEDL described in
Condition 10(a)(iii),
|
9.18 |
Certificate
of Outstandings
|
10. |
COVENANTS
BY AMBAC
|
10.1 |
Financial
information of Ambac
|
10.2 |
Information
|
10.3 |
Information
for stock exchange
|
10.4 |
Further
assurance
|
10.5 |
Notification
of Ambac Event of Default
|
10.6 |
Confirmation
of no Ambac Event of Default
|
10.7 |
Notice
to Bondholders
|
10.8 |
List
of Authorised Signatories
|
11. |
COVENANTS
BY THE ISSUER AND NEDL IN FAVOUR OF
AMBAC
|
11.1 |
The
Issuer hereby covenants with and undertakes to Ambac that, so long as any
of the Bonds remain outstanding and for so long as no Ambac Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing (and provided that the covenants in
this Clause 11 will continue where any Ambac Event of Default relating to
paragraph (a)(i) of the definition of "Ambac Event of Default" (as defined
in the Conditions) is caused solely by an administrative or technical
error which is cured within two Business Days of such Ambac Event of
Default first arising), (with respect to itself) that it will, and NEDL
hereby covenants with and undertakes to Ambac (with respect to itself)
that it will and will procure that the Issuer will, comply with the
following covenants and restrictions:
|
11.1.1 |
it
shall:
|
(a) |
(in
the case of NEDL) not modify or amend, or agree to any modification or
amendment to the Electricity Distribution Licence without the consent of
OFGEM;
|
(b) |
use
all reasonable endeavours to procure that the underlying or shadow credit
rating of the Bonds and any outstanding public long term unsecured,
unguaranteed and unsubordinated debt of NEDL (and any outstanding public
long-term unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Issuer, guaranteed only
by NEDL) are assigned Investment Grade Ratings by both Rating Agencies,
and that such Investment Grade Ratings are
maintained;
|
(c) |
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, agree to any amendment to the
provisions of the memorandum and articles of association for the time
being of the Issuer and/or NEDL (as applicable) that (x) restrict the
activities in which any of the Issuer, NEDL or any of their respective
Subsidiaries (as applicable) may engage or participate in, (y) limit the
disposal by any such company of any or all of its assets, revenues or
properties of any nature whatsoever and (z) limit the Incurrence of
Indebtedness by any such company,
provided
that
this
paragraph (iii) shall not apply to any such amendment required by OFGEM
and, if such amendment is required by OFGEM, the Issuer and/or NEDL shall
notify Ambac in writing as soon as practicable of such
requirement;
|
(d) |
procure
that no Security Interest is created or granted upon, or with respect to,
any of the present or future ordinary shares of the Issuer, NEDL or any of
their respective Subsidiaries;
|
(e) |
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, modify or amend, or consent to
any modification or amendment of any Existing Negative
Pledge;
|
(f) |
not
have any subsidiary undertaking (as defined in the Companies Act) except
(in the case of NEDL) for the Issuer, unless required to do so by OFGEM or
consequent to any rule or regulation of OFGEM which is applicable to NEDL;
and
|
(g) |
procure
that NEDL will at all times continue to own, directly or indirectly, 100%
of the issued share capital of the Issuer.
|
11.1.2 |
NEDL
will procure that:
|
(a) |
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending on or prior to 31 December 2006
shall be not less than 2.00:1; and
|
(b) |
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending after 31 December 2006 shall not be
less than 2.50:1;
|
11.1.3 |
the
Issuer shall not, and NEDL will procure that the Issuer will not, incur
any further Financial Indebtedness other than Permitted Financial
Indebtedness unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
(a) |
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2008,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to
be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial
Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(ii) |
on
or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at
the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial
Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross
proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.65:1; and
|
(b) |
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with
the Bonds.
|
11.1.4 |
NEDL
will not incur any further Financial Indebtedness other than Permitted
Financial Indebtedness unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
(a) |
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2008,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to
be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial
Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(ii) |
on
or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at
the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial
Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross
proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.65:1; and
|
(b) |
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with NEDL's present and future unsecured payment obligations or with
NEDL's obligations under the Guarantee of the
Bonds.
|
11.1.5 |
NEDL
will not make any Distribution unless:
|
(a) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2006,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and
calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.79:1;
|
(b) |
in
the period commencing on 31 December 2006 and ending on 30 December 2007,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and
calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.77:1;
and
|
(c) |
on
or after 31 December 2007, the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at
the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the
Distribution is to be made and calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.75:1.
|
12. |
REMUNERATION
AND INDEMNIFICATION OF THE TRUSTEE
|
12.1 |
Normal
Remuneration
|
12.2 |
Extra
Remuneration
|
12.3 |
Expenses
|
12.4 |
Payment
of Expenses
|
12.4.1 |
in
the case of payments made by the Trustee prior to such demand will carry
interest from the date on which the demand is made at the rate of 2 per
cent. per annum over the base rate of HSBC Bank Plc on the date on which
such payments were made by the Trustee; and
|
12.4.2 |
in
all other cases will carry interest at such rate from 30 days after the
date on which the demand is made or (where the demand specifies that
payment is to be made on an earlier date) from such earlier
date.
|
12.5 |
Indemnity
|
12.6 |
Provisions
Continuing
|
13. |
PROVISIONS
SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE TRUSTEE ACT
1925
|
13.1 |
Advice
|
13.2 |
Trustee
to Assume Due Performance
|
13.3 |
Resolutions
of Bondholders
|
13.4 |
Certificate
signed by a Director or Authorised Signatory
|
13.5 |
Custodians
and nominees
|
13.6 |
Agents
|
13.7 |
Delegation
|
13.8 |
Forged
Bonds
|
13.9 |
Confidentiality
|
13.10 |
Determinations
Conclusive
|
13.11 |
Currency
Conversion
|
13.12 |
Issuer
Events of Default
|
13.13 |
Payment
for and Delivery of Bonds
|
13.14 |
Responsibility
|
13.15 |
Trustee's
discretion
|
13.16 |
Consents
|
13.17 |
Professional
Charges
|
13.18 |
Bondholders
as a class
|
13.19 |
Ratings
|
13.20 |
Validity
of documents
|
13.21 |
Disapplication
|
14. |
TRUSTEE
LIABLE FOR NEGLIGENCE
|
15. |
WAIVER
|
15.1 |
Waiver
|
15.2 |
Enforcement
Proceedings
|
15.2.1 |
the
Issuer and/or NEDL as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of this
Trust Deed in accordance with the terms hereof;
and/or
|
15.2.2 |
Ambac
as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the Financial
Guarantee.
|
15.3 |
No
action by Bondholders or
Couponholders
|
16. |
TRUSTEE
NOT PRECLUDED FROM ENTERING INTO
CONTRACTS
|
17. |
MODIFICATION
AND SUBSTITUTION
|
17.1 |
Modification
|
17.2 |
Substitution
|
17.2.1 |
The
Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders or Couponholders,
agree with the Issuer, but with the consent of Ambac (if Ambac is then the
Controlling Party) (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), to the substitution of NEDL or any wholly-owned Subsidiary of
NEDL (the "
Substituted
Obligor
")
in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute under this
sub-clause
17.2.1
)
as the principal debtor under this Trust Deed, the Bonds and the Coupons
provided
that
,
in the opinion of the Trustee, the interests of the Bondholders will not
be materially prejudiced thereby and also
provided
that
:
|
(a) |
a
trust deed is executed or some other form of undertaking is given by the
Substituted Obligor to the Trustee, in form and manner satisfactory to the
Trustee, agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Trust Deed, the Bonds
and the Coupons with any consequential amendments which the Trustee may
deem appropriate as fully as if the Substituted Obligor had been named in
this Trust Deed and on the Bonds and Coupons as the principal debtor in
place of the Issuer;
|
(b) |
where
the Substituted Obligor is subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction of
any territory or any authority of or in that territory having power to tax
(the "
Substituted
Territory
")
other than the territory to the taxing jurisdiction of which (or to any
such authority of or in which) the Issuer is subject generally (the
"
Issuer's
Territory'
)
the Substituted Obligor will (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees) give to
the Trustee an undertaking in form and manner satisfactory to the Trustee
in terms corresponding to the terms of Condition 8 (
Taxation
)
with the substitution for the references in that Condition to the Issuer's
Territory of references to the Substituted Territory and Condition 7(c)
(
Redemption
for tax reasons
)
shall be modified accordingly; and in such event the Trust Deed, the Bonds
and the Coupons will be read accordingly;
|
(c) |
if
any two of the Directors of the Substituted Obligor certify that it will
be solvent immediately after such substitution, the Trustee need not have
regard to the financial condition, profits or prospects of the Substituted
Obligor or compare them with those of the
Issuer;
|
(d) |
the
Issuer and the Substituted Obligor comply with such other requirements as
the Trustee may direct in the interests of the Bondholders;
and
|
(e) |
(unless
the Issuer's successor in business is the Substituted Obligor) the
obligations of the Substituted Obligor under this Trust Deed, the Bonds
and the Coupons are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the
Issuer or NEDL (save where NEDL is the Substituted Obligor) in form and
manner satisfactory to the Trustee.
|
17.2.2 |
Release
of Substituted Issuer
:
Any such agreement by the Trustee pursuant to this Clause
17.2
will, if so expressed, operate to release the Issuer (or any such previous
substitute) from any or all of its obligations under this Trust Deed, the
Bonds and the Coupons. Not later than 14 days after the execution of any
such documents and after compliance with such requirements, notice of the
substitution will be given to the
Bondholders.
|
17.2.3 |
Completion
of Substitution
:
Upon the execution of such documents and compliance with such
requirements, the Substituted Obligor will be deemed to be named in this
Trust Deed and the Financial Guarantee and on the Bonds and Coupons as the
principal debtor in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute
under this Clause
17.2
)
and this Trust Deed, the Financial Guarantee, the Bonds and the Coupons
will be deemed to be modified in such manner as shall be necessary to give
effect to the substitution.
|
18. |
APPOINTMENT,
RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE
TRUSTEE
|
18.1 |
Appointment
|
18.2 |
Retirement
and Removal
|
18.3 |
Co-Trustees
|
18.3.1 |
if
the Trustee considers such appointment to be in the interests of the
Bondholders and/or the Couponholders;
|
18.3.2 |
for
the purpose of conforming with any legal requirement, restriction or
condition in any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be
performed; or
|
18.3.3 |
for
the purpose of obtaining a judgment in any jurisdiction or the enforcement
in any jurisdiction against the Issuer or NEDL of either a judgment
already obtained or any of the provisions of this Trust
Deed.
|
18.4 |
Competence
of a Majority of Trustees
|
19. |
COUPONS
|
19.1 |
Notices
|
19.2 |
Bondholders
assumed to hold Coupons
|
20. |
CONTROLLING
PARTY
|
21. |
CURRENCY
INDEMNITY
|
21.1 |
Currency
of Account and Payment
|
21.2 |
Extent
of discharge
|
21.3 |
Indemnities
|
21.4 |
Indemnities
separate
|
21.5 |
Merger
|
22. |
COMMUNICATIONS
|
22.1.1 |
in
the case of the Issuer, to it:
|
22.1.2 |
in
the case of NEDL, to it at:
|
22.1.3 |
in
the case of Ambac, to it at:
|
22.1.4 |
and
in the case of the Trustee, to it at:
|
23. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
24. |
COUNTERPARTS
|
1. |
INTRODUCTION
|
2. |
REFERENCES
TO CONDITIONS
|
3. |
PROMISE
TO PAY
|
3.1 |
in
the case of interest falling due before the Exchange Date (as defined
below), to the extent that a certificate or certificates issued by
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of the Euroclear System
("
Euroclear
")
and/or Clearstream Banking,
société
anonyme
,
Luxembourg ("
Clearstream,
Luxembourg
")
dated not earlier than the date on which such interest falls due and in
substantially the form set out in Schedule 3 (
Form
of Euroclear/Clearstream, Luxembourg Certification
)
hereto is/are delivered to the Specified Office (as defined in the
Conditions) of the Principal Paying Agent;
or
|
3.2 |
in
the case of interest falling due at any time, to the extent that the
Issuer has failed to procure the exchange for a permanent global bond of
that portion of this Temporary Global Bond in respect of which such
interest has accrued.
|
4. |
NEGOTIABILITY
|
5. |
EXCHANGE
|
5.1 |
presentation
and (in the case of final exchange) surrender of this Temporary Global
Bond at the specified office of the Principal Paying Agent;
and
|
5.2 |
receipt
by the Principal Paying Agent of a certificate or certificates issued by
Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg dated not earlier than the
Exchange Date and in substantially the form set out in Schedule 3
(
Form
of Euroclear/Clearstream, Luxembourg Certification
)
hereto.
|
6. |
WRITING
DOWN
|
6.1 |
the
Permanent Global Bond is delivered or the principal amount thereof is
increased in accordance with its terms in exchange for a further portion
of this Temporary Global Bond; or
|
6.2 |
Bonds
represented by this Temporary Global Bond are to be cancelled in
accordance with Condition 7(e) (
Redemption
and Purchase - Cancellation
),
|
7. |
PAYMENTS
|
8. |
CONDITIONS
APPLY
|
9. |
NOTICES
|
10. |
AUTHENTICATION
|
11. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
Date
of payment, delivery or cancellation
|
Amount
of interest then paid
|
Principal
amount of Permanent Global Bond then delivered or by which Permanent
Global Bond then increased
|
Aggregate
principal amount of Bonds then cancelled
|
Remaining
principal amount of this Temporary Global Bond
|
Authorised
Signature
|
Dated:
|
[
]
|
By:
|
....................................
|
Dated:
|
[
]
|
By:
|
....................................
|
1. |
INTRODUCTION
|
2. |
REFERENCES
TO CONDITIONS
|
3. |
PROMISE
TO PAY
|
4. |
NEGOTIABILITY
|
5. |
EXCHANGE
|
5.1.1 |
This
Global Bond will be exchanged, in whole but not in part only, for Bonds in
definitive form ("Definitive Notes") in substantially the form set out in
Schedule 3 (
Form
of Definitive Bond
)
to the Trust Deed if any of the events specified in Clause 3.3
(
Exchange
for Definitive Bonds
)
of the Trust Deed occurs.
|
6. |
DELIVERY
OF DEFINITIVE NOTES
|
7. |
WRITING
DOWN
|
7.1 |
a
payment of principal is made in respect of this Global
Bond;
|
7.2 |
Definitive
Bonds are delivered; or
|
7.3 |
Bonds
represented by this Global Bond are to be cancelled in accordance with
Condition 7(e) (
Redemption
and Purchase - Cancellation
),
|
8. |
WRITING
UP
|
9. |
PAYMENTS
|
10. |
CONDITIONS
APPLY
|
11. |
EXERCISE
OF PUT OPTION
|
12. |
EXERCISE
OF CALL OPTION
|
13. |
NOTICES
|
14. |
AUTHENTICATION
|
15. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
Date
of payment, exchange, delivery or cancellation
|
Amount
of interest then paid
|
Principal
amount of Temporary Global Bond then exchanged
|
Aggregate
principal amount of Definitive Notes then delivered
|
Aggregate
principal amount of Notes then cancelled
|
New
principal amount of this Global Bond
|
Authorised
signature
|
(c)
|
Financial
Guarantee
|
(d)
|
Status
of Financial Guarantee
|
(e)
|
Subrogation
of Ambac
|
(i)
|
before
taking into account any items treated as exceptional
items;
|
(ii)
|
after
deducting the amount of any profit of any member of the Group which is
attributable to minority
interests;
|
(iii)
|
after
deducting the amount of any profit of any investment or entity (which is
not itself a member of the Group) in which any member of the Group has an
ownership interest to the extent that the amount of such profit included
in the financial statements of NEDL and the Issuer exceeds the amount (net
of applicable withholding tax) received in cash by members of the Group
through distributions by such investment or
entity;
|
(iv)
|
before
taking into account any realised and unrealised exchange gains and losses
including those arising on translation of currency
debt;
|
(v)
|
before
taking into account any gain or loss arising from an upward or downward
revaluation of any asset,
|
(i)
|
moneys
borrowed and debit balances with financial
institutions;
|
(ii)
|
any
amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit
facility;
|
(iii)
|
any
amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of
bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar
instrument;
|
(iv)
|
the
amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract
which would, in accordance with UK GAAP, be treated as a finance or
capital lease;
|
(v)
|
receivables
sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold
on a non-recourse basis);
|
(vi)
|
any
counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond,
standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by
a bank or financial institution (excluding any given in respect of trade
credit arising in the ordinary course of
business);
|
(vii)
|
any
amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable prior
to 4 May 2035;
|
(viii)
|
any
amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or
purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;
and
|
(ix)
|
(without
double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee
or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (i) to (viii)
above.
|
(i)
|
deducting
the aggregate amount of all obligations of NEDL and the Issuer in respect
of Financial Indebtedness to the extent that the repayment or redemption
of such Financial Indebtedness is provided for by the purchase by CE
Electric UK Funding Company or any of its Subsidiaries of a GIC;
and
|
(i)
|
Financial
Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Bonds and of NEDL pursuant to the
Guarantee of the Bonds;
|
(ii)
|
Financial
Indebtedness of the Issuer and Financial Indebtedness of NEDL outstanding
on the Issue Date and not otherwise referred to in this definition of
"Permitted Financial Indebtedness";
|
(iii)
|
Financial
Indebtedness which cannot and shall not be accelerated and/or repaid if
any Issuer Event of Default has occurred and, in each case, is
continuing;
|
(iv)
|
Financial
Indebtedness owed by one member of the Group to another member of the
Group; and
|
(v)
|
Financial
Indebtedness of NEDL from time to time which does not exceed an aggregate
working capital amount of £50,000,000 (or the equivalent amount in one or
more currencies).
|
(i)
|
(a)
written notice being given to NEDL of revocation of its Electricity
Distribution Licence which is requisite to the conduct of NEDL's business
at the relevant time or (b) NEDL agreeing in writing to any revocation or
surrender of its Electricity Distribution Licence which is requisite to
the conduct of NEDL's business at the relevant time or (c) any legislation
(whether primary or subordinate) being enacted terminating or revoking its
Electricity Distribution Licence which is requisite to the conduct of
NEDL's business at the relevant time, except in any such case in
circumstances where a licence or licences is or are granted to NEDL, the
Issuer or another Subsidiary of either of them 100% of the ordinary share
capital of which is owned directly or indirectly by NEDL or the Issuer
(the "
Relevant
Transferee
")
and
provided that
the terms of such licence or licences are substantially no less favourable
than the Electricity Distribution Licence in which event all references in
these Terms and Conditions to the Electricity Distribution Licence and
NEDL in its capacity as holder of the Electricity Distribution Licence
shall hereafter be deemed to be references to the licence or licences on
substantially no less favourable terms and the Relevant Transferee
respectively; or
|
(ii)
|
any
modification (other than a modification which is of a formal, minor or
technical nature) being made to the terms and conditions of the
Electricity Distribution Licence on or after the Issue Date unless two
Directors of NEDL have certified in good faith to the Trustee that the
modified terms and conditions are not materially less favourable to the
business of NEDL. For the purposes of this paragraph (ii) a modification
which (a) results in a licence or licences being granted to NEDL, the
Issuer or another Subsidiary of either of them 100% of the ordinary share
capital of which is owned directly or indirectly by NEDL or the Issuer
(collectively, the "
Applicable
Transferees
")
and
provided
that
the terms of such licence are substantially no less favourable than the
terms of the Electricity Distribution Licence or (b) results in a licence
or licences being granted to an Applicable Transferee
provided
that
the terms of such licence are substantially no less favourable than the
terms of the Electricity Distribution Licence, shall not be deemed to be a
modification within this paragraph (ii). In the event of such a
modification as is referred to in (a) or (b), all references in these
Terms and Conditions to the Electricity Distribution Licence and NEDL in
its capacity as holder of the Electricity Distribution Licence shall
thereafter be deemed to be references to the licence or licences granted
to the Applicable Transferee and to the Applicable Transferee,
respectively; or
|
(iii)
|
any
legislation (whether primary or subordinate) is enacted which removes,
qualifies or amends (other than an amendment which is of a formal, minor
or technical nature) the duties of the Secretary of State for Trade and
Industry (or any successor) and/or OFGEM under of the Electricity Act as
in force on the Issue Date, unless two Directors of the Issuer have
certified in good faith to the Trustee that such removal, qualification or
amendment does not have a materially adverse effect on the financial
condition of NEDL.
|
(i)
|
if
at the time a Restructuring Event occurs there are Reference Rated
Securities, the period of 90 days starting from and including the day on
which the Restructuring Event occurs; or
|
(ii)
|
if
at the time a Restructuring Event occurs there are not Reference Rated
Securities, the period starting from and including the day on which the
Restructuring Event occurs and ending on the day 90 days following the
later of (a) the date on which the Issuer shall seek to obtain a rating
pursuant to the definition of Negative Rating Event prior to the expiry of
the 14 days referred to in the definition of Negative Rating Event and (b)
the date on which a Negative Certification shall have been given to the
Issuer in respect of the Restructuring
Event.
|
(a)
|
all
amounts payable by the Issuer or, as applicable, NEDL under the Bonds, the
Coupons, the Trust Deed and the Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement are
secured to the satisfaction of the Controlling Party equally and rateably
with the Relevant Indebtedness or guarantee of Relevant Indebtedness, as
the case may be, by such Security Interest;
or
|
|
(b)
|
such
other Security Interest or guarantee or other arrangement (whether or not
including the giving of a Security Interest) is provided in respect of all
amounts payable by the Issuer or, as applicable, NEDL under the Bonds, the
Coupons, the Trust Deed and the Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement
either (i) as the Trustee shall in its absolute discretion deem not
materially less beneficial to the interests of the Bondholders, or (ii) as
shall be approved by an Extraordinary Resolution (as defined in the Trust
Deed) of the Bondholders, and (iii) (in either case) as Ambac shall in its
absolute discretion deem not materially less beneficial to the interests
of Ambac.
|
(a)
|
Scheduled
redemption
:
Unless previously redeemed, or purchased and cancelled, the Issuer will
redeem the Bonds on 4 May 2035 at their outstanding principal amount (the
"
Scheduled
Principal
").
|
(b)
|
Redemption
at the option of the Issuer
:
The Issuer may, having given not less than 30 nor more than 45 days'
notice in accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
)
(which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem the whole or part (in
principal amount of £5,000,000 or integral multiples thereof) of the Bonds
at any time prior to 4 May 2035 at a price which shall be the higher of
the following (the "
Redemption
Price
"),
together with Scheduled Interest accrued up to and including the date of
redemption:
|
(c)
|
Redemption
for tax reasons
:
If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations
of the United Kingdom or any political sub-division of, or any authority
in, or of, the United Kingdom having power to tax, or any change in the
application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which
change or amendment becomes effective after 29 April 2005, the Issuer has
or will become obliged to pay additional amounts as provided or referred
to in Condition 8 (
Taxation
)
or NEDL has or (if a demand were made under the Guarantee of the Bonds)
would become obliged to pay additional amounts on account of tax as
provided in the Guarantee of the Bonds (and such amendment or change has
been evidenced by the delivery by the Issuer or, as applicable, NEDL to
the Trustee and Ambac (who shall, in the absence of manifest error, accept
such certificate as sufficient evidence thereof) of a certificate signed
by two Directors of the Issuer or, as applicable, NEDL on behalf of the
Issuer or, as applicable, NEDL stating that such amendment or change has
occurred (irrespective of whether such amendment or change is then
effective), describing the facts leading thereto and stating that such
obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer or, as applicable, NEDL taking
reasonable measures available to it) the Issuer may at its option, having
given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice to the Bondholders in
accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
)
(which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem all the Bonds (other than
Bonds in respect of which the Issuer shall have given a notice of
redemption pursuant to Condition 7(b) (
Redemption
at the option of the Issuer
)
prior to any notice being given under this Condition 7(c)), but not some
only, at their outstanding principal amount together with interest accrued
to (but excluding) the date of redemption,
provided
that
no
notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days before the
earliest date on which the Issuer or NEDL would be required to pay the
additional amounts were a payment in respect of the Bonds then due or (as
the case may be) a demand under the Guarantee of the Bonds were then made
and
provided
further that
no
notice of redemption may be given by the Issuer unless two Directors of
the Issuer shall have certified to the Trustee that it will have the
funds, not subject to the interest of any other person, required to redeem
the Bonds at their principal amounts outstanding plus accrued interest on
the date specified for redemption (the Trustee being able to rely on such
certificate absolutely).
|
(d)
|
Purchase
:
The Issuer, NEDL or any of their respective Subsidiaries may at any time
purchase or otherwise acquire Bonds (provided that all unmatured Coupons
and Talons are attached thereto or are surrendered therewith) at any price
in the open market or otherwise. If purchases are made by tender, tenders
must be available to all Bondholders alike.
|
(e)
|
Cancellation
:
All Bonds which are redeemed pursuant to this Condition by the Issuer
shall be cancelled (together with all relative unmatured Coupons attached
thereto or surrendered therewith) and accordingly may not be reissued or
resold. Bonds purchased by or on behalf of the Issuer, NEDL or any of
their respective Subsidiaries may be held or reissued or resold or
surrendered for cancellation.
|
(a)
|
All
payments in respect of the Bonds and Coupons by the Issuer or NEDL shall
be made without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any
present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of
whatever nature ("
Taxes
")
imposed or levied by or on behalf of the United Kingdom, or any political
subdivision of, or authority in, or of, the United Kingdom having power to
tax, unless the withholding or deduction of the Taxes is required by law.
