UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 2, 2010
Commission
|
|
Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter |
|
IRS Employer
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-12869 |
|
CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. |
|
52-1964611 |
100 CONSTELLATION WAY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND |
21202 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
410-470-2800
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
1-1910 |
|
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY |
|
52-0280210 |
2 CENTER PLAZA, 110 WEST FAYETTE STREET, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND |
21201 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
410-234-5000
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
MARYLAND
(State of Incorporation of both registrants)
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name, former address
and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events
Ring Fencing of Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
In order to satisfy the ring fencing condition contained in an order issued by the Maryland Public Service Commission (Maryland PSC) in October 2009 approving the acquisition by EDF Development, Inc. of a 49.99% interest in Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC, Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (Constellation Energy) and Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) have taken the measures described below.
Constellation Energy has created a new wholly-owned, special purpose subsidiary, RF HoldCo LLC (HoldCo), for the purpose of holding 100% of the common equity interests in BGE. Pursuant to a contribution agreement between Constellation Energy, BGE and HoldCo, dated as of February 4, 2010, HoldCo acquired 100% of the common equity interests of BGE from Constellation Energy. The contribution agreement is attached as an exhibit hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
HoldCo is restricted under its operating agreement to performance of certain limited activities in compliance with its special purpose status. HoldCos operating agreement also contains legal separateness provisions including those set forth in the Maryland PSCs order. HoldCo has one independent director whose consent is necessary, in addition to the consent of each of the other directors of HoldCo, in order for HoldCo to initiate a bankruptcy, dissolution or similar proceeding. In addition, HoldCo has issued a non-economic share to a third party pursuant to a purchase agreement between HoldCo and the third party dated as of February 4, 2010. The consent of this shareholder is also necessary in order for HoldCo to initiate a bankruptcy, dissolution or similar proceeding. The purchase agreement and operating agreement are attached as exhibits hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
BGEs charter and bylaws have been amended to require the unanimous vote of the BGE board of directors (including its independent directors) in order for BGE to file a voluntary bankruptcy petition. In addition, BGEs bylaws have been amended to include the following separateness provisions required by the Maryland PSCs order:
· BGE shall not participate in the cash pool operated by Constellation Energy and shall not commingle funds with Constellation Energy,
· BGE shall hold itself out as a separate entity from Constellation Energy and HoldCo and shall conduct business in its own name and not assume any liability from future debts of Constellation Energy or HoldCo,
· BGE shall maintain a separate name from and shall not use any trademarks, service marks or other intellectual property of Constellation Energy or HoldCo,
· BGE shall maintain separate books, accounts and financial statements reflecting its separate assets and liabilities, and
· BGE shall maintain arms-length relationships with Constellation Energy and HoldCo.
In connection with these requirements, BGE has ceased its participation in the cash pool operated by Constellation Energy and Constellation Energy has transferred to BGE ownership of the trademarks, service marks and domain names used by BGE.
Further, BGE has amended its bylaws to require that BGE have at least two directors who meet the director independence standards established by the New York Stock Exchange and who are neither employees nor directors of Constellation Energy or any Constellation Energy affiliate. Constellation Energy and BGE had previously agreed to such a requirement in the settlement agreement both entered into with the Maryland PSC, the State of Maryland and certain Maryland officials in March 2008 and BGE has had two independent directors serving on its board of directors since September 2008.
BGEs charter amendment and amended and restated bylaws are attached as exhibits hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Constellation Energy, BGE and HoldCo have obtained legal opinions from outside counsel concluding that a bankruptcy court, following established legal precedent, would not substantively consolidate (a) the assets and liabilities of HoldCo with those of Constellation Energy in the event of a Constellation Energy bankruptcy event or (b) the assets and liabilities of BGE with those of (1) HoldCo in the event of a HoldCo bankruptcy event or (2) Constellation Energy in the event of a Constellation Energy bankruptcy event.
BGE and HoldCo have agreed to monitor and report annually upon ongoing compliance with the legal separateness requirements contained in the Maryland PSCs order. Constellation Energy has agreed to deliver an officers certificate to the Maryland PSC on a yearly basis stating that (a) it intends to maintain the requisite legal separateness in the corporate structure, (b) the corporate reorganization serves important business purposes of Constellation Energy and (c) Constellation Energy acknowledges that subsequent creditors of BGE may rely upon the separateness of BGE and would be significantly harmed in the event separateness is not maintained and a substantive consolidation of BGE with Constellation Energy were to occur.
BGE and HoldCo are separate legal entities and are not liable for the debts of Constellation Energy. Accordingly, creditors of Constellation Energy may not satisfy their debts from the assets of BGE and HoldCo except as required by applicable law or regulation. Similarly, Constellation Energy is not liable for the debts of BGE or HoldCo. Accordingly, creditors of BGE and HoldCo may not satisfy their debts from the assets of Constellation Energy except as required by applicable law or regulation.