In that event, the Issuer or (as the case may be) NEDL will pay such
additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts
received by the Bondholders and Couponholders after the withholding or
deduction shall equal the respective amounts which would have been
receivable in respect of the Bonds or, as the case may be, Coupons in the
absence of the withholding or deduction; except that no additional amounts
shall be payable in relation to any payment in respect of any Bond or
Coupon:
|
(i)
|
to,
or to a third party on behalf of, a holder who is liable to the Taxes in
respect of the Bond or Coupon by reason of his having some connection with
the United Kingdom other than the mere holding of the Bond or Coupon;
or
|
(ii)
|
presented
for payment in the United Kingdom; or
|
(iii)
|
to,
or to a third party on behalf of, a holder who would not be liable or
subject to the withholding or deduction by making a declaration of
non-residence or other similar claim for exemption to the relevant tax
authority; or
|
(iv)
|
where
such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual and
is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC
or any other Directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council
meeting of 26-27 November 2000 or any law implementing or complying with,
or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive ;
or
|
(v)
|
presented for payment by or on behalf of a
holder who would have been able to avoid such withholding or deduction by
presenting the relevant Bond or Coupon to another Paying Agent in a member
state of the European Union; or
|
(vi)
|
presented for payment more than 30 days after the Relevant Date except to the extent that the holder would have been entitled to additional amounts on presenting the same for payment on the last day of the period of 30 days. |
(b)
|
In
these Terms and Conditions, "
Relevant
Date
"
means the date on which the payment first becomes due, but if the full
amount of the money payable has not been received in London by the
Principal Paying Agent or the Trustee on or before the due date, it means
the date on which, the full amount of the money having been so received,
notice to that effect shall have been duly given to the Bondholders by the
Issuer in accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
).
|
(c)
|
Any
reference in these Terms and Conditions to any amounts in respect of the
Bonds shall be deemed also to refer to any additional amounts which may be
payable under this Condition or under any undertakings given in addition
to, or in substitution for, this Condition 8 pursuant to the Trust
Deed.
|
(a)
|
General
Covenants
:
It shall:
|
(i)
|
(in
the case of NEDL) not modify or amend, or agree to any modification or
amendment to the Electricity Distribution Licence without the consent of
OFGEM;
|
(ii)
|
use
all reasonable endeavours to procure that the underlying or shadow credit
rating of the Bonds and any outstanding public long term unsecured,
unguaranteed and unsubordinated debt of NEDL (and any outstanding public
long-term unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Issuer, guaranteed only
by NEDL) are assigned Investment Grade Ratings by both Rating Agencies,
and that such Investment Grade Ratings are
maintained;
|
(iii)
|
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, agree to any amendment to the
provisions of the memorandum and articles of association for the time
being of the Issuer and/or NEDL (as applicable) that (x) restrict the
activities in which any of the Issuer, NEDL or any of their respective
Subsidiaries (as applicable) may engage or participate in, (y) limit the
disposal by any such company of any or all of its assets, revenues or
properties of any nature whatsoever and (z) limit the Incurrence of
Indebtedness by any such company,
provided
that
this
paragraph (iii) shall not apply to any such amendment required by OFGEM
and if such amendment is required by OFGEM, the Issuer and/or NEDL shall
notify Ambac in writing as soon as practicable of such
requirement;
|
(iv)
|
procure
that no Security Interest is created or granted upon, or with respect to,
any of the present or future ordinary shares of the Issuer, NEDL or any of
their respective Subsidiaries;
|
(v)
|
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, modify or amend, or consent to
any modification or amendment of any Existing Negative
Pledge;
|
(vi)
|
not
have any subsidiary undertaking (as defined in the Companies Act) except
(in the case of NEDL) for the Issuer, unless required to do so by OFGEM or
consequent to any rule or regulation of OFGEM which is applicable to NEDL;
and
|
(vii)
|
procure
that NEDL will at all times continue to own, directly or indirectly, 100%
of the issued share capital of the Issuer.
|
(b)
|
Interest
Cover Ratio
:
NEDL will procure that:
|
(1)
|
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending on or prior to 31 December 2006
shall be not less than 2.00:1; and
|
(2)
|
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending after 31 December 2006 shall not be
less than 2.50:1.
|
(c)
|
Limitation
on Financial Indebtedness of the Issuer
:
The
Issuer shall not, and NEDL will procure that the Issuer will not, incur
any further Financial Indebtedness other than Permitted Financial
Indebtedness unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
(i)
|
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(1)
|
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2008,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to
be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial
Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(2)
|
on
or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at
the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial
Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross
proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.65:1; an
d
|
(ii)
|
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with
the Bonds.
|
(d)
|
Limitation
on Financial Indebtedness of NEDL
:
NEDL
will not incur any further Financial Indebtedness other than Permitted
Financial Indebtedness unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
(i)
|
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(1)
|
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2008,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to
be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial
Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(2)
|
on
or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at
the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial
Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross
proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.65:1; and
|
(ii)
|
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with NEDL's present and future unsecured payment obligations or with
NEDL's obligations under the Guarantee of the
Bonds.
|
(e)
|
Limitation
on Distributions
:
NEDL will not make any Distribution unless:
|
(i)
|
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2006,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and
calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.79:1;
or
|
(ii)
|
in
the period commencing on 31 December 2006 and ending on 30 December 2007,
the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and
calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.77:1;
or
|
(iii)
|
on
or after 31 December 2007, the ratio of NEDL Senior Total Net Debt (as at
the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the
Distribution is to be made and calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.75:1.
|
(a)
|
default
is made in the payment of any principal or premium (if any) in respect of
any Bond pursuant to Condition 7 (
Redemption
and Purchase
),
or for a period of three Business Days or more in the payment of any
interest due in respect of the Bonds; or
|
(b)
|
the
Issuer or NEDL fails to perform or observe any of its other obligations,
covenants, conditions or provisions under the Bonds, the Trust Deed or the
Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement and (except where the Controlling
Party shall have certified to the Issuer or NEDL, as applicable, in
writing that it considers such failure to be incapable of remedy in which
case no such notice or continuation as is hereinafter mentioned will he
required) such failure continues for the period of 60 days (or such longer
period as the Trustee may, with the approval of the Controlling Party,
permit) next following the service by the Trustee on the Issuer or NEDL,
as applicable of notice requiring the same to be remedied;
or
|
(c)
|
(i)
any other Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of the Issuer, NEDL or any of
their respective Subsidiaries becomes due and repayable prior to its
stated maturity by reason of an event of default (however described) or
(ii) any such Indebtedness For Borrowed Money is not paid when due or
(iii) the Issuer, NEDL or any of their respective Subsidiaries fails to
pay when due any amount payable by it under any present or future
guarantee for, or indemnity in respect of any Indebtedness For Borrowed
Money of any person or (iv) any security given by the Issuer, NEDL or any
of their respective Subsidiaries for any Indebtedness For Borrowed Money
of any person or any guarantee or indemnity of Indebtedness For Borrowed
Money of any person becomes enforceable by reason of default in relation
thereto and steps are taken to enforce such security save in any such case
referred to in (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) where there is a
bona
fide
dispute as to whether the relevant Indebtedness For Borrowed Money or any
such guarantee or indemnity as aforesaid shall be due and payable,
and
provided
that
the
aggregate amount of the relevant Indebtedness For Borrowed Money in
respect of which any one or more of the events mentioned above in this
sub-paragraph (c) has or have occurred equals or exceeds 5% of RAV and
such event shall continue unremedied or unwaived for more than 14 days (or
such longer grace period as may have been originally provided in the
applicable instrument) and the time for payment of such amount has not
been expressly extended (until such time as any payment default is
remedied, cured or waived); or
|
(d)
|
NEDL
ceases to own directly or indirectly 100% of the ordinary share capital of
the Issuer; or
|
(e)
|
any
order shall be made by any competent court or any resolution shall be
passed for the winding up or dissolution of the Issuer or NEDL, save for
the purposes of amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganisation,
reconstruction or other similar arrangement on terms previously approved
in writing by the Controlling Party or (where the Controlling Party is the
Trustee) by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Bondholders;
or
|
(f)
|
the
Issuer, NEDL or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall cease to carry
on the whole or substantially the whole of its business, save in each case
for the purposes of amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganisation,
reconstruction or other arrangement (i) not involving or arising out of
the insolvency of the Issuer, NEDL or such Subsidiary and under which all
or substantially all of its assets are transferred, in the case of the
Issuer, to a Subsidiary of the Issuer or NEDL, in the case of NEDL, to a
Subsidiary of NEDL or, in the case of a Subsidiary, to the Issuer, NEDL or
another Subsidiary of either of them or to a transferee which is, or
immediately upon such transfer becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) under which
all or substantially all of its assets are transferred to a third party or
parties (whether a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Issuer or NEDL or
not) for full consideration by the Issuer, NEDL or a Subsidiary on an
arm's length basis or (iii) the terms of which have previously been
approved in writing by the Controlling Party or (where the Controlling
Party is the Trustee) by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Bondholders
provided
that
if
NEDL shall cease to hold or shall transfer the Electricity Distribution
Licence (other than where the Electricity Distribution Licence is revoked,
terminated or surrendered in the circumstances envisaged by paragraph
(i)(a), (b) or (c) of the definition of Restructuring Event in Condition 3
(
Definitions
)
and such revocation, termination or surrender does not constitute a
Restructuring Event pursuant to paragraph (i) of such definition) NEDL
shall be deemed to have ceased to carry on the whole or substantially the
whole of its business (and neither of exceptions (i) and (ii) above shall
apply) unless (A) the transferee of the Electricity Distribution Licence
is the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer or NEDL, at least 51% of the
ordinary share capital of which is owned directly or indirectly by the
Issuer or NEDL (the "
NE
Transferee
")
and (B) if Ambac is then the Controlling Party, the NE Transferee
guarantees the Bonds pursuant to a guarantee in substantially the same
terms as the Guarantee of the Bonds and covenants in favour of Ambac in
substantially the same terms as the covenants set forth in Condition 10
(
Covenants
by the Issuer and NEDL to Ambac
)
and in either such event all references in these Terms and Conditions to
NEDL in its capacity as holder of the Electricity Distribution Licence
shall hereafter be deemed to be references to the NE Transferee;
or
|
(g)
|
the Issuer, NEDL or any Subsidiary shall
suspend or shall threaten to suspend payment of its debts generally or
shall be declared or adjudicated by a competent court to be unable, or
shall admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts (within the meaning
of Section 123(1) or (2) of the Insolvency Act 1986) as they fall due, or
shall be adjudicated or found insolvent by a competent court or shall
enter into any composition or other similar arrangement with its creditors
under Part I of the Insolvency Act 1986; or
|
(h)
|
a receiver, administrative receiver, Energy Administrator, administrator or other similar official shall be appointed in relation to the Issuer, NEDL or any Subsidiary or in relation to the whole or a substantial part of the undertaking or assets of any of them or a distress, execution or other process shall be levied or enforced upon or sued out against, or any encumbrancer shall take possession of, the whole or a substantial part of the assets of any of them and in any of the foregoing cases it or he shall not be paid out or discharged within 120 days (or such longer period as the Trustee may in its absolute discretion permit); |
(a)
|
Each
of the following events is an Ambac Event of
Default:
|
(i)
|
any
amount guaranteed by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee falls due for
payment in accordance with the terms of the Financial Guarantee and is not
paid by Ambac on the date stipulated in the Financial Guarantee;
or
|
(ii)
|
Ambac
disclaims, disaffirms, repudiates or challenges the validity of any of its
obligations under the Financial Guarantee or seeks to do so;
or
|
(iii)
|
a
court of competent jurisdiction enters a final and non-appealable order,
judgment or decree for the winding-up, or the appointment of an
administrator or receiver (including an administrative receiver or
manager) of Ambac (or, as the case may be, of a material part of its
property or assets); or
|
(iv)
|
Ambac:
|
(1)
|
presents
any petition or takes any formal steps or proceedings for the winding-up
or the appointment of an administrator or receiver (including an
administrative receiver or manager) of Ambac (or, as the case may be, of a
material part of its property or assets);
or
|
(2)
|
makes or enters into any general assignment, composition, arrangement (including, without limitation, a voluntary arrangement under Part I of the Insolvency Act 1986) or compromise with or for the benefit of any of its creditors; or |
(3)
|
becomes unable to pay its debts within the meaning of section 123(2) or section 123(1)(e) of such Insolvency Act or admits in writing its inability, or fails generally, to pay its debts as they become due; or |
(4)
|
at any time it is or becomes unlawful for Ambac to perform or comply with any part or all of its obligations under the Financial Guarantee or any of its obligations thereunder are not or cease to be legal, valid or binding; |
(b)
|
So
long as any of the Bonds remain outstanding, Ambac will, forthwith upon
becoming aware of any Ambac Event of Default, give notice in writing
thereof to the Trustee and the Issuer.
|
(a)
|
|
(i)
|
If,
at any time following the occurrence of an Ambac Event of Default, while
any of the Bonds remains outstanding, a Restructuring Event occurs and
prior to the commencement of or during the Restructuring Period an
Independent Financial Adviser (as defined below) shall have certified in
writing to the Trustee that such Restructuring Event will not be or is
not, in its opinion, materially prejudicial to the interests of the
Bondholders, the following provisions of this Condition shall cease to
have any further effect in relation to such Restructuring
Event.
|
(ii)
|
If,
at any time following the occurrence of an Ambac Event of Default while
any of the Bonds remains outstanding, a Restructuring Event occurs and
(subject to paragraph (a)(i) above):
|
(1)
|
within
the Restructuring Period, either:
|
(A)
|
if
at the time such Restructuring Event occurs there are Reference Rated
Securities, a Rating Downgrade in respect of such Restructuring Event also
occurs; or
|
(B)
|
if
at such time there are not Reference Rated Securities, a Negative Rating
Event also occurs; and
|
(2)
|
an
Independent Financial Adviser shall have certified in writing to the
Trustee that such Restructuring Event is, in its opinion, materially
prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders (a "
Negative
Certification
"),
|
(b)
|
Promptly
upon the Issuer or NEDL becoming aware that a Put Event (as defined in
Condition 3 (
Definitions
))
has occurred, and in any event not later than 14 days after the occurrence
of a Put Event, the Issuer shall, and at any time upon the Trustee
becoming similarly so aware the Trustee may, and if so requested by the
holders of at least one-quarter in principal amount of the Bonds then
outstanding shall, give notice (a "
Put
Event Notice
")
to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
)
specifying the nature of the Put Event and the procedure for exercising
the Put Option.
|
(c)
|
To
exercise the Put Option, the holder of a Bond must deliver such Bond to
the specified office of any Paying Agent, on a day which is a business day
(as defined in Condition 6 (
Payments
))
in London and in the place of such specified office falling within the
period (the "
Put
Period
")
of 45 days after that on which a Put Event Notice is given, accompanied by
a duly completed and signed notice of exercise in the form (for the time
being current) obtainable from any specified office of any Paying Agent (a
"
Put
Notice
")
and in which the holder may specify a bank account complying with the
requirements of Condition 6 (
Payments
)
to which payment is to be made under this Condition. Each Bond should be
delivered together with all Coupons and Talons appertaining thereto
maturing after the day (the "
Put
Date
")
being the fifteenth day after the date of expiry of the Put Period,
failing which any such missing Coupon or Talon will become void and no
payment shall be made in respect of it. The Paying Agent to which such
Bond and Put Notices are delivered shall issue to the Bondholder concerned
a non-transferable receipt in respect of the Bond so delivered. Payment in
respect of any Bond so delivered shall be made, if the holder duly
specifies a bank account in the Put Notice to which payment is to be made
on the Put Date, by transfer to that bank account and, in every other
case, on or after the Put Date, in each case against presentation and
surrender or (as the case may be) endorsement of such receipt at any
specified office of any Paying Agent, subject in any such case as provided
in Condition 6 (
Payments
).
A Put Notice, once given, shall be irrevocable. For the purposes of
Conditions 9 (
Prescription
),
11 (
Issuer
Events of Default
),
14 (Enforcement), 16 (
Replacement
of Bonds and Coupons
)
and 18 (
Meetings
of Bondholders, Modification and Waiver
)
receipts issued pursuant to this Condition shall be treated as if they
were Bonds. The Issuer shall redeem or, at the option of the Issuer,
purchase (or procure the purchase of) the relevant Bond on the applicable
Put Date unless previously redeemed or
purchased.
|
(a)
|
Limitation
on Bondholders
:
Save as provided below, only the Trustee may pursue the remedies available
under general law or under the Trust Deed to enforce the rights of the
Bondholders and Couponholders and no such holder will be entitled to
proceed against the Issuer or Ambac unless the Trustee, having become
bound to act in accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed, fails to do
so and such failure is continuing. If, in connection with any insolvency,
bankruptcy, administration, dissolution, liquidation or analogous
procedure relating to the Issuer or NEDL, a payment on the Bonds by the
Issuer or NEDL is claimed to be or is avoided as a preferential transfer,
Ambac may (provided that Ambac is then the Controlling Party) direct all
matters relating to such claim or avoidance on behalf of the Trustee, the
Bondholders and the Couponholders.
|
(b)
|
Enforcement
Proceedings
:
At
any time after amounts in respect of principal of and interest on the
Bonds or amounts payable by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee shall have
become due and payable but are unpaid, the Trustee may, at its discretion,
and without further notice but subject as mentioned below, take such
proceedings against, respectively:
|
(i)
|
the
Issuer and/or NEDL as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the
Trust Deed in accordance with the terms thereof;
and/or
|
(ii)
|
Ambac
as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the Financial
Guarantee.
|
(a)
|
Subject
as mentioned below, power will be reserved to the Issuer to create and
issue Further Bonds forming (or so as to form after the first payment of
interest thereon) a single series with the Bonds
provided
that
:
|
(i)
|
Ambac
has consented (in its absolute discretion) to amend or substitute the
Financial Guarantee so that the Financial Guarantee also covers such
Further Bonds on the same terms as the
Bonds;
|
(ii)
|
the
Trustee is satisfied that the rating granted in respect of the Bonds by
S&P and Moody's will not thereby be adversely affected;
and
|
(iii)
|
such
issue shall be constituted by a deed supplemental to the Trust Deed (in
such form as the Trustee may approve).
|
(b)
|
The
Issuer shall not be entitled to exercise the power reserved in this
Condition 20 (
Further
Bonds
)
while any default exists in relation to any payment by the Issuer or NEDL
of any amounts due under the Trust Deed or the Reimbursement and Indemnity
Agreement.
|
(a)
|
Notice
of redenomination
:
If the United Kingdom becomes or, announces its intention to become, a
Participating Member State, the Issuer may, without the consent of Ambac,
the Bondholders and Couponholders, on giving at least 30 days' prior
notice to Ambac, the Trustee, the Bondholders and the Paying Agents,
designate a date (the "
Redenomination
Date
"),
being an Interest Payment Date under the Bonds falling on or after the
date on which the United Kingdom becomes a Participating Member
State.
|
(b)
|
Redenomination
:
Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Conditions, with effect from
the Redenomination Date:
|
(i)
|
the
Bonds shall be deemed to be redenominated into Euro in the denomination of
Euro 0.01 (or such other denomination as the Issuer shall determine)
with a principal amount for each Bond equal to the principal amount of
that Bond in Sterling, converted into Euro at the rate for conversion of
such currency into Euro established by the Council of the European Union
pursuant to the Treaty (including compliance with rules relating to
rounding in accordance with European Community regulations);
provided,
however, that
,
if the Issuer determines, with the agreement of the Principal Paying
Agent, that market practice in respect of the redenomination into Euro
0.01 (or such other denomination as the Issuer shall determine) of
internationally offered securities is different from that specified above,
such provisions shall be deemed to be amended so as to comply with such
market practice and the Issuer shall promptly notify Ambac, the
Bondholders and Couponholders, each listing authority, stock exchange
and/or quotation system (if any) by which the Bonds have then been
admitted to listing, trading and/or quotation and the Paying Agents of
such deemed amendments;
|
(ii)
|
if
Bonds have been issued in definitive form:
|
(1)
|
all
unmatured Coupons denominated in Sterling (whether or not attached to the
Bonds) will become void with effect from the date (the "
Euro
Exchange Date
")
on which the Issuer gives notice (the "
Euro
Exchange Notice
")
to the Bondholders that replacement Bonds and Coupons denominated in Euro
are available for exchange (
provided
that
such Bonds and Coupons are available) and no payments will be made in
respect thereof;
|
(2)
|
the
payment obligations contained in all Bonds denominated in Sterling will
become void on the Euro Exchange Date but all other obligations of the
Issuer thereunder (including the obligation to exchange such Bonds in
accordance with this Condition 22) shall remain in full force and
effect;
|
(iii)
|
new
Bonds and Coupons denominated in Euro will be issued in exchange for Bonds
and Coupons denominated in Sterling in such manner as the Principal Paying
Agent may specify and as shall be notified to the Bondholders in the Euro
Exchange Notice; and
|
(iv)
|
all
payments in respect of the Bonds (other than, unless the Redenomination
Date is on or after such date as Sterling ceases to be a sub-division of
the Euro, payments of interest in respect of periods commencing before the
Redenomination Date) will be made solely in Euro by Euro cheque drawn on,
or by credit or transfer to a Euro account (or other account to which Euro
may be credited or transferred) maintained by the payee with, a bank in a
country in a city in which banks have access to the TARGET
System.
|
(c)
|
Interest
:
Following redenomination of the Bonds pursuant to this Condition 22, where
Bonds have been issued in definitive form, the amount of interest due in
respect of the Bonds will be calculated by reference to the aggregate
principal amount of the Bonds presented (or, as the case may be, in
respect of which Coupons are presented) for payment by the relevant
holder.
|
(d)
|
Interpretation : In this Condition: |
1. |
The
following expressions shall have the following
meanings:
|
1.1 |
"
voting
certificate
"
means a certificate in the English language issued by a Paying Agent and
dated in which it is stated:
|
1.1.1 |
that
on that date Bonds (not being Bonds in respect of which a block voting
instruction has been issued and is outstanding in respect of the meeting
specified in such voting certificate or any adjournment of such meeting)
bearing specified serial numbers were deposited with such Paying Agent (or
to its order at a bank or other depositary) and that such Bonds will not
be released until the earlier of:
|
(a) |
the
conclusion of the meeting specified in such certificate or any adjournment
of it; and
|
(b) |
the
surrender of the certificate to the Paying Agent which issued it;
and
|
1.1.2 |
that
its bearer is entitled to attend and vote at such meeting or any
adjournment of it in respect of the Bonds represented by such
certificate;
|
1.2 |
"
block
voting instruction
"
means a document in the English language issued by a Paying Agent and date
in which:
|
1.2.1 |
it
is certified that Bonds (not being Bonds in respect of which a voting
certificate has been issued and is outstanding in respect of the meeting
specified in such block voting instruction or any adjournment of it) have
been deposited with such Paying Agent (or to its order at a bank or other
depositary) and that such Bonds will not be released until the earlier
of:
|
(a) |
the
conclusions of the meeting specified in such document or any adjournment
of it; and
|
(b) |
the
surrender, not less that 48 hours before the time fixed for such meeting
or adjournment, of the receipt for each such deposited Bond which is to be
released to the Paying Agent which issued it and the notification of such
surrender by such Paying Agent to the
Issuer;
|
1.2.2 |
it
is certified that each depositor of such Bonds or a duly authorised agent
on his behalf has instructed such Paying Agent that the votes attributable
to his Bonds so deposited should be cast in a particular way in relation
to the resolution to be put to such meeting or any adjournment of it and
that all such instructions are, during the period of 48 hours before the
time fixed for such meeting or adjourned meeting, neither revocable nor
subject to amendment;
|
1.2.3 |
the
total number and the serial numbers of the Bonds so deposited are listed,
distinguishing with regard to each such resolution between those in
respect of which instructions have been given (i) to vote for, and (ii) to
vote against, the resolution; and
|
1.2.4 |
any
person named in such document (a "
proxy
")
is authorised and instructed by such Paying Agent to vote in respect of
the Bonds so listed in accordance with the instructions referred to in
1.2.3
above
as
set out in such document.
|
1.3 |
"
24
hours
"
shall mean a period of 24 hours including all or part of a day upon which
banks are open for business in both the place where the relevant meeting
is to be held and in each of the places where the Paying Agents have their
specified offices (disregarding for this purpose the day upon which such
meeting is to be held) and such period shall be extended by one period or,
to the extent necessary, more periods of 24 hours until there is included
as aforesaid all or part of a day upon which banks are open for business
in all of the places as aforesaid; and
|
1.4 |
"
48
hours
"
shall mean a period of 48 hours including all or part of a day upon which
banks are open for business in both the place where the relevant meeting
is to be held and in each of the places where the Paying Agents have their
specified offices (disregarding for this purpose the day upon which such
meeting is to be held) and such period shall be extended by one period or,
to the extent necessary, more periods of 24 hours until there is included
as aforesaid all or part of two days upon which banks are open for
business in all of the places as aforesaid.
|
1.5 |
References
in this Schedule 5 to Ambac shall apply only for so long as Ambac is the
Controlling Party.
|
2. |
A
holder of a Bond may obtain a voting certificate from a Paying Agent or
require a Paying Agent to issue a block voting instruction by depositing
his Bond with such Paying Agent not later than 48 hours before the time
fixed for any meeting. Voting certificates and block voting instructions
shall be valid until the relevant Bonds are released pursuant to paragraph
1
above
and until then the holders of any such voting certificate or (as the case
may be) the proxy named in any such block voting instruction shall, for
all purposed in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of
Bondholders, be deemed to be the holder of the Bonds to which such voting
certificate or block voting instruction relates and the Paying Agent with
which (or to the order of which) such Bonds have been deposited shall be
deemed for such purposes not to be the holder of those
Bonds.
|
3. |
Each
of the Issuer, Ambac and the Trustee at any time may, and the Trustee
(subject to its being indemnified to its satisfaction against all costs
and expenses thereby occasioned) upon a request in writing of Bondholders
holding not less than one-tenth in principal amount of the Bonds for the
time being outstanding shall, convene a meeting of Bondholders. Whenever
any such party is about to convene any such meeting it shall forthwith
give notice in writing to the other parties of the day, time and place of
the meeting and of the nature of the business to be transacted at it.
Every such meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Trustee may
approve.
|
4. |
At
least 21 days' notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given
and of the day on which the meeting is held) specifying the day, time and
place of meeting shall be given to the Bondholders (with a copy to the
Issuer and Ambac or, where the meeting is convened by the Issuer, Ambac
and the Trustee). A copy of the notice shall in all cases be given by the
party convening the meeting to the other parties. Such notice shall also
specify, unless in any particular case the Trustee otherwise agrees, the
nature of the resolutions to be proposed and shall include a statement to
the effect that Bonds may be deposited with (or to the order of) any
Paying Agent for the purpose of obtaining voting certificates or
appointing proxies not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the
meeting.
|
5. |
A
person (who may, but need not, be a Bondholder) nominated in writing by
the Trustee may take the chair at every such meeting but if no such
nomination is made or if at any meeting the person nominated shall not be
present within 15 minutes after the time fixed for the meeting the
Bondholders present shall choose one of their number to be chairman,
failing which the Issuer may appoint a chairman. The chairman of an
adjourned meeting need to be the same person as was chairman the original
meeting.
|
6. |
At
any such meeting any one or more persons present in person holding Bonds
or voting certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not
less than one-tenth in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding shall (except for the purpose of passing an Extraordinary
Resolution) form a quorum for the transaction of business and no business
(other than the choosing of a chairman) shall be transacted at any meeting
unless the requisite quorum be present at the commencement of business.