Equity Contributions to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
In December 2009, Constellation Energy contributed $315.9 million to BGE to comply with other conditions contained in the Maryland PSCs order. Specifically, Constellation Energy provided a $250 million capital contribution to BGE, which was required to be made by June 30, 2010 under the Maryland PSCs order, and a $65.9
million equity contribution to cover the after-tax cost to BGE of providing a $110.5 million residential rate credit required by the order. As of December 31, 2009, BGEs equity percentage, as calculated under the Maryland PSCs ratemaking precedents, was above 48%.
Forward-Looking Statements. Constellation Energy and BGE make statements in this report that may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are not guarantees of Constellation Energys or BGEs future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause Constellation Energys or BGEs actual performance or achievements to be materially different from those Constellation Energy and BGE project. For a full discussion of these risks, uncertainties and factors, Constellation Energy and BGE encourage you to read their documents on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth in their periodic reports under the forward-looking statements and risk factors sections. Except as required by law, Constellation Energy and BGE do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
Articles of Amendment to the Charter of BGE as of February 2, 2010 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
Bylaws of BGE, as amended to February 4, 2010 |
|
|
|
99.1 |
|
Operating Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2010, by and among RF HoldCo LLC, Constellation Energy Group, Inc. and GSS Holdings (BGE Utility), Inc. |
|
|
|
99.2 |
|
Contribution Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2010, by and among Constellation Energy Group, Inc., BGE and RF HoldCo LLC |
|
|
|
99.3 |
|
Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2010, by and between RF HoldCo LLC and GSS Holdings (BGE Utility), Inc. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
|
|
CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. |
|
|
|
(Registrant) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: |
February 4, 2010 |
|
/s/ Charles A. Berardesco |
|
|
|
Charles A. Berardesco |
|
|
|
Senior Vice President and General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY |
|
|
|
(Registrant) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: |
February 4, 2010 |
|
/s/ Charles A. Berardesco |
|
|
|
Charles A. Berardesco |
|
|
|
Corporate Secretary |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
Articles of Amendment to the Charter of BGE as of February 2, 2010 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
Bylaws of BGE, as amended to February 4, 2010 |
|
|
|
99.1 |
|
Operating Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2010, by and among RF HoldCo LLC, Constellation Energy Group, Inc. and GSS Holdings (BGE Utility), Inc. |
|
|
|
99.2 |
|
Contribution Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2010, by and among Constellation Energy Group, Inc., BGE and RF HoldCo LLC |
|
|
|
99.3 |
|
Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 4, 2010, by and between RF HoldCo LLC and GSS Holdings (BGE Utility), Inc. |
Exhibit 3.1
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
OF
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY, a Maryland corporation (the Corporation), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland (the SDAT) that:
FIRST : The charter of the Corporation is hereby amended immediately upon acceptance for record of these articles of amendment (the Effective Time) by the SDAT as follows:
(a) Paragraph 1 of Article IV of the charter is deleted in its entirety and the following is inserted in place thereof:
1. The total amount of stock which this corporation is authorized to issue is seven million five hundred one thousand five hundred (7,501,500) shares, classified as follows: (i) one million (1,000,000) shares, par value of one hundred dollars ($100) each, with an aggregate par value of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) are preferred stock; (ii) six million five hundred thousand (6,500,000) shares, par value of one hundred dollars ($100) each, with an aggregate par value of six hundred fifty million dollars ($650,000,000) are preference stock, of which four hundred thousand (400,000) shares of the aggregate par value of forty million dollars ($40,000,000) are issued and outstanding 7.125% Cumulative Preference Stock, 1993 Series, five hundred thousand (500,000) shares of the aggregate par value of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) are issued and outstanding 6.97% Cumulative Preference Stock, 1993 Series, four hundred thousand (400,000) shares of the aggregate par value of forty million dollars ($40,000,000) are issued and outstanding 6.70% Cumulative Preference Stock, 1993 Series, and six hundred thousand (600,000) shares of the aggregate par value of sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) are issued and outstanding 6.99% Cumulative Preference Stock, 1995 Series, and four million six hundred thousand (4,600,000) shares of the aggregate par value of four hundred sixty million dollars ($460,000,000) are authorized but unissued and unclassified preference stock; and (iii) the balance, one thousand five hundred (1,500) shares without par value, is common stock. The aggregate par value of all the authorized shares of all classes of stock having par value is seven hundred fifty million dollars ($750,000,000).
(b) Every 149,556.416 shares of the Corporations common stock, without par value, issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be combined into one share of common stock, without par value. Any fraction of an outstanding share of common stock that would otherwise have resulted from the foregoing combination will be eliminated by rounding such fraction up to the nearest whole share.
(c) Paragraphs 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 of Article IV are deleted in their entirety and paragraphs 25, 26, 27 and 28 are renumbered as paragraphs 18, 19, 20 and 21 respectively.
(d) Article V of the charter is renumbered as Article VI and the following is inserted in place thereof as Article V:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this charter and any provision of law that otherwise so empowers this corporation, the stockholders, the board of directors, any director, any officer or any other person, neither the stockholders nor the board of directors nor any director nor any officer nor any other person shall be authorized or empowered, nor shall they permit this corporation, without the unanimous prior approval of the board of directors, including the Independent Directors, as that term is defined from time to time in this corporations bylaws, to (A) commence any case, proceeding or other action on behalf of this corporation under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or relief for debtors; (B) institute proceedings to have this corporation adjudicated as bankrupt or insolvent; (C) consent to or acquiesce in the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against this corporation; (D) file a petition or consent to a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding up, dissolution, composition, liquidation, or other relief on behalf of this corporation of its debts under any federal or state law relating to bankruptcy; (E) apply for, or consent to, or acquiesce in the appointment of, a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee or other officer with similar powers of such person with respect to the corporation; (F) make any assignment for the benefit of this corporations creditors; (G) admit in writing this corporations inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or (H) remove the unanimous approval requirement set forth above in this Article V.
SECOND : The amendments to the charter of the Corporation set forth in Article FIRST hereof have been advised by the board of directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by Maryland General Corporation Law.
THIRD : The authorized stock of the Corporation has not been increased by these Articles of Amendment.
FOURTH : As amended hereby, the charter of the Corporation shall remain in full force and effect.
* * * * *
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these articles of amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and witnessed by its Assistant Secretary as of the 2nd day of February, 2010.
|
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Kenneth W. DeFontes, Jr. |
|
Name: |
Kenneth W. DeFontes, Jr. |
|
Title: |
President |
Witness:
/s/ Sean J. Klein |
|
Assistant Secretary |
|
The undersigned President of the Corporation, who executed on behalf of the Corporation the foregoing articles of amendment of which this certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges the foregoing articles of amendment to be the act of the Corporation and further certifies, as to all of the matters and facts required to be verified under oath, that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth herein are true in all material respects, under penalties of perjury.
|
/s/ Kenneth W. DeFontes, Jr. |
|
Kenneth W. DeFontes, Jr. |
|
President |
Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
Amended and Restated as of February 4, 2010
Bylaws of
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
The annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of Directors and for the transaction of general business shall be held on any date as determined year to year by the Board of Directors. The time and location of the meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, an annual report containing a full and correct statement of the affairs of the Company, including a balance sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year, which shall be submitted to the stockholders at the annual meeting.
Special meetings of the stockholders may be held in the City of Baltimore or in any county in which the Company provides service or owns property upon call by the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President, or a majority of the Board of Directors whenever they deem expedient, or upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to not less than twenty-five percent of all the votes entitled to be cast at such a meeting. Such request of the stockholders shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on thereat and shall be delivered to the Secretary, who shall inform such stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing such notice of the meeting, and upon payment to the Company of such costs the Secretary shall give notice stating the purpose or purposes of the meeting to all stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. No special meeting need be called upon the request of the holders of the shares entitled to cast less than a majority of all votes entitled to be cast to such meeting, to consider any matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted upon at any special meeting of the stockholders held during the preceding twelve months. The business at all special meetings shall be confined to that specifically named in the notice thereof.
Written or printed notice of every meeting of the stockholders, whether annual or special, stating the place, day, and hour of such meeting and (in the case of special meetings) the business proposed to be transacted shall be given by the Secretary to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten days but no more than ninety days before the date fixed for such meeting, by electronic mail at his or her e-mail address as it appears on the records of the Company or by depositing such notice in the United States mail addressed to him or her at his or her post office address as it appears on the records of the Company, with postage thereon prepaid.
All meetings of the stockholders shall be called to order by the Chairman of the Board, or if one is not elected or is absent, by the President, or in his or her absence by a Vice President, or in the case of the absence of such officers, then by any stockholder, whereupon the meeting shall organize by electing a chairman. The Secretary of the Company, if present, shall act as secretary of the meeting, unless some other person shall be elected by the meeting to so act. An accurate record of the meeting shall be kept by the secretary thereof, and placed in the record books of the Company.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes thereat shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum be not present at any meeting, holders of a majority of the shares of stock so present or represented may adjourn the meeting either sine die or to a date certain.
At all meetings of the stockholders, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of common stock standing in his or her name and, when the preferred or preference stock is entitled to vote, such number of votes as shall be provided in the charter of the Company for each share of preferred and preference stock standing in his or her name, and the votes shall be cast by stockholders in person or by lawful proxy.