The quorum at any such meeting for passing an Extraordinary Resolution
shall (subject as provided below) be one or more persons present in person
holding Bonds or voting certificates and holding or representing in the
aggregate a clear majority in principal amount of the Bonds for the time
being outstanding provided that at any meeting the business of which
includes any of the matters specified in the proviso in paragraph
19
below
the quorum shall be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or
voting certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not less
than two-thirds in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding.
|
7. |
If
within 15 minutes from the time fixed for any such meeting a quorum is not
present the meeting shall, if convened upon the requisition of
Bondholders, be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned
(unless the Issuer, Ambac and the Trustee agree that it be dissolved) for
such period, not being less than 14 days nor more than 42 days, and to
such place, as may be decided by the chairman. At such adjourned meeting
one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or voting certificates
(whatever the principal amount of the Bonds so held or represented) shall
form a quorum and may pass any resolution and decide upon all matters
which could properly have been dealt with at the meeting from which the
adjournment took place had quorum been present at such meeting provided
that at any adjourned meeting at which is to be proposed an Extraordinary
Resolution for the purpose of effecting any of the modifications specified
in the proviso to paragraph
19
below
the quorum shall be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or
voting certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not less
than one-third in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding.
|
8. |
The
chairman may with the consent of (and shall if directed by) any meeting
adjourn such meeting from time to time and from place to place but no
business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business
which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the
adjournment took place.
|
9. |
At
least 10 days' notice of any meeting adjourned through want of a quorum
shall be given in the same manner as for an original meeting and such
notice shall state the quorum required at such adjourned meeting. It shall
not, however, otherwise be necessary to give any notice of an adjourned
meeting.
|
10. |
Every
question submitted to a meeting shall be decided in the first instance by
a show of hands and in case of equality of votes of the chairman shall
both on a show of hands and on a poll have a casting vote in addition to
the vote or votes (if any) which he may have as a Bondholder or as a
holder of a voting certificate.
|
11. |
At
any meeting, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result
of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman, the Issuer, Ambac, the
Trustee or by one or more persons holding one or more Bonds or voting
certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than
one-fiftieth in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been
carried or carried by a particular majority or lost or not carried by any
particular majority shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof
of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against
such resolution.
|
12. |
If
at any meeting a poll is so demanded, it shall be taken in such manner and
(subject as provided below) either at once or after such an adjournment as
the chairman directs and the resolute of such poll shall be deemed to be
the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded as at the
date of the taking of the poll. The demand for a poll shall not prevent
the continuation of the meeting for the transaction of any business other
than the question on which the poll has been
demanded.
|
13. |
Any
poll demanded at any meeting on the election of a chairman or on any
question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting without
adjournment.
|
14. |
The
issuer, the Trustee and Ambac (through their respective representatives)
and their respective financial and legal advisers may attend and speak at
any meeting of Bondholders. No one else may attend at any meeting of
Bondholders or join with others in requesting the convening of such a
meeting unless he is the holder of a Bond or a voting
certificate.
|
15. |
At
any meeting on a show of hands every person who is present in person and
who produces a Bond or voting certificate shall have one vote and on a
poll every person who is so present shall have one vote in respect of each
£50,000 principal amount of the Bonds so produced or represented by the
voting certificate. Without prejudice to the obligations of proxies named
in any block voting instruction, any person entitled to more than one vote
need not use all his votes or cast all the votes to which he is entitled
in the same way.
|
16. |
The
proxy named in any block voting instruction need not be a
Bondholder.
|
17. |
Each
block voting instruction shall be deposited at the registered office of
the Issuer, or at such other place as the Trustee shall designate or
approve, not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for holding the
meeting or adjourned meeting at which the proxy named in the block voting
instruction proposes to vote and in default the block voting instruction
shall not be treated as valid unless the chairman of the meeting decides
otherwise before such meeting or adjourned meeting proceeds to business. A
notarially certified copy of each such block voting instruction and
satisfactory proof (if applicable) shall if required by the Trustee be
produced by the proxy at the meeting or adjourned meeting but the Trustee
shall not thereby be obliged to investigate or be concerned with the
validity of, or the authority of, the proxy named in any such block voting
instruction.
|
18. |
Any
vote given in accordance with the terms of a block voting instruction
shall be valid even if the block voting instruction or any of the
Bondholders' instructions pursuant to which it was executed has been
previously revoked or amended, provided that no intimation in writing of
such revocation or amendment shall have been received from the relevant
Paying Agent by the Issuer or the Trustee at its registered office or by
the chairman of the meeting in each case not less than 24 hours before the
time fixed for the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the block voting
instruction is used.
|
19. |
A
meeting of Bondholders shall, subject to the Conditions, in addition to
the powers given above, but without prejudice to any powers conferred on
other persons by this Trust Deed, have power exercisable by Extraordinary
Resolution:
|
19.1 |
to
sanction any proposal by the Issuer or Ambac for any modification,
abrogation, variation or compromise of, or arrangement in respect of, the
rights of the Bondholders and/or the Couponholders against the Issuer
(whether such rights shall arise under this Trust Deed or otherwise) or
the obligations of Ambac under the Financial
Guarantee);
|
19.2 |
to
sanction the exchange or substitution for the Bonds of, or the conversion
of the Bonds into, shares, bonds, or other obligations or securities of
the Issuer or any other body corporate formed or to be
formed;
|
19.3 |
to
assent to any modification of this Trust Deed, the Bonds or the Coupons
which shall be proposed by the Issuer or the
Trustee;
|
19.4 |
to
authorise anyone to occur in and do all such things as may be necessary to
carry out and give effect to any Extraordinary
Resolution;
|
19.5 |
to
give any authority, direction or sanction which under this Trust Deed or
the Bonds is required to be given by Extraordinary
Resolution;
|
19.6 |
to
appoint any persons (whether Bondholders or not) as a committee or
committees to represent the interests of the Bondholders and to confer
upon such committee or committees any powers or discretions which the
Bondholders could themselves exercise by Extraordinary
Resolution;
|
19.7 |
to
approve a person proposed to be appointed as a new Trustee and to remove
any Trustee;
|
19.8 |
to
approve the substitution of any entity for the issuer (or any previous
substitute) as principal debtor under this Trust Deed or the substitution
of any person for Ambac as guarantor under the Financial
Guarantee;
|
19.9 |
to
discharge or exonerate the Trustee from any liability in respect of any
act or omission for which it may become responsible under this Trust Deed,
the Bonds or the Coupons; and
|
19.10 |
to
waive or authorise any breach by the Issuer or Ambac of their respective
obligations under this Trust Deed and the Financial
Guarantee;
|
19.10.1 |
postponing
the maturity of the Bonds or the dates on which interest is payable in
respect of the Bonds; or
|
19.10.2 |
reducing
or cancelling the principal amount of, any premium payable on redemption
of, or interest on the Bonds; or
|
19.10.3 |
changing
the currency of payment of the Bonds; or
|
19.10.4 |
modifying
the provisions contained in this Schedule concerning the quorum required
at any meeting of Bondholders or the majority required to pass an
Extraordinary Resolution; or
|
19.10.5 |
amending
this proviso.
|
20. |
An
Extraordinary Resolution passed at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened
and held in accordance with this Trust Deed shall be binding upon all the
Bondholders, whether or not present at such meeting, and upon all the
Couponholders and each of the Bondholders and Couponholders shall be bound
to give effect to it accordingly. The passing of any such resolution shall
be conclusive evidence that the circumstances of such resolution justify
the passing of it.
|
21. |
The
expression "
Extraordinary
Resolution
"
means a resolute on passed at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened and
held in accordance with these provisions by a majority consisting of not
less than three-quarters of the votes cast.
|
22. |
Minutes
of all resolutions and proceedings at every such meeting shall be made and
entered in the books to be from time to time provided for that purpose by
the Issuer or the Trustee and any such minutes, if purporting to be signed
by the chairman of the meeting at which such resolutions were passed or
proceedings transacted or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting
of Bondholders, shall be conclusive evidence of the matters contained in
them and until the contrary is proved every such meeting in respect of the
proceedings of which minutes have been so made and signed shall be deemed
to have been duly convened and held and all resolutions passed or
proceedings transacted at it to have been duly passed and
transacted.
|
23. |
Subject
to all other provisions contained in this Trust Deed the Trustee may
without the consent of the Bondholders prescribe such further regulations
regarding the holding of meetings of Bondholders and attendance and voting
at them as the Trustee may in its sole discretion determine including
particularly (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing)
such regulations and requirements as the Trustee thinks
reasonable:
|
23.1 |
so
as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to requisite on a meeting in
accordance with paragraph
3
above
or
who purport to make any requisition to the Trustee in accordance with this
Trust Deed are in fact Bondholders; and
|
23.2 |
as
to the form of voting certificates or block voting instructions to be
issued pursuant to paragraph
1
above
so
as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to attend or vote at any
meeting of Bondholders are entitled to do so in accordance with this Trust
Deed.
|
(a) |
except
as otherwise specifically provided herein and subject to the rights of the
Controlling Party, to make any determination contemplated or required
under this Trust Deed (including any determination as to the occurrence or
otherwise of an Ambac Event of Default) (but for the avoidance of doubt,
save as otherwise specifically provided herein, Excluded Rights shall not
include the right to exercise any rights consequent on such
determination);
|
(b) |
to
agree to make any amendment or any repeated waiver or consent which has
the effect of resulting in or permitting any amendment to the provisions
of the Financial Guarantee;
|
(c) |
to
make any claim under, enforce or agree to any amendment to the Financial
Guarantee;
|
(d) |
which
is provided for the purpose of enabling the Trustee to protect its own
interests;
|
(e) |
which
relates to the application by the Trustee of (i) the principal and premium
(if any) of the Bonds on a redemption of the Bonds, or (ii) any interest
payable on the Bonds from time to time;
|
(f) |
to
determine amounts due in relation to indemnities in favour of the Trustee
under this Trust Deed;
|
(g) |
to
require the making of any payment due and payable to it or the
Bondholders;
|
(h) |
unless
at such time Ambac is the Controlling Party, to determine whether to
require acceleration of the Bonds in accordance with Condition 11
(
Issuer
Events of Default
)
of the Bonds;
|
(i) |
to
determine the amount of sums due in relation to expenses and stamp duties
pursuant to this Trust Deed; and
|
(j) |
to
make a claim for expenses under this Trust
Deed.
|
EXECUTED as a DEED and delivered by |
)
|
|
NORTHERN ELECTRIC FINANCE PLC |
)
|
|
acting by a Director and the Secretary |
)
|
|
/s/ Ken Linge | ||
Ken Linge | ||
Director | ||
/s/ John Elliott | ||
John Elliott | ||
Secretary |
EXECUTED as a DEED and delivered by |
)
|
|
NORTHERN ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LIMITED |
)
|
|
acting by a Director and the Secretary |
)
|
|
/s/ Ken Linge | ||
Ken Linge | ||
Director | ||
/s/ John Elliott | ||
John Elliott | ||
Secretary |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
)
|
Seal |
under the Common Seal of |
)
|
|
AMBAC ASSURANCE UK LIMITED |
)
|
|
in the presence of |
)
|
|
/s/
Thomas Jacquot
|
||
Thomas Jacquot | ||
Authorised Signatory |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
)
|
|
By HSBC TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED |
)
|
|
in the presence of: |
)
|
|
/s/ Paul Cattermole | ||
Paul Cattermole | ||
Authorised Signatory | ||
/s/ Ian Grahm | ||
Ian Graham | ||
Authorised Signatory |
|
EXECUTION
COPY
|
||
DATED
5 MAY 2005
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC FINANCE PLC
and
|
|||
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LTD.
and
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED
|
|||
REIMBURSEMENT AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
|
CONTENTS
|
||
Clause
|
Page
|
|
1.
|
Definitions
And Interpretation
|
3
|
2.
|
Representations,
Warranties And Covenants
|
7
|
3.
|
Issue
Of The Financial Guarantee
|
12
|
4.
|
Subrogation
|
13
|
5.
|
Reimbursement
Obligation
|
13
|
6.
|
Indemnity
|
14
|
7.
|
Guarantee
By The Guarantor
|
16
|
8.
|
Value
Added Tax
|
18
|
9.
|
Term
Of This Agreement
|
18
|
10.
|
Further
Assurances
|
18
|
11.
|
Obligations
Absolute
|
18
|
12.
|
Assignment
|
19
|
13.
|
Liability
Of Ambac
|
19
|
14.
|
Payment
Procedure
|
20
|
15.
|
Remedies
And Waivers
|
21
|
16.
|
Amendment,
Partial Invalidity And Counterparts
|
21
|
17.
|
Notices
|
22
|
18.
|
Contracts
(Rights Of Third Parties) Act 1999
|
23
|
19.
|
Economic
And Monetary Union
|
23
|
20.
|
Confidentiality
|
24
|
21.
|
Law
And Jurisdiction
|
24
|
(1) |
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC FINANCE PLC
,
a
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (registered
number 3070482) (the "
Issuer
");
|
(2) |
NORTHERN
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION LTD.
, a
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (registered
number 02906593) (the "
Guarantor
");
and
|
(3) |
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED,
a
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (registered
number 3248674) ("
Ambac
").
|
(A) |
Pursuant
to the Trust Deed, the Issuer will issue the
Bonds.
|
(B) |
The
Issuer has requested that Ambac issue the Financial Guarantee in respect
of all of the Bonds, pursuant to the terms of the Financial Guarantee (the
"
Guaranteed
Obligations
").
|
(C) |
The
Issuer will use the proceeds of the Bond issue for,
inter
alia
,
the Issuer's general corporate purposes, to repay a portion of the
Issuer's indebtedness as it falls due and to meet certain transaction fees
and expenses.
|
(D) |
The
Parties hereto agree that the issue of the Financial Guarantee is
conditional upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent as set
out in the Subscription Agreement.
|
(E) |
The
Guarantor has agreed to guarantee to Ambac the due and punctual observance
and performance by the Issuer of all its monetary obligations under the
Finance Documents.
|
1. |
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
Definitions
|
1.1.1 |
Except
as otherwise defined herein, all terms defined in the Financial Guarantee
(including definitions incorporated therein by reference to another
document) shall have the same respective meanings when used in this
Agreement (including the Recitals).
|
1.1.2 |
In
this Agreement, the following words and expressions shall, except where
the context otherwise requires have the following respective
meanings:
|
1.2 |
Construction
|
1.3 |
Currency
Symbols
|
1.3.1 |
"
£
"
and "
sterling
"
denote lawful currency of the United
Kingdom.
|
1.3.2 |
"
euro
"
and "
EUR
"
means the single currency of the European Union as constituted by the
Treaty on European Union and
"euro
unit"
means the currency unit of the euro.
|
1.4 |
Agreements
and Statutes
|
1.4.1 |
this
Agreement or any other agreement or document shall be construed as a
reference to this Agreement or, as the case may be, such other agreement
or document as the same may have been, or may from time to time be,
amended, varied, novated or
supplemented; and
|
1.4.2 |
a
statute or treaty shall be construed as a reference to such statute or
treaty as the same may have been, or may from time to time be, amended or,
in the case of a statute, re-enacted.
|
1.5 |
Time
|
1.6 |
Trustee
|
1.7 |
Headings
|
2. |
REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
|
2.1 |
Representations
and warranties
|
2.1.1 |
Representations
and warranties of the Issuer
|
(a) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that the representations and warranties made by
the Issuer, on its own behalf and contained in Clause 3 of the
Subscription Agreement and in any other Finance Documents are true and
correct in all respects on the date made.
|
(b) |
The
Issuer makes each of the representations and warranties made by it under
Clause 3 of the Subscription Agreement and in any other Finance Documents
to Ambac on the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date and on any
other date on which such representations and warranties are deemed to be
repeated in the relevant Finance Document as if those representations and
warranties were set out in this Agreement
mutatis
mutandis
.
|
(c) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that, except for the Put Option described in
Condition 13 of the Bonds, there are no put options, or any other rights
in either case having substantially the same effect as the Put Option, in
relation to any indebtedness of the Issuer, other than the obligations
contained in each of (i) Condition 7 (
Redemption
at the Option of Bondholders
)
of the terms and conditions of Northern Electric Finance plc's
£100,000,000 8.875 per cent. Guaranteed Bonds due 2020 and (ii) Condition
7 (
Redemption
at the Option of Bondholders
)
of the terms and conditions of Northern Electric Finance plc's
£100,000,000 8.625 per cent. Guaranteed Bonds due 2005.
|
(d) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that there are no negative pledges, or any
other restrictions over the granting of any Security Interest upon, or
with respect to, any Relevant Indebtedness of the Issuer, other than the
Existing Negative Pledge, the Negative Pledge described in Condition 4 of
the Bonds, (at any time that the Issuer is a "Significant Subsidiary" as
defined in the Indenture referred to below) the obligations contained in
Section 1014 (
Limitation
on Liens
)
of the Indenture dated as of December 15, 1997 between, inter alios, CE
Electric UK Funding Company and The Bank of New York as Trustee and
relating to, inter alia, CE Electric UK Funding Company's US$237,000,000
6.995% Senior Notes due 2007, and the obligations contained in Condition 5
(
Negative
Pledge
)
of CE Electric UK Funding Company's £200,000,000 7.25% Guaranteed Bonds
due 2022.
|
(e) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that since its incorporation it has not engaged
in any activities other than the activities referred to in, or
contemplated by, the Finance Documents and the Offering
Circular.
|
(f) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that it is not a party to any agreement or
transaction constituting a currency or interest rate swap, cap or collar
arrangement, forward exchange transaction, option, warrant, forward rate
agreement, futures contract or other derivative instrument of any kind for
the hedging or management of foreign exchange or interest rate risks or
any other inflation rate risks or similar derivative
instruments.
|
2.1.2 |
Representations
and Warranties of the
Guarantor
|
(a) |
The
Guarantor represents to Ambac that the representations and warranties made
by the Guarantor, on its own behalf and contained in Clause 3 of the
Subscription Agreement and in any other Finance Documents are true and
correct in all respects on the date made.
|
(b) |
The
Guarantor makes each of the representations and warranties made by it
under Clause 3 of the Subscription Agreement and in any other Finance
Documents to Ambac on the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date
and on any other date on which such representations and warranties are
deemed to be repeated in the relevant Finance Document as if those
representations and warranties were set out in this Agreement
mutatis
mutandis
.
|
(c) |
The
Guarantor represents to Ambac that, except for the Put Option described in
Condition 13 of the Bonds, there are no put options, or any other rights
in either case having substantially the same effect as the Put Option, in
relation to any indebtedness of the Guarantor, other than the obligations
contained in each of (i) Condition 7 (
Redemption
at the Option of Bondholders
)
of the terms and conditions of Northern Electric Finance plc's
£100,000,000 8.875 per cent. Guaranteed Bonds due 2020 and (ii) Condition
7 (
Redemption
at the Option of Bondholders
)
of the terms and conditions of Northern Electric Finance plc's
£100,000,000 8.625 per cent. Guaranteed Bonds due
2005.
|
(d) |
The
Guarantor represents to Ambac that there are no negative pledges, or any
other restrictions over the granting of any Security Interest upon, or
with respect to, any Relevant Indebtedness of the Guarantor, other than
the Existing Negative Pledge, the Negative Pledge described in Condition 4
of the Bonds, (at any time that NEDL is a "Significant Subsidiary" as
defined in the Indenture referred to below) the obligations contained in
Section 1014 (
Limitation
on Liens
)
of the Indenture dated as of December 15, 1997 between, inter alios, CE
Electric UK Funding Company and The Bank of New York as Trustee and
relating to, inter alia, CE Electric UK Funding Company's US$237,000,000
6.995% Senior Notes due 2007, and the obligations contained in Condition 5
(
Negative
Pledge
)
of CE Electric UK Funding Company's £200,000,000 7.25% Guaranteed Bonds
due 2022.
|
2.2 |
Covenants
|
2.2.1 |
Covenants
of the Issuer
|
(a) |
it
will comply with the undertakings and covenants set out in the Finance
Documents to which it is a party including without limitation in Clause 4
of the Subscription Agreement as if such covenants were incorporated
mutatis
mutandis
into this Agreement;
|
(b) |
it
will forthwith notify Ambac of anything which has or may reasonably be
expected to have rendered untrue or incorrect in any respect any of the
representations and warranties in Clause 2.1 of this Agreement and which
is material in the context of the issue and offering of the Bonds and of
the transactions contemplated by the Finance Documents or the issue of the
Financial Guarantee;
|
(c) |
it
will provide Ambac with any information, notices, including,
inter
alia
,
management accounts (in such form as they are produced by the Issuer),
audited financial statements and other financial information promptly on
request after the same become available;
|
(d) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, that the duties and obligations of the Issuer
herein shall continue in full force and effect until all of the
obligations of all Obligors under the Finance Documents have been fully
and irrevocably discharged, notwithstanding payment by the Issuer or the
Guarantor of all amounts due in respect of the Bonds;
|
(e) |
that,
prior to the Trustee presenting a Notice of Demand to Ambac, the Issuer
will have utilised all other financial resources available to it for the
purposes of paying interest and/or principal and/or any other sums due to
the Bondholders of the relevant Bonds;
|
(f) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, it will, upon reasonable prior notice by Ambac
make appropriate management personnel available for a meeting (whether
conducted over the telephone or otherwise) with Ambac at a mutually
acceptable time and place to discuss the Issuer's operational and
financial performance over the preceding financial year and its financial
plans for the next three years;
|
(g) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, it will, as soon as reasonably practicable
after request by Ambac, provide appropriate personnel for a meeting
(whether conducted over the telephone or otherwise) with Ambac at a
mutually acceptable time and place if there occurs a significant change in
the financial position of the Issuer or any Subsidiary which is material
to the Issuer as shown in its most recent financial statements or in any
report produced by OFGEM concerning the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;
|
(h) |
in
consideration for Ambac's issuance of the Financial Guarantee, it will, on
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement:
|
(i) |
pay
or procure the payment, from time to time, of any Guarantee Fees due and
payable to Ambac in accordance with the Guarantee Fee Letter and this
Agreement;
|
(ii) |
promptly
pay to Ambac, all and any sums and fees due and payable to Ambac under the
Finance Documents including, for the avoidance of doubt, (if applicable)
the amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which Ambac determines
will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of
any Tax by Ambac (except any Tax by reference to the net income received
or receivable by Ambac) or in respect of, or applicable to, the payment of
such sums and fees, as provided for in the Finance Documents;
|
(iii) |
indemnify
and reimburse Ambac on the terms of this
Agreement;
|
(i) |
it
will not carry on or engage in any business or activity other than acting
as a finance vehicle for the purposes of borrowing money or raising
Financial Indebtedness (as defined in the terms and conditions at the
Bonds) and/or lending to affiliated companies and/or holding cash deposits
or other investment; and
|
(j) |
it
will not enter into any agreement or transaction constituting a currency
or interest rate swap, cap or collar arrangement, forward exchange
transaction, option, warrant, forward rate agreement, futures contract or
other derivative instrument of any kind for the hedging or management of
foreign exchange or interest rate risks or any other inflation rate risks
or similar derivative instruments.
|
2.2.2 |
Covenants
of the
Guarantor
|
(a) |
it
will comply with the undertakings and covenants set out in the Finance
Documents to which it is a party including without limitation in Clause 4
of the Subscription Agreement as if such covenants were incorporated
mutatis
mutandis
into this Agreement;
|
(b) |
it
will forthwith notify Ambac of anything of which it becomes aware and
which has or may reasonably be expected to have rendered untrue or
incorrect in any respect any of the representations and warranties in
Clause 2.1 of this Agreement and which is material in the context of the
issue and offering of the Bonds and of the transactions contemplated by
the Finance Documents or the issue of the Financial
Guarantee;
|
(c) |
it
will provide Ambac with any information, notices, including,
inter
alia
,
management accounts (in such form as they are produced by the Guarantor),
audited financial statements and other financial information promptly on
request after the same become available;
|
(d) |
it
will provide Ambac with copies of all reports relating to violations of
the Electricity Distribution Licence received by it or any of its
Subsidiaries from OFGEM, as soon as reasonably practicable after delivery
or receipt thereof;
|
(e) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, it will, upon reasonable prior notice by Ambac
make appropriate management personnel available for a meeting (whether
conducted over the telephone or otherwise) with Ambac at a mutually
acceptable time and place to discuss the Guarantor's operational and
financial performance over the preceding financial year and its financial
plans for the next three years;
|
(f) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, it will, as soon as reasonably practicable
after request by Ambac, provide appropriate personnel for a meeting
(whether conducted over the telephone or otherwise) with Ambac at a
mutually acceptable time and place if there occurs a significant change in
the financial position of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary which is
material to the Guarantor as shown in its most recent financial statements
or in any report produced by OFGEM concerning the Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries;
|
(g) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, that the duties and obligations of the
Guarantor herein shall continue in full force and effect until all of the
obligations of all the Obligors under the Finance Documents have been
fully and irrevocably discharged, notwithstanding payment by any Obligor
of all amounts due in respect of the Bonds;
and
|
(h) |
in
consideration for Ambac's issuance of the Financial Guarantee, it
irrevocably and unconditionally:
|
(i) |
guarantees
to Ambac the due and punctual observance and performance by the Issuer of
all its obligations under or pursuant to the Finance Documents and agrees
to pay to Ambac from time to time on demand all sums of money which the
Issuer is at any time liable to pay to Ambac under or pursuant to the
Finance Documents and which have become due and payable but have not been
paid at the time such demand is made; and
|
(ii) |
agrees
as a primary obligation to indemnify Ambac from time to time on demand
from and against any loss incurred by Ambac as a result of any of the
obligations of the Issuer under or pursuant to the Finance Documents being
or becoming void, voidable, unenforceable or ineffective as against the
Issuer for any reason whatsoever, whether or not known to Ambac, the
amount of such loss being the amount which Ambac would otherwise have been
entitled to recover from the Issuer.
|
3. |
ISSUE
OF THE FINANCIAL GUARANTEE
|
3.1 |
satisfaction
or waiver by Ambac (at its sole discretion) of all the conditions
precedent set out in the Subscription
Agreement;
|
3.2 |
confirmation
from the Lead Manager on behalf of the Managers (as defined in the
Subscription Agreement) that the conditions precedent set out in Clause
8.3 of the Subscription Agreement have been satisfied, without taking into
account any waiver by the Lead Manager of any such condition unless such
waiver has been approved by Ambac prior to such waiver being
given;
|
3.3 |
no
Potential Issuer Event of Default or Issuer Event of Default shall have
occurred;
|
3.4 |
there
having been no material adverse change (or event which is likely to result
in a material adverse change) in the international or domestic, syndicated
debt, bank or capital markets which may prejudice the offering or
distribution of any of the Bonds since 29 April 2005;
and
|
3.5 |
no
statute, rule, regulation or order having been executed, entered or deemed
applicable by any government or governmental or administrative agency or
court having any relevant jurisdiction that would make the transactions
contemplated by any of the Finance Documents and the Financial Guarantee
illegal or otherwise prevent the consummation
thereof.
|
4. |
SUBROGATION
|
4.1 |
The
Issuer agrees that Ambac shall be subrogated to the rights of the
Bondholders to the extent of any payment made by Ambac under the Financial
Guarantee.
|
4.2 |
The
Issuer agrees that it shall not, by reason of any payment by Ambac under
the
Financial
Guarantee be discharged from its obligations under this
Agreement.
|
4.3 |
The
Issuer must take such actions as, in the sole judgment of Ambac, are
necessary to evidence such subrogation and to ensure that Ambac receives
any moneys paid or payable in respect of the Bonds under the Finance
Documents.
|
5. |
REIMBURSEMENT
OBLIGATION
|
5.1 |
Reimbursement
|
5.1.1 |
The
Issuer must reimburse Ambac for any payment made by Ambac under the
Financial Guarantee on the day on which Ambac makes a payment under the
Financial Guarantee.
|
5.1.2 |
If
the Issuer is required to reimburse Ambac pursuant to Clause 5.1.1, the
Issuer must reimburse Ambac:
|
(a) |
in
accordance with Clause 14.2 (
Payments
under this Agreement
);
|
(b) |
in
an amount equal to the aggregate of:
|
(i) |
the
amount paid by Ambac pursuant to the Financial Guarantee on that
date;
|
(ii) |
all
amounts previously paid by Ambac in connection with the Bonds which remain
outstanding from the Issuer to Ambac; and
|
(iii) |
interest
on any and all amounts which remain outstanding from the Issuer to Ambac
(to the extent permitted by law, if in respect of any unreimbursed amounts
representing interest) from the date the amounts became due until the date
on which the amounts are paid in full, at a rate of interest equal to the
Default Rate.
|
5.2 |
Costs
and Expenses
|
5.2.1 |
any
accounts established to facilitate payments under the Financial
Guarantee;
|
5.2.2 |
the
enforcement or exercise of, or preservation of any rights under, any
Finance Document; and
|
5.2.3 |
any
amendment, waiver, consent or other action with respect to, under or
pursuant to the Finance Documents, whether or not such amendment, waiver,
consent or other action is executed or
completed.
|
6. |
INDEMNITY
|
6.1 |
Right
of Indemnification
|
6.1.1 |
any
representation or warranty of the Issuer and/or the Guarantor under Clause
2.1 (
Representations
and Warranties
)
not being true or correct when given;
|
6.1.2 |
a
breach by the Issuer and/or the Guarantor of the covenants set out in
Clause 2.2 (
Covenants
);
|
6.1.3 |
the
occurrence of any Potential Issuer Event of Default or Issuer Event of
Default;
|
6.1.4 |
any
actual or alleged omission or action (other than of or by Ambac) in
connection with the offering, issue, sale, remarketing or delivery of the
Bonds;
|
6.1.5 |
any
actual or alleged untrue statement in the Offering Circular or any
omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Offering
Circular which is the responsibility of the Issuer or the Guarantor;
|
6.1.6 |
any
such Indemnified Party being obliged to indemnify, for whatever reason,
the Trustee or any agent, delegate or contractor of the Trustee pursuant
to and in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents;
or
|
6.1.7 |
investigating
any event or circumstance which Ambac in good faith believes might be or
become one of those matters referred to in paragraphs 6.1.1 to
6.1.6
or
in disputing or defending any claim in relation
thereto.
|
6.2 |
Conduct
of Proceedings
|
6.2.1 |
If
any action or proceeding is brought against any of the Indemnified Parties
in respect of which indemnity may be sought under Clause
6.1
(
Right
of Indemnification
)
of this Agreement from the Issuer or the Guarantor, the Indemnified Party
must promptly notify the Issuer and the Guarantor of the claim in
writing.
|
6.2.2 |
Subject
to Clause 6.2.4 below and no Potential Issuer Event of Default, or Issuer
Event of Default having occurred, the Issuer will have the option to
assume the defence of any action or proceeding brought against an
Indemnified Party, with legal advisers satisfactory to the Indemnified
Party (acting reasonably) so long as such Indemnified Party is satisfied
(acting reasonably) that any such action by the Issuer shall not be
prejudicial to such Indemnified Party.
|
6.2.3 |
The
Issuer and/or Guarantor shall not, without the prior written consent of
the Indemnified Party, settle or compromise, or consent to the entry of
judgment with respect to, any action or proceeding to which this Clause
6.2 relates unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liability arising
out of the matters which are the subject to such action or
proceeding.
|
6.2.4 |
If
the named parties to any action or proceeding include both the Indemnified
Party and the Issuer (or either of them) and the Indemnified Party has
been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defences
available to it which are different from or additional to those available
to the Issuer, the Issuer shall not have the right to assume the defence
of that action or proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at the
cost of the Issuer and to participate in the defence of any action or
proceeding brought against it.
|
6.2.5 |
The
Issuer undertakes to indemnify the Indemnified Parties against any loss or
liability which any of them incur as a consequence of the settlement of
any action or proceeding effected:
|
(a) |
with
the prior written consent of the Issuer (which consent must not be
unreasonably withheld);
|
(b) |
in
circumstances where the Issuer has been given notice of the action or
proceeding and has declined the option to defend such action or proceeding
under Clause 6.2.2 above; or
|
(c) |
if
the circumstances set out in Clause 6.2.4 above exist and the Issuer has
been given notice of the proceedings and of the advice of counsel
regarding the availability of separate defences (as described at Clause
6.2.4 above).
|
6.3 |
Other
Indemnifications
|
6.4 |
Payments
|
6.5 |
Limitation
on Indemnification
|
6.6 |
Continuing
Indemnity
|
6.6.1 |
extend
to the ultimate balance of the sums and liabilities which are or may
become owing to an Indemnified Party under this Agreement;
and
|
6.6.2 |
continue
in force notwithstanding any intermediate payment in whole or in part of
the sums and liabilities which are or may become owing to Ambac under this
Agreement.
|
7. |
GUARANTEE
BY
THE
GUARANTOR
|
7.1 |
The
obligations of the Guarantor contained in Clause 2.2.2(h) shall be in
addition to and independent of every other security which Ambac may at any
time hold in respect of any of the Issuer's obligations under the Finance
Documents.
|
7.2 |
Any
settlement or discharge given by Ambac to the Guarantor in respect of the
Guarantor’s obligations under this Agreement or any other agreement
reached between Ambac and the Guarantor in relation to it shall be, and be
deemed always to have been, void if any act on the faith of which Ambac
gave the Guarantor that settlement or discharge or entered into that
agreement is subsequently avoided by or in pursuance of any provision of
law.
|
7.3 |
Ambac
shall not be obliged before exercising any of the rights, powers or
remedies conferred upon it in respect of the guarantees granted by the
Guarantor under this Agreement or by law:
|
7.3.1 |
to
make any demand of the Issuer;
|
7.3.2 |
to
take any action or obtain judgment in any court against the
Issuer;
|
7.3.3 |
to
make or file any claim or proof in a winding-up or dissolution of the
Issuer; or
|
7.3.4 |
to
enforce or seek to enforce any security taken in respect of any of the
obligations of the Issuer under this Agreement or any other Finance
Document.
|
7.4 |
The
Guarantor agrees that, so long as the Issuer is under any actual or
contingent payment obligations under this Agreement or any other Finance
Document, the Guarantor shall not exercise any rights which it may at any
time have by reason of performance by it of its obligations under this
Agreement:
|
7.4.1 |
to
be indemnified by the Issuer or to receive any collateral from the Issuer;
and/or
|
7.4.2 |
to
claim any contribution from any other guarantor of the Issuer's
obligations under this Agreement or any other Finance
Document; and/or
|
7.4.3 |
to
take the benefit (in whole or in part and whether by way of subrogation or
otherwise) of any rights of Ambac under this Agreement or any other
Finance Document or of any other security taken pursuant to, or in
connection with, this Agreement by Ambac.
|
7.5 |
Continuing
Obligations
|
8. |
VALUE
ADDED TAX
|
8.1 |
VAT
Chargeable
|
8.2 |
Reimbursement
|
9. |
TERM
OF THIS AGREEMENT
|
9.1 |
Subject
to Clause 9.2 below, this Agreement shall take effect on the Closing Date
and shall terminate on the date which is the later
of:
|
9.1.1 |
the
date on which Ambac is no longer subject to a claim (including any claim
arising from a payment made by the Issuer being declared a preference)
under the Financial Guarantee; and
|
9.1.2 |
the
date on which all amounts payable to Ambac by the Issuer under this
Agreement and all amounts (actually or contingently) payable under the
Bonds have been paid in full.
|
9.2 |
The
provisions of Clauses
1
(
Definitions
and Interpretation
),
4
(
Subrogation
),
5
(
Reimbursement
Obligation
),
6
(
Indemnity
),
8
(
Value
Added Tax
)
and this Clause
9
shall survive any termination of this
Agreement.
|
10. |
FURTHER
ASSURANCES
|
11. |
OBLIGATIONS
ABSOLUTE
|
11.1 |
the
winding-up, dissolution, administration or re-organisation of
any
Obligor or any other person or any change in its status, control or
ownership;
|
11.2 |
any
of the obligations of any Obligor under any of the Finance Documents being
or becoming illegal, invalid, unenforceable or ineffective in any
respect;
|
11.3 |
any
time or other indulgence being granted to any Obligor in respect of its
respective obligations under any of the Finance
Documents;
|
11.4 |
any
amendment to, or any variation, waiver, exchange or release of, any
obligation of any Obligor under any of the Finance
Documents;
|
11.5 |
the
existence of any claim, set-off or any other right that any Obligor (as
the case may be) may have against Ambac;
|
11.6 |
any
other circumstances, other than payment in full, that might otherwise
constitute a defence available to, or discharge of, any Obligor in respect
of the Finance Documents;
|
11.7 |
any
document presented in connection with the Financial Guarantee proving to
be forged or fraudulent (other than forgery or fraud caused by Ambac),
invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement in any document
being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
and
|
11.8 |
any
payment by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee against presentation of a
certificate or other document that does not strictly comply with the terms
of the Financial Guarantee.
|
12. |
ASSIGNMENT
|
13. |
LIABILITY
OF AMBAC
|
13.1 |
the
use of the Financial Guarantee by the
Trustee;
|
13.2 |
any
acts or omissions of the Trustee in connection with the use of the
Financial Guarantee by the Trustee; or
|
13.3 |
the
validity of documents delivered to Ambac in connection with any claim
under the
Financial
Guarantee, or of any signatures thereon, even if such documents or
signatures should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient or (unless relevant officers of Ambac shall have actual
knowledge thereof) fraudulent or forged.
|
14. |
PAYMENT
PROCEDURE
|
14.1 |
Payments
by Ambac
|
14.2 |
Payments
under this Agreement
|
14.2.1 |
without
set-off or counterclaim;
|
14.2.2 |
on
the date on which such payment becomes due and payable (and in respect of
any payment made by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee, the date on which
Ambac makes such payment);
|
14.2.3 |
in
the currency in which the relevant Bonds are denominated (in relation to
any payments relating to such Bonds) or in the currency in which the
amounts are incurred by Ambac (in relation to costs, fees, liabilities and
other indemnities);
|
14.2.4 |
in
immediately available funds to the account number specified in the
Guarantee Fee Letter (or to such other account as Ambac may direct by
written notice to the Obligors); and
|
14.2.5 |
without
any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law (in which
case, the amount of the payment due from the Obligors must be increased to
an amount which (after making the Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to
the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been
required).
|
14.3 |
Interest
on late payments
|
14.4 |
Determination
of amount due
|
14.5 |
Tax
Credit
|
14.5.1 |
a
Tax Credit is attributable to that tax payment;
and
|
14.5.2 |
Ambac
has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax
Credit,
|
14.6 |
Tax
Liability
|
15. |
REMEDIES
AND WAIVERS
|
15.1 |
The
rights of Ambac under this
Agreement:
|
15.1.1 |
may
be exercised as often as is necessary;
|
15.1.2 |
are
cumulative and not exclusive of its rights under the general law;
and
|
15.1.3 |
are
in addition to any rights and remedies provided for in the Finance
Documents; and
|
15.1.4 |
may
be waived only in writing.
|
15.2 |
Any
delay in exercising or non-exercise by Ambac of any right of Ambac under
this Agreement is not a waiver of that
right.
|
15.3 |
Ambac
shall have the right to exercise in its complete discretion the waiver of
any default under this Agreement by written notice setting forth the
terms, conditions and extent of such waiver. Unless such notice expressly
provides to the contrary, any waiver so granted shall extend only to the
specific event or occurrence which gave rise to the Default so waived and
not to any other similar event or occurrence which occurs subsequent to
the date of such waiver.
|
16. |
AMENDMENT,
PARTIAL INVALIDITY AND
COUNTERPARTS
|
16.1 |
Amendment
|
16.2 |
Partial
Invalidity
|
16.3 |
Counterparts
|
17. |
NOTICES
|
17.1 |
Communications
in Writing
|
(i) |
To
Ambac:
|
(ii) |
To
the Issuer:
|
(iii) |
To
the Guarantor:
|
17.2 |
Delivery
|
17.2.1 |
(in
the case of any communication made by letter) when delivered to that
address; or
|
17.2.2 |
(in
the case of any communication by fax) when transmission of such fax
communication has been received in legible form and receipt has been
confirmed, and communication verified, by telephone (save for any
communications to Ambac, where such communication shall be deemed to be
received on the day it is actually received and then only if expressly
marked for the attention of the officer identified with the signature of
Ambac below, or such other officer as Ambac shall from time to time
specify for this purpose) provided that in either case if such
communication or document would otherwise be deemed to have been received
or actually received on a day which is not a business day or, for the
avoidance of doubt, falls outside business hours, it shall be deemed to
have been received on the next subsequent business
day.
|
17.3 |
English
Language
|
18. |
CONTRACTS
(RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES) ACT 1999
|
19. |
ECONOMIC
AND MONETARY UNION
|
19.1.1 |
unless
prohibited by law, Ambac may designate the currency or currency unit in
which any obligations arising under this Agreement otherwise payable in
Sterling are to be denominated or payable;
|
19.1.2 |
unless
prohibited by law, any translation from one currency or currency unit to
another shall be made at the official rate of exchange recognised by the
Bank of England for conversion, rounded up or down by Ambac;
and
|
19.1.3 |
this
Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as
Ambac may specify from time to time to be appropriate to reflect (a) the
adoption of the euro in the United Kingdom and (b) any relevant market
practices relating to the euro.
|
20. |
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
20.1 |
Confidential
Information
|
20.2 |
Permitted
Disclosure
|
20.2.1 |
such
data and information has come into the public domain other than by any
breach of this Agreement;
|
20.2.2 |
such
disclosure is made to any third party with whom Ambac has dealings
(including, any affiliate of Ambac); or
|
20.2.3 |
such
data and information is made available to professional advisors of Ambac
the Issuer or the Guarantor for the purpose of performing their
duties;
|
20.2.4 |
such
disclosure is required by any applicable law or court
order.
|
21. |
LAW
AND JURISDICTION
|
21.1 |
English
Law
|
21.2 |
English
Courts
|
21.3 |
Consent
to Enforcement
|
21.4 |
Waiver
of Immunity
|
C L I F F O R D | LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP | ||
C H A N C E |
|
||
EXECUTION COPY |
CONTENTS
|
||
Clause
|
Page
|
|
1.
|
Interpretation
|
1
|
2.
|
Amount
of the Bonds and covenant to pay
|
6
|
3.
|
Form
and issue of the Bonds
|
9
|
4.
|
Stamp
duties and taxes
|
11
|
5.
|
The
Trust
Deed, the Bonds and the Financial Guarantee
|
11
|
6.
|
Application
of moneys received by the Trustee
|
12
|
7.
|
Ambac
and the
Financial
Guarantee
|
13
|
8.
|
Covenants
by the Issuer
|
14
|
9.
|
Covenants
by Ambac
|
18
|
10.
|
Covenants
by the Issuer in favour of Ambac
|
20
|
11.
|
Remuneration
and Indemnification of the Trustee
|
22
|
12.
|
Provisions
supplemental to the Trustee Act 1925
|
24
|
13.
|
Trustee
liable for negligence
|
28
|
14.
|
Waiver
|
28
|
15.
|
Trustee
not precluded from entering into contracts
|
29
|
16.
|
Modification
and substitution
|
29
|
17.
|
Appointment
retirement and removal of the Trustee
|
31
|
18.
|
Coupons
|
32
|
19.
|
Controlling
Party
|
33
|
20.
|
Currency
indemnity
|
33
|
21.
|
Communications
|
34
|
22.
|
Governing
Law
|
35
|
23.
|
Counterparts
|
35
|
SCHEDULE
1
|
FORM
OF TEMPORARY GLOBAL BOND
|
36
|
SCHEDULE
2
|
FORM
OF PERMANENT GLOBAL BOND
|
45
|
SCHEDULE
3
|
FORM
OF DEFINITIVE BOND
|
52
|
SCHEDULE
4
|
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THE BONDS
|
57
|
SCHEDULE
5
|
PROVISIONS
FOR MEETINGS OF BONDHOLDERS
|
87
|
SCHEDULE
6
|
EXCLUDED
RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE
|
94
|
(1) |
YORKSHIRE
ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC
(the
"
Issuer
"),
a public company incorporated in England and Wales with limited liability
under registered number 04112320;
|
(2) |
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED
("
Ambac
"),
a company incorporated in England and Wales with limited liability under
registered number 3248674; and
|
(3) |
HSBC
TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED
(the "
Trustee
",
which expression shall, where the content so admits, include all persons
for the time being the trustee or trustees of this Trust Deed (as defined
below)).
|
(A) |
The
Issuer has authorised the issue of £200,000,000 5.125 per cent. Bonds due
2035 to be constituted by this Trust Deed.
|
(B) |
The
Trustee has agreed to act as trustee of this Trust Deed on the following
terms and conditions.
|
(C) |
Pursuant
to a Financial Guarantee dated the date hereof issued by Ambac to the
Trustee (the "
Financial
Guarantee
"),
Ambac unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the scheduled payment of
principal of and interest on such Bonds and certain additional
amounts.
|
1. |
INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
Definitions
|
(a) |
in
relation to the Issuer, a director of the Issuer or any person in respect
of whom the Issuer has supplied to the Trustee and Ambac a copy, certified
by a director or the secretary of the Issuer, to be a true copy and in
full force and effect, of a resolution or resolutions of the board of
directors of the Issuer, authorising such person to sign on behalf of the
Issuer all such certificates and other documents as are referred to
therein, together with a certified specimen signature of such person, and
in respect of whom the Trustee and Ambac have not received written
notification from the Issuer, that such person has ceased to be so
authorised; and
|
(b) |
in
relation to Ambac, a director of Ambac or any person in respect of whom
Ambac has supplied to the Trustee a copy, certified by a director or the
secretary of Ambac to be a true copy and in full force and effect, of a
resolution or resolutions of the board of directors of Ambac authorising
such person to sign on behalf of Ambac all such certificates and other
documents as are referred to therein, together with a certified specimen
signature of such person, and in respect of whom the Trustee has not
received written notification from Ambac that such person has ceased to be
so authorised;
|
(i) | the right to attend and vote at any meeting of the Bondholders; |
(ii) |
the determination of how many and which Bonds are for the time
being outstanding for the purposes of the Conditions and paragraphs 3, 6,
7 and 11 of Schedule 5 (
Provisions for Meetings of
Bondholders
);
|
(iii)
|
any discretion, power or authority contained in this Trust Deed which the Trustee is required, expressly or impliedly, to exercise in or by reference to the interests of any of the Bondholders; and |
(iv)
|
the determination by the Trustee (if it is the Controlling Party) whether any of the events specified in Condition 11 ( Issuer Events of Default) is materially adverse to the interests of the Bondholers. |
1.2 |
Terms
defined elsewhere
|
1.3 |
Construction
of Certain References
|
1.3.1 |
costs,
charges, remuneration or expenses shall include any value added tax,
turnover tax or similar tax charged in respect
thereof;
|
1.3.2 |
"
£
",
"
pounds
"
and "
sterling
"
shall be construed as references to the lawful currency for the time being
of the United Kingdom;
|
1.3.3 |
any
action, remedy or method of judicial proceedings for the enforcement of
rights of creditors shall include, in respect of any jurisdiction other
than England, references to such action, remedy or method of judicial
proceedings available or appropriate in such jurisdiction as shall most
nearly approximate thereto; and
|
1.3.4 |
all
references in this Trust Deed or the Conditions involving compliance by
the Trustee with a test of reasonableness shall be deemed to include a
reference to a requirement that such reasonableness shall be determined by
reference primarily to the interests of the holders of the Bonds as a
class and in the event of any conflict between such interests and the
interests of any other person, the former shall prevail as being
paramount.
|
1.3.5 |
In
this Trust Deed references to Coupons and Couponholders shall apply only
if Definitive Bonds have been issued by the Issuer in accordance with
Clause
3
(
Form
and Issue of the Bonds
).
|
1.4 |
Headings
|
1.5 |
Schedules
|
2. | AMOUNT OF THE BONDS AND COVENANT TO PAY |
2.1 |
Amount
of the Bonds
|
2.2 |
Covenant
to pay
|
2.3 |
Discharge
|
2.4 |
Payment
after a Default
|
2.4.1 |
by
notice in writing to Ambac, the Issuer and the Paying Agents, require the
Paying Agents, until notified by the Trustee to the contrary, so far as
permitted by any applicable law:
|
(a) |
to
act as Paying Agents of the Trustee under this Trust Deed and the Bonds on
the terms of the Paying Agency Agreement (with consequential amendments as
necessary and except that the Trustee's liability for the indemnification,
remuneration and all other out-of-pocket expenses of the Paying Agents
will be limited to the amounts for the time being held by the Trustee in
respect of the Bonds on the terms of this Trust Deed) and thereafter to
hold all Definitive Bonds and Coupons and all moneys, documents and
records held by them in respect of the Bonds and Coupons to the order of
the Trustee; or
|
(b) |
to
deliver all Definitive Bonds and Coupons and all moneys, documents and
records held by them in respect of the Bonds and Coupons (save for such
documents and records which the Paying Agents are obliged not to release
by virtue of any applicable law or regulation or by order of any court of
competent jurisdiction) to the Trustee or as the Trustee directs in such
notice; and
|
2.4.2 |
by
notice in writing to the Issuer require it to make all subsequent payments
in respect of the Bonds and Coupons to or to the order of the Trustee and
not to the Principal Paying Agent.
|
2.5 |
Further
Issues
|
2.5.1 |
The
Issuer shall be at liberty from time to time (but subject always to the
provisions of this Trust Deed) without the consent of the Bondholders or
Couponholders to create and issue further bonds or notes (whether in
bearer or registered form) ranking
pari
passu
in
all respects (or in all respects save for the first payment of interest
thereon), and so that the same shall be consolidated and form a single
series, with the Bonds and/or any further bonds or notes of any series,
provided
that
:
|
(a) |
Ambac
has given its prior written consent (in its absolute discretion) to such
further issue and to amend or substitute the Financial Guarantee so that
the Financial Guarantee also covers such further bonds or notes on the
same terms
mutatis
mutandis
as
apply to the Bonds;
|
(b) |
the
Trustee is satisfied that the rating granted in respect of the Bonds by
S&P and Moody's will not thereby be adversely affected;
and
|
(c) |
the
Issuer shall not create and issue such further bonds or notes while any
default exists in relation to any payment by the Issuer of any amounts due
under this Trust Deed.
|
2.5.2 |
Any
further bonds or notes which are to be created and issued pursuant to the
provisions of sub-clause
2.5.1
above shall be constituted by a trust deed supplemental to this Trust
Deed. In such case the Issuer shall, prior to the issue of such further
bonds or notes, execute and deliver to the Trustee and Ambac a trust deed
supplemental to this Trust Deed (in relation to which all applicable stamp
duties or other documentation fees, duties or taxes have been paid and, if
applicable, duly stamped or denoted accordingly) and containing a covenant
by the Issuer in the form
mutatis
mutandis
of
Clause
2.2
(
Covenant
to Pay
)
in relation to the principal, premium (if any) and interest in respect of
such further bonds or notes and such other provisions (corresponding to
the provisions contained in this Trust Deed) as the Trustee shall
require.
|
2.5.3 |
A
memorandum of every such supplemental Trust Deed shall be endorsed by the
Trustee on this Trust Deed and by the Issuer and Ambac on their duplicates
of this Trust Deed.
|
2.5.4 |
Whenever
it is proposed to create and issue any further bonds or notes the Issuer
shall give to the Trustee and Ambac not less than 14 days' notice in
writing of its intention so to do stating the amount of further bonds or
notes proposed to be created and issued.
|
3. |
FORM
AND ISSUE OF THE BONDS
|
3.1 |
The
Global Bonds
|
3.2 |
Signatures
and Authentication
|
3.3 | Exchange for Definitive Bonds |
3.4 |
The
Definitive Bonds
|
3.5 |
Entitlement
to
treat holder as owner
|
4. |
STAMP
DUTIES AND TAXES
|
4.1 |
Stamp
Duties
|
4.2 |
Change
of Taxing Jurisdiction
|
5. |
THE
TRUST DEED, THE BONDS AND THE FINANCIAL
GUARANTEE
|
5.1 |
Bonds
incorporated by reference
|
5.2 |
Bonds
and Financial Guarantee subject to Trust
Deed
|
5.3 |
Evidence
of Default
|
6. |
APPLICATION
OF MONEYS RECEIVED BY THE TRUSTEE
|
6.1 |
Declaration
of Trust
|
6.1.1 |
firstly
,
in payment of all costs, charges, expenses and liabilities incurred by the
Trustee (including remuneration payable to the Trustee) in carrying out
its functions under this Trust Deed;
|
6.1.2 |
secondly
,
in payment of any interest owing in respect of the Bonds (including any
amounts owing to Ambac pursuant to its rights of subrogation following any
payment of interest by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee)
pari
passu
and rateably; and
|
6.1.3 |
thirdly
,
in payment of any principal and premium (if any) owing in respect of the
Bonds (including any amounts of principal owing to Ambac pursuant to its
rights of subrogation following any payment of principal by Ambac under
the Financial Guarantee)
pari
passu
and rateably.