The Directors, at a regular or special meeting of stockholders, may (but shall not be required to) appoint a Judge of Election and two Tellers to serve at each meeting of stockholders. If the Directors fail to make such appointments, or if the Judge of Election and/or Tellers, or any of them, fail to appear at the meeting, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint a Judge of Election and/or a Teller or Tellers to serve at that meeting. It shall be the duty of the Tellers to receive the ballots of all the holders of stock entitled to vote and present at a meeting either in person or by proxy, and to count and tally said ballots by the official record of stockholders of the Company, or by a summary prepared therefrom and certified by the Stock Transfer Agent or the Secretary of the Company showing the number of shares of common and, if entitled to vote, preferred and preference stock owned of record by each stockholder, who may be designated therein by name, code number, or otherwise, and certify them to the Judge of Election, and the said Judge shall communicate in writing the result of the balloting so certified by the Tellers to the chairman who shall at once announce the same to the meeting. This certificate, signed by the Tellers and countersigned by the Judge, shall be duly recorded as part of the minutes of the meeting and filed among the records of the Company.
The Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or entitled to the allotment of any rights, or for any other
proper purpose. Such date in any case shall not be more than ninety days (and in the case of a meeting of stockholders not less than ten days) prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of stockholders is to be taken. Only stockholders of record on such date shall be entitled to notice of or to vote at such meeting or to receive such dividends or rights, as the case may be. In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may close the stock transfer books of the Company for a period not exceeding twenty days or less than ten days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders or not exceeding twenty days preceding any other of the above mentioned events.
The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by a Board of Directors which shall have and may exercise all the powers of the Company, except such as are expressly conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders by law, by the charter, or by these bylaws. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of Directors shall appoint the officers for the conduct of the business of the Company, determine their duties and responsibilities and fix their compensation. The Board of Directors may remove any officer.
The number of Directors (including each Independent Director) shall be set at six; provided, however , that the number of Directors may be increased or decreased by the Board of Directors without an amendment to these bylaws but in no event will there be less than three Directors or more than fifteen Directors. The Directors (including each Independent Director) shall be elected at each Annual Meeting of the Stockholders except as otherwise provided in these bylaws. They shall hold their offices for one year and until their successors are elected and qualified.
At all times on and after September 27, 2008, the Company shall, in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws, have at least two Directors who meet the standards for independence set forth in the New York Stock Exchange Listing Standards, and who are neither employees nor directors of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (CEG) or any CEG affiliate (each such Director, an Independent Director). No resignation or removal of an Independent Director at any time when such resignation or removal would leave the Company with less than two Independent Directors shall be effective until a successor Independent Director shall have accepted his or her appointment as an Independent Director. In the event that less than two persons meeting the qualifications therefor are then holding the position of Independent Director, the Board of Directors shall, as soon as practicable, appoint as many successor Independent Directors as needed to have at least two Independent Directors, and until each such vacancy is filled, the Board of Directors shall be prohibited from voting on any action specified in Section 6(b) of this
Article II or the provisio to Article VIII. No Independent Director shall at any time serve as trustee in bankruptcy for any affiliate of the Company.
The stockholders, at any meeting duly called and at which a quorum is present, may remove any Director or Directors from office by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to the vote thereon, and may elect a successor or successors to fill any resulting vacancies for the unexpired terms of the removed Directors.
Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors from any cause other than by reason of removal by the stockholders or an increase in the number of Directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors although such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy occurring by reason of an increase in the number of Directors may be filled by action of a majority of Directors. A Director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is elected and qualified.
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders or any special meeting of the stockholders at which the Board of Directors is elected, and thereafter regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates during the year as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. All meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the general offices of the Company in the City of Baltimore or elsewhere, as ordered by the Board of Directors. Of all such meetings (except: the regular meeting held immediately after the election of Directors) the Secretary shall give notice to each Director personally or by electronic mail, by telephone, by telegram directed to, or by written notice deposited in the United States mail addressed to, his residence or business address on record with the Company at least 48 hours before such meeting. Special meetings may be held at any time or place upon the call of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer.
The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, or, if one is not elected or is absent, the President, or one of the Vice Presidents (if a member of the Board of Directors) shall preside. If at any meeting none of the foregoing persons is present, the Directors present shall designate one of their number to preside at such meeting.
The Board of Directors is authorized to appoint from among its members such committees as it may, from time to time, deem advisable and to delegate to such committee or committees any of the powers of the Board of Directors which it may lawfully delegate. Each such committee shall consist of at least one Director.
Each member of the Board of Directors, other than salaried officers and employees, shall be paid an annual retainer fee, payable in quarterly installments, in such amount as shall be specified from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Each member of the Board of Directors, other than salaried officers and employees, shall be paid such fee as shall be specified from time to time by the Board of Directors for attending each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and for attending, as a committee member, each meeting of any committee appointed by the Board of Directors. Each Director shall be paid reasonable traveling expenses incident to attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors.
The Company may have a Chairman of the Board and shall have a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Secretary, who shall be elected by, and hold office at the will of, the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, shall be chosen from
among the Directors, and the Board of Directors shall designate either the Chairman of the Board or the President to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Board of Directors shall also elect such other officers as they may deem necessary for the conduct of the business and affairs of the Company. Any two offices, except those of President and Vice President, may be held by the same person, but no person shall sign checks, drafts and promissory notes, or execute, acknowledge or verify any other instrument in more than one capacity, if such instrument is required by law, the charter, these bylaws, a resolution of the Board of Directors or order of the Chief Executive Officer to be signed, executed, acknowledged or verified by two or more officers.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one is elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders, and shall also have such other powers and duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
The President shall have general executive powers, as well as specific powers conferred by these bylaws. The President, any Vice President, or such other persons as may be designated by the Board of Directors, shall sign all special contracts of the Company, countersign checks, drafts and promissory notes, and such other papers as may be directed by the Board of Directors. The President, or any Vice President, together with the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, shall have authority to sell, assign or transfer and deliver any bonds, stocks or other securities owned by the Company. The President shall also have such other powers and duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if one is not elected, the President shall perform all the duties of the Chairman of the Board.
Each Vice President shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer, as well as the specific powers assigned by these bylaws. A Vice President may be designated by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer to perform, in the absence of the President, all the duties of the President.
The Treasurer shall have the care and the custody of the funds and valuable papers of the Company, and shall receive and disburse all moneys in such a manner as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Treasurer shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer, as well as specific powers assigned by these bylaws.
The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors and shall notify the stockholders and Directors of such meetings in the manner provided in these bylaws. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of all such meetings in books kept for that purpose. The Secretary shall have such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, as well as the specific powers assigned by these bylaws.
Any officer may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever, in its judgment, the best interest of the Company will be served thereby. In case of removal, the salary of such officer shall cease. Removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed, but election of an officer shall not of itself create contractual rights.
Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company shall be filled by the Board of Directors and the officer so elected shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which the vacancy occurred or until his or her successor shall be duly elected and qualified.
In any event of absence or temporary disability of any officer of the Company, the Board of Directors may authorize some other person to perform the duties of that office.
The Company shall:
The Company shall indemnify any present or former Director or officer of the Company and each Director or elected officer of any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or by reason of service, while a Director or officer of the Company and at the request of the Company, as a director or officer of another company, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and the Company shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses incurred in advance of final disposition of the proceeding, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Maryland. The Company may indemnify, and advance reasonable expenses to, other employees and agents of the Company and employees and agents of any subsidiary of the Company to the extent authorized by the Board of Directors. The Company shall follow the procedures required by applicable law in determining persons eligible for indemnification and in making indemnification payments and advances.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by these bylaws (a) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses may be entitled under any law (common or statutory), or any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or other provision that is consistent with law, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office or while employed or acting as agent for the Company, (b) shall continue in respect of all events occurring while a person was a Director or officer after such person has ceased to be a Director or officer, and (c) shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators of such person. All rights to indemnification and advance of expenses hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract between the Company and each Director or officer of the Company who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this Article V is in effect. Nothing herein shall prevent the amendment of this Article V, provided that no such amendment shall diminish the rights of any person hereunder with respect to events occurring or claims made before its adoption or as to claims made after its adoption in respect of events occurring before its adoption. Any repeal or modification of this Article V shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification or advancement of expenses of a Director or officer or the obligations of the Company arising hereunder with respect to events occurring, or claims made, while this Article V or any provision hereof is in effect.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Article V shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.
Evidence of ownership of stock in the Company shall be pursuant to certificate(s), each of which shall represent the number of shares of stock owned by a stockholder of the Company. Stockholders may request that their stock ownership be represented by certificate(s). Each certificate shall be signed on behalf of the Company by the President or a Vice President and countersigned by the Secretary, and shall be sealed with the corporate seal. The signatures may be either manual or facsimile. In case any officer who signed any certificate, in facsimile or otherwise, ceases to be such officer of the Company before the certificate is issued, the certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same effect as if the officer had not ceased to be such officer as of the date of its issue.
Stock shall be transferable only on the books of the Company by assignment in writing by the registered holder thereof, his or her legally constituted attorney, or his or her legal representative, either upon surrender and cancellation of the certificate(s) therefor, if such stock is represented by a certificate, or upon receipt of such other documentation for stock not represented by a certificate as the Board of Directors and the law of the State of Maryland may, from time to time, require.