|
6.2 |
Accumulation
|
6.3 |
Investment
|
7. |
AMBAC
AND THE FINANCIAL GUARANTEE
|
7.1 |
Notice
of Demand and Certificate
|
7.2 |
Payments
under Financial Guarantee at Ambac's Option
|
7.3 |
Payments
under Financial Guarantee to go to Principal Paying
Agent
|
7.4 |
Notice
of Ambac's transfer instructions
|
7.5 |
The
Issuer not discharged
|
7.6 |
Return
of Financial Guarantee
|
7.6.1 |
the
redemption in full of the Bonds by the Issuer, the payment in full of
accrued interest thereon and the expiry of any applicable preference
period during which the amount of any payments in respect of the Bonds
which are subsequently avoided in whole or in part as a preferential
transaction under applicable law may be required to be paid by Ambac under
the Financial Guarantee; or
|
7.6.2 |
the
payment in full of all amounts which are or may become due under the
Financial Guarantee.
|
7.7 |
Subrogation
|
7.8 |
Conflict
|
8. |
COVENANTS
BY THE ISSUER
|
8.1 |
Books
of Account
|
8.2 |
Notice
of Issuer Event of Default
|
8.3 |
Information
|
8.4 |
Financial
Statements etc.
|
8.5 |
Certificate
of Director
|
8.6 |
Notices
to Bondholders
|
8.7 |
Further
Assurance
|
8.8 |
Notice
of non-payment
|
8.9 |
Notice
of late payment
|
8.10 |
Listing
|
8.11 |
Maintenance
of Paying Agents
|
8.12 |
Change
in Agents
|
8.13 |
Early
Redemption
|
8.14 |
Negative
Pledge
|
8.15 |
Obligations
under Paying Agency Agreement
|
8.16 |
List
of authorised signatories
|
8.17 |
Director's
Certificate
|
8.17.1 |
specifying
the aggregate amount of any Relevant Indebtedness of the Issuer or
guaranteed by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of which a
Security Interest or Security Interests has or have been created or is or
are outstanding, such certificate to be provided before the Issuer or such
Subsidiary creates or has outstanding any new Security Interest in respect
of Relevant Indebtedness;
|
8.17.2 |
specifying
the then current Interest Cover ratio, such certificate to be provided by
the Issuer not more than 60 days after 30 June and 31 December of each
year;
|
8.17.3 |
specifying
the then current ratio of Senior Total Net Debt to RAV, such certificate
to be provided before the Issuer incurs any Financial Indebtedness (other
than Permitted Financial Indebtedness) or recommends, makes or pays any
Distribution to any of its shareholders;
|
8.17.4 |
specifying
details of:
|
(a) |
any
revocation or surrender or any modification to the terms and conditions of
the Issuer's Electricity Distribution Licence which is requisite to the
conduct of the Issuer's business at the relevant time;
|
(b) |
any
legislation enacted which removes, qualifies or amends (other than an
amendment which is of a formal, minor or technical nature) the duties of
the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (or any successor) and/or
OFGEM under the Electricity Act as in force on the Issue Date; and
|
(c) |
any
proposal of any amendment to the provisions of the memorandum and articles
of association for the time being of the Issuer described in Condition
10(a)(iii),
|
8.18 |
Certificate
of Outstandings
|
9. |
COVENANTS
BY AMBAC
|
9.1 |
Financial
information of Ambac
|
9.2 |
Information
|
9.3 |
Information
for stock exchange
|
9.4 |
Further
assurance
|
9.5 |
Notification
of Ambac Event of Default
|
9.6 |
Confirmation
of no Ambac Event of Default
|
9.7 |
Notice
to Bondholders
|
9.8 |
List
of Authorised Signatories
|
10. |
COVENANTS
BY THE ISSUER IN FAVOUR OF AMBAC
|
10.1 |
The
Issuer hereby covenants with and undertakes to Ambac that, so long as any
of the Bonds remain outstanding and for so long as no Ambac Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing (and provided that the covenants in
this Clause 11 will continue where any Ambac Event of Default relating to
paragraph (a)(i) of the definition of "Ambac Event of Default" (as defined
in the Conditions) is caused solely by an administrative or technical
error which is cured within two Business Days of such Ambac Event of
Default first arising), (with respect to itself) that it will comply with
the following covenants and restrictions:
|
10.1.1 |
it
shall:
|
(a) |
not
modify or amend, or agree to any modification or amendment to the
Electricity Distribution Licence without the consent of
OFGEM;
|
(b) |
use
all reasonable endeavours to procure that the underlying or shadow credit
rating of the Bonds and any outstanding public long term unsecured,
unguaranteed and unsubordinated debt of the Issuer is assigned Investment
Grade Ratings by both Rating Agencies, and that such Investment Grade
Ratings are maintained;
|
(c) |
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, agree to any amendment to the
provisions of the memorandum and articles of association for the time
being of the Issuer that (x) restrict the activities in which any of the
Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries (as applicable) may engage or
participate in, (y) limit the disposal by any such company of any or all
of its assets, revenues or properties of any nature whatsoever and (z)
limit the Incurrence of Indebtedness by any such company,
provided
that
this
paragraph (iii) shall not apply to any such amendment required by OFGEM
and, if such amendment is required by OFGEM, the Issuer shall notify Ambac
in writing as soon as practicable of such
requirement;
|
(d) |
procure
that no Security Interest is created or granted upon, or with respect to,
any of the present or future ordinary shares of the Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries;
|
(e) |
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, modify or amend, or consent to
any modification or amendment of any Existing Negative Pledge;
and
|
(f) |
not
have any subsidiary undertaking (as defined in the Companies Act) except
for the Issuer, unless required to do so by OFGEM or consequent to any
rule or regulation of OFGEM which is applicable to the
Issuer.
|
10.1.2 |
the
Issuer will procure that:
|
(a) |
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending on or prior to 31 December 2006
shall be not less than 2.00:1; and
|
(b) |
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending after 31 December 2006 shall not be
less than 2.50:1;
|
10.1.3 |
the
Issuer shall not incur any further Financial Indebtedness other than
Permitted Financial Indebtedness unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
(a) |
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2008,
the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately
preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to be incurred
and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(ii) |
on
or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the
end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial
Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross
proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.65:1; and
|
(b) |
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with
the Bonds.
|
10.1.4 |
the
Issuer will not incur any further Financial Indebtedness other than
Permitted Financial Indebtedness unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
(a) |
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2008,
the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately
preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to be incurred
and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(ii) |
on
or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the
end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial
Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross
proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.65:1; and
|
(b) |
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with the Issuer's present and future unsecured payment
obligations.
|
10.1.5 |
the
Issuer will not make any Distribution
unless:
|
(a) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2006,
the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately
preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and calculated
on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.79:1;
|
(b) |
in
the period commencing on 31 December 2006 and ending on 30 December 2007,
the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately
preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and calculated
on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.77:1;
and
|
(c) |
on
or after 31 December 2007, the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the
end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution
is to be made and calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.75:1.
|
11. |
REMUNERATION
AND INDEMNIFICATION OF THE TRUSTEE
|
11.1 |
Normal
Remuneration
|
11.2 |
Extra
Remuneration
|
11.3 |
Expenses
|
11.4 |
Payment
of Expenses
|
11.4.1 |
in
the case of payments made by the Trustee prior to such demand will carry
interest from the date on which the demand is made at the rate of 2 per
cent. per annum over the base rate of HSBC Bank Plc on the date on which
such payments were made by the Trustee; and
|
11.4.2 |
in
all other cases will carry interest at such rate from 30 days after the
date on which the demand is made or (where the demand specifies that
payment is to be made on an earlier date) from such earlier
date.
|
11.5 |
Indemnity
|
11.6 |
Provisions
Continuing
|
12. |
PROVISIONS
SUPPLEMENTAL TO THE TRUSTEE ACT
1925
|
12.1 |
Advice
|
12.2 |
Trustee
to Assume Due Performance
|
12.3 |
Resolutions
of Bondholders
|
12.4 |
Certificate
signed by a Director or Authorised Signatory
|
12.5 |
Custodians
and nominees
|
12.6 |
Agents
|
12.7
|
Delegation
|
12.8 |
Forged
Bonds
|
12.9 |
Confidentiality
|
12.10 |
Determinations
Conclusive
|
12.11 |
Currency
Conversion
|
12.12 |
Issuer
Events of Default
|
12.13 |
Payment
for and Delivery of Bonds
|
12.14 |
Responsibility
|
12.15 |
Trustee's
discretion
|
12.16 |
Consents
|
12.17 |
Professional
Charges
|
12.18 |
Bondholders
as a class
|
12.19 |
Ratings
|
12.20 |
Validity
of documents
|
12.21 |
Disapplication
|
13. |
TRUSTEE
LIABLE FOR NEGLIGENCE
|
14. |
WAIVER
|
14.1 |
Waiver
|
14.2 |
Enforcement
Proceedings
|
14.2.1 |
the
Issuer as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of this Trust Deed in
accordance with the terms hereof; and/or
|
14.2.2 |
Ambac
as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the Financial
Guarantee.
|
14.3 |
No
action by Bondholders or
Couponholders
|
15. |
TRUSTEE
NOT PRECLUDED FROM ENTERING INTO
CONTRACTS
|
16. |
MODIFICATION
AND SUBSTITUTION
|
16.1 |
Modification
|
16.2 |
Substitution
|
16.2.1 |
The
Trustee may, without the consent of the Bondholders or Couponholders,
agree with the Issuer, but with the consent of Ambac (if Ambac is then the
Controlling Party) (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), to the substitution of any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Issuer
(the "
Substituted
Obligor
")
in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute under this
sub-clause
16.2.1
)
as the principal debtor under this Trust Deed, the Bonds and the Coupons
provided
that
,
in the opinion of the Trustee, the interests of the Bondholders will not
be materially prejudiced thereby and also
provided
that
:
|
(a) |
a
trust deed is executed or some other form of undertaking is given by the
Substituted Obligor to the Trustee, in form and manner satisfactory to the
Trustee, agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Trust Deed, the Bonds
and the Coupons with any consequential amendments which the Trustee may
deem appropriate as fully as if the Substituted Obligor had been named in
this Trust Deed and on the Bonds and Coupons as the principal debtor in
place of the Issuer;
|
(b) |
where
the Substituted Obligor is subject generally to the taxing jurisdiction of
any territory or any authority of or in that territory having power to tax
(the "
Substituted
Territory
")
other than the territory to the taxing jurisdiction of which (or to any
such authority of or in which) the Issuer is subject generally (the
"
Issuer's
Territory'
)
the Substituted Obligor will (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees) give to
the Trustee an undertaking in form and manner satisfactory to the Trustee
in terms corresponding to the terms of Condition 8 (
Taxation
)
with the substitution for the references in that Condition to the Issuer's
Territory of references to the Substituted Territory and Condition 7(c)
(
Redemption
for tax reasons
)
shall be modified accordingly; and in such event the Trust Deed, the Bonds
and the Coupons will be read accordingly;
|
(c) |
if
any two of the Directors of the Substituted Obligor certify that it will
be solvent immediately after such substitution, the Trustee need not have
regard to the financial condition, profits or prospects of the Substituted
Obligor or compare them with those of the
Issuer;
|
(d) |
the
Issuer and the Substituted Obligor comply with such other requirements as
the Trustee may direct in the interests of the Bondholders;
and
|
(e) |
(unless
the Issuer's successor in business is the Substituted Obligor) the
obligations of the Substituted Obligor under this Trust Deed, the Bonds
and the Coupons are unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed by the
Issuer in form and manner satisfactory to the
Trustee.
|
16.2.2 |
Release
of Substituted Issuer
:
Any such agreement by the Trustee pursuant to this Clause
16.2
will, if so expressed, operate to release the Issuer (or any such previous
substitute) from any or all of its obligations under this Trust Deed, the
Bonds and the Coupons. Not later than 14 days after the execution of any
such documents and after compliance with such requirements, notice of the
substitution will be given to the
Bondholders.
|
16.2.3 |
Completion
of Substitution
:
Upon the execution of such documents and compliance with such
requirements, the Substituted Obligor will be deemed to be named in this
Trust Deed and the Financial Guarantee and on the Bonds and Coupons as the
principal debtor in place of the Issuer (or of any previous substitute
under this Clause
16.2
)
and this Trust Deed, the Financial Guarantee, the Bonds and the Coupons
will be deemed to be modified in such manner as shall be necessary to give
effect to the substitution.
|
17. |
APPOINTMENT
RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF THE
TRUSTEE
|
17.1 |
Appointment
|
17.2 |
Retirement
and Removal
|
17.3 |
Co-Trustees
|
17.3.1 |
if
the Trustee considers such appointment to be in the interests of the
Bondholders and/or the Couponholders;
|
17.3.2 |
for
the purpose of conforming with any legal requirement, restriction or
condition in any jurisdiction in which any particular act is to be
performed; or
|
17.3.3 |
for
the purpose of obtaining a judgment in any jurisdiction or the enforcement
in any jurisdiction against the Issuer of either a judgment already
obtained or any of the provisions of this Trust
Deed.
|
17.4 |
Competence
of a Majority of Trustees
|
18. |
COUPONS
|
18.1 |
Notices
|
18.2 |
Bondholders
assumed to hold Coupons
|
19. |
CONTROLLING
PARTY
|
20. |
CURRENCY
INDEMNITY
|
20.1 |
Currency
of Account and Payment
|
20.2 |
Extent
of discharge
|
20.3 |
Indemnities
|
20.4 |
Indemnities
separate
|
20.5 |
Merger
|
21. |
COMMUNICATIONS
|
21.1.1 |
in
the case of the Issuer, to it:
|
21.1.2 |
in
the case of Ambac, to it at:
|
21.1.3 |
and
in the case of the Trustee, to it at:
|
22. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
23. |
COUNTERPARTS
|
1. |
INTRODUCTION
|
2. |
REFERENCES
TO CONDITIONS
|
3. |
PROMISE
TO PAY
|
3.1 |
in
the case of interest falling due before the Exchange Date (as defined
below), to the extent that a certificate or certificates issued by
Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. as operator of the Euroclear System
("
Euroclear
")
and/or Clearstream Banking,
société
anonyme
,
Luxembourg ("
Clearstream,
Luxembourg
")
dated not earlier than the date on which such interest falls due and in
substantially the form set out in Schedule 3 (
Form
of Euroclear/Clearstream, Luxembourg Certification
)
hereto is/are delivered to the Specified Office (as defined in the
Conditions) of the Principal Paying Agent;
or
|
3.2 |
in
the case of interest falling due at any time, to the extent that the
Issuer has failed to procure the exchange for a permanent global bond of
that portion of this Temporary Global Bond in respect of which such
interest has accrued.
|
4. |
NEGOTIABILITY
|
5. |
EXCHANGE
|
5.1 |
presentation
and (in the case of final exchange) surrender of this Temporary Global
Bond at the specified office of the Principal Paying Agent;
and
|
5.2 |
receipt
by the Principal Paying Agent of a certificate or certificates issued by
Euroclear and/or Clearstream, Luxembourg dated not earlier than the
Exchange Date and in substantially the form set out in Schedule 3
(
Form
of Euroclear/Clearstream, Luxembourg Certification
)
hereto.
|
6. |
WRITING
DOWN
|
6.1 |
the
Permanent Global Bond is delivered or the principal amount thereof is
increased in accordance with its terms in exchange for a further portion
of this Temporary Global Bond; or
|
6.2 |
Bonds
represented by this Temporary Global Bond are to be cancelled in
accordance with Condition 7(e) (
Redemption
and Purchase - Cancellation
),
|
7. |
PAYMENTS
|
8. |
CONDITIONS
APPLY
|
9. |
NOTICES
|
10. |
AUTHENTICATION
|
11. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
Date
of payment,
delivery
or
cancellation
|
Amount
of interest
then
paid
|
Principal
amount
of
Permanent
Global
Bond then
delivered
or by
which
Permanent Global Bond
then
increased
|
Aggregate
principal
amount
of
Bonds then
cancelled
|
Remaining
principal
amount
of
this Temporary
Global
Bond
|
Authorised
Signature
|
Dated:
|
[ ]
|
By:
|
....................................
|
Dated:
|
[ ]
|
By:
|
....................................
|
1. |
INTRODUCTION
|
2. |
REFERENCES
TO CONDITIONS
|
3. |
PROMISE
TO PAY
|
4. |
NEGOTIABILITY
|
5. |
EXCHANGE
|
5.1.1 |
This
Global Bond will be exchanged, in whole but not in part only, for Bonds in
definitive form ("Definitive Notes") in substantially the form set out in
Schedule 3 (
Form
of Definitive Bond
)
to the Trust Deed if any of the events specified in Clause 3.3
(
Exchange
for Definitive Bonds
)
of the Trust Deed occurs.
|
6. |
DELIVERY
OF DEFINITIVE NOTES
|
7. |
WRITING
DOWN
|
7.1 |
a
payment of principal is made in respect of this Global
Bond;
|
7.2 |
Definitive
Bonds are delivered; or
|
7.3 |
Bonds
represented by this Global Bond are to be cancelled in accordance with
Condition 7(e) (
Redemption
and Purchase - Cancellation
),
|
8. |
WRITING
UP
|
9. |
PAYMENTS
|
10. |
CONDITIONS
APPLY
|
11. |
EXERCISE
OF PUT OPTION
|
12. |
EXERCISE
OF CALL OPTION
|
13. |
NOTICES
|
14. |
AUTHENTICATION
|
15. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
Date
of payment, exchange, delivery
or
cancellation
|
Amount
of interest then paid
|
Principal
amount
of
Temporary
Global
Bond then exchanged
|
Aggregate
principal
amount of Definitive Notes
then
delivered
|
Aggregate
principal
amount
of
Notes then cancelled
|
New
principal
amount
of this
Global
Bond
|
Authorised
signature
|
TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF THE BONDS
|
1. |
Form,
Denomination and Title
|
2. |
Status
and Financial Guarantee
|
(a) |
Status
of the Bonds
|
(b) |
Financial
Guarantee
|
(c) |
Status
of Financial Guarantee
|
(d) |
Subrogation
of Ambac
|
3. |
Definitions
|
(i) |
before
taking into account
any items treated as exceptional items;
|
(ii) |
after
deducting
the amount of any profit of any member of the Group which is attributable
to minority interests;
|
(iii) |
after
deducting
the
amount of any profit of any investment or entity (which is not itself a
member of the Group) in which any member of the Group has an ownership
interest to the extent that the amount of such profit included in the
Issuer's financial statements exceeds the amount (net of applicable
withholding tax) received in cash by members of the Group through
distributions by such investment or entity;
|
(iv) |
before
taking into account
any
realised and unrealised exchange gains and losses including those arising
on translation of currency debt;
|
(v) |
before
taking into account
any gain or loss arising from an upward or downward revaluation of any
asset,
|
(i) |
moneys
borrowed and debit balances with financial
institutions;
|
(ii) |
any
amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit
facility;
|
(iii) |
any
amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of
bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar
instrument;
|
(iv) |
the
amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract
which would, in accordance with UK GAAP, be treated as a finance or
capital lease;
|
(v) |
receivables
sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold
on a non-recourse basis);
|
(vi) |
any
counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond,
standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by
a bank or financial institution (excluding any given in respect of trade
credit arising in the ordinary course of
business);
|
(vii) |
any
amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable prior
to 4 May 2035;
|
(viii) |
any
amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or
purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;
and
|
(ix) |
(without
double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee
or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (i) to (viii)
above.
|
(i) |
Financial
Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Bonds;
|
(ii) |
Financial
Indebtedness of the Issuer outstanding on the Issue Date and not otherwise
referred to in this definition of "Permitted Financial
Indebtedness";
|
(iii) |
Financial
Indebtedness which cannot and shall not be accelerated and/or repaid if
any Issuer Event of Default has occurred and, in each case, is continuing;
|
(iv) |
Financial
Indebtedness owed by one member of the Group to another member of the
Group; and
|
(v) |
Financial
Indebtedness of the Issuer from time to time which does not exceed an
aggregate working capital amount of £75,000,000 (or the equivalent amount
in one or more currencies).
|
(i) |
(a)
written notice being given to the Issuer of revocation of its Electricity
Distribution Licence which is requisite to the conduct of the Issuer's
business at the relevant time or (b) the Issuer agreeing in writing to any
revocation or surrender of its Electricity Distribution Licence which is
requisite to the conduct of the Issuer's business at the relevant time or
(c) any legislation (whether primary or subordinate) being enacted
terminating or revoking its Electricity Distribution Licence which is
requisite to the conduct of the Issuer's business at the relevant time,
except in any such case in circumstances where a licence or licences, is
or are granted to the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer 100% of the
ordinary share capital of which is owned directly or indirectly by the
Issuer (the "
Relevant
Transferee
")
and
provided that
the terms of such licence or licences are substantially no less favourable
than the Electricity Distribution Licence in which event all references in
these Terms and Conditions to the Electricity Distribution Licence and the
Issuer in its capacity as holder of the Electricity Distribution Licence
shall hereafter be deemed to be references to the licence or licences on
substantially no less favourable terms and the Relevant Transferee
respectively; or
|
(ii) |
any
modification (other than a modification which is of a formal, minor or
technical nature) being made to the terms and conditions of the
Electricity Distribution Licence on or after the Issue Date unless two
Directors of the Issuer have certified in good faith to the Trustee that
the modified terms and conditions are not materially less favourable to
the business of the Issuer. For the purposes of this paragraph (ii) a
modification which (a) results in a licence or licences being granted to
the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer 100% of the ordinary share
capital of which is owned directly or indirectly by the Issuer
(collectively, the "
Applicable
Transferees
")
and
provided
that
the terms of such licence are substantially no less favourable than the
terms of the Electricity Distribution Licence or (b) results in a licence
or licences being granted to an Applicable Transferee
provided
that
the terms of such licence are substantially no less favourable than the
terms of the Electricity Distribution Licence, shall not be deemed to be a
modification within this paragraph (ii). In the event of such a
modification as is referred to in (a) or (b), all references in these
Terms and Conditions to the Electricity Distribution Licence and the
Issuer in its capacity as holder of the Electricity Distribution Licence
shall thereafter be deemed to be references to the licence or licences
granted to the Applicable Transferee and to the Applicable Transferee,
respectively; or
|
(iii) |
any
legislation (whether primary or subordinate) is enacted which removes,
qualifies or amends (other than an amendment which is of a formal, minor
or technical nature) the duties of the Secretary of State for Trade and
Industry (or any successor) and/or OFGEM under of the Electricity Act as
in force on the Issue Date, unless two Directors of the Issuer have
certified in good faith to the Trustee that such removal, qualification or
amendment does not have a materially adverse effect on the financial
condition of the Issuer.
|
(i) |
if
at the time a Restructuring Event occurs there are Reference Rated
Securities, the period of 90 days starting from and including the day on
which the Restructuring Event occurs; or
|
(ii) |
if
at the time a Restructuring Event occurs there are not Reference Rated
Securities, the period starting from and including the day on which the
Restructuring Event occurs and ending on the day 90 days following the
later of (a) the date on which the Issuer shall seek to obtain a rating
pursuant to the definition of Negative Rating Event prior to the expiry of
the 14 days referred to in the definition of Negative Rating Event and (b)
the date on which a Negative Certification shall have been given to the
Issuer in respect of the Restructuring
Event.
|
(i) |
deducting
the aggregate amount of all obligations of the Issuer in respect of
Financial Indebtedness to the extent that the repayment or redemption of
such Financial Indebtedness is provided for by the purchase by CE Electric
UK Funding Company or any of its Subsidiaries of a GIC;
and
|
(ii) |
deducting
the aggregate amount of freely available cash and Cash Equivalents held by
the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries at such time,
|
4. |
Negative
Pledge
|
(a) |
all
amounts payable by the Issuer under the Bonds, the Coupons, the Trust Deed
and the Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement are secured to the
satisfaction of the Controlling Party equally and rateably with the
Relevant Indebtedness or guarantee of Relevant Indebtedness, as the case
may be, by such Security Interest; or
|
(b) |
such
other Security Interest or guarantee or other arrangement (whether or not
including the giving of a Security Interest) is provided in respect of all
amounts payable by the Issuer under the Bonds, the Coupons, the Trust Deed
and the Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement either (i) as the Trustee
shall in its absolute discretion deem not materially less beneficial to
the interests of the Bondholders, or (ii) as shall be approved by an
Extraordinary Resolution (as defined in the Trust Deed) of the
Bondholders, and (iii) (in either case) as Ambac shall in its absolute
discretion deem not materially less beneficial to the interests of Ambac.
|
5. |
Interest
|
6. |
Payments
|
7. |
Redemption
and Purchase
|
(a) |
Scheduled
redemption
:
Unless previously redeemed, or purchased and cancelled, the Issuer will
redeem the Bonds on 4 May 2035 at their outstanding principal amount (the
"
Scheduled
Principal
").
|
(b) |
Redemption
at the option of the Issuer
:
The Issuer may, having given not less than 30 nor more than 45 days'
notice in accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
)
(which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem the whole or part (in
principal amount of £5,000,000 or integral multiples thereof) of the Bonds
at any time prior to 4 May 2035 at a price which shall be the higher of
the following (the "
Redemption
Price
"),
together with Scheduled Interest accrued up to and including the date of
redemption:
|
(i) |
par;
and
|
(ii) |
that
price, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, 0.0005
being rounded upwards), at which the Gross Real Redemption Yield
(calculated as described below) on the Bonds, if they were to be purchased
at such price on the third dealing day prior to the due date for
redemption, would be equal to the Gross Real Redemption Yield on such
dealing day of the Reference Gilt, on the basis of the middle market price
of the Reference Gilt prevailing at 11:00 a.m. on such dealing day, as
determined by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (or such other person as the
Trustee may approve).
|
(c) |
Redemption
for tax reasons
:
If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws or regulations
of the United Kingdom or any political sub-division of, or any authority
in, or of, the United Kingdom having power to tax, or any change in the
application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which
change or amendment becomes effective after 29 April 2005, the Issuer has
or will become obliged to pay additional amounts as provided or referred
to in Condition 8 (
Taxation
)
(and such amendment or change has been evidenced by the delivery by the
Issuer to the Trustee and Ambac (who shall, in the absence of manifest
error, accept such certificate as sufficient evidence thereof) of a
certificate signed by two Directors of the Issuer stating that such
amendment or change has occurred (irrespective of whether such amendment
or change is then effective), describing the facts leading thereto and
stating that such obligation cannot be avoided by the Issuer taking
reasonable measures available to it) the Issuer may at its option, having
given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice to the Bondholders in
accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
)
(which notice shall be irrevocable), redeem all the Bonds (other than
Bonds in respect of which the Issuer shall have given a notice of
redemption pursuant to Condition 7(b) (
Redemption
at the option of the Issuer
)
prior to any notice being given under this Condition 7(c)), but not some
only, at their outstanding principal amount together with interest accrued
to (but excluding) the date of redemption,
provided
that
no
notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days before the
earliest date on which the Issuer would be required to pay the additional
amounts were a payment in respect of the Bonds then due and
provided
further that
no
notice of redemption may be given by the Issuer unless two Directors of
the Issuer shall have certified to the Trustee that it will have the
funds, not subject to the interest of any other person, required to redeem
the Bonds at their principal amounts outstanding plus accrued interest on
the date specified for redemption (the Trustee being able to rely on such
certificate absolutely).
|
(d) |
Purchase
:
The Issuer may at any time purchase or otherwise acquire Bonds (provided
that all unmatured Coupons and Talons are attached thereto or are
surrendered therewith) at any price in the open market or otherwise. If
purchases are made by tender, tenders must be available to all Bondholders
alike.
|
(e) |
Cancellation
:
All Bonds which are redeemed pursuant to this Condition by the Issuer
shall be cancelled (together with all relative unmatured Coupons attached
thereto or surrendered therewith) and accordingly may not be reissued or
resold. Bonds purchased by or on behalf of the Issuer may be held or
reissued or resold or surrendered for
cancellation.
|
8. |
Taxation
|
(a) |
All
payments in respect of the Bonds and Coupons by the Issuer shall be made
without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any present or
future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever
nature ("
Taxes
")
imposed or levied by or on behalf of the United Kingdom, or any political
subdivision of, or authority in, or of, the United Kingdom having power to
tax, unless the withholding or deduction of the Taxes is required by law.
In that event, the Issuer will pay such additional amounts as may be
necessary in order that the net amounts received by the Bondholders and
Couponholders after the withholding or deduction shall equal the
respective amounts which would have been receivable in respect of the
Bonds or, as the case may be, Coupons in the absence of the withholding or
deduction; except that no additional amounts shall be payable in relation
to any payment in respect of any Bond or
Coupon:
|
(i) |
to,
or to a third party on behalf of, a holder who is liable to the Taxes in
respect of the Bond or Coupon by reason of his having some connection with
the United Kingdom other than the mere holding of the Bond or Coupon;
or
|
(ii) |
presented
for payment in the United Kingdom; or
|
(iii) |
to,
or to a third party on behalf of, a holder who would not be liable or
subject to the withholding or deduction by making a declaration of
non-residence or other similar claim for exemption to the relevant tax
authority; or
|
(iv) |
where
such withholding or deduction is imposed on a payment to an individual and
is required to be made pursuant to European Council Directive 2003/48/EC
or any other Directive implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council
meeting of 26-27 November 2000 or any law implementing or complying with,
or introduced in order to conform to, such Directive ;
or
|
(v) |
presented
for payment by or on behalf of a holder who would have been able to avoid
such withholding or deduction by presenting the relevant Bond or Coupon to
another Paying Agent in a member state of the European Union;
or
|
(vi) |
presented
for payment more than 30 days after the Relevant Date except to the extent
that the holder would have been entitled to additional amounts on
presenting the same for payment on the last day of the period of 30
days.
|
(b) |
In
these Terms and Conditions, "
Relevant
Date
"
means the date on which the payment first becomes due, but if the full
amount of the money payable has not been received in London by the
Principal Paying Agent or the Trustee on or before the due date, it means
the date on which, the full amount of the money having been so received,
notice to that effect shall have been duly given to the Bondholders by the
Issuer in accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
).
|
(c) |
Any
reference in these Terms and Conditions to any amounts in respect of the
Bonds shall be deemed also to refer to any additional amounts which may be
payable under this Condition or under any undertakings given in addition
to, or in substitution for, this Condition 8 pursuant to the Trust
Deed.
|
9. |
Prescription
|
10. |
Covenants
by the Issuer to Ambac
|
(a) |
General
Covenants
:
It shall:
|
(i) |
not
modify or amend, or agree to any modification or amendment to the
Electricity Distribution Licence without the consent of
OFGEM;
|
(ii) |
use
all reasonable endeavours to procure that the underlying or shadow credit
rating of the Bonds and any outstanding public long term unsecured,
unguaranteed and unsubordinated debt of the Issuer are assigned Investment
Grade Ratings by both Rating Agencies, and that such Investment Grade
Ratings are maintained;
|
(iii) |
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, agree to any amendment to the
provisions of the memorandum and articles of association for the time
being of the Issuer that (x) restrict the activities in which any of the
Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries may engage or participate in, (y) limit
the disposal by any such company of any or all of its assets, revenues or
properties of any nature whatsoever and (z) limit the Incurrence of
Indebtedness by any such company,
provided
that
this
paragraph (iii) shall not apply to any such amendment required by OFGEM
and if such amendment is required by OFGEM, the Issuer shall notify Ambac
in writing as soon as practicable of such
requirement;
|
(iv) |
procure
that no Security Interest is created or granted upon, or with respect to,
any of the present or future ordinary shares of the Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries;
|
(v) |
not,
without the prior written consent of Ambac, modify or amend, or consent to
any modification or amendment of any Existing Negative Pledge;
and
|
(vi) |
not
have any subsidiary undertaking (as defined in the Companies Act), unless
required to do so by OFGEM or consequent to any rule or regulation of
OFGEM which is applicable to the Issuer.
|
(b) |
Interest
Cover Ratio:
It
will procure that:
|
(1) |
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending on or prior to 31 December 2006
shall be not less than 2.00:1; and
|
(2) |
Interest
Cover for each Relevant Period ending after 31 December 2006 shall not be
less than 2.50:1.
|
(c) |
Limitation
on Financial Indebtedness of the Issuer:
It
shall not incur any further Financial Indebtedness other than Permitted
Financial Indebtedness unless the following conditions are
satisfied:
|
(i) |
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(1) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2008,
the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately
preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to be incurred
and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(2) |
on
or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the
end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial
Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross
proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.65:1; and
|
(ii) |
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with
the Bonds.
|
(d) |
Limitation
on Distributions:
It
will not make any Distribution unless:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on the Issue Date and ending on 30 December 2006,
the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately
preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and calculated
on a pro forma basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not
exceed 0.79:1; or
|
(ii) |
in
the period commencing on 31 December 2006 and ending on 30 December 2007,
the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately
preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and calculated
on a pro forma basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not
exceed 0.77:1; or
|
(iii) |
on
or after 31 December 2007, the ratio of Senior Total Net Debt (as at the
end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution
is to be made and calculated on a pro forma basis as if the Distribution
had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.75:1.
|
11. |
Issuer
Events of Default
|
(a) |
default
is made in the payment of any principal or premium (if any) in respect of
any Bond pursuant to Condition 7 (
Redemption
and Purchase
),
or for a period of three Business Days or more in the payment of any
interest due in respect of the Bonds; or
|
(b) |
the
Issuer fails to perform or observe any of its other obligations,
covenants, conditions or provisions under the Bonds, the Trust Deed or the
Reimbursement and Indemnity Agreement and (except where the Controlling
Party shall have certified to the Issuer in writing that it considers such
failure to be incapable of remedy in which case no such notice or
continuation as is hereinafter mentioned will he required) such failure
continues for the period of 60 days (or such longer period as the Trustee
may, with the approval of the Controlling Party, permit) next following
the service by the Trustee on the Issuer of notice requiring the same to
be remedied; or
|
(c) |
(i)
any other Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of the Issuer or any of its
Subsidiaries becomes due and repayable prior to its stated maturity by
reason of an event of default (however described) or (ii) any such
Indebtedness For Borrowed Money is not paid when due or (iii) the Issuer
or any of its Subsidiaries fails to pay when due any amount payable by it
under any present or future guarantee for, or indemnity in respect of any
Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of any person or (iv) any security given
by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries for any Indebtedness For Borrowed
Money of any person or any guarantee or indemnity of Indebtedness For
Borrowed Money of any person becomes enforceable by reason of default in
relation thereto and steps are taken to enforce such security save in any
such case referred to in (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) where there is a
bona
fide
dispute as to whether the relevant Indebtedness For Borrowed Money or any
such guarantee or indemnity as aforesaid shall be due and payable,
and
provided that
the
aggregate amount of the relevant Indebtedness For Borrowed Money in
respect of which any one or more of the events mentioned above in this
sub-paragraph (c) has or have occurred equals or exceeds 5% of RAV and
such event shall continue unremedied or unwaived for more than 14 days (or
such longer grace period as may have been originally provided in the
applicable instrument) and the time for payment of such amount has not
been expressly extended (until such time as any payment default is
remedied, cured or waived); or
|
(d) |
any
order shall be made by any competent court or any resolution shall be
passed for the winding up or dissolution of the Issuer, save for the
purposes of amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganisation,
reconstruction or other similar arrangement on terms previously approved
in writing by the Controlling Party or (where the Controlling Party is the
Trustee) by an Extraordinary Resolution of the Bondholders;
or
|
(e) |
the
Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries shall cease to carry on the whole or
substantially the whole of its business, save in each case for the
purposes of amalgamation, merger, consolidation, reorganisation,
reconstruction or other arrangement (i) not involving or arising out of
the insolvency of the Issuer or any Subsidiary and under which all or
substantially all of its assets are transferred to a Subsidiary of the
Issuer or to a transferee which is, or immediately upon such transfer
becomes a Subsidiary or (ii) under which all or substantially all of its
assets are transferred to a third party or parties (whether a Subsidiary
or Subsidiaries of the Issuer or not) for full consideration by the Issuer
or a Subsidiary on an arm's length basis or (iii) the terms of which have
previously been approved in writing by the Controlling Party or (where the
Controlling Party is the Trustee) by an Extraordinary Resolution of the
Bondholders
provided
that
if
the Issuer shall cease to hold or shall transfer the Electricity
Distribution Licence (other than where the Electricity Distribution
Licence is revoked, terminated or surrendered in the circumstances
envisaged by paragraph (i)(a), (b) or (c) of the definition of
Restructuring Event in Condition 3 (
Definitions
)
and such revocation, termination or surrender does not constitute a
Restructuring Event pursuant to paragraph (i) of such definition) the
Issuer shall be deemed to have ceased to carry on the whole or
substantially the whole of its business (and neither of exceptions (i) and
(ii) above shall apply) unless (A) the transferee of the Electricity
Distribution Licence is the Issuer or a Subsidiary of the Issuer, at least
51% of the ordinary share capital of which is owned directly or indirectly
by the Issuer (the "
YE
Transferee
")
and (B) if Ambac is then the Controlling Party, the YE Transferee
guarantees the Bonds pursuant to a guarantee in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Ambac and covenants in favour of Ambac in
substantially the same terms as the covenants set forth in Condition 10
(
Covenants
by the Issuer to Ambac
)
and in either such event all references in these Terms and Conditions to
the Issuer in its capacity as holder of the Electricity Distribution
Licence shall hereafter be deemed to be references to the YE Transferee;
or
|
(f) |
the
Issuer or any Subsidiary shall suspend or shall threaten to suspend
payment of its debts generally or shall be declared or adjudicated by a
competent court to be unable, or shall admit in writing its inability, to
pay its debts (within the meaning of Section 123(1) or (2) of the
Insolvency Act 1986) as they fall due, or shall be adjudicated or found
insolvent by a competent court or shall enter into any composition or
other similar arrangement with its creditors under Part I of the
Insolvency Act 1986; or
|
(g) |
a
receiver, administrative receiver, Energy Administrator, administrator or
other similar official shall be appointed in relation to the Issuer or any
Subsidiary or in relation to the whole or a substantial part of the
undertaking or assets of any of them or a distress, execution or other
process shall be levied or enforced upon or sued out against, or any
encumbrancer shall take possession of, the whole or a substantial part of
the assets of any of them and in any of the foregoing cases it or he shall
not be paid out or discharged within 120 days (or such longer period as
the Trustee may in its absolute discretion
permit);
|
12. |
Ambac
Events of Default
|
(a) |
Each
of the following events is an Ambac Event of
Default:
|
(i) |
any
amount guaranteed by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee falls due for
payment in accordance with the terms of the Financial Guarantee and is not
paid by Ambac on the date stipulated in the Financial Guarantee;
or
|
(ii) |
Ambac
disclaims, disaffirms, repudiates or challenges the validity of any of its
obligations under the Financial Guarantee or seeks to do so;
or
|
(iii) |
a
court of competent jurisdiction enters a final and non-appealable order,
judgment or decree for the winding-up, or the appointment of an
administrator or receiver (including an administrative receiver or
manager) of Ambac (or, as the case may be, of a material part of its
property or assets); or
|
(iv) |
Ambac:
|
(1) |
presents
any petition or takes any formal steps or proceedings for the winding-up
or the appointment of an administrator or receiver (including an
administrative receiver or manager) of Ambac (or, as the case may be, of a
material part of its property or assets);
or
|
(2) |
makes
or enters into any general assignment, composition, arrangement
(including, without limitation, a voluntary arrangement under Part I of
the Insolvency Act 1986) or compromise with or for the benefit of any of
its creditors; or
|
(3) |
becomes
unable to pay its debts within the meaning of section 123(2) or section
123(1)(e) of such Insolvency Act or admits in writing its inability, or
fails generally, to pay its debts as they become due; or
|
(4) |
at
any time it is or becomes unlawful for Ambac to perform or comply with any
part or all of its obligations under the Financial Guarantee or any of its
obligations thereunder are not or cease to be legal, valid or
binding;
|
(b) |
So
long as any of the Bonds remain outstanding, Ambac will, forthwith upon
becoming aware of any Ambac Event of Default, give notice in writing
thereof to the Trustee and the Issuer.
|
13. |
Restructuring
Event
|
(a) |
|
(i) |
If,
at any time following the occurrence of an Ambac Event of Default, while
any of the Bonds remains outstanding, a Restructuring Event occurs and
prior to the commencement of or during the Restructuring Period an
Independent Financial Adviser (as defined below) shall have certified in
writing to the Trustee that such Restructuring Event will not be or is
not, in its opinion, materially prejudicial to the interests of the
Bondholders, the following provisions of this Condition shall cease to
have any further effect in relation to such Restructuring
Event.
|
(ii) |
If,
at any time following the occurrence of an Ambac Event of Default while
any of the Bonds remains outstanding, a Restructuring Event occurs and
(subject to paragraph (a)(i) above):
|
(1) |
within
the Restructuring Period, either:
|
(A)
|
if
at the time such Restructuring Event occurs there are Reference Rated
Securities, a Rating Downgrade in respect of such Restructuring Event also
occurs; or
|
(B)
|
if
at such time there are not Reference Rated Securities, a Negative Rating
Event also occurs; and
|
(2) |
an
Independent Financial Adviser shall have certified in writing to the
Trustee that such Restructuring Event is, in its opinion, materially
prejudicial to the interests of the Bondholders (a "
Negative
Certification
"),
|
(b) |
Promptly
upon the Issuer becoming aware that a Put Event (as defined in Condition 3
(
Definitions
))
has occurred, and in any event not later than 14 days after the occurrence
of a Put Event, the Issuer shall, and at any time upon the Trustee
becoming similarly so aware the Trustee may, and if so requested by the
holders of at least one-quarter in principal amount of the Bonds then
outstanding shall, give notice (a "
Put
Event Notice
")
to the Bondholders in accordance with Condition 17 (
Notices
)
specifying the nature of the Put Event and the procedure for exercising
the Put Option.
|
(c) |
To
exercise the Put Option, the holder of a Bond must deliver such Bond to
the specified office of any Paying Agent, on a day which is a business day
(as defined in Condition 6 (
Payments
))
in London and in the place of such specified office falling within the
period (the "
Put
Period
")
of 45 days after that on which a Put Event Notice is given, accompanied by
a duly completed and signed notice of exercise in the form (for the time
being current) obtainable from any specified office of any Paying Agent (a
"
Put
Notice
")
and in which the holder may specify a bank account complying with the
requirements of Condition 6 (
Payments
)
to which payment is to be made under this Condition. Each Bond should be
delivered together with all Coupons and Talons appertaining thereto
maturing after the day (the "
Put
Date
")
being the fifteenth day after the date of expiry of the Put Period,
failing which any such missing Coupon or Talon will become void and no
payment shall be made in respect of it. The Paying Agent to which such
Bond and Put Notices are delivered shall issue to the Bondholder concerned
a non-transferable receipt in respect of the Bond so delivered. Payment in
respect of any Bond so delivered shall be made, if the holder duly
specifies a bank account in the Put Notice to which payment is to be made
on the Put Date, by transfer to that bank account and, in every other
case, on or after the Put Date, in each case against presentation and
surrender or (as the case may be) endorsement of such receipt at any
specified office of any Paying Agent, subject in any such case as provided
in Condition 6 (
Payments
).
A Put Notice, once given, shall be irrevocable. For the purposes of
Conditions 9 (
Prescription
),
11 (
Issuer
Events of Default
),
14 (Enforcement), 16 (
Replacement
of Bonds and Coupons
)
and 18 (
Meetings
of Bondholders, Modification and Waiver
)
receipts issued pursuant to this Condition shall be treated as if they
were Bonds. The Issuer shall redeem or, at the option of the Issuer,
purchase (or procure the purchase of) the relevant Bond on the applicable
Put Date unless previously redeemed or
purchased.
|
14. |
Enforcement
|
(a) |
Limitation
on Bondholders:
Save as provided below, only the Trustee may pursue the remedies available
under general law or under the Trust Deed to enforce the rights of the
Bondholders and Couponholders and no such holder will be entitled to
proceed against the Issuer or Ambac unless the Trustee, having become
bound to act in accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed, fails to do
so and such failure is continuing. If, in connection with any insolvency,
bankruptcy, administration, dissolution, liquidation or analogous
procedure relating to the Issuer, a payment on the Bonds by the Issuer is
claimed to be or is avoided as a preferential transfer, Ambac may
(provided that Ambac is then the Controlling Party) direct all matters
relating to such claim or avoidance on behalf of the Trustee, the
Bondholders and the Couponholders.
|
(b) |
Enforcement
Proceedings:
At
any time after amounts in respect of principal of and interest on the
Bonds or amounts payable by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee shall have
become due and payable but are unpaid, the Trustee may, at its discretion,
and without further notice but subject as mentioned below, take such
proceedings against, respectively:
|
(i) |
the
Issuer as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the Trust Deed in
accordance with the terms thereof; and/or
|
(ii) |
Ambac
as it may think fit to enforce the provisions of the Financial
Guarantee.
|
15. |
Controlling
Party
|
16. |
Replacement
of Bonds and Coupons
|
17. |
Notices
|
18. |
Meetings
of Bondholders, Modification and
Waiver
|
19. |
Substitution
|
20. |
Further
Bonds
|
(a) |
Subject
as mentioned below, power will be reserved to the Issuer to create and
issue Further Bonds forming (or so as to form after the first payment of
interest thereon) a single series with the Bonds
provided
that
:
|
(i) |
Ambac
has consented (in its absolute discretion) to amend or substitute the
Financial Guarantee so that the Financial Guarantee also covers such
Further Bonds on the same terms as the
Bonds;
|
(ii) |
the
Trustee is satisfied that the rating granted in respect of the Bonds by
S&P and Moody's will not thereby be adversely affected; and
|
(iii) |
such
issue shall be constituted by a deed supplemental to the Trust Deed (in
such form as the Trustee may approve).
|
(b) |
The
Issuer shall not be entitled to exercise the power reserved in this
Condition 20 (
Further
Bonds
)
while any default exists in relation to any payment by the Issuer of any
amounts due under the Trust Deed or the Reimbursement and Indemnity
Agreement.
|
21. |
Trustee
|
22. |
Redenomination,
Renominalisation and
Reconventioning
|
(a) |
Notice
of redenomination
:
If the United Kingdom becomes or, announces its intention to become, a
Participating Member State, the Issuer may, without the consent of Ambac,
the Bondholders and Couponholders, on giving at least 30 days' prior
notice to Ambac, the Trustee, the Bondholders and the Paying Agents,
designate a date (the "
Redenomination
Date
"),
being an Interest Payment Date under the Bonds falling on or after the
date on which the United Kingdom becomes a Participating Member
State.
|
(b) |
Redenomination
:
Notwithstanding the other provisions of these Conditions, with effect from
the Redenomination Date:
|
(i) |
the
Bonds shall be deemed to be redenominated into Euro in the denomination of
Euro 0.01 (or such other denomination as the Issuer shall determine)
with a principal amount for each Bond equal to the principal amount of
that Bond in Sterling, converted into Euro at the rate for conversion of
such currency into Euro established by the Council of the European Union
pursuant to the Treaty (including compliance with rules relating to
rounding in accordance with European Community regulations);
provided,
however, that
,
if the Issuer determines, with the agreement of the Principal Paying
Agent, that market practice in respect of the redenomination into Euro
0.01 (or such other denomination as the Issuer shall determine) of
internationally offered securities is different from that specified above,
such provisions shall be deemed to be amended so as to comply with such
market practice and the Issuer shall promptly notify Ambac, the
Bondholders and Couponholders, each listing authority, stock exchange
and/or quotation system (if any) by which the Bonds have then been
admitted to listing, trading and/or quotation and the Paying Agents of
such deemed amendments;
|
(ii) |
if
Bonds have been issued in definitive form:
|
(1) |
all
unmatured Coupons denominated in Sterling (whether or not attached to the
Bonds) will become void with effect from the date (the "
Euro
Exchange Date
")
on which the Issuer gives notice (the "
Euro
Exchange Notice
")
to the Bondholders that replacement Bonds and Coupons denominated in Euro
are available for exchange (
provided
that
such Bonds and Coupons are available) and no payments will be made in
respect thereof;
|
(2) |
the
payment obligations contained in all Bonds denominated in Sterling will
become void on the Euro Exchange Date but all other obligations of the
Issuer thereunder (including the obligation to exchange such Bonds in
accordance with this Condition 22) shall remain in full force and effect;
|
(iii) |
new
Bonds and Coupons denominated in Euro will be issued in exchange for Bonds
and Coupons denominated in Sterling in such manner as the Principal Paying
Agent may specify and as shall be notified to the Bondholders in the Euro
Exchange Notice; and
|
(iv) |
all
payments in respect of the Bonds (other than, unless the Redenomination
Date is on or after such date as Sterling ceases to be a sub-division of
the Euro, payments of interest in respect of periods commencing before the
Redenomination Date) will be made solely in Euro by Euro cheque drawn on,
or by credit or transfer to a Euro account (or other account to which Euro
may be credited or transferred) maintained by the payee with, a bank in a
country in a city in which banks have access to the TARGET System.
|
(c) |
Interest
:
Following redenomination of the Bonds pursuant to this Condition 22, where
Bonds have been issued in definitive form, the amount of interest due in
respect of the Bonds will be calculated by reference to the aggregate
principal amount of the Bonds presented (or, as the case may be, in
respect of which Coupons are presented) for payment by the relevant
holder.
|
(d) |
Interpretation
:
In this Condition:
|
23. |
Governing
Law
|
1. |
The
following expressions shall have the following
meanings:
|
1.1 |
"
voting
certificate
"
means a certificate in the English language issued by a Paying Agent and
dated in which it is stated:
|
1.1.1 |
that
on that date Bonds (not being Bonds in respect of which a block voting
instruction has been issued and is outstanding in respect of the meeting
specified in such voting certificate or any adjournment of such meeting)
bearing specified serial numbers were deposited with such Paying Agent (or
to its order at a bank or other depositary) and that such Bonds will not
be released until the earlier of:
|
(a) |
the
conclusion of the meeting specified in such certificate or any adjournment
of it; and
|
(b) |
the
surrender of the certificate to the Paying Agent which issued it;
and
|
1.1.2 |
that
its bearer is entitled to attend and vote at such meeting or any
adjournment of it in respect of the Bonds represented by such
certificate;
|
1.2 |
"
block
voting instruction
"
means a document in the English language issued by a Paying Agent and date
in which:
|
1.2.1 |
it
is certified that Bonds (not being Bonds in respect of which a voting
certificate has been issued and is outstanding in respect of the meeting
specified in such block voting instruction or any adjournment of it) have
been deposited with such Paying Agent (or to its order at a bank or other
depositary) and that such Bonds will not be released until the earlier
of:
|
(a) |
the
conclusions of the meeting specified in such document or any adjournment
of it; and
|
(b) |
the
surrender, not less that 48 hours before the time fixed for such meeting
or adjournment, of the receipt for each such deposited Bond which is to be
released to the Paying Agent which issued it and the notification of such
surrender by such Paying Agent to the
Issuer;
|
1.2.2 |
it
is certified that each depositor of such Bonds or a duly authorised agent
on his behalf has instructed such Paying Agent that the votes attributable
to his Bonds so deposited should be cast in a particular way in relation
to the resolution to be put to such meeting or any adjournment of it and
that all such instructions are, during the period of 48 hours before the
time fixed for such meeting or adjourned meeting, neither revocable nor
subject to amendment;
|
1.2.3 |
the
total number and the serial numbers of the Bonds so deposited are listed,
distinguishing with regard to each such resolution between those in
respect of which instructions have been given (i) to vote for, and (ii) to
vote against, the resolution; and
|
1.2.4 |
any
person named in such document (a "
proxy
")
is authorised and instructed by such Paying Agent to vote in respect of
the Bonds so listed in accordance with the instructions referred to in
1.2.3
above
as
set out in such document.
|
1.3 |
"
24
hours
"
shall mean a period of 24 hours including all or part of a day upon which
banks are open for business in both the place where the relevant meeting
is to be held and in each of the places where the Paying Agents have their
specified offices (disregarding for this purpose the day upon which such
meeting is to be held) and such period shall be extended by one period or,
to the extent necessary, more periods of 24 hours until there is included
as aforesaid all or part of a day upon which banks are open for business
in all of the places as aforesaid; and
|
1.4 |
"
48
hours
"
shall mean a period of 48 hours including all or part of a day upon which
banks are open for business in both the place where the relevant meeting
is to be held and in each of the places where the Paying Agents have their
specified offices (disregarding for this purpose the day upon which such
meeting is to be held) and such period shall be extended by one period or,
to the extent necessary, more periods of 24 hours until there is included
as aforesaid all or part of two days upon which banks are open for
business in all of the places as aforesaid.
|
1.5 |
References
in this Schedule 5 to Ambac shall apply only for so long as Ambac is the
Controlling Party.
|
2. |
A
holder of a Bond may obtain a voting certificate from a Paying Agent or
require a Paying Agent to issue a block voting instruction by depositing
his Bond with such Paying Agent not later than 48 hours before the time
fixed for any meeting. Voting certificates and block voting instructions
shall be valid until the relevant Bonds are released pursuant to paragraph
1
above
and until then the holders of any such voting certificate or (as the case
may be) the proxy named in any such block voting instruction shall, for
all purposed in connection with any meeting or proposed meeting of
Bondholders, be deemed to be the holder of the Bonds to which such voting
certificate or block voting instruction relates and the Paying Agent with
which (or to the order of which) such Bonds have been deposited shall be
deemed for such purposes not to be the holder of those
Bonds.
|
3. |
Each
of the Issuer, Ambac and the Trustee at any time may, and the Trustee
(subject to its being indemnified to its satisfaction against all costs
and expenses thereby occasioned) upon a request in writing of Bondholders
holding not less than one-tenth in principal amount of the Bonds for the
time being outstanding shall, convene a meeting of Bondholders. Whenever
any such party is about to convene any such meeting it shall forthwith
give notice in writing to the other parties of the day, time and place of
the meeting and of the nature of the business to be transacted at it.