No certificate for shares of stock of the Company shall be issued in place of any other certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, except upon production of such evidence of the loss, theft or destruction and upon indemnification of the Company to such extent and in such manner as the Board of Directors may prescribe.
The Board of Directors shall appoint a person or persons, or any incorporated trust company or companies or both, as transfer agents and registrars and, if stock is represented by a certificate, may require that such certificate bear the signatures or the counter-signatures of such transfer agents and registrars, or either of them.
The Company shall maintain at its principal office in Baltimore, Maryland, a stock record containing the names and addresses of all stockholders and the numbers of shares of each class held by each stockholder.
The Board of Directors shall provide, subject to change, a suitable corporate seal which may be used by causing it, or facsimile thereof, to be impressed or affixed or reproduced one the Companys stock certificates, bonds, or any other documents on which the seal may be appropriate.
These bylaws, or any of them, may be amended or repealed, and new bylaws may be made or adopted at any meeting of the Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of the Directors, or by the stockholders at any annual meeting, or at any special meeting called for that purpose; provided, however , that, in the case of any amendment, repeal or replacement of Sections 3 and 6 of Article II or any part of Article IV or this Article VIII, each Independent Director must also have approved such amendment, repeal or replacement.
Exhibit 99.1
OPERATING AGREEMENT
OF
RF HOLDCO LLC
THIS OPERATING AGREEMENT (this Agreement ), dated as of February 4, 2010, is made and entered into by and among CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. , a Maryland corporation (the Class A Member ), RF HOLDCO LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (the Company ), and GSS HOLDINGS (BGE UTILITY), INC. , a Delaware corporation (the Class B Member and collectively with the Class A Member, the Members ).
WHEREAS, the Company and the Class A Member entered into the Operating Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2010 (the Initial Operating Agreement );
WHEREAS, the Company and the Members wish to amend and restate in its entirety the Initial Operating Agreement in order to provide for the Class B Member and an Independent Director and to make certain other changes; and
WHEREAS , the Class B Member is a Member for the sole and limited purpose of restricting the right of the Company to take certain actions as described in Section 5.1(b) or, pursuant to Section 9.3, to amend this Agreement or the Companys Certificate of Formation without the prior written consent of the Class B Member.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Members hereby declare and agree as follows:
The Class A Membership Units and Class B Membership Units are herein called the Units .
Name |
|
Address |
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. |
|
100 Constellation Way |
(Class A Member) |
|
Baltimore, MD 21202 |
|
|
Attn: Assistant Secretary |
|
|
Telephone number: 410-470-5718 |
|
|
Fax: 410-470-5742 |
|
|
|
GSS Holdings (BGE Utility), Inc. |
|
68 South Service Road, Suite 120 |
(Class B Member) |
|
Melville, NY 11747 |
|
|
Attn: Bernard J. Angelo |
|
|
Telephone number: 631-930-7202 |
|
|
Fax: 212-302-8767 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned, intending to be legally bound hereby, have duly executed this Operating Agreement as of the date first written above.
|
MEMBERS |
|
|
|
|
|
CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Charles A. Berardesco |
|
Name: |
Charles A. Berardesco |
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President and General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GSS HOLDINGS (BGE UTILITY), INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ John L. Fridlington |
|
Name: |
John L. Fridlington |
|
Title: |
Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMPANY |
|
|
|
|
|
RF HOLDCO LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Jonathan W. Thayer |
|
Name: |
Jonathan W. Thayer |
|
Title: |
President |
Exhibit 99.2
EXECUTION COPY
CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
dated as of February 4, 2010
among
Constellation Energy Group Inc.,
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, and
RF HoldCo LLC
Table of Contents
|
|
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I CONTRIBUTION; ISSUANCE OF CLASS A CERTIFICATE |
|
3 |
||
Section 1.1 |
|
The Contribution |
|
3 |
Section 1.2 |
|
Intention of the Parties |
|
4 |
Section 1.3 |
|
The Closing |
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
|
5 |
||
Section 2.1 |
|
Representations and Warranties of Constellation |
|
5 |
Section 2.2 |
|
Representations and Warranties of BGE |
|
5 |
Section 2.3 |
|
Representations and Warranties of HoldCo |
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS |
|
7 |
||
Section 3.1 |
|
Waivers; Amendments |
|
7 |
Section 3.2 |
|
Notices |
|
7 |
Section 3.3 |
|
Effectiveness; Assignability |
|
7 |
Section 3.4 |
|
Governing Law |
|
8 |
Section 3.5 |
|
Execution in Counterparts; Severability |
|
9 |
Section 3.6 |
|
Entire Agreement |
|
9 |
Section 3.7 |
|
Limitations on Liability |
|
9 |
THIS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT (this Agreement ) is made as of February 4, 2010 by and among Constellation Energy Group Inc., a Maryland corporation ( Constellation ), Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, a Maryland corporation ( BGE ), and RF HoldCo LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( HoldCo ). Each of Constellation, BGE and HoldCo are referred to herein as a Party , and collectively as the Parties .
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, Constellation is the holder of Stock Certificate No. R001 of BGE (the Existing BGE Stock Certificate ), representing all 1,000 shares of the outstanding common stock of BGE (the BGE Shares );
WHEREAS, Constellation is the holder of Stock Certificate No. CA-1 of HoldCo (the Class A Certificate ), representing all issued and outstanding Class A membership interests of HoldCo (the Class A Membership Interests );
WHEREAS, Constellation desires to contribute all of the BGE Shares to HoldCo, and to receive in exchange an increase in the value of the Class A Membership Interests, as represented by the Class A Certificate;
WHEREAS, HoldCo acknowledges and agrees that the Class A Certificate held by Constellation shall continue to represent all issued and outstanding Class A membership interests of HoldCo as of the Effective Date; and
WHEREAS, Constellation, BGE and HoldCo have adopted all necessary resolutions approving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants hereof, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, intending to be legally bound, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CONTRIBUTION; ISSUANCE OF CLASS A CERTIFICATE
Section 1.2 Intention of the Parties . It is the intention of the Parties that the contribution of the BGE Shares made hereunder shall constitute an absolute conveyance from Constellation to HoldCo under applicable state law and federal bankruptcy law, which conveyance is absolute and irrevocable and which provides HoldCo with all rights of ownership of the BGE Shares, and that the beneficial interest and title to the BGE Shares shall not be property of Constellations estate in the event (i) Constellation becomes insolvent or is unable to pay its debts or fails or admits in writing its inability generally to pay its debts as they become due, (ii) Constellation makes a general assignment, arrangement or composition with or for the benefit of its creditors, (iii) of the occurrence of a proceeding seeking a judgment of insolvency or bankruptcy or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors rights in respect of Constellation, or (iv) Constellation seeks or becomes subject to the appointment of an administrator, provisional liquidator, conservator, receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or substantially all its assets. None of the Parties intends the transactions contemplated hereunder to be, or for any purpose to be characterized as, loans from HoldCo to Constellation secured by the BGE Shares. The absolute conveyance of the BGE Shares by Constellation to HoldCo is made without recourse to Constellation; provided, however, that Constellation shall be liable to HoldCo for all representations, warranties and covenants made by Constellation with respect to the BGE Shares being conveyed by Constellation to HoldCo pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Constellation hereby agrees to disclose in appropriate public filings that HoldCo is the owner of the BGE Shares and to respond to any inquiries made by third parties as to the ownership of the BGE Shares by confirming that the BGE Shares have been conveyed to HoldCo.
Section 1.3 The Closing . The Closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the Closing) shall take place at the offices of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 655 Fifteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005 on the date hereof, or at such other place or on such other date as may be mutually agreeable to the Parties. The date on which the Closing occurs shall be the Effective Date for all purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 2.1 Representations and Warranties of Constellation . Constellation hereby represents and warrants that as of the Effective Date:
Section 2.2 Representations and Warranties of BGE . BGE hereby represents and warrants that as of the Effective Date:
Section 2.3 Representations and Warranties of HoldCo . HoldCo hereby represents and warrants that as of the Effective Date:
ARTICLE III
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.1 Waivers; Amendments . No failure or delay on the part of Constellation, BGE or HoldCo or any successor or permitted assignee thereof, in exercising any power, right or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or remedy preclude any other further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other power, right or remedy. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and nonexclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived only if such amendment or waiver is executed by the Parties in writing.
Section 3.2 Notices . Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices, demands, and requests that any Party is required or elects to give to any other shall be in writing, or by a telecommunications device capable of creating a written record, and any such notice shall become effective (a) upon personal delivery thereof, including delivery by overnight mail and courier service, (b) five days after it shall have been mailed by United States mail, first class, certified or registered, with postage, prepaid, or (c) in the case of notice by such a telecommunications device, when properly transmitted, in each case addressed to the Party to be notified as follows:
if to Constellation:
Constellation Energy Group Inc.
100 Constellation Way, Suite 1700P
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Assistant Secretary
if to BGE:
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company
2 Center Plaza
110 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Attn: Treasurer
if to HoldCo:
RF HoldCo LLC
100 Constellation Way, Suite 1700P
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Assistant Secretary
Section 3.3 Effectiveness; Assignability . This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date and shall, from and after such date, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Constellation, BGE and HoldCo and their respective successors and assignees. No provision of this Agreement shall in any manner restrict the ability of Constellation or HoldCo
Section 3.4 Governing Law .