Every such meeting shall be held at such time and place as the Trustee may
approve.
|
4. |
At
least 21 days' notice (exclusive of the day on which the notice is given
and of the day on which the meeting is held) specifying the day, time and
place of meeting shall be given to the Bondholders (with a copy to the
Issuer and Ambac or, where the meeting is convened by the Issuer, Ambac
and the Trustee). A copy of the notice shall in all cases be given by the
party convening the meeting to the other parties. Such notice shall also
specify, unless in any particular case the Trustee otherwise agrees, the
nature of the resolutions to be proposed and shall include a statement to
the effect that Bonds may be deposited with (or to the order of) any
Paying Agent for the purpose of obtaining voting certificates or
appointing proxies not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the
meeting.
|
5. |
A
person (who may, but need not, be a Bondholder) nominated in writing by
the Trustee may take the chair at every such meeting but if no such
nomination is made or if at any meeting the person nominated shall not be
present within 15 minutes after the time fixed for the meeting the
Bondholders present shall choose one of their number to be chairman,
failing which the Issuer may appoint a chairman. The chairman of an
adjourned meeting need to be the same person as was chairman the original
meeting.
|
6. |
At
any such meeting any one or more persons present in person holding Bonds
or voting certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not
less than one-tenth in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding shall (except for the purpose of passing an Extraordinary
Resolution) form a quorum for the transaction of business and no business
(other than the choosing of a chairman) shall be transacted at any meeting
unless the requisite quorum be present at the commencement of business.
The quorum at any such meeting for passing an Extraordinary Resolution
shall (subject as provided below) be one or more persons present in person
holding Bonds or voting certificates and holding or representing in the
aggregate a clear majority in principal amount of the Bonds for the time
being outstanding provided that at any meeting the business of which
includes any of the matters specified in the proviso in paragraph
19
below
the quorum shall be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or
voting certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not less
than two-thirds in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding.
|
7. |
If
within 15 minutes from the time fixed for any such meeting a quorum is not
present the meeting shall, if convened upon the requisition of
Bondholders, be dissolved. In any other case it shall stand adjourned
(unless the Issuer, Ambac and the Trustee agree that it be dissolved) for
such period, not being less than 14 days nor more than 42 days, and to
such place, as may be decided by the chairman. At such adjourned meeting
one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or voting certificates
(whatever the principal amount of the Bonds so held or represented) shall
form a quorum and may pass any resolution and decide upon all matters
which could properly have been dealt with at the meeting from which the
adjournment took place had quorum been present at such meeting provided
that at any adjourned meeting at which is to be proposed an Extraordinary
Resolution for the purpose of effecting any of the modifications specified
in the proviso to paragraph
19
below
the quorum shall be one or more persons present in person holding Bonds or
voting certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not less
than one-third in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding.
|
8. |
The
chairman may with the consent of (and shall if directed by) any meeting
adjourn such meeting from time to time and from place to place but no
business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business
which might lawfully have been transacted at the meeting from which the
adjournment took place.
|
9. |
At
least 10 days' notice of any meeting adjourned through want of a quorum
shall be given in the same manner as for an original meeting and such
notice shall state the quorum required at such adjourned meeting. It shall
not, however, otherwise be necessary to give any notice of an adjourned
meeting.
|
10. |
Every
question submitted to a meeting shall be decided in the first instance by
a show of hands and in case of equality of votes of the chairman shall
both on a show of hands and on a poll have a casting vote in addition to
the vote or votes (if any) which he may have as a Bondholder or as a
holder of a voting certificate.
|
11. |
At
any meeting, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result
of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman, the Issuer, Ambac, the
Trustee or by one or more persons holding one or more Bonds or voting
certificates and holding or representing in the aggregate not less than
one-fiftieth in principal amount of the Bonds for the time being
outstanding, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been
carried or carried by a particular majority or lost or not carried by any
particular majority shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof
of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against
such resolution.
|
12. |
If
at any meeting a poll is so demanded, it shall be taken in such manner and
(subject as provided below) either at once or after such an adjournment as
the chairman directs and the resolute of such poll shall be deemed to be
the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded as at the
date of the taking of the poll. The demand for a poll shall not prevent
the continuation of the meeting for the transaction of any business other
than the question on which the poll has been
demanded.
|
13. |
Any
poll demanded at any meeting on the election of a chairman or on any
question of adjournment shall be taken at the meeting without
adjournment.
|
14. |
The
issuer, the Trustee and Ambac (through their respective representatives)
and their respective financial and legal advisers may attend and speak at
any meeting of Bondholders. No one else may attend at any meeting of
Bondholders or join with others in requesting the convening of such a
meeting unless he is the holder of a Bond or a voting
certificate.
|
15. |
At
any meeting on a show of hands every person who is present in person and
who produces a Bond or voting certificate shall have one vote and on a
poll every person who is so present shall have one vote in respect of each
£50,000 principal amount of the Bonds so produced or represented by the
voting certificate. Without prejudice to the obligations of proxies named
in any block voting instruction, any person entitled to more than one vote
need not use all his votes or cast all the votes to which he is entitled
in the same way.
|
16. |
The
proxy named in any block voting instruction need not be a
Bondholder.
|
17. |
Each
block voting instruction shall be deposited at the registered office of
the Issuer, or at such other place as the Trustee shall designate or
approve, not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for holding the
meeting or adjourned meeting at which the proxy named in the block voting
instruction proposes to vote and in default the block voting instruction
shall not be treated as valid unless the chairman of the meeting decides
otherwise before such meeting or adjourned meeting proceeds to business. A
notarially certified copy of each such block voting instruction and
satisfactory proof (if applicable) shall if required by the Trustee be
produced by the proxy at the meeting or adjourned meeting but the Trustee
shall not thereby be obliged to investigate or be concerned with the
validity of, or the authority of, the proxy named in any such block voting
instruction.
|
18. |
Any
vote given in accordance with the terms of a block voting instruction
shall be valid even if the block voting instruction or any of the
Bondholders' instructions pursuant to which it was executed has been
previously revoked or amended, provided that no intimation in writing of
such revocation or amendment shall have been received from the relevant
Paying Agent by the Issuer or the Trustee at its registered office or by
the chairman of the meeting in each case not less than 24 hours before the
time fixed for the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the block voting
instruction is used.
|
19. |
A
meeting of Bondholders shall, subject to the Conditions, in addition to
the powers given above, but without prejudice to any powers conferred on
other persons by this Trust Deed, have power exercisable by Extraordinary
Resolution:
|
19.1 |
to
sanction any proposal by the Issuer or Ambac for any modification,
abrogation, variation or compromise of, or arrangement in respect of, the
rights of the Bondholders and/or the Couponholders against the Issuer
(whether such rights shall arise under this Trust Deed or otherwise) or
the obligations of Ambac under the Financial
Guarantee);
|
19.2 |
to
sanction the exchange or substitution for the Bonds of, or the conversion
of the Bonds into, shares, bonds, or other obligations or securities of
the Issuer or any other body corporate formed or to be
formed;
|
19.3 |
to
assent to any modification of this Trust Deed, the Bonds or the Coupons
which shall be proposed by the Issuer or the
Trustee;
|
19.4 |
to
authorise anyone to occur in and do all such things as may be necessary to
carry out and give effect to any Extraordinary
Resolution;
|
19.5 |
to
give any authority, direction or sanction which under this Trust Deed or
the Bonds is required to be given by Extraordinary
Resolution;
|
19.6 |
to
appoint any persons (whether Bondholders or not) as a committee or
committees to represent the interests of the Bondholders and to confer
upon such committee or committees any powers or discretions which the
Bondholders could themselves exercise by Extraordinary
Resolution;
|
19.7 |
to
approve a person proposed to be appointed as a new Trustee and to remove
any Trustee;
|
19.8 |
to
approve the substitution of any entity for the issuer (or any previous
substitute) as principal debtor under this Trust Deed or the substitution
of any person for Ambac as guarantor under the Financial
Guarantee;
|
19.9 |
to
discharge or exonerate the Trustee from any liability in respect of any
act or omission for which it may become responsible under this Trust Deed,
the Bonds or the Coupons; and
|
19.10 |
to
waive or authorise any breach by the Issuer or Ambac of their respective
obligations under this Trust Deed and the Financial
Guarantee;
|
19.10.1 |
postponing
the maturity of the Bonds or the dates on which interest is payable in
respect of the Bonds; or
|
19.10.2 |
reducing
or cancelling the principal amount of, any premium payable on redemption
of, or interest on the Bonds; or
|
19.10.3 |
changing
the currency of payment of the Bonds; or
|
19.10.4 |
modifying
the provisions contained in this Schedule concerning the quorum required
at any meeting of Bondholders or the majority required to pass an
Extraordinary Resolution; or
|
19.10.5 |
amending
this proviso.
|
20. |
An
Extraordinary Resolution passed at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened
and held in accordance with this Trust Deed shall be binding upon all the
Bondholders, whether or not present at such meeting, and upon all the
Couponholders and each of the Bondholders and Couponholders shall be bound
to give effect to it accordingly. The passing of any such resolution shall
be conclusive evidence that the circumstances of such resolution justify
the passing of it.
|
21. |
The
expression "
Extraordinary
Resolution
"
means a resolute on passed at a meeting of Bondholders duly convened and
held in accordance with these provisions by a majority consisting of not
less than three-quarters of the votes cast.
|
22. |
Minutes
of all resolutions and proceedings at every such meeting shall be made and
entered in the books to be from time to time provided for that purpose by
the Issuer or the Trustee and any such minutes, if purporting to be signed
by the chairman of the meeting at which such resolutions were passed or
proceedings transacted or by the chairman of the next succeeding meeting
of Bondholders, shall be conclusive evidence of the matters contained in
them and until the contrary is proved every such meeting in respect of the
proceedings of which minutes have been so made and signed shall be deemed
to have been duly convened and held and all resolutions passed or
proceedings transacted at it to have been duly passed and
transacted.
|
23. |
Subject
to all other provisions contained in this Trust Deed the Trustee may
without the consent of the Bondholders prescribe such further regulations
regarding the holding of meetings of Bondholders and attendance and voting
at them as the Trustee may in its sole discretion determine including
particularly (but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing)
such regulations and requirements as the Trustee thinks
reasonable:
|
23.1 |
so
as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to requisite on a meeting in
accordance with paragraph
3
above
or
who purport to make any requisition to the Trustee in accordance with this
Trust Deed are in fact Bondholders; and
|
23.2 |
as
to the form of voting certificates or block voting instructions to be
issued pursuant to paragraph
1
above
so
as to satisfy itself that persons who purport to attend or vote at any
meeting of Bondholders are entitled to do so in accordance with this Trust
Deed.
|
(a) |
except
as otherwise specifically provided herein and subject to the rights of the
Controlling Party, to make any determination contemplated or required
under this Trust Deed (including any determination as to the occurrence or
otherwise of an Ambac Event of Default) (but for the avoidance of doubt,
save as otherwise specifically provided herein, Excluded Rights shall not
include the right to exercise any rights consequent on such
determination);
|
(b) |
to
agree to make any amendment or any repeated waiver or consent which has
the effect of resulting in or permitting any amendment to the provisions
of the Financial Guarantee;
|
(c) |
to
make any claim under, enforce or agree to any amendment to the Financial
Guarantee;
|
(d) |
which
is provided for the purpose of enabling the Trustee to protect its own
interests;
|
(e) |
which
relates to the application by the Trustee of (i) the principal and premium
(if any) of the Bonds on a redemption of the Bonds, or (ii) any interest
payable on the Bonds from time to time;
|
(f) |
to
determine amounts due in relation to indemnities in favour of the Trustee
under this Trust Deed;
|
(g) |
to
require the making of any payment due and payable to it or the
Bondholders;
|
(h) |
unless
at such time Ambac is the Controlling Party, to determine whether to
require acceleration of the Bonds in accordance with Condition 11
(
Issuer
Events of Default
)
of the Bonds;
|
(i) |
to
determine the amount of sums due in relation to expenses and stamp duties
pursuant to this Trust Deed; and
|
(j) |
to
make a claim for expenses under this Trust
Deed.
|
EXECUTED as a DEED and delivered by |
)
|
|
YORKSHIRE ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC |
)
|
|
acting by a Director and the Secretary |
)
|
|
/s/ Ken Linge | ||
Ken Linge | ||
Director | ||
/s/ John Elliott | ||
John Elliott | ||
Secretary |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
)
|
Seal |
under the Common Seal of |
)
|
|
AMBAC ASSURANCE UK LIMITED |
)
|
|
in the presence of |
)
|
|
/s/
Thomas Jacquot
|
||
Thomas Jacquot | ||
Authorised Signatory |
EXECUTED and DELIVERED as a DEED |
)
|
|
By HSBC TRUSTEE (C.I.) LIMITED |
)
|
|
in the presence of: |
)
|
|
/s/ Paul Cattermole | ||
Paul Cattermole | ||
Authorised Signatory | ||
/s/ Ian Graham | ||
Ian Graham | ||
Authorised Signatory |
EXHIBIT
99.4
|
|
||
EXECUTION COPY | |||
DATED
5 MAY 2005
|
|||
YORKSHIRE
ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION plc
and
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED
|
|||
REIMBURSEMENT AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT | |||
CONTENTS
|
||||
Clause | Page | |||
1.
|
Definitions
and Interpretation
|
3
|
||
2.
|
Representations,
Warranties and Covenants
|
7
|
||
3.
|
Issue
of The Financial Guarantee
|
9
|
||
4.
|
Subrogation
|
9
|
||
5.
|
Reimbursement
Obligation
|
10
|
||
6.
|
Indemnity
|
10
|
||
7.
|
Value
Added Tax
|
13
|
||
8.
|
Term
of This Agreement
|
13
|
||
9.
|
Further
Assurances
|
13
|
||
10.
|
Obligations
Absolute
|
14
|
||
11.
|
Assignment
|
14
|
||
12.
|
Liability
of Ambac
|
14
|
||
13.
|
Payment
Procedure
|
15
|
||
14.
|
Remedies
and Waivers
|
16
|
||
15.
|
Amendment,
Partial Invalidity and Counterparts
|
16
|
||
16.
|
Notices
|
18
|
||
17.
|
Contracts
(Rights Of Third Parties) Act 1999
|
19
|
||
18.
|
Economic
and Monetary Union
|
19
|
||
19.
|
Confidentiality
|
19
|
||
20.
|
Law
and Jurisdiction
|
20
|
||
(1) |
YORKSHIRE
ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION PLC
,
a
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (registered
number 02906593) (the "
Issuer
")
and;
|
(2) |
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED,
a
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (registered
number 3248674) ("
Ambac
").
|
(A) |
Pursuant
to the Trust Deed, the Issuer will issue the Bonds.
|
(B) |
The
Issuer has requested that Ambac issue the Financial Guarantee in respect
of all of the Bonds, pursuant to the terms of the Financial Guarantee (the
"
Guaranteed
Obligations
").
|
(C) |
The
Issuer will use the proceeds of the Bond issue for,
inter
alia
,
the Issuer's general corporate purposes, to repay a portion of the
Issuer's indebtedness as it falls due and to meet certain transaction fees
and expenses.
|
(D) |
The
Parties hereto agree that the issue of the Financial Guarantee is
conditional upon the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent as set
out in the Subscription Agreement.
|
1. |
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
Definitions
|
1.1.1 |
Except
as otherwise defined herein, all terms defined in the Financial Guarantee
(including definitions incorporated therein by reference to another
document) shall have the same respective meanings when used in this
Agreement (including the Recitals).
|
1.1.2 |
In
this Agreement, the following words and expressions shall, except where
the context otherwise requires have the following respective
meanings:
|
1.2 |
Construction
|
1.3 |
Currency
Symbols
|
1.3.1 |
"
£
"
and "
sterling
"
denote lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
|
1.3.2 |
"
euro
"
and "
EUR
"
means the single currency of the European Union as constituted by the
Treaty on European Union and
"euro
unit"
means the currency unit of the euro.
|
1.4 |
Agreements
and Statutes
|
1.4.1 |
this
Agreement or any other agreement or document shall be construed as a
reference to this Agreement or, as the case may be, such other agreement
or document as the same may have been, or may from time to time be,
amended, varied, novated or supplemented; and
|
1.4.2 |
a
statute or treaty shall be construed as a reference to such statute or
treaty as the same may have been, or may from time to time be, amended or,
in the case of a statute, re-enacted.
|
1.5 |
Time
|
1.6 |
Trustee
|
1.7 |
Headings
|
2. |
REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
|
2.1 |
Representations
and warranties
of the Issuer
|
(a) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that the representations and warranties made by
the Issuer, on its own behalf and contained in Clause 3 of the
Subscription Agreement and in any other Finance Documents are true and
correct in all respects on the date made.
|
(b) |
The
Issuer makes each of the representations and warranties made by it under
Clause 3 of the Subscription Agreement and in any other Finance Documents
to Ambac on the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date and on any
other date on which such representations and warranties are deemed to be
repeated in the relevant Finance Document as if those representations and
warranties were set out in this Agreement
mutatis
mutandis
.
|
(c) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that, except for the Put Option described in
Condition 13 of the Bonds, there are no put options, or any other rights
in either case having substantially the same effect as the Put Option, in
relation to any indebtedness of the Issuer, other than the obligations
contained in Condition 8 (
Redemption
at the Option of Bondholders
)
of Yorkshire Electricity Distribution plc's £200,000,000 9.25 per cent
Guaranteed Bonds due 2020.
|
(d) |
The
Issuer represents to Ambac that there are no negative pledges, or any
other restrictions over the granting of any Security Interest upon, or
with respect to, any Relevant Indebtedness of the Issuer, other than the
Existing Negative Pledge, the Negative Pledge described in Condition 4 of
the Bonds, (at any time that the Issuer is a "Significant Subsidiary" as
defined in the CE UK Indenture) the obligations contained in Section 1014
(
Limitation
on Liens
)
of the Indenture dated as of December 15, 1997 (the "CE UK Indenture")
between, inter alios, CE Electric UK Funding Company and The Bank of New
York as Trustee and relating to, inter alia, CE Electric UK Funding
Company's US$237,000,000 6.995% Senior Notes due 2007, the obligations
contained in Condition 5 (
Negative
Pledge
)
of CE Electric UK Funding Company's £200,000,000 7.25% Guaranteed Bonds
due 2022, the obligations contained in Condition 3 of the Yorkshire Power
Finance Limited £200,000,000 7.25% Guaranteed Bonds due 2028 and (at any
time that the Issuer is a "Significant Subsidiary" as defined in the
Yorkshire Power Indenture) the obligations contained in Section 1004
(
Limitation
on Liens
)
of the Indenture dated as of February 1, 1998 (the "Yorkshire Power
Indenture") between, inter alios, Yorkshire Power Finance Limited,
Yorkshire Power Group Limited and The Bank of New York and relating to,
inter alia, Yorkshire Power Finance Limited's U.S.$300,000,000 6.496%
Senior Notes due 2008.
|
2.2 |
Covenants
of the Issuer
|
(a) |
it
will comply with the undertakings and covenants set out in the Finance
Documents to which it is a party including without limitation in Clause 4
of the Subscription Agreement as if such covenants were incorporated
mutatis
mutandis
into this Agreement;
|
(b) |
it
will forthwith notify Ambac of anything which has or may reasonably be
expected to have rendered untrue or incorrect in any respect any of the
representations and warranties in Clause
2.1
of
this Agreement and which is material in the context of the issue and
offering of the Bonds and of the transactions contemplated by the Finance
Documents or the issue of the Financial Guarantee;
|
(c) |
it
will provide Ambac with any information, notices, including,
inter
alia
,
management accounts (in such form as they are produced by the Issuer),
audited financial statements and other financial information promptly on
request after the same become available;
|
(d) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, that the duties and obligations of the Issuer
herein shall continue in full force and effect until all of its
obligations under the Finance Documents have been fully and irrevocably
discharged, notwithstanding payment by the Issuer of all amounts due in
respect of the Bonds;
|
(e) |
that,
prior to the Trustee presenting a Notice of Demand to Ambac, the Issuer
will have utilised all other financial resources available to it for the
purposes of paying interest and/or principal and/or any other sums due to
the Bondholders of the relevant Bonds;
|
(f) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, it will, upon reasonable prior notice by Ambac
make appropriate management personnel available for a meeting (whether
conducted over the telephone or otherwise) with Ambac at a mutually
acceptable time and place to discuss the Issuer's operational and
financial performance over the preceding financial year and its financial
plans for the next three years;
|
(g) |
subject
to Applicable Requirements, it will, as soon as reasonably practicable
after request by Ambac, provide appropriate personnel for a meeting
(whether conducted over the telephone or otherwise) with Ambac at a
mutually acceptable time and place if there occurs a significant change in
the financial position of the Issuer or any Subsidiary which is material
to the Issuer as shown in its most recent financial statements or in any
report produced by OFGEM concerning the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries;
|
(h) |
in
consideration for Ambac's issuance of the Financial Guarantee, it will, on
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement:
|
(i) |
pay
or procure the payment, from time to time, of any Guarantee Fees due and
payable to Ambac in accordance with the Guarantee Fee Letter and this
Agreement;
|
(j) |
promptly
pay to Ambac, all and any sums and fees due and payable to Ambac under the
Finance Documents including, for the avoidance of doubt, (if applicable)
the amount equal to the loss, liability or cost which Ambac determines
will be or has been (directly or indirectly) suffered for or on account of
any Tax by Ambac (except any Tax by reference to the net income received
or receivable by Ambac) or in respect of, or applicable to, the payment of
such sums and fees, as provided for in the Finance Documents;
and
|
(k) |
indemnify
and reimburse Ambac on the terms of this Agreement.
|
3. |
ISSUE
OF THE FINANCIAL GUARANTEE
|
3.1 |
satisfaction
or waiver by Ambac (at its sole discretion) of all the conditions
precedent set out in the Subscription Agreement;
|
3.2 |
confirmation
from the Lead Manager on behalf of the Managers (as defined in the
Subscription Agreement) that the conditions precedent set out in Clause
8.3 of the Subscription Agreement have been satisfied, without taking into
account any waiver by the Lead Manager of any such condition unless such
waiver has been approved by Ambac prior to such waiver being
given;
|
3.3 |
no
Potential Issuer Event of Default or Issuer Event of Default shall have
occurred;
|
3.4 |
there
having been no material adverse change (or event which is likely to result
in a material adverse change) in the international or domestic, syndicated
debt, bank or capital markets which may prejudice the offering or
distribution of any of the Bonds since 29 April 2005; and
|
3.5 |
no
statute, rule, regulation or order having been executed, entered or deemed
applicable by any government or governmental or administrative agency or
court having any relevant jurisdiction that would make the transactions
contemplated by any of the Finance Documents and the Financial Guarantee
illegal or otherwise prevent the consummation thereof.
|
4. |
SUBROGATION
|
4.1 |
The
Issuer agrees that Ambac shall be subrogated to the rights of the
Bondholders to the extent of any payment made by Ambac under the Financial
Guarantee.
|
4.2 |
The
Issuer agrees that it shall not, by reason of any payment by Ambac under
the
Financial
Guarantee be discharged from its obligations under this
Agreement.
|
4.3 |
The
Issuer must take such actions as, in the sole judgment of Ambac, are
necessary to evidence such subrogation and to ensure that Ambac receives
any moneys paid or payable in respect of the Bonds under the Finance
Documents.
|
5.1 |
Reimbursement
|
5.1.1 |
The
Issuer must reimburse Ambac for any payment made by Ambac under the
Financial Guarantee on the day on which Ambac makes a payment under the
Financial Guarantee.
|
5.1.2 |
If
the Issuer is required to reimburse Ambac pursuant to Clause 5.1.1, the
Issuer must reimburse Ambac:
|
(a) |
in
accordance with Clause
13.2
(
Payments
under this Agreement
);
|
(b) |
in
an amount equal to the aggregate of:
|
(i) |
the
amount paid by Ambac pursuant to the Financial Guarantee on that
date;
|
(ii) |
all
amounts previously paid by Ambac in connection with the Bonds which remain
outstanding from the Issuer to Ambac; and
|
(iii) |
interest
on any and all amounts which remain outstanding from the Issuer to Ambac
(to the extent permitted by law, if in respect of any unreimbursed amounts
representing interest) from the date the amounts became due until the date
on which the amounts are paid in full, at a rate of interest equal to the
Default Rate.
|
5.2 |
Costs
and Expenses
|
5.2.1 |
any
accounts established to facilitate payments under the Financial
Guarantee;
|
5.2.2 |
the
enforcement or exercise of, or preservation of any rights under, any
Finance Document; and
|
5.2.3 |
any
amendment, waiver, consent or other action with respect to, under or
pursuant to the Finance Documents, whether or not such amendment, waiver,
consent or other action is executed or completed.
|
6. |
INDEMNITY
|
6.1 |
Right
of Indemnification
|
6.1.1 |
any
representation or warranty of the Issuer under Clause 2.1 (
Representations
and Warranties
)
not being true or correct when given;
|
6.1.2 |
a
breach by the Issuer of the covenants set out in Clause 2.2 (
Covenants
);
|
6.1.3 |
the
occurrence of any Potential Issuer Event of Default or Issuer Event of
Default;
|
6.1.4 |
any
actual or alleged omission or action (other than of or by Ambac) in
connection with the offering, issue, sale, remarketing or delivery of the
Bonds;
|
6.1.5 |
any
actual or alleged untrue statement in the Offering Circular or any
omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Offering
Circular which is the responsibility of the Issuer;
|
6.1.6 |
any
such Indemnified Party being obliged to indemnify, for whatever reason,
the Trustee or any agent, delegate or contractor of the Trustee pursuant
to and in accordance with the terms of the Finance Documents;
or
|
6.1.7 |
investigating
any event or circumstance which Ambac in good faith believes might be or
become one of those matters referred to in paragraphs
6.1.1
to
6.1.6
or
in disputing or defending any claim in relation thereto.
|
6.2 |
Conduct
of Proceedings
|
6.2.1 |
If
any action or proceeding is brought against any of the Indemnified Parties
in respect of which indemnity may be sought under Clause
6.1
(
Right
of Indemnification
)
of this Agreement from the Issuer, the Indemnified Party must promptly
notify the Issuer of the claim in writing.
|
6.2.2 |
Subject
to Clause 6.2.4 below and no Potential Issuer Event of Default, or Issuer
Event of Default having occurred, the Issuer will have the option to
assume the defence of any action or proceeding brought against an
Indemnified Party, with legal advisers satisfactory to the Indemnified
Party (acting reasonably) so long as such Indemnified Party is satisfied
(acting reasonably) that any such action by the Issuer shall not be
prejudicial to such Indemnified Party.
|
6.2.3 |
The
Issuer shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Party, settle or compromise, or consent to the entry of judgment with
respect to, any action or proceeding to which this Clause 6.2 relates
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional
release of each Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of the
matters which are the subject to such action or proceeding.
|
6.2.4 |
If
the named parties to any action or proceeding include both the Indemnified
Party and the Issuer (or either of them) and the Indemnified Party has
been advised by counsel that there may be one or more legal defences
available to it which are different from or additional to those available
to the Issuer, the Issuer shall not have the right to assume the defence
of that action or proceeding on behalf of such Indemnified Party and the
Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel at the
cost of the Issuer and to participate in the defence of any action or
proceeding brought against it.
|
6.2.5 |
The
Issuer undertakes to indemnify the Indemnified Parties against any loss or
liability which any of them incur as a consequence of the settlement of
any action or proceeding effected:
|
(a) |
with
the prior written consent of the Issuer (which consent must not be
unreasonably withheld);
|
(b) |
in
circumstances where the Issuer has been given notice of the action or
proceeding and has declined the option to defend such action or proceeding
under Clause 6.2.2 above; or
|
(c) |
if
the circumstances set out in Clause 6.2.4 above exist and the Issuer has
been given notice of the proceedings and of the advice of counsel
regarding the availability of separate defences (as described at Clause
6.2.4 above).
|
6.4 |
Payments
|
6.5 |
Limitation
on Indemnification
|
6.6 |
Continuing
Indemnity
|
6.6.1 |
extend
to the ultimate balance of the sums and liabilities which are or may
become owing to an Indemnified Party under this Agreement;
and
|
6.6.2 |
continue
in force notwithstanding any intermediate payment in whole or in part of
the sums and liabilities which are or may become owing to Ambac under this
Agreement.
|
7.1 |
VAT
Chargeable
|
7.2 |
Reimbursement
|
8. |
TERM
OF THIS AGREEMENT
|
8.1 |
Subject
to Clause 8.2 below, this Agreement shall take effect on the Closing Date
and shall terminate on the date which is the later of:
|
8.1.1 |
the
date on which Ambac is no longer subject to a claim (including any claim
arising from a payment made by the Issuer being declared a preference)
under the Financial Guarantee ; and
|
8.1.2 |
the
date on which all amounts payable to Ambac by the Issuer under this
Agreement and all amounts (actually or contingently) payable under the
Bonds have been paid in full.
|
8.2 |
The
provisions of Clauses
1
(
Definitions
and Interpretation
),
4
(
Subrogation
),
5
(
Reimbursement
Obligation
),
6
(
Indemnity
),
7
(
Value
Added Tax
)
and this Clause
8
shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
|
9. |
FURTHER
ASSURANCES
|
10. |
OBLIGATIONS
ABSOLUTE
|
10.1 |
the
winding-up, dissolution, administration or re-organisation of
the
Issuer or any other person or any change in its status, control or
ownership;
|
10.2 |
any
of the obligations of the Issuer under any of the Finance Documents being
or becoming illegal, invalid, unenforceable or ineffective in any
respect;
|
10.3 |
any
time or other indulgence being granted to the Issuer in respect of its
respective obligations under any of the Finance Documents;
|
10.4 |
any
amendment to, or any variation, waiver, exchange or release of, any
obligation of the Issuer under any of the Finance Documents;
|
10.5 |
the
existence of any claim, set-off or any other right that the Issuer may
have against Ambac;
|
10.6 |
any
other circumstances, other than payment in full, that might otherwise
constitute a defence available to, or discharge of, the Issuer in respect
of the Finance Documents;
|
10.7 |
any
document presented in connection with the Financial Guarantee proving to
be forged or fraudulent (other than forgery or fraud caused by Ambac),
invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement in any document
being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; and
|
10.8 |
any
payment by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee against presentation of a
certificate or other document that does not strictly comply with the terms
of the Financial Guarantee.
|
11. |
ASSIGNMENT
|
12. |
LIABILITY
OF AMBAC
|
12.1 |
the
use of the Financial Guarantee by the Trustee;
|
12.2 |
any
acts or omissions of the Trustee in connection with the use of the
Financial Guarantee by the Trustee; or
|
12.3 |
the
validity of documents delivered to Ambac in connection with any claim
under the
Financial
Guarantee, or of any signatures thereon, even if such documents or
signatures should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient or (unless relevant officers of Ambac shall have actual
knowledge thereof) fraudulent or forged.
|
13.1 |
Payments
by Ambac
|
13.2 |
Payments
under this Agreement
|
13.2.1 |
without
set-off or counterclaim;
|
13.2.2 |
on
the date on which such payment becomes due and payable (and in respect of
any payment made by Ambac under the Financial Guarantee, the date on which
Ambac makes such payment);
|
13.2.3 |
in
the currency in which the relevant Bonds are denominated (in relation to
any payments relating to such Bonds) or in the currency in which the
amounts are incurred by Ambac (in relation to costs, fees, liabilities and
other indemnities);
|
13.2.4 |
in
immediately available funds to the account number specified in the
Guarantee Fee Letter (or to such other account as Ambac may direct by
written notice to the Issuer); and
|
13.2.5 |
without
any Tax Deduction, unless a Tax Deduction is required by law (in which
case, the amount of the payment due from the Issuer must be increased to
an amount which (after making the Tax Deduction) leaves an amount equal to
the payment which would have been due if no Tax Deduction had been
required).
|
13.3 |
Interest
on late payments
|
13.4 |
Determination
of amount due
|
13.5 |
Tax
Credit
|
13.5.1 |
a
Tax Credit is attributable to that tax payment; and
|
13.5.2 |
Ambac
has obtained, utilised and retained that Tax Credit,
|
13.6 |
Tax
Liability
|
14. |
REMEDIES
AND WAIVERS
|
14.1 |
The
rights of Ambac under this Agreement:
|
14.1.1 |
may
be exercised as often as is necessary;
|
14.1.2 |
are
cumulative and not exclusive of its rights under the general law;
and
|
14.1.3 |
are
in addition to any rights and remedies provided for in the Finance
Documents; and
|
14.1.4 |
may
be waived only in writing.
|
14.2 |
Any
delay in exercising or non-exercise by Ambac of any right of Ambac under
this Agreement is not a waiver of that right.
|
14.3 |
Ambac
shall have the right to exercise in its complete discretion the waiver of
any default under this Agreement by written notice setting forth the
terms, conditions and extent of such waiver. Unless such notice expressly
provides to the contrary, any waiver so granted shall extend only to the
specific event or occurrence which gave rise to the Default so waived and
not to any other similar event or occurrence which occurs subsequent to
the date of such waiver.
|
15. |
AMENDMENT,
PARTIAL INVALIDITY AND COUNTERPARTS
|
15.1 |
Amendment
|
15.2 |
Partial
Invalidity
|
15.3 |
Counterparts
|
16. |
NOTICES
|
16.1 |
Communications
in Writing
|
(i) |
To
Ambac:
|
(ii) |
To
the Issuer:
|
16.2 |
Delivery
|
16.2.1 |
(in
the case of any communication made by letter) when delivered to that
address; or
|
16.2.2 |
(in
the case of any communication by fax) when transmission of such fax
communication has been received in legible form and receipt has been
confirmed, and communication verified, by telephone (save for any
communications to Ambac, where such communication shall be deemed to be
received on the day it is actually received and then only if expressly
marked for the attention of the officer identified with the signature of
Ambac below, or such other officer as Ambac shall from time to time
specify for this purpose) provided that in either case if such
communication or document would otherwise be deemed to have been received
or actually received on a day which is not a business day or, for the
avoidance of doubt, falls outside business hours, it shall be deemed to
have been received on the next subsequent business day.
|
17. |
CONTRACTS
(RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES) ACT 1999
|
18. |
ECONOMIC
AND MONETARY UNION
|
18.1.1 |
unless
prohibited by law, Ambac may designate the currency or currency unit in
which any obligations arising under this Agreement otherwise payable in
Sterling are to be denominated or payable;
|
18.1.2 |
unless
prohibited by law, any translation from one currency or currency unit to
another shall be made at the official rate of exchange recognised by the
Bank of England for conversion, rounded up or down by Ambac;
and
|
18.1.3 |
this
Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as
Ambac may specify from time to time to be appropriate to reflect (a) the
adoption of the euro in the United Kingdom and (b) any relevant market
practices relating to the euro.
|
19. |
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
19.1 |
Confidential
Information
|
19.2 |
Permitted
Disclosure
|
19.2.1 |
such
data and information has come into the public domain other than by any
breach of this Agreement;
|
19.2.2 |
such
disclosure is made to any third party with whom Ambac has dealings
(including, any affiliate of Ambac); or
|
19.2.3 |
such
data and information is made available to professional advisors of Ambac
the Issuer for the purpose of performing their duties;
|
19.2.4 |
such
disclosure is required by any applicable law or court order.
|
20.1 |
English
Law
|
20.2 |
English
Courts
|
20.3 |
Consent
to Enforcement
|
20.4 |
Waiver
of Immunity
|
C L I F F O R D | LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP | ||
C H A N C E |
|
||
EXECUTION COPY |
CONTENTS
|
||
Clause
|
Page
|
|
1.
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
2.
|
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
|
1
|
3.
|
AMENDMENT
|
2
|
4.
|
COUNTERPARTS
|
2
|
5.
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
2
|
6.
|
THIRD
PARTY RIGHTS
|
2
|
7.
|
FURTHER
ASSURANCE
|
2
|
SCHEDULE
1
|
Amendments
to Terms and Conditions
|
3
|
(1) |
CE
ELECTRIC UK FUNDING COMPANY
(the
"
Issuer
"),
a company incorporated in England and Wales with unlimited liability under
registered number 3476201;
|
(2) |
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED
("
Ambac
"),
a company incorporated in England and Wales with limited liability under
registered number 3248674; and
|
(3) |
THE
LAW DEBENTURE TRUST CORPORATION p.l.c.
, a
company incorporated in England and Wales with limited liability under
registered number 1675231 (the "
Trustee
",
which expression shall, where the context so admits, include all persons
for the time being the trustee or trustees of the Trust Deed (as defined
below)).
|
(A) |
The
The Issuer has issued £200,000,000 7.25% Guaranteed Bonds due 2022
(the
"
Bonds
")
unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed as to scheduled payments of
principal and interest pursuant to a financial guarantee issued by Ambac.
|
(B) |
The
parties hereto have executed a trust deed constituting the Bonds, dated 15
December 1997 (as amended and/or supplemented from time to time, the
"
Trust
Deed
").
|
(C) |
The
parties wish to amend and modify the Trust Deed as set out in this
instrument, which is supplemental to the Trust Deed.
|
1. |
DEFINITIONS
|
2. |
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
|
2.1 |
The
parties hereto agree and acknowledge that (i) Ambac is the Controlling
Party for the purposes of the Bonds, (ii) Ambac has given written notice
to the Trustee of its intention to exercise the Trust Rights, and (iii)
Ambac has directed the Trustee to consent to the amendments and
modifications to the Trust Deed set out herein.
|
2.2 |
The
Trustee, by its execution hereof, hereby consents to such amendments and
modifications.
|
3.1 |
The
Conditions shall be amended as set out in Schedule 1 hereto.
|
3.2 |
The
Bonds currently outstanding shall be deemed amended and modified to
conform to the amendments and modifications herein contemplated with
effect from the date hereof.
|
3.3 |
Clause
10 (
Covenants
by the Issuer in favour of Ambac
)
of the Trust Deed shall be amended by the deletion of sub-paragraph (A)
and the substitution of the following:
|
4. |
COUNTERPARTS
|
5. |
GOVERNING
LAW
|
6. |
THIRD
PARTY RIGHTS
|
7. |
FURTHER
ASSURANCE
|
1. |
The
Terms and Conditions shall be amended as follows:
|
1.1 |
By
the deletion of Condition 4 (
Limitation
on Distributions
)
in its entirety and the substitution of the following:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on 5 May 2005 and ending on 30 December 2006, the
ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and
calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.79:1;
or
|
(ii) |
in
the period commencing on 31 December 2006 and ending on 30 December 2007,
the ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the
month immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be
made and calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.77:1;
or
|
(iii) |
on
or after 31 December 2007, the ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt
(as at the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the
Distribution is to be made and calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.75:1."
|
1.2 |
By
the deletion in its entirety of the definition of "Interest Coverage
Ratio" in Condition 3 (
Definitions
).
|
1.3 |
By
the addition in Condition 3 (
Definitions
)
of the following definitions:
|
(i) |
deducting
the aggregate amount of all obligations of any member of the Group in
respect of Project Finance Indebtedness;
|
(ii) |
deducting
the aggregate amount of all obligations of any member of the Group in
respect of Financial Indebtedness to the extent that the repayment or
redemption of such Financial Indebtedness is provided for by the purchase
by a member of the Group of a GIC; and
|
(iii) |
deducting
the
aggregate amount of freely available cash and Cash Equivalents held by any
member of the Group at such time,
|
(i) |
moneys
borrowed and debit balances with financial institutions;
|
(ii) |
any
amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit
facility;
|
(iii) |
any
amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of
bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar
instrument;
|
(iv) |
the
amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract
which would, in accordance with UK GAAP, be treated as a finance or
capital lease;
|
(v) |
receivables
sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold
on a non-recourse basis);
|
(vi) |
any
counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond,
standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by
a bank or financial institution (excluding any given in respect of trade
credit arising in the ordinary course of business);
|
(vii) |
any
amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable prior
to 15 December 2022;
|
(viii) |
any
amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or
purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;
and
|
(ix) |
(without
double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee
or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (i) to (viii)
above.
|
1.4 |
Condition
11 (
The
Company's Covenants to Ambac
)
shall be amended as follows:
|
EXECUTED
as
a
DEED
and
delivered by
|
)
|
|
CE
ELECTRIC UK FUNDING COMPANY
|
)
|
|
acting
by a Director and the Secretary
|
)
|
|
/s/
Patrick Goodman
|
||
Patrick Goodman | ||
Director
|
||
/s/ John Elliott | ||
John Elliott
|
||
Secretary
|
EXECUTED
and
DELIVERED
as
a
DEED
|
)
|
Seal
|
under
the Common Seal of
|
)
|
|
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED
|
)
|
|
in
the presence of:
|
)
|
|
/s/ Thomas Jacquot | ||
Thomas
Jacquot
|
||
Authorised
Signatory
|
||
EXECUTED
and
DELIVERED
as
a
DEED
|
)
|
Seal
|
under
the Common Seal of
|
)
|
|
THE
LAW DEBENTURE TRUST
|
)
|
|
CORPORATION
p.l.c.
|
)
|
|
in
the presence of:
|
)
|
|
/s/ Chris Burgess | ||
Chris
Burgess
|
||
Authorised
Signatory
|
||
/s/
|
||
Director
|
C L I F F O R D | LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP | ||
C H A N C E |
|
||
EXECUTION COPY |
CONTENTS
|
||
Clause
|
Page
|
|
1.
|
Definitions
And Interpretation
|
1
|
2.
|
Undertakings
By Ambac
|
1
|
3.
|
Amendments
|
2
|
4.
|
Miscellaneous
|
7
|
(1) |
CE
ELECTRIC UK FUNDING COMPANY
, a
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with company
registration number 3476201 (the "
Issuer
");
and
|
(2) |
AMBAC
ASSURANCE UK LIMITED
, a
company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales with company
registration number 3248674 ("
Ambac
").
|
(A) |
The
Issuer has issued £200,000,000 7.25% guaranteed bonds due 2022 (the
"
Bonds
")
constituted by a trust deed dated 15 December 1997 (the "
Trust
Deed
").
|
(B) |
In
connection with the issue of the Bonds, the parties to this Second
Supplemental Agreement entered into an insurance and indemnity agreement
dated 15 December 1997 (the "
Original
Agreement
").
|
(C) |
In
connection with, among other things, the sale by Northern Electric plc of
its entire interest in Northern Electric and Gas 2 Limited (and as more
fully described therein) the parties hereto entered into a first
supplemental agreement to the Original Agreement dated 19 September
2001.
|
(D) |
The
Issuer's subsidiaries Northern Electric Finance plc and Yorkshire
Electricity Distribution plc each propose to incur additional indebtedness
in the amount of £150,000,000 and £200,000,000, respectively (together,
the "
New
Bond Issuance
").
|
(E) |
In
order to permit the New Bond Issuance, and to effect certain other
amendments to the Original Agreement and to the terms and conditions (the
"
Conditions
")
of the Bonds, the parties have agreed to amend the Original Agreement as
set out herein, and Ambac has agreed to direct The Law Debenture Trust
Corporation p.l.c. as trustee of the Bonds (the "
Trustee
")
to consent to certain amendments to the Conditions.
|
1. |
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1.1 |
Unless
the context otherwise requires or unless defined in this Second
Supplemental Agreement, words and expressions defined in the Original
Agreement as amended or supplemented (whether expressly or by
incorporation) shall have the same meanings when used in this Second
Supplemental Agreement.
|
1.2 |
Any
reference in this Second Supplemental Agreement to:
|
1.2.1 |
the
Original Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document is a
reference to the Original Agreement or that other agreement, instrument or
document as amended, varied, supplemented or novated; and
|
1.2.2 |
a
provision of law is a reference to that provision as amended or
re-enacted.
|
1.3 |
Clause
and Schedule headings are for ease of reference only.
|
2. |
UNDERTAKINGS
BY AMBAC
|
3. |
AMENDMENTS
|
3.1 |
Article
I (
Definitions
)
shall be amended by the addition of the following definitions:
|
(i) |
before
taking into account
any items treated as exceptional items;
|
(ii) |
after
deducting
the amount of any profit of any member of the Group which is attributable
to minority interests;
|
(iii) |
after
deducting
the
amount of any profit of any investment or entity (which is not itself a
member of the Group) in which any member of the Group has an ownership
interest to the extent that the amount of such profit included in the
financial statements of the Group exceeds the amount (net of applicable
withholding tax) received in cash by members of the Group through
distributions by such investment or entity;
|
(iv) |
before
taking into account
any
realised and unrealised exchange gains and losses including those arising
on translation of currency debt;
|
(v) |
before
taking into account
any gain or loss arising from an upward or downward revaluation of any
asset,
|
(i) |
deducting
the aggregate amount of all obligations of any member of the Group in
respect of Project Finance Indebtedness;
|
(ii) |
deducting
the aggregate amount of all obligations of any member of the Group in
respect of Financial Indebtedness to the extent that the repayment or
redemption of such Financial Indebtedness is provided for by the purchase
by a member of the Group of a GIC; and
|
(iii) |
deducting
the
aggregate amount of freely available cash and Cash Equivalents held by any
member of the Group at such time,
|
(i) |
moneys
borrowed and debit balances with financial institutions;
|
(ii) |
any
amount raised by acceptance under any acceptance credit
facility;
|
(iii) |
any
amount raised pursuant to any note purchase facility or the issue of
bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or any similar
instrument;
|
(iv) |
the
amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase contract
which would, in accordance with UK GAAP, be treated as a finance or
capital lease;
|
(v) |
receivables
sold or discounted (other than any receivables to the extent they are sold
on a non-recourse basis);
|
(vi) |
any
counter-indemnity obligation in respect of a guarantee, indemnity, bond,
standby or documentary letter of credit or any other instrument issued by
a bank or financial institution (excluding any given in respect of trade
credit arising in the ordinary course of business);
|
(vii) |
any
amount raised by the issue of redeemable shares which are redeemable prior
to 15 December 2022;
|
(viii) |
any
amount raised under any other transaction (including any forward sale or
purchase agreement) having the commercial effect of a borrowing;
and
|
(ix) |
(without
double counting) the amount of any liability in respect of any guarantee
or indemnity for any of the items referred to in paragraphs (i) to (viii)
above.
|
(a) |
Financial
Indebtedness of the Issuer under the Bonds;
|
(b) |
Financial
Indebtedness of any member of the Group outstanding on 5 May 2005 and not
otherwise referred to in this definition of "Permitted Financial
Indebtedness";
|
(c) |
Financial
Indebtedness which cannot and shall not be accelerated and/or repaid if
any Issuer Event of Default has occurred and, in each case, is
continuing;
|
(d) |
Financial
Indebtedness owed by one member of the Group to another member of the
Group;
|
(e) |
Financial
Indebtedness of NEDL from time to time which does not exceed an aggregate
working capital amount of £50,000,000 (or the equivalent amount in one or
more currencies);
|
(f) |
Financial
Indebtedness of YEDL from time to time which does not exceed an aggregate
working capital amount of £75,000,000 (or the equivalent amount in one or
more currencies);
|
(g) |
Financial
Indebtedness under the £150,000,000 bonds due 2035 issued or to be issued
by NEF on or about 5 May 2005 and guaranteed by NEDL and Ambac;
and
|
(h) |
Financial
Indebtedness under the £200,000,000 bonds due 2035 issued or to be issued
by YEDL on or about 5 May 2005 and guaranteed by Ambac.
|
3.2 |
Section
2.02 (
Covenants
of Issuer
)
of the Original Agreement shall be amended as follows:
|
3.2.1 |
by
the deletion of Section 2.02(j) in its entirety and the substitution of
the following as Section 2.02(j):
|
(i) |
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(1) |
in
the period commencing on 5 May 2005 and ending on 30 December 2006, the
ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to
be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial
Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.79:1; or
|
(2) |
in
the period commencing on 31 December 2006 and ending on 30 December 2007,
the ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the
month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness
is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial
Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.77:1; or
|
(3) |
on
or after 31 December 2007, the ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt
(as at the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the
Financial Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the
gross proposed Financial Indebtedness on a
pro
forma
basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i)
redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV
does not exceed 0.75:1; and
|
(ii) |
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with the Bonds;"
|
3.2.2 |
by
the deletion of Section 2.02(k) in its entirety and the substitution of
the following as Section 2.02(k):
|
(1) |
if
such Financial Indebtedness is incurred:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on 5 May 2005 and ending on 30 December 2008, the
ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to
be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial
Indebtedness on a
pro forma
basis but less cash raised to the
extent that it is retained for (i) redemption of existing indebtedness or
(ii) Capital Investment) to RAV does not exceed 0.68:1; or
|
(ii) | on or after 31 December 2008, the ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the Financial Indebtedness is to be incurred and after giving effect to the gross proposed Financial Indebtedness on a pro forma basis but less cash raised to the extent that it is retained for (i) redemption of existing indebtedness or (ii) Capital Investment) to RAV does not exceed 0.65:1; and |
(2) |
such
Financial Indebtedness (save for any Financial Indebtedness which in
aggregate does not exceed 5% of RAV) ranks no higher than
pari
passu
with the present and future unsecured payment obligations of the relevant
Subsidiary;"
|
3.2.3 |
by
the deletion of Section 2.02(m) in its entirety and the substitution of
the following as Section 2.02(m):
|
3.2.4 |
by
the addition of a new Section 2.02(o) with the following
text:
|
(i) |
in
the period commencing on 5 May 2005 and ending on 30 December 2006, the
ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the month
immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be made and
calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.79:1;
or
|
(ii) |
in
the period commencing on 31 December 2006 and ending on 30 December 2007,
the ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt (as at the end of the
month immediately preceding the date on which the Distribution is to be
made and calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed 0.77:1;
or
|
(iii) |
on
or after 31 December 2007, the ratio of Consolidated Senior Total Net Debt
(as at the end of the month immediately preceding the date on which the
Distribution is to be made and calculated on a
pro
forma
basis as if the Distribution had been made) to RAV does not exceed
0.75:1;"
|
3.2.5 |
by
the addition of a new Section 2.02(p) with the following
text:
|
3.2.6 |
by
the addition of the following text at the end of Section
2.02(c):
|
3.2.7 |
by
the deletion of Section 2.02A in its entirety and the substitution of the
following as Section 2.02A:
|
4. |
MISCELLANEOUS
|
4.1 |
The
terms of this Second Supplemental Agreement may be enforced only by a
party hereto and the operation of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties)
Act 1999 is excluded.
|
4.2 |
The
provisions of Section 7.01 (
Amendments,
Etc
),
Section 7.02 (
Notices
),
Section 7.03 (
Severability
),
Section 7.04 (
Governing
Law
)
and Section 7.05 (
Counterparts
)
of the Original Agreement shall apply
mutatis
mutandis
to
this Second Supplemental Agreement save that references in such provisions
to the "
Insurance
Agreement
"
shall, for the purposes of this Clause 4.2, be construed as references to
this Second Supplemental Agreement.
|
By: /s/ Patrick Goodman | |
Patrick Goodman |
By: /s/ Thomas Jacquot | |
Thomas Jacquot |