Section 3.5 Execution in Counterparts; Severability . This Agreement may be executed by the Parties in separate counterparts (including by means of facsimile or electronic transmission in portable document format (pdf)), each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 3.6 Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains a final and complete integration of all prior expressions by the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall constitute the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, superseding all previous oral statements and other writings with respect thereto.
Section 3.7 Limitations on Liability . None of the officers, employees, agents, shareholders, members, directors or managers, as applicable, of or in any Party, past, present or future, shall be under any liability to the other Parties, any of their successors or assignees, or any other person for any action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action in such capacities or otherwise pursuant to this Agreement or for any obligation or covenant under this Agreement, it being understood that this Agreement and the obligations created hereunder shall be, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, with respect to Constellation and BGE, solely the corporate obligations of Constellation or BGE, as applicable, and with respect to HoldCo, solely the limited liability company obligations of HoldCo.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first written above.
|
CONSTELLATION: |
|
|
|
|
|
CONSTELLATION ENERGY GROUP, INC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Charles A. Berardesco |
|
Name: |
Charles A. Berardesco |
|
Title: |
Senior Vice President and General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BGE: |
|
|
|
|
|
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Kenneth W. DeFontes, Jr. |
|
Name: |
Kenneth W. DeFontes, Jr. |
|
Title: |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOLDCO: |
|
|
|
|
|
RF HOLDCO LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Jonathan W. Thayer |
|
Name: |
Jonathan W. Thayer |
|
Title: |
President |
Exhibit 99.3
EXECUTION COPY
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
dated as of February 4, 2010
between
GSS Holdings (BGE Utility), Inc. ,
as Purchaser,
and
RF HoldCo LLC,
as Seller
Table of Contents
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Section 1.1 |
Definitions and Rules of Construction |
1 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Section 2.1 |
Purchase and Sale of Conveyed Assets |
2 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Section 3.1 |
Representations and Warranties of the Seller |
2 |
|
|
|
Section 3.2 |
Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser |
3 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Section 4.1 |
Waivers; Amendments |
3 |
|
|
|
Section 4.2 |
Notices |
3 |
|
|
|
Section 4.3 |
Effectiveness; Assignability; Termination |
4 |
|
|
|
Section 4.4 |
GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
4 |
|
|
|
Section 4.5 |
Execution in Counterparts; Severability |
5 |
|
|
|
Section 4.6 |
Entire Agreement |
5 |
|
|
|
Section 4.7 |
Limitations on Liability |
5 |
This PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement ), dated as of February 4, 2010, is made by and between RF HOLDCO LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Seller ) and GSS HOLDINGS (BGE UTILITY), INC., a Delaware corporation (the Purchaser ).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, in connection with the formation of the Seller, the Seller and Constellation Energy Group, Inc., as the Class A Member of the Seller (the Class A Member ), have entered into the Operating Agreement of RF HoldCo LLC dated as of January 15, 2010 (the Interim Operating Agreement );
WHEREAS, on the date hereof, the Purchaser, as the Class B Member of the Seller, will enter into the operating agreement of RF HoldCo LLC with the Seller and the Class A Member, which operating agreement amends and restates the Interim Operating Agreement in its entirety (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the Operating Agreement );
WHEREAS, the Operating Agreement authorizes the issuance of a non-economic Class B membership interest of the Seller (the Class B Membership Interest ), which membership interest shall have the rights and privileges as set forth in the Operating Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Class A Member desires to cause the Seller to issue the Class B Membership Interest to the Purchaser and to convey all of the rights, title and interests in the Class B Membership Interest, as set forth in the Operating Agreement and in accordance with the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, to the Purchaser, on the terms and subject to the conditions provided herein;
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to purchase all such rights, title and interest in the Class B Membership Interest from the Seller, on the terms and subject to the conditions provided herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
if to the Seller:
RF HoldCo LLC
100 Constellation Way, Suite 1700P
Baltimore, MD 21202
Attn: Assistant Secretary
if to the Purchaser:
GSS Holdings (BGE Utility), Inc.
68 South Service Road, Suite 120
Melville, NY 11747
Attn: Bernard J. Angelo
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Purchase Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
|
RF HOLDCO LLC, |
||
|
as Seller |
||
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
Constellation Energy Group, Inc. |
|
|
Its: |
Class A Member |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Charles A. Berardesco |
|
|
Name: |
Charles A. Berardesco |
|
|
Title: |
Secretary |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GSS HOLDINGS (BGE UTILITY), INC. , |
||
|
as Purchaser |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ John L. Fridlington |
|
|
Name: John L. Fridlington |
||